161 Best Places to Shop in Maine, USA

This unassuming, two-story space focuses on contemporary painting and sculpture. The gallery is often used as a venue for performance art and poetry readings as well. 

This nonprofit gallery, fondly referred to as DIAA, comprises works from local artists with rotating exhibits every two weeks during the summer months. 

Facing the harbor, this tiny shop stocks an eclectic selection of gifts and souvenirs from Maine and marine books to handcrafted and nautical items.

Just across the river from Wiscasset, this pottery is renowned for its vibrantly colored, exquisitely glazed porcelain, which is also sold at shops in Portland and York but is all made right here—the original location. The store also carries a fine selection of jewelry, glassware, and glass sculptures.

All over the world at Christmas, folks hang stockings knitted by the proprietor, who you're likely to find needles in hand at this homestead shop. There are large and small stockings and, yes, designs include a red lobster on a green background. Other craft items and used goods, including books, are also sold. From a long line of islanders, the owner displays old family photos and wood toys her great-grandfather made for sale to tourists. 

It can be hard to choose your favorites from the fine olive oils, flavored olive oils, and balsamic vinegars displayed in large, spigoted containers all around the room here. Tasting a drop of a few of them is half the fun, and you'll soon know which ones you just have to add to your culinary repertoire.

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.

Picture windows line the walls of this welcoming corner boutique that sells unique women's attire from the "USA and beyond" including cashmere and cashmere-feel print shawls, leggings in fun prints, and lively dresses for evenings out as well as running about. In business since 2009, Firefly is also known for jewelry: more than 30 of its jewelry and clothing lines are American-made. Several of the former are by Maine artisans.

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.

There's lots of striking contemporary art in this large white-walled fine arts gallery, including the husband-and-wife owners’ acrylic paintings (hers) and limited edition photographic prints (his), some of local waters. The gallery shows works in many mediums, including paintings and sculpture, by more than a dozen Maine artists. The gallery also has three vacation rentals, including lofts.

Creative shop windows showcase an individual artist on a rotating biweekly basis, inviting passersby into Bridgton Art Guild's wide-open tin-ceilinged gallery in a former hardware store. Eclectic and fun—definitely not stuffy—the gallery opened in 2003 and represents more than 40 local and regional artists working in various media. Artists' displays have their bio and photograph. Don't miss the back-corner gift shop with cards, small prints, and the like. Along with hosting wine and cheese receptions and community events, the guild holds classes and workshops—many for a day or half day, so consider signing up.

Head to this gallery for fine pieces created by talented Mainers. It represents more than 75 of the state's artists and craftspeople, and its offerings include pottery, jewelry, glassware, artwork, and handmade chocolates.

The sweet scent of lavender will draw you into this petite shop. Many of the products, including lotions and sachets, are made using lavender from the owner's farm in the nearby countryside. Also on offer are candles, soaps, pottery, Italian and French cosmetics, and locally made and European clothing.

You can buy a vase or sailboat sculpture made of granite in the self-serve shop in one of the small buildings at this old granite quarry. If you blow the horn, as advised, owner Obadiah Bourne Buell may appear. His stone business, also here, makes practical and sculptural granite pieces for gardens and homes, "upcycling" the blocks of granite that are all about. Buell grew up and lives on this ethereal land, where rain long ago filled the old quarries, and has created a large year-round public garden (free, donations welcome) with granite sculptures large and small; granite benches, tables, fire pit, and pizza oven; and trails, flower beds, and charming signage (even when asking folks to stay back from the work area) and more. Ping pong anyone? Yes, the table is granite, and the paddles and balls are provided.

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

It’s worth the trip down the long dirt drive to Gull Rock Pottery. Sculpture dots serene grounds with a knockout view of Cadillac Mountain across Frenchman Bay. The shop sells the owner's dishware and lamps, with either hand-painted blue and white depictions of local wildlife, flowers, and water scenes, or a rust-color or celadon glaze. The etchings, prints, and jewelry are made by the potter's husband, who also created most of the sculpture. Open year-round, but it's by chance or appointment in the off-season.

Founded in 1998, the gallery sits on the edge of Stonington Harbor. It shows contemporary art and landscape paintings. Check out its Facebook page for upcoming events.

Gigi Sarsfield makes fibrous papers that include things like tufts of cattail and small bits of lichen that she finds on walks in the woods or along the sea. You can buy individual sheets or blank books. Lampshades made from the paper are also for sale. 

This exceptional shop specializes in lovely, locally made wares, including jewelry, unusual gifts, and baby items. Just up the street, its sister store, Hatch Home, features new and antique accents for the home as well as a wide color selection of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.

Craftsman Temple Blackwood creates and sells wood-turned art and decorative items at his studio, where you can also sign up for a woodturning demonstration or workshop. 

Heron-patterned dinnerware is one of the specialties at Hog Bay Pottery, which also sells knitted items and handspun and natural-died yarns. A husband and wife run this year-round homestead shop: he's the potter, she's the knitter and spinner.

There's something charmingly old-school about this pretty boutique, with its warm and friendly service and fine displays of women's clothing, accessories, and beauty products. Geared toward elegant but no-fuss women of every age, the shop stocks clothing items such as fine cashmere shawls; pretty but not froufrou lingerie; and sophisticated loungewear as well as a good selection of natural beauty products and fragrances, unique jewelry, and inspiring books.

Works by more than 100 Maine artisans are sold here, including basketry, pottery, fiber work, embossed paper, wood bowls and objects, and jewelry.

Before crossing the cribstone bridge to Bailey Island, stop at this sweet little cottage—complete with a picket-fenced flower garden—for some old-fashioned confections. The brittle, bark, buttercreams, truffles, dipped candied fruit, and fudge that fill the glass cases are all made in the candy kitchen just behind the counter. There's ice cream, too!

Artist Jill Hoy has summered on Deer Isle since she was 10. In 1986, she opened her own gallery to exhibit her contemporary landscapes that can also be seen at the Portland Museum of Art, Harvard Business School, and the Boston Public Library.

With a selection of organic and natural foods, and soup, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and coffee to go, John Edwards Market is a pleasant option whether you’re packing a picnic or stocking the kitchenette at your rental. Downstairs, a wine cellar and an art gallery showcase work by area artists. Wine tastings are on the first Friday of the month 5--7 pm.

Along a several-mile stretch of U.S. 1 in Kittery you can find just about anything—often at deep discounts. Among the stores are Crate & Barrel, Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, Kate Spade New York, and J. Crew; spend a rainy afternoon hunting for deals, or head to the nearby Kittery Trading Post ( 301 U.S. 1), a destination for fishing, boating, camping, and other types of outdoor accoutrements.

Akin to Freeport’s L.L. Bean for camping, this destination stocks fishing, boating, camping, and other types of outdoor accoutrements. In business since 1938, the company continues to grow and offers various outdoor seminars and instruction.

This shop sells fun and functional wares—from aprons and tea towels to plush toys and puzzles—with a decidedly Maine theme. It's also a good place to stock up on Brooklin, Maine, caps, T-shirts, and mugs. There's also a branch in Blue Hill.

Belfast is blessed with multiple small bookshops, including Left Bank Books, located in the historic opera house building just off Main Street in the heart of downtown. It's the sort of place where you begin seeing books you want as soon as you step in the door. And if you don't, the knowledgeable staff will find it for you or happily order it. Books by Maine authors—many of them autographed—are a specialty.