539 Best Places to Shop in Canada

The leading female designer in Québec (and one who's celebrated throughout Canada), Marie Saint-Pierre is known for her signature pleats and ruffles—think sleek and sophisticated rather than frilly. Now she's lending her avant-garde touch to bridal wear.

Vancouver's go-to outdoor store since the 1970s, MEC stocks a good selection of high-performance clothing and equipment for hiking, cycling, climbing, and kayaking—and for just looking good while hanging around outdoors. You can rent sports gear here, too. A one-time C$5 membership is required for purchases or rentals. 

MEC (rhymes with \"check\"), the much-beloved Toronto spot for anyone remotely interested in camping, sells wares for minor and major expeditions. It's also a go-to spot for cycling gear. The vast assortment of backpacks means you can shop here for anything from a schoolbag to something that will accompany you on travels around the world. For C$5, you get lifetime membership to the co-op.

This cornerstone of Montréal's English-language literary scene for over 40 years carries the usual selection of mysteries and thrillers, but it also stocks a wide range of Canadian works. It's a favorite with visiting authors, who stop by to read from their latest releases. Sip on a coffee from the adjacent Second Cup coffee shop while you peruse the stacks.

This shopping emporium is anchored on the first floor by Posie Row, a clothing and gift boutique with imported fashion items, beautiful stationery, jewelry, and more. The next three floors house a collection of local retailers selling everything from yarn and quilting fabric to house-made soaps and artist's prints.

This little boutique showcases beautiful ballerina flats handmade in Spain. Available in a wide variety of colors and styles, you'll find it difficult to limit yourself to just one pair. You'll also find Barbour handbags—a canvas tote might be the perfect accessory to complement your new flats.

Hogg Hardware is much more than a hardware store. In-the-know locals come here to find that special gift or to satisfy a craving for British teas, jams and junk food. Depending on the season, Hogg stocks everything from patio furniture, essential oils, scent diffusers, decorative candles, wool blankets, winter shawls, Christmas decorations, ceramic planters, nature books, marzipan calissons from Aix-en-Provence, Simpkins travel sweets from the UK, and so much more. Watch your wallet; you're likely to leave here with more than one item.

The longtime favorite brand for leather jackets, varsity jackets, bags, and basics is crafted from tumbled leather and stamped with the country's national icon, the beaver. The homegrown company's impressive Bloor St. store showcases the more modern styling possibilities of their laid-back offerings.

Music lovers in the know come here for underground and independent music from Canada, the United States, and beyond. Whether you're a hardcore collector who wants to flip through the new secondhand record arrivals or just a casual fan with a record player, it's a long-running paradise of vinyl.

Everyone from casual readers to serious book collectors will find something at this Mile End gem, where the stacks of literature are complemented by a vast selection of books on philosophy, science, and religion. The owner and his employees are friendly and well-read.

This is the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in Canada, dating from 1876, and the building occupies a whole city block between Germain and Charlotte streets. Inside, it's a lively and bustling shoppers' dream-come-true, with a wide range of temptations—fresh and organic produce from local farms, live and fresh-cooked lobsters, artisan cheeses, dulse, international foods, craft beers, local wine, and tasty, inexpensive snacks. Local artists and artisans are also represented, making this a great stop for souvenirs and arts and crafts.

Locals and visitors alike flock to Ganges for the famous Saturday Market, held in Centennial Park from April through October. It's one of the island's most popular attractions. Everything sold at this colorful outdoor bazaar is made or grown on the island; the array and quality of crafts, food, and produce is dazzling. Centennial Park also hosts a farmers' market on summer Tuesdays. A two-hour (maximum) dog-sitting service is available for $10.

One of the top shoe stores in Montréal, hands down, Scarpa, which means "shoe" in Italian, has been in business since 2008. From espadrilles, flats, and pumps to winter boots, sneakers, and strappy sandals, Scarpa shoes are always high quality and consistently on point. The company has its own footwear brand and atelier, which aptly enough is called Ateliers. A smaller collection of men's shoes is also available.

Designed in Montréal and sold around the world, this is couture swimwear at its finest. In a rainbow of colors, these sexy cuts are meant to be displayed—though one of the ethereal cover-ups just might make one reconsider. There's also a collection of men's swim trunks and briefs.

Check out this chain of Asian supermarkets for exotic produce, baked goods, and prepared foods. You can assemble an inexpensive to-go lunch from the extensive hot food counter. In addition to this Chinatown location, there are several other branches around Metro Vancouver.

This sleek little gift shop at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, the cinematic HQ of the Toronto International Film Festival, stocks an ever-changing selection of cinematic paraphernalia linked to TIFF's current programming. The exhaustive inventory of film books includes many difficult-to-find titles, biographies of just about every director you can think of, and studies of even the most obscure film movements. There are also unusual gift items and cute items for children.

