3843 Best Places to Shop in USA

In this eclectic shop, industrial lighting and reclaimed building materials mix with European antique furniture, artwork, porcelain, sculpture, and oddities from the 18th to 20th centuries. An open-air patio outfitted with garden benches, fountains, and other outdoor decor is linked to the main showroom by a warehouse-type gallery stacked almost floor to ceiling with furniture, salvaged doors, and other architectural items.

Chefs and foodies alike hit this shop for their gourmet goods. For more than 30 years, this independently owned shop has sold professional equipment from Mauviel copper to Sabatier knives, along with a large selection of spices and other imports.

The popular online shop also has this minimalist, loftlike, brick-and-mortar space in which to display its well-edited collection of clean-lined designer apparel in monochromatic hues. Unlike the Web store, though, this one only carries women's clothes. Brands like Comme des Garcons, Auralee, and Toujours are perennial favorites; there are also home-decor and beauty products on offer.

With a county-fair atmosphere and proceeds benefiting La Jolla Elementary, this large market features not only fresh produce and flowers, but also paintings from local artists, handmade clothing and jewelry, and a tempting food court serving everything from crepes and tacos to gyros and roasted corn on the cob. The market is open Sunday 9–1 pm.

One block from La Jolla Shores beach, this local institution stocks hip beach and resort wear, plus top-brand surfboards, bodyboards, and wet suits. The shop also rents surf and stand-up paddleboards, beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, and snorkel gear.

Classical music and the aroma of fresh-roasted coffee greet you at La Niche. While away an hour in this cozy collection of linens, home decorations, quilts, and cooking and decorating books, with an intimate espresso and gelato bar in the back.

Exploring the farther reaches of the rural North Valley takes you past small adobe antique shops and mom-and-pop-type finds, but then there is the unexpected two-story stack of 1800s-vintage terrone block that forms the colorfully inviting La Parada. Inside, its longtime owner shows a keen eye for crafts from across the Americas (fantastic Haitian tin work made from recycled oil drums, charming blue-and-white painted D’Casa pottery from Guadalajara) and around the globe. All show the artists’ hands, as does the outstanding selection of vintage ties, handkerchiefs, and linens for sale.

Everything at this lingerie boutique is unabashedly sexy, and the helpful staff can find the perfect fit. The store's own line of corsets, camisoles, and other underpinnings comes in a range of colors.

Follow your nose for a sniff and a spritz of high-end French perfumes. Guerlain fragrances, cosmetics, and skin-care products like the Orchidée Impériale eye cream (most recently selling for a whopping $200 apiece) draw fans from around the globe.

Antiques dealers since 1851, this shop specializes in European and Russian decorative arts, jewelry, and paintings. Behold bibelots by Fabergé and others, enameled or encrusted with jewels. If money is no object, there are also antique diamond necklaces and pieces of china once owned by Russian nobility.

You won't find any video games in this gem; rather, you'll discover an outstanding selection of handmade wooden puzzles and mazes, collectible card and travel games, board games, and brainteasers. A bonus to stopping in are the dozens of activities and games for all ages you can play.

Laclede's Landing has an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants, in addition to wonderful clubs and bars. This is the place to go if you're looking for antiques or locally made crafts. The MetroLink light rail system has a stop here.

The purveyor of the finest Belgian chocolate in all of Los Angeles, Lady Chocolatt is the perfect answer to the age-old question of what to gift on any special occasion. The ornate display case is filled with dark chocolate truffles, hazelnut pralines, Grand Marnier ganaches, and so much more, all handcrafted by a master chocolatier in Belgium and flown straight to the store. There are also some sandwiches and other savory options. Post up for a late-afternoon espresso or heaven-sent hot chocolate, and let your chocolate dreams wander. 

This shop focuses on simple, attractive women's clothing by high-end brands like Mother, Sea, and Diega.

Besides an eclectic mix of eateries, this plaza includes stores that sell surf gear and beach-chic apparel.

