More local businesses we love this Christmas: Southside edition
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Discover the local businesses, makers, and creators making Christmas special across our city.
We hate to alarm you, but Christmas is less than six weeks away. So that means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping – and luckily, you’ll find some beautiful local businesses right here.
This year, we invite you to explore Canberra’s neighbourhoods to discover amazing local businesses right in our own backyard (or worth the trip across town!).
Today, we go southside – here are some local businesses we love, and we think you will too!
Mantel and Muse
Sarah Busby started Mantel and Muse as a passion project – a self-confessed treasure hunter and serial upcycler with a keen eye for furniture with good bones and great stories.
What began as a small Facebook endeavour has flourished into a vibrant design destination—a 200-square-metre showroom in Fyshwick where vintage and mid-century pieces tell their stories through fine craftsmanship and enduring charm. Each item is carefully chosen for its form, integrity, and the soul it brings to a space, celebrating the practice of conscious living and sustainable design.
Behind Mantel and Muse stands a gifted team bound by a shared love of heritage and artistry. Eddie Mo, part artist and part logistical mind, works alongside Sarah as her assistant schemer—ensuring no wall or corner is ever empty.
Rafaella Catchlove curates and styles each display with instinctive flair and is the gifted creative behind the scenes making every aspect of the Mantel and Muse experience look effortless, while Lyz Nelemaat ensures the space flows with warmth and polish. Marjory brings her wealth of vintage knowledge to the fore. Kailey Jitts and Benji Earle, both skilled junior restorers, embody the craft at the heart of Mantel and Muse, reviving timeless pieces with care and intention.
From 2 pm on Saturday 6 December, Mantel and Muse will host the Mantel and Muse Affair – an afternoon and evening devoted to design, creativity, and community. Guests will step into a world of mid-century elegance, surrounded by live music, vintage treasures galore, a live furniture auction, and a shared passion for enduring design.
Be sure to RSVP for the 5-7 pm event so you can participate in the live furniture auction and receive a free drink on arrival!
Unit 4/49-51 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick | mantelandmuse.com.au
Canberra Glassworks
Housed within the historic Kingston Powerhouse, Canberra Glassworks is the largest glassmaking facility in the Southern Hemisphere dedicated to studio glass. The space is an impressive blend of industrial heritage and contemporary design – soaring ceilings, exposed brickwork, and original machinery speak to the building’s early 20th-century origins, while glassmaking studios, galleries and viewing platforms showcase the energy and creativity of a working arts facility.
Founded in 2007, the facility is home to an incredibly vibrant community of local and international artists and makers who use the studios to create works for exhibitions and retail. These talented makers are keeping this over 2,000-year-old traditional craft alive. Every piece in their collection is more than a gift – it’s a story shaped by skilled hands dedicated to their practice.
The Glassworks Shop offers handmade, local glass objects crafted with care by the artists they’re proud to support. This Christmas, they’re spotlighting local makers including Peter Nilsson, Akie Haga, Ngaio Fitzpatrick, Harriet Schwarzrock, Cam Michael and Matthew Curtis.
Retail therapy aside, a visit to the Glassworks is always a treat. Visitors can feel the heat of the furnace, hear the rhythmic sound of the coldshop and – if they’re lucky – catch the smell of hot chips from Brodburger next door.
For those wanting to give one-of-a-kind experiences this Christmas, gift cards are available for glassmaking classes, including the popular ‘Make Your Own Bird or Vessel’ glass blowing class, ‘Make Your Own Beads’ flame working class, and ‘Make Your Own Glass Bowl’ kiln forming class.
11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com
Parliament Shop
Some shops have a postcode advantage that’s hard to beat. The Parliament Shop sits within one of Australia’s most significant buildings, offering a curated collection of products you simply won’t find anywhere else.
The shop specialises in uniquely Australian products that celebrate democracy, the institution of parliament, and the distinctive architecture of Parliament House itself.
This Christmas, its seasonal range offers thoughtful options for the politically engaged, the historically curious, or anyone who appreciates quality Australian craftsmanship with a story behind it. The space itself is clean, bright and carefully curated, making it easy to explore their collection and find that perfect something special.
It’s not every day you can shop somewhere that’s as much a part of Australian history as the products it sells.
To make your Christmas shopping even easier, the Parliament Shop offers complimentary gift wrapping.
Shop instore – or online for delivery to your door!
Parliament House, Canberra | parliamentshop.com.au
SOKEN Boutique
Georgia Duffy took over SOKEN Boutique earlier this year with a clear vision: to expand what designer dress hire could be in Canberra. She wanted to focus on personalised support for women who need help navigating formal dressing, and she wanted to make the service genuinely inclusive – accommodating women from size 6 to 16, welcoming those over 65, and embracing cultural diversity.
And if you’re looking for the perfect frock for festive functions (or any other time), SOKEN may be your salvation.
The boutique hires designer dresses for every occasion imaginable – weddings, hens parties, winery tours, and formal black-tie events. Unlike other dress hire businesses around town, SOKEN’s try-on appointments are completely free. Appointments are essential for this small operation, but Georgia sees them as an opportunity rather than a transaction.
