Adelaide's favourite local gift shops

With its craft beer bars, organic cafés and boutiques, the seaside burg of Semaphore has become quite the hipster haven in recent times. But for almost 15 years Le Room has been the go-to gift shop for stylistas in the know, drawing a crowd of loyal customers from all over Adelaide for its beautiful homewares, gifts and jewellery. Known for its colourful and impeccably designed displays, Le Room carries a vast range of covetable items to suit all budgets, from children’s toys and accessories, to jewellery, bags and wallets by Australian brand Elk and cult favourite, scented candles by Elume. Especially popular are the shop’s unique gift cards. “People come from all over town for our cards especially, they always say we've got the best cards here,” says manager Jo Gilbertson.

Actually more boho than bauhaus, this tiny shop has been selling an eclectic range of jewellery, homewares and gifts in the same spot on Rundle Street for almost three decades. Owner Dani Maiolo sources exotic items from all over the world, with a focus on fair trade products that help international communities, such as handwoven baskets from Swaziland, delicately painted plates and clay pots from Korea, and chunky silver crosses from Ethiopia. Particularly popular is their range of Mexican folk art, featuring black lace skulls, Milagro crosses and Frida Kahlo iconography. “We have something for $10 and something for $200, multicultural, modern to luxury to bohemian – we have a bit of everything,” Maiolo says.

Opened by best friends Sally Kelly and Gin Kalleske just two years ago, this funky little gift shop has quickly become a city favourite for its eclectic mix of quirky and kitsch, with a focus on handmade goods. Artworks and accessories by local artists and designers sit alongside big name brands – witness leather wallets and bags by cult Sydney brand Status Anxiety, whimsical resin brooches by Erstwilder, and gelati-tinged nail polishes by I Scream Nails – as well as fair trade handicrafts from Mexico, Russia and Japan. “We're very eclectic, we're always on the lookout for quirky, amazing things from all over the world,” says Kelly.

Originally launched as a six-week pop-up in a city laneway, this bright and airy gift shop is not only still standing after three years but has just upgraded to larger digs in historic Regent Arcade. The new two-storey space accommodates a gallery and activity space, where owner Lauren Harper plans to hold workshops in things like clay art and leather tooling, taught by local artists and designers. With a focus on South Australian brands, Have You Met Charlie stocks all sorts of unique gifts from handmade baby bibs by Addi Rd, scented candles by Luna and Luxe and fuzzy children's toys by Fleeci to organic tea by Hygge Tea and even pre-loved vintage clothing.

Full of beautifully arranged homewares in a modern, minimalist style, this is the kind of gift shop you walk into planning on buying things for other people but leave having bought everything for yourself. From chic concrete pots to carved wooden picture frames and unique lighting pieces by Amalfi, and even a range of design books, Lightbox offers everything for a stylish modern home. If you’re more into decorating yourself than your house, check out breezy fashion pieces from labels like Tigerlily, AKA the Label and KiiK, or jewellery by Holiday Trading and Talisman.