18 Best Shopping in The Old Port, Portland

For the fanciest knickers in downtown Portland and one of the best bra fittings around, head to Aristelle. It's where to find elegant undergarments and lingerie, as well as naughty little numbers that would make Bettie Page blush.

A smart menswear boutique (and mainstay of the Old Port) that will have you looking suave in no time. Most impressive is the shop's balance of contemporary, casual pieces and custom men's suiting.

Owned and operated by a former fashion designer, this stunning, well-curated concept boutique features women's apparel, shoes, accessories, and contemporary housewares. The stock can be quite pricey, but these are high-quality investment pieces meant to build a wardrobe around.

The brand's flagship location displays totes in every shape and size made from recycled sailcloth and decorated with bright, graphic patterns. Check out the display that shows you exactly how a sail is used to create all the different bags and accessories. The factory store, located just a few blocks away on the Custom House Wharf, is where the bags are actually sewn; you can find some factory sales as well. 

Whether you’re looking to use it yourself or give it as a gift to your favorite home cook, the kitchen goods from this family-owned, Maine-based company are unusually delicious and useful. Spices are the focal point, and they’re inspired by far-flung destinations but made in nearby Brunswick. But the growing cookbook selection is commendable, too; it spotlights Maine authors and ingredients. And then there’s the nifty hodgepodge of kitchen wares—handmade ceramic oyster platters from local artisans, sleekly designed pepper mills, and spoon rests made of black marble and acacia wood.

An instant mood-lifter, this shop is chock-full of offbeat toys and novelty items that are certain to delight children of all ages.

This appealing crafts gallery has gift items in glass, wood, and textiles, as well as fine modern jewelry.

For reproduction and antique furnishings with a Far East feel, head to this stylish showroom on the waterfront.

Your kitchen may never be the same after visiting this veritable trove of cooking and home accessories. Mismatched, vintage flatware, glasses, and plates provide the makings of a whimsical dining table, and equally charming block-printed pillowcases, handmade quilts, gauzy blankets, and hand-turned wooden candlesticks are the kind of gifts you wind up keeping for yourself. The baby clothing section is equally irresistible, filled with muslin sunhats, organic sleeping sacs covered in sailboats, and woolen mobiles of hovering storks.

Hip boutique Bliss stocks clothing and accessories by cutting-edge designers, plus jeans by big names like J Brand and Mother. There's also a great selection of Frye boots.

The high-quality, recreational cannibis sold here is acquired through local, independent growers and producers. The shop sells everything from vape pens and edibles to topicals and concentrates—and sees to it that the growers are diligent in providing only clean products, without any additives, pesticides, or molds.

Shelves here are covered in inspired finds—from ornately printed tea towels and handmade lavender-oat soap to graphic and colorful dinner plates made of bamboo. The baby section teems with unusually darling items—gingham bonnets, quilted bibs in pretty prints, and print-covered footies.

The contemporary art at this gallery changes with the seasons. Artists represented include David Driskell, an artist and leading art scholar.

This shop is known for its good service, author readings, and excellent selection of new and used books and magazines. Even if you go in looking for something specific, you'll almost certainly stumble on something even better you didn't know about before.

With flavored and pure exotic salts culled from just about every corner of the world, you might well say that this gift shop (housed, yes, in a cellar) is entirely worth its salt. While you're here, check out the Salt Vault, a halotherapy spa area—$50 gets you a 50-minute session that is claimed to help alleviate respiratory ailments such as asthma and skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

A gorgeous selection of Scandinavian home and design imports fills this eye-popping boutique, with an emphasis on exquisite crafts.