Three streets for unusual Christmas shopping

Give an unusual gift!

SOS. Every year again. The big celebration of love is approaching and you're racking your brains as to what to get your loved ones this year? Ties, shirts and socks are out of the question - your self-respect demands it. But what could you surprise your parents and siblings, grandparents or best friend with? Our tip: get off the beaten track and go on a discovery tour in an area where you don't usually go. Far away from the pedestrian zones and high street labels, galleries, stores and gourmet temples are waiting to give you some unusual gift ideas on the following three streets. 

Stresemannstrasse

Stresemannstraße leads from Stresemannplatz not far from the main railway station via Charlottenstraße and Oststraße, which you may already be familiar with due to their high density of Far Eastern restaurants, to Berliner Allee and thus close to Königsallee. The first section is inconspicuous except for two addresses for exotic food, but the next section has some interesting fashion stores. Some of them are dedicated to second-hand or last-season items. No mistake, because originality and uniqueness play a greater role in individual style than the fact that an item of clothing was designed just for the current season. So go on the hunt for great unique pieces - who dares, wins! On the other side of Oststraße, you will find another fashion address in a former petrol station, whose basics are loved for their timeless Scandi chic. Even those who are less willing to take risks when buying gifts will find what they are looking for here. Afterwards, you can sit down next door for a drink or a tasty snack and reward yourself for your search. By the way: in addition to unusual outfits, you will also find three of the coolest hairdressers in the city on Stresemannstraße - and two beautiful stores for bridal and festive fashion.  

Birch Street

Some decide to cut back on consumption and give themselves nothing at all. Others are looking for new ways to surprise their loved ones with a gift, even in times when sustainability and the conservation of resources play a role in gift-giving decisions. Do you belong to the second group? Then perhaps a work of art fits in with your philosophy of sustainable gift-giving. The fact that Düsseldorf, as a city of art and art collectors, also has a lively off-scene is a good reason to venture outside of Carlstadt and its renowned galleries. On Birkenstraße in the Flingern district, young galleries and off-spaces are lined up one after the other. Here you can discover and purchase art that does not yet command dizzying prices. The best place to start is at Wehrhahn and head south-east. There are no fewer than two dozen art venues to visit along the approximately one-kilometer-long Birkenstraße. Very important: don't forget the backyards! Incidentally, one of them is home to a private art collection whose bistro enjoys cult status and is therefore recommended for a stopover.

North road

There are people who pretend they don't need anything - or don't want anything as a gift. Have you ever noticed how their eyes light up when they are unexpectedly allowed to open a parcel? Hardly anyone is immune to attention. However, it is important not to overwhelm the recipient with an item that they may not want. In such cases, the gift of delicacies is a good idea. In addition to Carlsplatz, which is the best-known address for delicatessen in Düsseldorf, there is a second source for the finest food and unusual drinks. On Nordstraße in the Pempelfort district, you will fall from one specialty store to the next. Whether it's the beautifully wrapped Italian Christmas cake panettone or sweet baklava, creamy tarts and chocolate pralines from the master patissier, exquisite single malt or hearty fruit brandy - Nordstraße offers a cornucopia of culinary gift ideas. Best of all, it is also packed with places to stop for a bite to eat, from crunchy hot chicken and vegan bowls to salmon and tuna sashimi. So get ready for some delicious Christmas shopping on the Genussmeile.

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Cover picture: Düsseldorf Tourismus