Known around Montréal as one of the top menswear destinations, Tozzi is a one-stop shop for the dapper gentleman. Suits, polos, jeans, watches, sunglasses, and cologne—this boutique, spread over four separate addresses on rue Crescent, offers just about everything in a minimalist, serene environment. The brand now also carries women's fashions and housewares.

Stylish Hervé Léger dresses at two for C$500? Style-savvy cofounders Maryam Rafa and Angelica Koinis believe that women should look good and dress well without having to spend a small fortune. Designer denim and fabulous cocktail dresses and evening gowns for half off (or more) have built their reputation.

The carefully selected fiction and nonfiction at Type Books includes local authors, as well as fun cards and gifts. The art and architecture section has pride of place at the front of the shop, and the extensive children's area is in a bright spot up a few steps at the back.

This cheerful boutique is a dream-come-true for owner Audrey Morissette, who adores all things whimsical and feminine. Uniting her love of fashion and decor, the shop is filled with pretty items ranging from jewelry to clothing to candles, as well as ceramics and other household items.

Deep in the heart of the McGill University neighborhood, or the Ghetto as it's known by locals, this award-winning Montréal landmark is bursting with used books (including first editions) and specializes in philosophy, poetry, and literature. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the Lilliputian shop is beloved by locals and visitors alike. As celebrated Montréal novelist Heather O'Neill says, "Everyone says a prayer before walking in so that the roof won’t collapse." Open since 1975, the owners shunned modern technology (including a cash register) until just a few years ago. There's not even a sign, so keep your eyes peeled as you walk along Milton, though the bargain books lining the window are a good clue. The Word made an appearance in the Netflix movie Pieces of a Woman starring Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf.

This multilevel labyrinth of affordable housewares is filled with fine and stylish—and sometimes wacky—designs for the kitchen, bath, and living room. There is also an outpost at 6816 boulevard St-Laurent in Little Italy.

Steps from the boardwalk's southern terminus, this eco-conscious venue is bright, airy, and contemporary. It's open daily, giving you ample opportunity to stock up on edibles and quality crafts from its more than 250 vendors—or to just indulge in the city's best people-watching. Saturday is the best day; vendors don't all show up on other days unless a cruise ship has docked.

This is the biggest and liveliest of the city's public markets. On weekends in summer and fall, crowds swarm the half-acre or so of outdoor produce stalls, looking for the fattest tomatoes, sweetest melons, and juiciest strawberries. Its shops also sell sausage, fish, cheese, bread, pastries, and other delicacies. Early in the morning you might rub elbows with the city's top chefs. The market is in the northern end of the city, but is easy to get to by métro.

Nearly 70 vendors occupy the historic permanent indoor market and sell items such as fish, meats, produce, caviar, and crafts. The building, on the south side of Front Street, was once Toronto's first city hall. The best time to visit is early on Saturday from 5 am, when there's a farmers' market in the building on the north side. Get there after 9 and it quickly becomes the worst time to visit.

One of the most interesting events in Val-David is this ceramic exhibition, held from July through mid-August, which started in 1988. On view is the Japanese-style pottery of 1001 Pots' founder Kinya Ishikawa—as well as pieces by up to 100 other ceramists. Ishikawa's studio also displays work by his wife, Marie-Andrée Benoît, who makes fish-shaped bowls with a texture derived from pressing canvas on the clay. There are workshops for adults and children throughout the exhibition, and there is always at least one artisan on-site. While you're there, take the time to enjoy tea in one of the three beautiful gardens and learn the art of the Japanese tea ceremony.

This elevated consignment boutique is a favorite among in-the-know locals and stylists alike. From dresses to shoes to handbags, expect a rotating edit of designer labels—think Céline, The Row, and Ganni—curated with a keen eye for timeless style and pristine condition. While the space feels low-key, the clientele often isn’t: regulars include some of Toronto’s most stylish insiders. 

Both legendary and of-the-moment designers—Balenciaga, The Row, Jacquemus, and Stella McCartney, to name a few—are gathered here under one roof, along with some of the finest footwear and accessories in town.

The market, which runs May through September, has been providing Edmontonians and visitors with local produce, food products, and arts and crafts for more than a decade. On Sunday, you’ll find it at 102 Avenue and 124 Street; on Thursday it's located at 108 Avenue and 124 Street.

Packed with galleries, interesting shops, and two cafés, this beautifully refurbished industrial building is an essential component of Toronto's contemporary art scene. Check out YYZ Artists' Outlet, which holds consistently engaging shows, or Gallery 44 for contemporary photography. There's also the respected artist collective Red Head Gallery. Don't miss well-stocked Swipe for books on all things design and Spacing for stylish Toronto-themed T-shirts, prints, and knickknacks.