By Bryanna SantosIn this story:
If you’re searching for a truly special way to celebrate a friend, unique experience gifts are a heartfelt way to show how much you care. With a variety of experience gifts for friends, from art and craft workshops to cooking and mixology classes, you can find something that perfectly matches their personality and interests. Whether they’re an introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere in between — or whether their Zodiac sign leans creative or practical — there’s a class they’re sure to love. It’s a thoughtful, personalized way to celebrate every type of friend in 2026 while giving them a memory they’ll treasure.
Our classes are located from the West Coast to the East Coast and focus on nurturing and expressing your own unique creativity. By gifting your friends and family meaningful experiences on special occasions, you’re giving them the chance to embrace their individuality while learning techniques and skills to create one-of-a-kind artwork, distinctive culinary creations, and so much more. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
Check out this handy breakdown to discover our top 15 unique gift ideas sure to suit any taste.
For The Nature Lover
Do you have a buddy who wants nothing more than a mountain to climb and a starry sky to gaze at? When it comes to picking gifts for nature lovers, why not lean into their passions with a class that lets them do what they love the most - play with plants and dirt!
1. Terrarium and Sip Plant Workshop
We have gifts for plant lovers of every kind, even those who struggle to keep their house plants alive (nobody said loving Mother Nature and being a plant mom necessarily go hand-in-hand!). If that's the case, then a terrarium sip and plant workshop in NYC is a fantastic option because terrariums are fully self-sustaining! With a DIY terrarium class, your friend will have a blast crafting their own unique little natural world. Afterward, they'll get to bring it home to add a touch of nature to their dwelling.
2. Bonsai Workshop
For a more meditative, nature-centered gift, this bonsai workshop in NYC is a wonderful choice for relaxing and learning the ancient art of bonsai — discovering how to prune, shape, and care for these miniature trees. It’s the perfect way for nature lovers to slow down, connect with the living world, and craft something beautiful that will continue to grow over time.
3. DIY Wall Moss Art
If you’re looking for something more decorative, a DIY wall moss art workshop is a great place to start. Your friend will get to play with lush mosses, earthy textures, and natural materials to design their very own piece of green art. It’s a fun activity that brings a bit of the forest indoors — no watering or plant care needed! This class is perfect for anyone who loves nature but also appreciates a cozy, low-maintenance project.
For The Introvert
Ah, the introvert. How many books and socks can you give one person? For your introverted friend, gifting experiences rather than a traditional wrapped present is a great fit because you can introduce them to a special new hobby to do at home.
4. Candle Making
A candle making class in LA is a calming, hands-on way to spark creativity and learn a craft that keeps on giving. Your friend can explore and master the essentials of creating beautiful, personalized candles from scratch. And when the candle runs out, they’ll have the skills to keep making more at home, experimenting with new scents and styles. For those looking for experience gifts for friends, a candle-making class or kit is a thoughtful choice for Christmas, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion. It’s creative, meaningful, and perfectly cozy.
5. Handmade Bath Bomb
If your friend prefers something even cozier like a relaxing bubble bath, the this bath bomb making class in Seattle might be the answer. Your friend can learn how to make a batch of bath bombs that are great for setting the perfect aroma for a self care day. As one of the best experience gifts for best friends who love staying in, this class is relaxing, creative, and they’ll end up with the perfect gift to use when they need some extra TLC.
6. Blanket Knitting
If your friend prefers something even cozier, there’s nothing better than a virtual knitting class that lets them create comfort from scratch. Your friend can learn how to hand-knit their very own soft, oversized blanket right from the comfort of their couch. It’s a soothing, hands-on activity that’s ideal for unwinding after a long day. By the end, they’ll have a gorgeous handmade blanket to snuggle up in. As one of the best experience gifts for best friends who love staying in, this class is relaxing, creative, and they’ll end up with the perfect gift to use with a good book and some tea.
For The Foodie
If you have a friend whose go-to night out is dinner at a restaurant, then treating them to a cooking class would be a great way to mix things up! Even if your friend is already a great cook, with our experience gifts for foodies, they can expand their horizons by learning a whole new cuisine from talented chefs hailing from India, Italy, and plenty of other food-forward countries.
