Whales and Friends is a great store for gifts and decorations, and I have been going there for a long time. I do have two problems however. One is the price (ie, a small pocketknife is $16.99 instead of $3.99 like in many other stores) and second is the cashiers and owners, though they mean well and are kind, can be a little insulting and awkward. Once when I went there when I was 10 they asked me what color the bag was, it was obviously blue, they were like good job, so a little bit annoying and awkward. I went there earlier today and I am a preteen and they asked me if the little blue bird decorative gift stuffed animal that chirps when you press it was for me, I said it was a gift, then they said to me and my mom that baby is going to keep mommy up, they should put a timer on these things so they were assuming it was a mom and baby that we were buying gifts for, the items we bought were : soap, a soap heart rock from kenya, and the bird, which was a gift I had gotten her before a long time ago. The gifts were for my grandma, she doesnt have any bebes.Anyways, sorry for the rant, I hope you can see where I am coming from. The voice they talk to me in is the one you would use on a toddler who doesnt know what color a bag is. Over all a good store to get gifts, even though it is a little pricy. 3.6 stars.

Lovely little shop. Been buying gifts for my family since I was a kid. Always beautiful, friendly and will gift wrap each item.

Lovely, unique finds. Attentive but not overbearing help. If youre in the neighborhood, check it out.

Always love this store. Good vibe inside, nice music, always ask to help you. Can truly pick up a nice gift and they wrap it nicely for you.

This store is beautiful! Great local treasures. My wife and I are into nautical things in a big way, so this shop was particularly exciting for us. The staff are super-friendly, and they know their inventory. Feel free to browse, but if you are looking for a particular item, these folks should be able to help you out.In general, items tend to be on the pricier side, but they have so many cute things that would be tough to find anywhere else.

Theres a reason Whales and Friends is consistently voted best gift shop every year by the readers of Alameda Magazine, its their stellar customer service and the uniqueness of the items they sell. Go there! Trust me, you wont be disappointed. Christine and Bonnie are so helpful if you have an idea or a price range in mind to help you find just the right gift and youre supporting a local small business. Everyone wins!

They advertise as a store with hand crafted artisan products. But in actual fact most of their products are mass produced knockoffs.

So much of a variety of everything pretty and handcrafted. Great service too! They also do FREE gift wrapping.

Hands Down the best gift shop ANYWHERE!

Love the unique gifts I find here and the women who work here are genuinely kind and helpful. You wont be sorry.

As if you walked into a gift wonderland 😄❤👍