538 Best Places to Shop in Canada

This bright and spacious store stocks crafts, ceramics, and affordable artworks from emerging Canadian artists, as well as fun and funky giftware and apparel. 

With thousands of books, crafts, artwork, music recordings, and souvenirs created by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, this shop occupying two adjacent late-1850s shopfronts is a great place to pick up a homegrown memento.

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza at Georgia and Hamilton Streets is the venue for this lively urban market. Baked treats, artisanal food, crafts, and local beer, wine, and spirits share space with fresh fruit and veggies. The market runs Thursday 3 to 7 pm, from June through October.

This tiny shop showcases a variety of wares by up-and-coming local designers. The creative selections target the hip twentysomething crowd.

Designed in British Columbia, these jeans and chinos are made for biking, climbing, or even the boardroom. The secret is their breathable, stretchy fabrics with reinforced stitching in the necessary "pain" points along with trendy cuts and colors.

Feminine, Korean-inspired styles such as slip dresses, wide-leg trousers, blouse-y tops, and delicate jewelry are sold at Durumi.

This is the place to go in Ottawa for creations by local designers such as Richard Robinson (447 Sussex Dr.) or Justina McCaffrey (465 Sussex Dr.).

This charming general store is owned by a young family who've created a gorgeous space to pick up fresh-baked-in-store bread, locally made jerky, produce, and all manner of locally sourced goodies from chocolates to maple syrup. 

Artists that run this center present everything from paintings and drawings to performance and video art from emerging talents. In August each year, this artists' collective puts on "Hold Fast," a contemporary arts festival with events and installations throughout the city.

Built more than a century ago, Edifice Belgo houses more than two dozen art galleries and artists' studios exhibiting the works of both established and emerging artists.  Each gallery or atelier maintains different hours, so it's best to call ahead or check website.

This art galleryesque space is a treasure trove of distinctive, artful, and sometimes playful, objects--both functional and decorative. Carefully selected by graphic designer and owner André Gratton, the rare items range from vases and candle holders to tableaux, jewelry, light fixtures, and design-inspired puzzles created by Canadian and international artisans. Whether you're looking for a special gift, a conversation piece or something to adorn that empty wall, you're sure to find something at Édition | Objets Choisis.

Designer duds happily share space with inexpensive but in-vogue items at this low-key Downtown boutique with a devoted cult following. 

This summer market has a friendly, open atmosphere and some of the tastiest farm-fresh produce, locally raised meats, fresh-baked bread, and a variety of sweet treats. You’ll also find handcrafted jewelry, local art, one-of-a-kind clothing, and fresh-cut flowers. It's open 10 am to 3 pm every Saturday from mid-June to mid-October.

This women's fashion boutique specializes in Canadian clothing lines, footwear, and accessories.

Some of the province's most prominent and established artists show their works here in this peaceful space just across from the Convention Center.

Artistic endeavors are catered to here, with all kinds of art and craft supplies and stationery, funky toys (some of which are hand-made), science kits, and games that appeal to all ages.

Stop by the Épicerie Européenne in the St-Jean-Baptiste quarter, and let the knowledgeable consultants help you choose from their excellent selection of cheeses.

This is the oldest continuously operating grocery store in Québec City, stocked with a great selection of charcuterie, cheese, fruit and vegetables, local beers, specialty sodas, spices, and much more.

Remember shag rugs? Mushroom lamps? Eero Aarnio ball chairs? Espace Vintage, which specializes in pieces from the 1950s to the 1980s, might just have one in stock, along with other furnishings, lamps, vases, and household collectibles from the era.

Local fashionistas swear by this cozy little shop and its well-curated racks of clothing, shoes, and accessories for both men and women. Local and international designers are featured.

In winter you can buy off-the-rack skis and boots, as well as order custom-made boots. In summer the shop specializes in top-of-the-line mountain bikes as well as bike repairs.

Normand Brandford's paintings and prints reflect his affinity with farm animals—some living examples of the subject matter look on from the surrounding pastures—as well as local wildlife, landscapes, and nostalgic scenes.

On Saturday between mid-May and mid-October, check out the Farmers' Market outside the Miners Bay Agricultural Hall. Open from 10 to 1, it sells produce and crafts while local musicians entertain shoppers.

Browse traditional, as well as contemporary and even avant-garde art from the Canadian Arctic—a far cry from the traditional whale carvings and stone-cut prints you may expect—at this family-owned gallery founded in 1961.

Old Town Toronto’s only year-round Christmas store is also one of the neighborhood’s oldest gift shops. The owners, proud members and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community, fill their cozy space with imported and handmade European ornaments, along with off-season finds like Canadian souvenirs and home decor. Known for its quirky charm, the shop has even drawn celebrities like Liza Minnelli, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Halle Berry. It’s a great spot for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Small, friendly, and reputable, this commercial gallery represents around 50 Atlantic Canadian artists, with works including fine art, prints, sculpture, crafts, and photography. Exhibitions change every three to five weeks.

It's hard to miss this Saturday-morning market because of the crowds. It's one of the finest markets in Canada, operating since 1951, with the building and surrounding space housing more than 200 local suppliers. Local and organic meat and produce, cheeses, baked goods, maple syrup, crafts, and seasonal items such as wreaths and garden furniture are on offer. Good ready-to-eat food is available as well, from German sausages to tasty samosas. Good luck finding a parking spot, here or on surrounding streets!

This bright and modern gallery showcases local folk art woodcarvings, screenprinting, jewelry, and all manner of made-in-the-Maritimes handicrafts. Some say that the attached café serves the best coffee in Cape Breton, and once you try their baked goods you'll want to grab a few extras for the road. 

La Fromagerie des Grondines is an entirely organic cheese factory in Portneuf County, not far from Quebec City, specializing in the artisanal production of organic raw milk cheeses from cows, goats, and sheep. It recently opened a tasting counter in the heart of the St-Roch district, where it sells its own cheeses as well as products from other Quebec artisans. Their 12-month Le Clos-des-Roches is an absolute delight.