29 Best Shopping in Portland, Maine

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.

Maine islander Angela Adams specializes in simple but bold geometric motifs parlayed into dramatic rugs (custom, too), canvas totes, bedding, and other home accessories. The shop also carries sleek wood furniture from her husband's woodshop.

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.

Maine leads the way in whoopie pie adoration, and gourmet shops like this one offer up all kinds of imaginative flavors including chocolate cakes with chocolate hazelnut and cayenne cream, vanilla cakes with maple cream, or seasonal options like pumpkin cakes with cream cheese cream and Granny Smith apple spiced cake with caramel cream. There are even gluten-free options. And the best part? They can be shipped all over the continental United States.

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.

Fermentation is the name of the entire game at this quirky and Onggi (pronounced “Ong-gee”), named after the Korean vessels in which fermentations like soy sauce, kimchi, and rice wine are made. Owned by a young trio of self-titled “fermentation nerds,” the friendly shop peddles an array of fantastic—and mostly small-batch—products: the likes of Taiwanese soy pastes; preserved Moroccan Meyer lemon paste; ponzu sauces with yuzu; and mushroom ale vinegars. 

A fixer-upper's dream, Portland Architectural Salvage has four floors of unusual finds from old buildings, including fixtures, hardware, and stained-glass windows, as well as assorted antiques.

Head to the city's Bayside neighborhood for the Portland Flea-for-All, where you'll find all sorts of vintage eye candy from an ever-rotating array of antiques, original art, and goods from artisan vendors—a fun excursion, whether or not you actually buy anything.

Vintage clothing enthusiasts find a constantly evolving collection of women’s and men’s pieces on these racks, alongside new numbers—linen maxi skirts, silk tunics, and flowing kimonos—from local designers. The apothecary section carries retro manicure and beard trimming sets, as well as fragrances from Maison Louis Marie.

With its emphasis on high-value merchandise—from Timberland shoes and Carhartt jackets to locally made products like Maine Chefs Wild Blueberry Jam, Raye’s Mustard, and bamboo cutting boards made into a map of Maine—this third-generation family-run Maine-centric department has been serving Mainers since 1949. There are 17 stores around the state, but this location is an excellent place to pick up clever souvenirs, a sweater for chilly nights, gifts for folks back home, or just a home accessory to reinforce your love of the Pine Tree State.

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.

With a knowledgeable crew of "budtenders," Seaweed Co.'s flagship location is unusually spacious, with plenty of room to gather with fellow enthusiasts or the staff and learn more about the products that range from flower to sleep aids and edibles to tinctures. The bright and sunny store is lined in blonde woods and tables filled with products, and sitting areas indoors and out. Food trucks, live music, and events sometimes make a showing. There is a second, smaller location in Portland's Bayside neighborhood.

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

Clean and high-quality recreational cannabis—in forms ranging from edibles and concentrates to topicals—is the focus of this local company, started in 2015 by a husband-and-wife team. Sustainability is also a concern; the duo champions organic growing practices, growing plants in living soil, rich in organic matter and beneficial microbes, with clean water. 

Maine's largest shopping mall (and the second largest in northern New England) is enclosed and has a full stable of the expected national and international retail shops including Pottery Barn, Apple, Banana Republic, H&M, and Sephora. Mixed in, however, are regional and local stores, too. Department stores include Macy's and JC Penney, and the food court offers healthier options like Red Mango and a Mediterranean grill on top of the usual fast food.