The Ultimate Guide to BA’s Gift Guides

Find exactly the right gift for everyone on your list.
a plethora of different gift on a yellow surface and green backdrop
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Alex Massillon

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all gift guide. Your loved ones are unique, like snowflakes falling into a mug of hot chocolate at a holiday market. They deserve a gift that is tailored to their exact preferences. That’s why this year we didn’t just make one mega gift guide, we made a whole bunch of gift guides—one for every type of person on your list. We’ve got expert-curated options for the wine, cheese, and beer obsessives in your life, thoughtful gifts for your friends who are a little bit chaotic, and a list of things you should definitely buy if you or someone you know is trying to make it through the holiday season while eating gluten-free. Looking for something last-minute gifts or budget-friendly gift ideas? We’ve got you covered there too. You can also shop this list of the Buzziest Food Gifts of 2023, or buy one of the things BA’s editors want to receive this year.


Give the gift of that thing you've seen everywhere and secretly want to buy for yourself.


Gifts for the Obsessive

Do you have a friend who got really into beer this year? Know someone who hopped on the girl dinner bandwagon and isn’t looking back? These gift ideas were carefully curated by people who are just as obsessed with whiskey as your brother-in-law and just as particular about cheese as your partner who insists that they do, in fact, need a Cheese Grotto.

photo collage of cheese for a gift guide
Club memberships, a cheesy snack poster, and more gifts for fromage fiends.
the best gifts for wine lovers
All the best stemware, wine keys, and other thoughtful accessories for the budding sommelier in your life.
gifts for beer lovers
All the best gifts for your friend who gets nerdy about heirloom hops.
whiskey collage
Skip the whiskey stones—we've got better ideas.
mixologist collage
Essential tools, gift-worthy mixers, and elegant glassware for your resident wannabe bartender.

Chaotic

We all have at least one person on our list who is a total wildcard. Odds are they’re someone who is very online, who knows all the trends but does things their own way. These people are typically kind of hard to shop for, which is why we put together these slightly chaotic gift guides.

photo collage of grocery girl shopping items like a tomato dutch oven, olive pillo, graza martini, and felt berries
Because these food style trends aren’t going anywhere soon.
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Sauces, spreads and more for the people whose meals aren’t complete without a little extra something.

The Classic Gift Guides

Look, there’s no need to reinvent the holida-gifting wheel every December. Sometimes you just want to give someone something classic, like a nice advent calendar or something that costs less than $50 and doesn’t suck. If you want to give a great gift for just about anyone without thinking too hard, check out our classic gift guides.

A collage of six of the best advent calendars of 2022
Truffles and caramels! Oolongs and those Harry Potter jelly beans! There’s an advent calendar for everyone.
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All the best gifts for your friend who has no chill, but needs some.
chocolate advent calendar
Because if you ever deserve a daily piece of chocolate (or three), it’s during the holidays.
The best chocolate gifts
Whether you’re looking for classic truffles, artisanal bonbons, or the gooiest chocolate chip cookies—we’ve got you covered.

The Coziest Gift Guides

The fact that gifting season coincides with the official start of cozy season is no coincidence. Cozy things simply make some of the best gifts. There’s a lot to love on our coziest gift guides, including spillproof blankets, adorable ceramics, and an extensive list of things to get the bookworm in your life.t. Don’t be surprised if you end up getting a thing or two for yourself.

baking gift ideas
Play your cards right and you’ll be repaid in brownies.
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Because they don't just want new books.
A selection of gifts for coffee lovers: a Moccamaster, Boon Boona beans, ceramic mugs, and a Flair espresso maker
Beans, burr grinders, mugs, and everything else you need for the perfect brew.

The Very Thoughtful Gift Guides

Sometimes it really is the thought that counts, especially when you’re buying a gift for someone who is making a serious shift toward a more sustainable lifestyle or who only eats gluten-free. Let the people who care a lot about certain things know that you care a lot about them by shopping one of these very thoughtful gift guides.

the best gluten-free gifts
Because the holiday season can still be fun even if you’re not eating gluten.
An array of sustainable gifts, from bamboo mixing bowls to recycled glass tumblers
Recycled glass tumblers, drought-tolerant beans, and a food storage system so effective you’ll never throw out a brown avocado half again.
candle gifts
Because if you’re into food, you’re probably into candles, too.
Ceramic gifts
You’re not going to learn how to throw pottery overnight, so buy these gifts instead.

The Fanciest Gift Guides

There’s no time like the holidays to go all-out on a gift for someone special. Whether you’re planning to splurge on a high-tech kitchen upgrade or a set of copper cookware for your Francophile friend, these are the gift guides to shop if you want to get something really fancy.

French gifts: macarons with shiny sparkles on them
Butter crocks, French cheeses, and chic linens galore—mon Dieu!
Luxury gifts: a hat with a caviar bump, copper cup, and fancy chocolate bar.
Luxury can mean elegant French cookware, caviar, and diamond-studded pizza necklaces (yes, you read that right). But it can also mean Swedish gummies, or highly functional cheese boards.
photo collage of ember mugs
Smart coffee makers, app-enabled appliances, and more gadgets for that friend who would gladly let a robot run their life.