Book a one-on-one styling session with Georgia in her Wanniassa studio, and you’ll get more than just dress options. She’ll select pieces that suit your skin tone and body type, offering tips and tricks that’ll transfer into your everyday dressing long after you’ve returned the hire. It’s styling advice that keeps giving.
The studio itself feels like a hidden treasure tucked away in the suburbs – warm, welcoming, luxurious in a way that lets you relax and be yourself. It’s the perfect space to find something you’ll love to wear (even if it is just once!).
12 Osmand Street, Wanniassa | sokenboutique.com.au
DeVINO Wine and Salumi
Phillip’s newest enoteca landed in January, and it’s already changing the way Canberrans think about their wine shopping. DeVINO Wine and Salumi channels the effortless Italian approach to good living – the kind where choosing a bottle of wine or picking up provisions for dinner feels less like a chore and more like a moment to savour.
Step inside and you’ll find shelves lined with Italian, European, international and local wines, alongside craft beers from Germany, Belgium, Poland and Ireland. The carefully curated selection of fine spirits and Italian liqueurs celebrates authentic flavours and tradition. But it’s not just about drinks – there’s also a tempting array of Italian cold cuts, cheeses, pasta, sauces, biscuits and gourmet groceries.
The real standouts? Their range of authentic Italian limoncello, grappa, and cream liqueurs in various flavours, including a popular pistachio version that’s become a fast favourite. The team is also happy to help you create custom gift boxes filled with gourmet Italian treats, distinctive wines and unique products.
The space itself is warm and inviting, with a relaxed Italian atmosphere. There’s even a cosy tasting area where you can settle in with a glass of wine or one of their signature charcuterie platters.
Weekly rotating wine tastings and a monthly menu featuring new wines by the glass, spritzes, aperitivi and cocktails keep things fresh. Once a month, they host a Happy Hour event serving classic Italian Aperitivo. Cin cin!
C06/2 Furzer Street, Phillip | devinowineandsalumi.com.au
Things of Desire
After more than 25 years in Manuka, Angela and Alan attempted retirement in 2023. That experiment lasted about five minutes. Turns out retirement is overrated when you’ve got a passion for European fashion, interesting art, and – perhaps most importantly – customers who’ve become friends over three decades. So they’ve returned with Things of Desire (TOD for short), now operating from new, (three times) bigger premises with an art space added to the mix.
The shop specialises in classic European ladies’ fashion with a twist – pieces that stand out. Ange and Alan go out of their way to source items that offer something different, and they keep stock deliberately limited to just two or three pieces per style. You won’t risk spotting yourself at the local soirée, which is rather the point.
Their standout offerings include unique, one-of-a-kind dresses and jackets alongside Italian leather bags from Tuscany’s high-end manufacturers. These aren’t trendy fast-fashion pieces that’ll date by next season – they’re wardrobe staples that last the distance, becoming favourites along the way. This is what investment dressing looks like.
The space itself is rather special, housed in a National Trust Building in the heart of Manuka. Surrounded by gardens, it’s an interesting and charming environment for browsing their carefully curated collection.
For anyone who appreciates quality, craftsmanship and pieces with genuine character, Things of Desire offers exactly that.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm | 34 Bougainville Street, Manuka | 0412955911 | todesireartspace.com.au
Plonk
Established in 2006, Plonk has earned its place as one of Canberra’s most iconic bottle shops. Proudly independent and family owned, it stocks an eye-watering collection: 200 local drops, 800 Australian and international wines, 1,200 craft beers, and an extensive selection of spirits.
Located in Fyshwick Markets, Plonk specialises in hard-to-find wines, beers, ciders and spirits. The team is friendly and genuinely happy to help you decide what to take home or choose as a gift. Among the standouts is an extensive range of Japanese sake – a rarity in Canberra bottle shops.
This Christmas, they’re offering a craft beer advent calendar packed with 25 delicious beers – the perfect gift for any beer enthusiast. Whether you’re after something familiar or ready to discover something new, the staff will guide you through the collection with expert knowledge and enthusiasm.
Plonk also offers free delivery in Canberra for orders over $150 and can deliver anywhere in Australia. Short on time? Use their click-and-collect service – your order will be waiting when you arrive.
G17, Fyshwick Markets, 12 Dalby Street. Fyshwick | plonk.net.au
Momento Dezigns
Roslyn Wright spotted a gap in Canberra’s fashion landscape and decided to step in. It was then followed by the launch of their online fashion store frockaholics.com. For over 20 years, Manuka’s Momento Dezigns has continued to be the destination for the local and interstate fashionistas.
Momento brings together unique Australian and international fashion designers under one roof. They offer women access to a variety of labels for all sizes and occasions, day or formal, that simply aren’t available elsewhere in the capital.
Momento boutique specialises in female fashion and accessories to complement a constantly evolving collection of the most desirable standout designers, e.g. Camilla, Alemais, Johnny Was, Mela Purdie, Leo Lin… These aren’t labels you’ll stumble across everywhere (very important in our big country town!). You can find these 50+ designers on their frockaholics.com website.
The Momento Dezigns space moves with seasons and trends, always offering something fresh (new styles arriving weekly!) for women who appreciate distinctive style and exceptional customer service. For those seeking everyday chic or designer statements, Momento Dezigns delivers both in abundance.
Shop 4/11/17 Bougainville Street, Griffith | frockaholics.com