This chocolatier makes sensational truffles, caramels, candies, and fudge. The chocolates are all-natural, made in Vermont, and make a great edible souvenir. Its flagship store now boasts a big café with house-made pastries, chocolate cake, ice cream sundaes, espresso drinks and decadent hot chocolates. A retail branch is also on Church Street.

Local artists display their work at this dynamic center staffed by volunteers (hours are a bit flexible because of this). Workshops in pottery, photography, woodworking, and painting welcome visitors. The gift shop sells Lanai handicrafts and special offerings, the sale of which underwrites children's art classes. The gathering spot also hosts occasional special events for the community.

Lanai's only gas station is a convenient stop to fill your belly, too. The on-site Plantation Deli is famous for its massive sandwiches packed with quality ingredients, as well as other delicious items. Snacks, beer, souvenirs, and friendly faces round out the selection.

For more than three decades, this strip mall shop has acted like "a hardware store for jewelry designers," stocking hundreds of different sizes and styles of beads, stringing materials, clasps, and crafting tools. The store also offers jewelry-repair services and weekend instructional classes.

The owners of Landmark Acres Antiques have been stocking their shop with a well-edited collection of 18th- and 19th-century antiques since 1975.

There are so many rows of bookshelves filling out this snug bookstore, you’ll feel like you’re burrowing through tunnels of leather-bound volumes. Landmark Booksellers specializes in old, out-of-print, and rare books, but they have some new books, as well. You’ll find plenty of Southern Americana here, as well as books that focus on regional history, culture, and literature. And all 35,000 books are nestled inside the oldest standing commercial building in Franklin (built in 1808). It’s a bibliophile’s dream.

Take home the fragrances of the Islands with this shop's organic body lotions, hand creams, soaps, sprays, bath salts, and scrubs. Botanical extracts, such as papaya, mango, sea kelp, and calendula, are combined with essential oils, including from macadamia and kukui nuts, to produce the shop's refined line of products.

Founded by local Bryn Mawr College alumnae, The Lantern is a shop for used and rare books run by volunteers. The profits of the sales go to the college to support students’ summer internships. Inside you can find an eclectic collection of books and rare magazines.

Take the scenic route into the countryside to reach this motherlode of heirloom quilts on a century-old Amish farm about four miles north of Intercourse. All of the quilts and other quilted items are hand-stitched, the largest taking as long as a year to make. Assorted gift items are also for sale.

The creative decor in the windows is reason enough to check out this boutique that carries men's and women's fashions and accessories. Inside you'll be dazzled by the bold, sophisticated fashions.

Subtitled Fine Groceries & Prepared Foods, this little jewel is a combination market, café, and bakery tucked away on the first floor of Hotel Emma. Browse their eclectic stock of culinary luxuries and upscale staples as well as freshly prepared food to take out or eat in, fresh baked goods, and wine and beer. They also have unique gift items and signature tote bags for both Hotel Emma and Larder.

Gallerist Becker and his wife, Heidi Nivling, display the kind of austere, abstract art that prompts people who don't know any better to say, "Hey, my kid could do that." Look more closely at the conceptual paintings featured in this small gallery and you'll notice the great skill required to make minimalist art with maximal effect. This gallery displays several exhibits throughout the year. 

Cinephiles have long descended upon this iconic 87-plus-year-old shop that in addition to stocking tons of texts about motion picture history offers film fans the opportunity to pick up scripts, posters, and photographs from Hollywood's golden era to the present.

In DeVargas shopping center, Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe stocks a fantastic selection of cookery, tableware, and kitchen gadgetry and gifts. The shop is also renowned for its cooking classes taught by local personality chef Johnny Vee, which touch on everything from high-altitude baking and northern New Mexican specialties to gnocchi workshops and Vietnamese street food. For those looking to really up their culinary game, Johnny Vee also offers regular classes on techniques such as braising, grilling, and fundamentals including knife skills and pressure cooking. Classes are Tuesday and Friday night, as well as Saturday morning. If you've got a tight schedule or a big group, Las Cosas and chef Johnny are happy to schedule something just for you.