As the weather gets chillier and the skies get darker, we at least have the warmth of the upcoming holidays to look forward to! No matter what you celebrate or who you celebrate with, if you’re looking for gifting inspo, look no further. And, of course, happy, healthy holidays and beautiful New Year to one and all, from our Diary family to yours!
FOR THE BEAUTY LOVERS:
While so many beauty procedures abound, we can safely say with Social Gal gusto that good brows are one of the best places to start. They add dimension to the face, shape the eyes and are the ultimate face accessory when permanent. To that end, our best recommendation is Billionaire Brows. The name speaks for itself… 😉
With a gift certificate for Clinique K—celebrity plastic surgeon Karl Schwarz’s stunning clinic/beauty emporium—you can help a special someone feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin this season with a facial treatment, injection, or cosmetic surgery procedure. The gift that keeps on giving! (Prices vary.)
Also pioneered and powered by a home-grown beauty aficionado, we in world Diary can’t get enough of the Karine Joncas range. Top picks for the holidays (and way beyond) include their Advanced Global Anti-Aging cream and legendary Dermo-Lift Corrective Eye Patches. Life changing.
Skin and smiles can’t have all the fun, which is why hair products from industry leader Kérastase are always a good gift idea. That said, we’re O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with their signature oil, the ultimate complement to each of their ranges specially curated for specific needs. Don’t miss their amazing sales and hair care bundles.
Rounding off the namesake beauty disruptors we love: don’t dare miss the magic of NANNETTE de GASPÉ for your fave skincare fanatics. Their Art of Noir skincare collection, brilliantly designed to firm, brighten, and soothe skin, morphs a skincare routine into a luxury calming ritual. Each product can be purchased individually to customize the experience or as a complete bundle for the ultimate firming, brightening, and calming skincare immersion/escape. Best of all? Social Gals and Gents benefit from an exclusive promo! Use promo code SOCIALGLO for 15% off any purchase on the NANNETTE de GASPÉ website!
The Art of Noir collection, featuring the Elixir Noir Face Oil (a nutrient-rich oil that deeply nourishes, firms, soothes, and hydrates), the Essence Noir Cleanser (a Vitamin C rich cleanser that purifies while brightening and rejuvenating the skin) and the Gua Sha Noir (a sculpting tool made of Bian stone that promotes circulation, relieves tension, and enhances firmness). Photos courtesy of Nannette de Gaspé.
Representing the next wave in beauty shopping, on and offline, the Rennaï experience, with a spectacularly curated array of ranges to choose from, comprises part of the overall Royalmount retail and entertainment world, where we promise you won’t know where to dab, spray, rub, sample first. Already renowned for mastering the cross-section of innovation and self-care, a gift from this emporium is an excellent one for all beauty lovers.
Finally, if a gorgeous healthy faux glow is your party/life bestie (it’s ours), you definitely want to share this glow love with the beauty devotees on the list, especially given their special holiday promotions. Some of our faves are the Keep Me Sunkissed Face Tan Water and Colour Me Dark Express. Perfection.
MORE SOCIAL GAL SELECTS ON THE BEAUTY FRONT: When it comes to beauty, we’ve also fallen madly deeply for: Bio sculpture, Neostrata.com, Moroccanoil.com, Salon Pure, SBLA Beauty, and YSL Beauty.
FOR THE WELLNESS DEVOTEES:
The Studio is more than a workout space. Give the gift of an individualized workout or community group circuit, followed up by recovery services like deep tissue massage and infrared sauna sessions. 
For the ultimate Quebec founded wellness, check out Maison Jacynthe‘s advent calendar-inspired promotions, where every day of December, a new promotion is unlocked for 24 hours only! To add to the holiday fun, they have a limited edition physical advent calendar with 25 days of gifts. Skincare and wellness galore!
Gift the lady in your life (or yourself) some sensual wellness by High on Love. To make your shopping even easier, they have holiday gift sets with some of their best products. Indulge in well-crafted pleasure this holiday season!
Nothing says gift of wellness like a deep rejuvenating massage and/or take-you-away luxury beauty treatment akin to those that await at the internationally beloved professional Guerlain Spa in the Four Seasons Montreal. Truth be told we love them ALL. (Prices vary).
On the luxury spa front, there’s also our other guiltiest Social Gal & Gent luxury pampering addiction: The Spa St.James at international bijou Ritz-Carlton Montreal, where massage and beauty professionals of the highest calibre don’t only magically remove all that ails but leave you to bliss away in one of the city’s most gorgeous and rejuvenating relaxation rooms, right in front of the roaring fire.
