Ho, ho, ho!
DP’s Holiday Gift Guide 2023
Anyone who says, “Oh, I don’t want anything this year!” has obviously not seen DP’s list. We invite you to get your greed on.
Santa’s good, but is he ski-safari-in-the-Dolomites good? Is he in-home sauna, monogrammed tennis balls, Guerlain advent calendar, yearlong book subscription good? Not even close. (With all due respect.)
That’s where you come in. This year, DP’s second annual gift guide is poised to exceed the expectations of anyone on your list with some worthwhile splurges, baubles, delicious food and drink gifts, better-than-stocking-stuffers, and even a few ideas for your four-legged friends.
Throw out the naughty and nice lists, no one’s getting coal. You’re the Santa now. Happy holidays!
BIG TICKET
When They Deserve the Best and Nothing Less
They’ve skied and apres’d at every domestic hill; it’s time to go bigger. Gift them the Dolomites Ski Safari Experience, a weeklong discovery of the Italian Alps. Go before the Olympics descend on the region in 2026. From $4,428/person
On trend, but better than everyone else’s. This platinum diamond ribbon choker is the pinnacle of a choker necklace, hand-crafted with 8.01ct diamonds set in platinum on a black ribbon. $40,300
Ancient Ritual’s Arc is an all-in-one, multi-modality sauna installed in your home to optimize your multi-modality loved one’s health. It offers seven treatments that work with heat, light, color, sound, breathwork, and meditation. $500 deposit; by request only
Just don’t ask for little pictures in your foam. La Marzocco reimagined their commercial espresso machine—one of the best in the world— for the home with their Linea Mini. Plus, it’s beyond chic on a countertop. $5,900
There’s pet portraits and then there’s commissioning Madeleine Bunbury to create a life-size equine portrait. Madeleine travels the world to paint her subjects in their stable yards. The results are instant heirlooms. Price on request.
One’s tennis game is only as good as one’s gear. Anya Hindmarch should do it: a tennis bag and a few cans of customized tennis balls with their name on them. $1,125; $55/can of balls
It’s not a competition. These are simply the best ping pong tables: they’re hand-crafted, wall-mountable, limited-edition, colorful works of art on which you can, also, play ping pong. From $1,490
FOOD & DRINK
For the Ones With the Best Taste
A caviar flight of three 50g tins—Royal Osetra, American Sturgeon, and Supreme White Sturgeon—plus blinis, creme fraiche, and mother of pearl spoons from Portage: another way to fly first class. $500
The world’s finest wine glasses? There’s not much from Succession or The Menu to emulate, aside from this stemware—the Universal—from Zalto. Ultra-lightweight and hand-blown, they feature in both, and for good reason. Even Per Se and the French Laundry have them on hand. $78/glass
Cement their “host with the most” reputation with a Moveable Feast, which brings Michelin and James Beard recognized restaurants home. They ship nationwide and will reserve a menu for a Thursday or Friday delivery to be enjoyed before Sunday night. From $450 for four guests
The next best thing to actually being at Blackberry Farm is eating their gorgeous cheeses in the comfort of your home. Their cheese club is a series of quarterly selections including some made on the farm itself. $800 for the full year
Le Creuset’s Dutch Oven is the all-time classic. It’s a perfectly designed and completely irreplaceable piece of cookware in which stews, roasts, breads, and memories are made. From $250. (Pair it with a cassoulet recipe kit from D’Artagnan for extra credit. From $99.99)
For the one who takes their coffee seriously, but their fashion even more so. A collaboration between Bialetti and Dolce & Gabbana, two Italian icons, this set comes with a bold, colorful, patterned, two-cup Moka as well as two espresso cups and stirrers. $199.95
There are lots of lackluster food gift sets, but this is definitely not one of them. Los Poblanos is one of New Mexico’s most stunning destinations and now you can share their hot sauces and chili flakes with this High Desert Heat Set. $60
Bring a bit of intrigue to their bar cart with a fun new aperitif. (Aperol is so last season.) We love Caperitif, for its slight sweetness and botanical flavors, and Suze, which is less bitter than Campari and has herbal and floral notes. $34.99; $31.99.
