Peruvian Connection
Shop for luxurious sweaters, scarves, and outerwear made from Peruvian alpaca. The investment pieces are made by skilled artisans from Peru.
Jessica Van Dop DeJesus
76 Best Places to Shop in Washington, D.C., USA
Reviews Updated by
Despite the fact that going to "the Mall" in D.C. doesn’t mean you’re going shopping, Washington offers fabulous stores that sell serious or silly souvenirs, designer fashions, recycled and green goods, books about almost everything, and handicrafts. Even if you are headed to the mall, our nation’s Mall, that is, you’ll discover that plenty of collections housed along the famous greensward, such as the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art, sell interesting keepsakes in their gift shops.
Beyond the Mall, smaller one-of-a-kind shops, designer boutiques, and interesting specialty collections add to Washington’s shopping scene alongside stores that have been part of the landscape for generations. Weekdays, Downtown street vendors add to the mix by offering funky jewelry; brightly patterned ties; buyer-beware watches; sunglasses; and African-inspired clothing, accessories, and art. Discriminating shoppers will find satisfaction at upscale malls on the city's outskirts. Not surprisingly, T-shirts and Capitol City souvenirs are in plentiful supply.
Radici Market
The name means "roots" in Italian, and this little shop has quickly settled its roots into the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The charming owners have created a warm and inviting gathering spot and store with its brick walls, Venetian glass light fixtures, terra-cotta tiles, beautiful food, and handmade Italian gift displays and tables both inside and out. This is a lovely spot for an afternoon pick-me-up of espresso and cannoli or an end-of-day glass of wine and cicchetti Veneziani (small bites). You'll also find everything you need for an Italian-themed picnic. Wine tastings are held on Thursday evening.
Random Harvest
Whether you're looking for something that's decorative or functional (or a combination of both), you'll find it here. Random Harvest sells new and antique treasures for the home, including pillows, mirrors, glassware, barware, and lamps. There's also a nice selection of American and European vintage furniture.
Recommended Fodor's Video
relish
In fashionable Cady's Alley, this dramatic space holds a women's collection handpicked seasonally by the owner. Modern, elegant, and practical selections include European classics and well-tailored modern designers, such as Marc Jacobs, Pierre Hardy, Thom Browne, Uma Wang, and Dries Van Noten.
Rodman's Discount Foods and Drugstore
The rare store that carries wine, cheese, and space heaters, Rodman's is a fascinating hybrid of Target and Dean & DeLuca. The appliances are downstairs, the imported peppers and chocolates upstairs. It opened in 1955.
Second Story Books
One of the largest used and rare book stores in the country, Second Story Books has grown along with its neighborhood, and its orderly and classy space houses rare books, signed first editions, maps, posters, manuscripts, CDs, prints, and DVDs. (There are often bargain books for sale, usually outside the store.) A knowledgeable staff is always on hand to help you shop.
Shinola
Once a Studebaker showroom in the 1920s, this gorgeous shop is now one of Michigan-based Shinola's nationwide flagship stores. You'll find leather-band watches; supple leather bags, coats, and journals; elegant and classic silver, gold, and rose-gold jewelry designed by Pamela Love; home accessories; and yes, even bicycles.
Solid State Books
Opened by longtime D.C. booksellers in 2017, this modern, independent bookstore anchors retail on the H Street Corridor just steps from Union Station. It's bright, spacious, and features a great children's reading area behind the fully stocked bookcases. They also feature literary gifts, coffee, beer, and wine to augment a growing list of book clubs.
Store of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
After traversing the many floors of the museum, shop here for a mug, a T-shirt, or a model of the museum building to commemorate your trip. Some of the merchandise is traditional and/or handmade, including sweetgrass baskets, jewelry, scarves, and even food items. You can also find the award-winning Sweet Home Café Cookbook featuring recipes of the Sweet Home Café at the shop.
Susan Calloway Fine Arts
Stunning art draws people into this two-floor gallery, where a mix of vintage, contemporary, and classical paintings are hung salon-style. You'll find large abstract oils and a lovely selection of landscapes, but don't miss the box full of small original paintings in the back, most priced under $100.
Tabandeh
Located in the Shops at Wisconsin Place, this avant-garde women's collection includes an expertly selected cache of Rick Owens tops and Ann Demeulemeester clothing, along with accessories including stunning leather belts and handbags. The jewelry pieces in the store are dazzling—rings, necklaces, earrings, and pendants made with precious and semiprecious stones from designers like Samiar 13 and Erickson Beamon—and are sure to add panache to your wardrobe.
Union Market
Arriving in 2012, massive Union Market is a feast for the senses that’s a favorite destination for locals and out-of-town visitors alike. The space offers a smorgasbord of food and drink options, from sushi and piping hot empanadas to Bloody Marys and fish-and-chips. There are butchers and bakers and candles (though not candlestick makers—yet), as well as cheese vendors, microbrewed coffee, and a shop selling spices you’ve never heard of. It’s all made the market enormously popular, particularly on weekends, when parents descend to sip espresso while the youngsters bound around a generous outdoor seating area that features a host of lawn games.
Union Market is part of the new, buzzing Union Market District, filled with restaurants; a pop-up movie theater, the Angelika, which shows new releases and classic favorites; and La Cosecha, a contemporary Latin market two blocks away.
USDA Farmers' Market
Blueberry popcorn, anyone? On Fridays from May through October, 9 am to 2 pm, you can pick up fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, and other baked goods (and that flavored popcorn) across from the Smithsonian Metro station. Appropriately, the market is in the parking lot of the U.S. Department of Agriculture building.
White House Historical Association Retail Shops
The White House Historical Association operates two shops: The flagship store is in the White House Visitor Center, adjacent to the White House at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and the smaller History Shop is in the historic Decatur House on Lafayette Square at 1610 H Street NW. Both shops sell the association's historic and official merchandise, all of it carefully crafted. Highlights include official White House Christmas ornaments (from 1981 to present day), jewelry inspired by First Ladies, ties with architectural motifs, and beautifully made porcelain.
Woven History/Silk Road
Landmarks in this bohemian neighborhood, these connected stores sell gorgeous, handmade treasures from tribal communities from every country along the Silk Road. You'll find everything from colorful weavings, pillows, and embroidered quilts to exotic jewelry and bags, musical instruments, clothing, and gift items as well as antique furniture. Woven History has carpets in all sizes, specializing in traditionally woven, vegetable-dyed carpets.
Zawadi
The name means "gifts" in Swahili, but you may want to buy the beautiful African art, textiles, home accessories, and jewelry for yourself.