When it comes to health and wellness, this cult brand earns its reputation infusing products with 50 ppm of 99% pure CBD and vegan hemp seed oil. One of its bestsellers, Wellphoria’s CBD-infused hair care kit including shampoo, conditioner, mask and oil is, in a word, everything. Hemp heaven.
Finally in this corner, the kind of towel love you and your wellness focused giftees have been dreaming of, cozy, luxurious, and … hands-free! We can’t get enough.
MORE SOCIAL GAL WELLNESS SELECTS: Of course, there are more super-honourable mentions here including floating nirvana spa Bota Bota, and brand new aesthetic wellness spa Sabbya.
FOR THE SUPER HEALTHIES:
Gift yourself aesthetic medicine by the one and only Dr. Bana. Her treatment options help with acne scars, aging, and feeling like your best, most glowing self. Book a consult and experience her sunny demeanour and unmatched expertise!
An A-MA-ZING clinic that goes the distance on the medical front is Le Clayemont. They offer family medicine for all ages, treating both yearly health check-ups and urgent medical needs with patience, quality care, and a space that feels luxurious.
Gift yourself or a loved one the smile of their dreams. Bella Dentaire is the first Digital Smile Design (DSD) clinic in Quebec. They transform smiles with personalized cosmetic and general dentistry techniques to give each individual a uniquely beautiful smile.
FOR THE STYLE ICONS:
Duh. A trip to Royalmount is so necessary this holiday season. It really lives up to its royal moniker, offering almost every top-tier brand you can think/fantasize about in a setting that, well, defies description (even by us description-inclined Social Gals.) With exclusives like MANGO, Anine Bing, and The Rec Room, classic stores like Garage, Mackage, Nike, and Sephora, and SUPER luxury spots like La Maison Monaco, Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Louis Vuitton, playing gift giver here could not be more fun or easy! Gift cards available too.
Browns Shoes Holiday Shop is wide open… You know what that means! The coziest, chicest options for winter are now readily available alongside their other classic offerings. Sneakers, boots, heels, or something in between, Browns is the place to go for the shoe-obsessed in your lives.
At Calvin Klein, there is something for everyone in your life, especially on the shades front. Classic, chic and a fabulous present and stocking stuffer. Plus CK makes it even easier with their well curated gift guides, gift sets, and ongoing holiday sales.
Winters here are pretty gnarly, and this year’s is proving to be no different. It’s a good thing that winter boot doesn’t have to mean hideous. La Canadienne has beautiful, waterproof options that will keep you warm and dry through even the slushiest commutes.
Not surprisingly, the exceptional Holt Renfrew Ogilvy‘s offerings are endless. From beauty and fragrance to clothing and luxury bags, your fashion-forward loved ones will love nothing more than a glossily wrapped Holts surprise or an equally irresistible gift card to put towards their dream purchases. Notably, the user/buyer-friendly website features dedicated gift guides for her, him, home, and kids, as well as by price point to make searches even more effortless!
For the quintessential luxury Montreal history lover, the Holt Renfrew x Ritz-Carlton Montreal holiday collection merchandise is the perfect way to say a cozy happy holidays. Available to shop at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’s iconic Holiday 5th floor.
How lucky we are to have this sartorial power pair in our orbit. Both upscale destinations in the downtown core carry unique womenswear pieces for all occasions. To add a bit of welcome colour or texture to any wardrobe, stop by the stunning boutiques or shop online to browse the collections.
Call it your super stylish home away from home, where the closet is just right, housing some of the best brands on the planet. Even more fabulous: the variety of items makes it the perfect place to check more gifts off your lists!
The BOSS x STEIFF holiday collection is teddy bear cuteness at every level, merging two iconic German brands to create a high quality blend of style and comfort. For ultimate warmth, check out the teddy trim trapper hat. If accessorizing is more your speed this season, counter the Labubu takeover with the Bellamy teddy bear keychain.
Yes, we would be remiss if we failed to include Harry in this guide for Socials Gents, because the gifting opportunities are better and more stylish than ever. Definitely check out their current supersales. Your loved ones will thank you.
We all know and love Parasuco for their jeans, but have you seen their new adventures in outerwear? It is possible to stay fashionable, even in our dire Montreal winters, thanks to Parasuco’s outerwear. There’s no better gift for someone who wants to add some kick to their winter wardrobe.
The Michael Kors Holiday Event is on, and at 25% off your purchase, it’s a great time to get that special person in your life their dream bag, shoes, jacket… you name it. (Exclusions apply).
The premier destination for eyewear! If you wear glasses or know someone who does, you know that they are a fashion statement. Find the perfect, most unique frames that elevate both prescription glasses and sunglasses at Tris Coffin at Place Ville-Marie or in their new Royalmount location.