What says “soiree” more than a beautiful ice bucket by the table with a freshly opened bottle of wine poking out? Nothing. Especially if said ice bucket is made of Baccarat crystal. $800
BAUBLES
From Jewelry and Decor to a Cashmere Sleep Mask
Forget Hershey’s kisses behind little cardboard windows. Today’s advent calendars are gifts that keep on giving and this one, by Guerlain, might just be our favorite. Candles, soaps, day creams, night creams, and far, far more. $720
For your loved one who would always rather be in Italy, a painted ceramic ashtray from iconic luxury resort Le Sireneuse. (Pair it with a pre-roll if they’re into that kind of thing.) $55
You can’t decant in just anything. Keep standards high with a stunning, mouth-blown, hand-cut, polished crystal decanter designed by Austrian architect Adolf Loos. $1,800
This might be the most luxurious sleep accessory and one of the most old-fashioned: a Scottish cashmere hot water bottle, paired with a matching eye mask. Knitted in a family-run mill and designed exclusively for landmark hotel, the Fife Arms. $169
For the one who lights up your every day, a Jua (sun in Swahili) Lariat necklace handcrafted by jewelers in Kenya. Designed to hit the perfect length, so it goes with everything. $118
It’s more than a fad—vinyl is here to stay. Especially when record players have Bluetooth connectivity, like this sleek one from Audio Technica. Pair it with a record that came out the year they were born. $299
Unlike Van Gogh’s hard-won original, this Starry Night LEGO set comes with explicit instructions so you’re guaranteed a masterpiece at the end. $169.99
Made to order and carved from natural onyx, these drop earrings by Sophie Buhai are a statement but not a loud one. These are for the enigmatic, confident loved one on your list. $625
BOOKS
Page Turners for Everyone
The lessons begin before you even open the gorgeous Mamma Milano: Lessons from the Motherland by J.J. Martin. Each copy is bound in an LaDoubleJ fabric, teaching giftees the importance of beautiful presentation. $60
But why pick just one? Gift them a yearlong book subscription with Heywood Hill (hard covers, paperbacks, or kids books). They’ll receive a new title every month that has been carefully selected for them, following a consultation. From $290
For the giftee with a strong stomach, a copy of Martin Baron’s Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post. $24.99
One Woman Show gives new meaning to “if these walls could talk.” Indeed, this is a thrilling story told through museum wall labels. Author Christine Coulson wrote for the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 25 years—including wall labels. $22.49
Fool me once. . . On closer look, you’ll discover that this set of fabric-wrapped books is actually a collection of three classic, vintage games. $119
BITS & THINGS
More Than Stocking Stuffers—for When you Want to go That Extra Mile
It’s a tale as old as time: parents rarely get to drink their coffee while it’s hot. Let’s fix that with the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug, which even connects to a temperature-controlling app. $120.99
Custom matchbooks are surprisingly versatile—cute for newlyweds, fun for a host(ess) gift, perfect for your favorite candle-lovers or stoners. Get creative. From $50
For the budding photographer in your life, go to up-and-coming artist ML Kirchner’s show at FORMah in the LES (42 Allen Street; now through December 23) and snap up one of her unique images that capture “the majesty of the mundane.” From $4,500
They listen to true crime podcasts, but freak out when they see a spider. They need a Critter Catcher. In fact, they might need one for every room of the house. $22.95
Boiling an egg does not a chef make, but having these charming, whimsical egg scissors direct from Scotland’s Fife Arms sure makes you look like one. $111
Give them the moon and the stars and a nebula, too. The delightful Astronaut Star Projector Night Light is something you’ll buy “for the kids” but keep enjoying long after they’ve gone to sleep. $34.99
If home (or your favorite hotel) is where the heart is, memorialize it with a custom puzzle. When you order this, you’ll enter a beloved address which will be at its center. $59.95
PETS
A Little Something Special for Fluffy and Fido
Sparky watched Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy with you, so they know the importance of good San Marzano tomatoes. Show them some love with a “can” of San Muttzanos and three squeaky tomato tennis balls. $12
Cats are connoisseurs, as a rule. Upgrade their toy game with this Kitty Trout, which has a belly you can hide treats in and a catnip-filled fishbone. $14
There’s no pup quite like Rover. Personalize their water bowl to make sure they know it, too. From $28
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Hero photo by Colin Anderson Productions pty ltd/Getty Images
