539 Best Places to Shop in Canada

This is the original location of the popular chocolate company started by a family of Syrian refugees who fled the war and found a warm welcome in Antigonish. Both a book and movie have been made about this amazing family.

On Lunenburg's gallery row, this contemporary artist-cooperative gallery represents more than a dozen artists and has been recognized by the provincial government for its contribution to local art and culture.

For beautiful locally made handicrafts, this two-story gallery is your best bet. Expect modern pieces that show off PEI's most interesting craftspeople, from watercolor hand-painted cards to ceramics, to weavings and quilts. 

Store owner Pete Luckett's lively personality and passion for fresh produce made him a star of Canadian TV, and they keep customers pouring in to his "frootique" stores. Stop by the vast Halifax flagship for a quick bite in the café or a ready-made gourmet sandwich for a picnic at the nearby Public Gardens.

Piazza Salumi is an excellent Italian fine food shop and delicatessen with a sandwich counter preparing some of the best focaccia sandwiches in Montréal. The ready-to-eat counter serves arancini, pasta dishes and Roman-style pizza (made with foccacia bread and cut in rectangles) slices.

Craftspeople sell quality goods at this lively waterfront market that takes place on weekends between 10 and 5 from mid-June through mid-September.

Much of the lead-free pewter giftware and jewelry created here and on display in the bright showroom is inspired by Celtic designs.

Thirty-nine stores provide a day of one-stop shopping for everything from groceries to gifts. A major supermarket and two major Canadian department stores are here. Also find shops that specialize in books, luggage, sporting goods, natural health and beauty, and kitchen supplies. The ATM, cell phone spots, and hair salons are handy.

Only original, handmade items by local artists are displayed in the shop right at the port. Jewelry, paintings, and woodwork are wonderful souvenirs sure to evoke fond memories of the beautiful shores where they were created. Artists are often on-site and happy to chat about their work and the area.

The range of artists represented at the Plaza Galleries is inspired. Many, such as acclaimed artist Kal Gajoum, hail from British Columbia, though you're just as likely to see the efforts of international names, too.

The avant-garde designs of this luxury Italian fashion house are overshadowed only by the gleaming interior of the store and the traffic-stopping window displays.

There are 60 shops at this complex directly beneath Christ Church Cathedral, including Canada's largest Linen Chest outlet, with hundreds of bedspreads and duvets, plus aisles of china, crystal, linen, and silver. The food court is spacious and comfortable.

Known for its ultra-soft cotton tees, cozy sweats, and classic knits, this proudly Canadian brand puts thoughtful design and local manufacturing front and center. The store's Ossington location is a calm, minimalist haven nestled in the neighborhood bustle. Everything here is made and designed in Canada. Consider it a love letter to relaxed, homegrown style.

Those in need of a souvenir tee should skip the tourist-trap shops and make a beeline for this local brand's soothing all-white boutique, where you can pick up stylish T-shirts, joggers, and sweaters—all manufactured in Canada.

This home decor shop is very romantic, and very turn-of-the-century. Everywhere you look, you'll see antiques, mid-century furniture, and home accessories piled so high that they scrape the chandeliers. There's an impressive array of French toiletries, as well as frilly frocks and fairy wings for children's flights of fancy.

Tasteful modern design pieces such as Herman Miller lounge chairs, Vipp coffee tables, and Foscarini lamps are just a sampling of the high-end design you'll find here—there's not a knockoff in sight. There are also sleek modern homewares for the kitchen and bathroom as well.

"QUILTBAG" is a fun-to-say variation of the LGBTQ2S+ acronym, and in this case refers to a unique retail shop that carries queer and trans wares. You’ll find an eclectic collection of custom and curated accessories like pins, pronoun buttons, patches, stickers; art by local artists; small gifts; and trans gear including chest binders and compression underwear.

Need a stylish gift for someone back home? You'll likely find something suitable at this cute boutique, where the shelves are lined with greeting cards, puzzles, kids' books, and locally designed wares like tea towels and jewelry.

Small contemporary gallery showcasing works by local artists with covetable prints, ceramics, and jewelry for sale. 

Tucked away in the basement level of the Complexe Desjardins shopping mall, this outlet of the vast French-language book chain is chockablock with books in French and English, magazines, and music.

This lively market between the South Main shopping area and Queen Elizabeth Park runs almost year-round. Dozens of vendors including bakers, farmers, and florists set up shop each Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Breezy and wearable styles—from dresses and blouses to trendy accessories—fill this boutique founded by two sisters. Here, linen and bamboo basics share space with Levi’s jeans and colorful pieces from indie brands.

The multi-use space is home to the family-owned and operated ACME Meat Market, the Little Duchess Bake Shop where everything is made daily in-house from scratch, and the excellent Transcend Coffee & Roastery.

Owners Carla Hadlock and Anita Laurent—the latter a former model—know fashion and style, and have many contacts in the business, so their collection of clothing and accessories includes many items obtained straight from manufacturers. You'll love the prices, too, which are a fraction of what you'd pay in a large retail store.

Bring the great outdoors in, courtesy of this longtime Canadian chain with a beaver emblem. There are lots of casual neutrals for men, women, and kids, with pops of colorful sportswear thrown in for good measure.

This Canadian-owned enterprise is known for its sweatshirts and cozy casuals, and it's something of a fixture in Whistler. In the past it has outfitted the Canadian Olympic team, and has clothed many U.S. and U.K. Olympians.