Consignment luxury is the best way to step up your bag game in a more sustainable and budget-friendly way. Retyche has so many options that will awe the designer lovers in your life.
KANUK‘s FW25 collection combines classic textures and patterns with contemporary silhouettes. Their flannel, balaclavas, jackets and puffers will add a woodsy, refined look to your winter wardrobe.
MORE SOCIAL GAL SELECTS ON THE FASH FRONT: You know the drill. Of course we have more mentions here too like Di Carlo Couture, Blush Lingerie, Judith & Charles, La Canadienne, Marc Cain, Smythe, SSENSE, and Sartorialto. On and offline, they’re well worth exploring!
FOR THE BLING RING:
Clothes and accessories are fabulous but a little (okay, a lot) of bling also goes a long way, especially during the holidays… Behold some of our faves on this front.
An official Rolex distributor in Montreal and the holiday wish list fulfiller of many a happy bling lover, Bijouterie Italienne knows how to wow, carrying some of the most luxurious jewellery and watch brands on the planet. Point finale. Exhibit A: The Rolex Lady-Datejust. We don’t just love BI, we worship at their glittering altar.
Supporting a homegrown small business while growing your jewelry collection? That’s what I call a win-win. Claudia Grundman Jewelry will make your ears, wrists, and décolleté shine and shimmer with their natural diamonds and premium materials.
For the bold and delicate jools lovers, Anzie has it all. From earrings to pendants, there’s something for Social Gals and Gents of all ages.
Love Letter Royal Love Medallion Necklace. Photo courtesy of Anzie Jewelry.
A Montreal institution that carries an extensive line of designers and in-house artists and specialists that both create, and restore rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, cufflinks and watches, Atelier Lou specializes in custom-made diamond jewellery for that special someone in your life. Bremont Supermarine watch:
This holiday season, give a little luxury from the homegrown luxury label that aligns only with the biggest and the best: BIRKS (home to our favourite blue-hued holiday gift box):
Known for its conflict-free diamonds and sustainable jewellery, Ecksand has as many designs as it does meaningful mementos to give your loved ones.
One-of-a-kind pieces like this watermelon tourmaline necklace designed by the namesake master herself can’t be replicated, which says a lot about the sentiment behind sharing one of the unique jewellery creations.
Finally, we can’t say enough about this edgy glam range, brain baby of a homegrown furniture designer turned jools creator who wanted more from her bling. Maison Alysia‘s stunning, unique pieces are sure to wow any lucky recipient.
Photo courtesy of Alysia, appearing in Diary Vol. 11.
FOR THE FOODIES:
It seems like every day a new incredible restaurant is opening in our foodie city. As Montreal gets gloomier, delicious meals in cozy rooms become crucial. Behold a list of our faves, some new to the scene and others beloved fixtures.
No need to travel as far as Italy; La Spada has covered all the bases. For the gift of some of the greatest Italian bites this city has to offer, visit this Saint-Henri gem.
Ristorante Donato, Spuntino, D Burger and Donato Gelato
The Victoria Village has never been so lucky. These four spots, including newly opened D Burger, provide Westmounters and Montrealers alike with an incredible variety of food and dessert at the highest level. When it’s snowy this holiday season and you want the comfort of a delicious pizza, sandwich, smash burger, or to treat yourself with an authentic gelato, these are the destinations for you.
Whether for Jatoba, Le Cathcart, and many newer offerings like Belvu, a gift card to any one of these leading restaurants owned and operated by A5 Hospitality is sure to impress and leave a very good taste… Prices vary.
The F Gift Card comes in wallet friendly increments and is available at Ferreira Café, Café Vasco da Gama and Campo. F-ANTASTIQUE!
If you find yourself in Toronto this holiday season, treat yourself to a gastronomic experience at one of INK Entertainment‘s many fantastic restaurants. Daphne‘s American style cuisine, Amal‘s Lebanese spirit or Sofia Yorkville‘s Italian charm are some of the hottest restaurants in the city right now. If you check out their newest restaurant and vinyl bar, Vinny, you may even brush arms with Charli XCX.
Like the name implies, there’s nothing small about the way the JEGantic Group thinks. Currently one of the most major players on the Montreal luxury eatery and hospitality scene, their popular venues like Bord’Elle, The Farsides, Hang and Yoko Luna have rapidly emerged as some of the most sought after reservations in the city, making them perfect gifts for the foodies in your lives.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of this incredible European style gourmet hall in the heart of Montreal, do treat yourselves. Housed in the wondrous new shop emporium otherwise known as Royalmount, the well curated variety of foods available is so impressive. From Japanese to Indian to Mexican to Italian and much more, indulgence is the experience, and yes, makes a tremendous gift.