We have a range of options for cooking classes, from in-person lessons at local restaurants and culinary schools in NYC and the Bay Area to online classes that feature either ingredient kits shipped to you or shopping lists detailing what to purchase. No matter what, at the end of every class, there will be a delicious meal to enjoy.
7. Italian Cooking Class
Every foodie enjoys classic Italian cuisine, so an Italian cooking class is the perfect gift experience in LA to learn a new recipe or two. Your friend will roll up their sleeves, learn new techniques, and master delicious recipes under the guidance of a professional chef. A cooking class offers the perfect blend of learning and enjoyment. The best part? They get to taste the dishes they’ve made from scratch.
8. Croissant Making Class
For friends who love baking (and buttery pastries!), this croissant making class in Chicago is one of the greatest best friend experience gifts, teaching them how to make a staple pastry. In this baking workshop, they’ll learn how to create flaky, golden croissants from scratch, mastering techniques that elevate their home baking skills.
9. Charcuterie Board Making Workshop
For food lovers who want to walk about with something practical that they can use in the kitchen, this charcuterie board wood burning workshop in SF is a perfect gift for foodies. In this class, your friend will learn to create a personalized wooden board using wood-burning techniques, combining artistry and culinary flair. By the end, they’ll have a custom board to showcase cheeses, meats, and snacks — or to give as a unique, handmade gift.
For The Party Animal
There’s always that one friend who brings the party wherever they go. Their energy is magnetic, their laughter infectious, and they somehow make every moment feel like a celebration. For the friend who’s no stranger to a night out on the town, gift them a new kind of experience that channels their fun-loving spirit in a fresh way. Whether it’s a cocktail-making class where they can shake things up behind the bar or a creative experience that ends with laughter and cheers, this kind of gift lets the good times keep rolling.
10. Cocktail Making Class
If you have a friend who is always the life of the party, chances are they already know where the best bars and nightclubs are. When you're looking for a special gift for him or her, cocktail making classes are a great option. Hosted by professional mixologists, classes can be held at local bars, or they can travel to you and set up at your location. You can also book into online classes, which feature DIY cocktail kits mailed to you and instruction provided via an online class.
11. Perfume Making Workshop
For the friend who loves to stand out and celebrate in style, a perfume making workshops — like this one in San Jose — make unique and memorable best friend experience gifts. Your extraverted friend will explore the world of fragrance, learning how to blend top, middle, and base notes to create a signature scent that’s completely their own. It’s a playful, creative way to express personality and style, perfect for a party animal who loves trying new things and making an impression.
12. Painting and DJ Workshop
If your friend loves a high-energy, unforgettable night out, this glow-in-the-dark painting and DJ workshop in NYC is one of the best gifts for creatives. In this lively class, they’ll express their imagination on a glowing canvas while grooving to live DJ beats. It’s the perfect mix of art, music, and good vibes, ideal for anyone who thrives on social, immersive experiences.
For The Free Spirit
We all know someone who has their head in the clouds and truly believes that the world is their oyster. You can’t help but marvel at their free spirit, full of life and creativity. An art class is the perfect experience gift because it allows them to take that beautiful imagination of theirs and put it into a new medium.
13. Resin Art
For your friend who always colors outside the lines, resin art classes make unique gift experiences that will fit their personality perfectly. Whether it's pour art on a canvas or resin coaster making, it involves creating colorful abstract pieces of art through a technique that will be taught to you in class.
14. Custom Sneakers
For the friend who marches to the beat of their own drum, this sneaker customization workshop in LA is a perfect experience gift for free spirits. They’ll learn techniques to design and personalize their own sneakers, from painting and dyeing to adding unique embellishments. It’s a playful way to express their individuality, letting them create footwear that’s uniquely their own.
15. Graffiti Workshop
If you’re looking to gift something with a little more movement, a graffiti workshop might just hit the mark. It’s a fun, liberating way to showcase personality, color, and style on a larger canvas than usual, and they can move as freely as their spirits do.
There are a variety of experience gifts for friends across the US, perfect for any friend's personality type. From introverts to party animals and free spirits to foodies, gifting an experience to a friend is better than any material gift. Not only can you build a memory together, but they can leave with something made entirely by themselves.