Le Richmond and Marché Italien
Whether you’re in the market for a gift basket of delicious, Italian goodies or a gift card for the restaurant that serves Northern Italian cuisine devotees can’t get enough of, Le Richmond has got you covered. Prices vary.
To lounge, to people-watch, to martini, to friend-group, to dine like kings and queens in the most sublime setting is to experience the magic of Marcus. Sharing this experience is the height of caring.
Tucked neatly into the newly imagined Nelligan Hotel this beyond gorgeous space also boasts some of the most mouthwateringly delicious Greek fare (with a twist!) in the city. It is an absolute delight and wonderful gift for the palate-discerning. Try it yourselves too. Social Gal & Gent worthy!
Brownie addicts like us, get excited! The experts at one of our fave home-grown brownie destinations, Blissful Brownies, are setting us up right for the holidays. The melt-in-your-mouth masterpieces available in a panoply of decadent flavours are yours for the taking, enjoying and sharing… As the adage goes, sharing is caring.
And now, chocolate lovers keep rejoicing! Lindt has holiday gifts to make your holidays even sweeter! Whether you’re looking for a gift for a teacher, friend, or the kids in your life, Lindt’s chocolate bears, gift boxes, and truffles are a seriously delicious option. (Prices vary).
FOR RAISING A TOAST:
For the very best bubbles, look no further. You deserve to start 2026 on the right foot and with the right sip! Limited edition red and rosé bottles are available in select SAQ stores as of Dec 14th, while stock remains.
As for wine and cocktails, we love to raise a glass and craft a tail with our faves, Onivino, Belvedere, Hennessy, and homegrown PUR Vodka.
FOR HOMELOVING HOMEBODIES:
For that someone in your life with that Martha or Ina gene, who loves to host in and/or enhance their living spaces. Here are some things you could wow them with this holiday season.
At Union, the lighting options are endless. If you’ve been meaning to update that lamp or chandelier, consider this your sign! In their massive new showroom, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
In a nutshell: Batimat is the haven for beautiful home hardware. If your loved one is always talking about wanting to renovate kitchens and/or bathrooms or just has a killer eye for detail and taste for luxury, consider taking them to Batimat to explore the options in various metals and finishes. Their newly expanded showroom on 8300 Devonshire is well worth the visit!
Montauk‘s indoor and outdoor sofas are literal works of art. Like people dream of owning them since childhood. Fact. They also have rugs and tables. Moreover, every upholstered product is handmade in the Montreal factory. With so many custom design options, the gifting options are limitless! Go Montauk and go home! 😉
Blinds, drapes, fabric galore! C&M has all the fabrics of fantasies and is the go-to for all interiors gurus. If fabrics and blinds are involved in the gifting, this is the destination…
MORE SOCIAL GAL SELECTS ON THE HOME FRONT: Further brands and emporiums to consider for the home lovers on the list include Cameo Collection, Environment Electronique, Latitude Nord, Linen Chest, Maison Westmount, Red Carpet & Rug, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove. All are homeware meccas, with everything from luxury fixtures, custom furnishings, the softest linens, high-end appliances, most comfortable sofas, unique rugs and distinct lighting for the houseware aficionados in your life.
FOR THE STAYCATIONERS:
I mean, really, who doesn’t love the gift of a staycation, especially when it involves some of the most magnificent and welcoming luxury hotels in the city?
Four Seasons Montreal, Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth, Hotel Esterel, Le Mount Stephen, Ritz-Carlton Montreal, The Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain, Nelligan, Warwick Le Crystal and Hotel Place D’Armes are all top-notch spots to spend the holidays, and most of them have special packages that include special treats (ie, the fun Ritz offer below).
Maybe you want to go a little further. Good thing Quebec has natural beauty and escapes to offer year round, all wrapped in a luxurious Fairmont bow. The Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Fairmont Tremblant, and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac are the perfect destinations!
FOR PET PARENTS:
If you’re a fur parent, you know that your four legged bestie deserves the very best accessories, during the holidays especially. You also know how wasteful they can be (think of the bags alone!). Enter Earth Rated, creators of the eco-conscious bags, toys, grooming essentials, and accessories that make lowering your pup’s carbon footprint a breeze. Talk about good pet gifting!
FOR THE LOVE OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
Finally, we can’t help but top off the 2024 guide with some of our fave social media finds, mostly ‘INSTA-discoveries. Many come courtesy of homegrown local businesses, all are absolutely fabulous. ENJOY. (And to those we may have missed, our human is showing. Doesn’t mean we love you any less!):
And it’s a wrap. Once again, wishing one and all every blessing for the holidays and beyond. Please stay safe and take care of you and your loved ones xxxxxxx