98 Best Places to Shop in Seattle, Washington

Attention foodies: clear out your hotel minibars and make room for delectable treats from DeLaurenti. And, if you're planning any picnics, swing by here first. Imported meats and cheeses crowd the deli cases, and packaged delicacies pack the aisles. Stock up on hard-to-find items like truffle-infused olive oil or excellent Italian vintages from the wine shop upstairs. The shop also has a small selection of tasty bites to go, such as Macrina baguettes stuffed with cured meats, cheese, and fresh tomatoes. 

Seattle's 6,000-square-foot flagship Filson store is a shrine to meticulously well-made outdoor wear for men and women. The hunting-lodge decor of the space, paired with interesting memorabilia and pricey, made-on-site clothing, makes the drive south of Pioneer Square worth it (we recommend catching a cab, not hoofing it). The attention to detail paid to the plaid vests, oil-treated rain slickers, and fishing outfits borders on the fetishistic.

If your life is missing a punching-nun puppet, an Edgar Allen Poe action figure, or a bacon-scented air freshener, there's hope. Leave your cares and woes at the door and step into a warehouse of the weird and wonderful. It's nearly impossible to feel bad while perusing stacks of armadillo handbags, demon rubber duckies, handerpants (don't ask), and homicidal unicorn play sets. Grab a cat-in-a-can to keep you company or leave with a dramatic chipmunk oil painting. You'll feel better. Trust us.

Since 1984, this bastion of bibliophilia has offered new, used, and collectible titles to discerning shoppers. Its shelves are robust in art, photography, and graphic design, as well as plenty of literature inspired by Seattle and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Housed in one of Seattle's most historic buildings, this eclectic assortment will satisfy both the avid reader and the discriminating collector.

This independent studio makes stunning, yet affordable, handcrafted jewelry. Its light-filled corner shop features necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, each with a unique, elegantly simple, modern design. They also sell curated goods, from accessories to stationery to candy.

Every Sunday, rain or shine, loads of vendors come to Ballard Avenue to set up colorful, welcoming stands to sell produce and all types of local, artisanal foods, as well as gift items like candles and hats. Meanwhile, local buskers entertain foodies and families, and vendors cook up pizzas, crepes, dumplings, and more.

More than 1000 cookbooks and other related works fill the shelves of this warm, modern shop. There's often a treat in the oven or on the counter for shoppers to enjoy as they browse the artfully curated selection of new and classic cookbooks; staff are extraordinarily knowledgeable and happy to help. In the evening, the shop hosts author talks and classes, and there's also a small shelf of interesting and local pantry goods that make excellent souvenirs.

One of the city's liveliest and most interesting farmers’ markets fills a plaza and spills onto a side street. There's fresh produce galore, various prepared foods, plus music, samples, and plenty of cut flowers. The market is open year-round on Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, and also June through September on Tuesday from 3 to 7 pm.

Originally started by Nooksack artist and activist Louie Gong, Eighth Generation is now owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe. A world away from the tourist shops around Pike Place, this small shop sells a carefully selected range of Native-designed and produced goods including journals, jewelry, mugs, and water bottles. The true attractions are the bold, eye-catching woolen blankets woven in Seattle. Gifts purchased here come with a story and support local Indigenous artists.

This landmark bookstore has a great selection and hosts hundreds of author events every year. The shelves are lined with handwritten recommendation cards from the knowledgeable staff, and this is the place to find Pacific Northwest history books and titles by local authors. A big inventory of bargain books and an appealing café sweeten the deal.

This Seattle institution (helmed by Fran Bigelow) has been making quality chocolates for decades. Its world-famous salted caramels are transcendent—a much-noted favorite of the Obama family—as are delectable truffles, which are spiked with oolong tea, single-malt whiskey, or raspberry, among other flavors.

Housed in what used to be a 75-year-old five-and-dime store, this distinctive gallery has fine ceramics, textiles, and exquisite crafts by Japanese and Northwest artists; you can also see artifacts from the old store, a part of the original Nihonmachi (Japantown). Items range from something as simple as incense from Kyoto to an enormous painted antique chest. Clothes, books, and gift options abound, all with ties to Japan or the local Japanese community.

Seattle's own retail giant sells quality clothing, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, and lots of shoes—in keeping with its roots in footwear—including many hard-to-find sizes. Peruse the various floors for anything from trendy jeans to lingerie to goods for the home. A sky bridge on the store's fourth floor will take you to Pacific Place Shopping Center. Deservedly renowned for its impeccable customer service, the busy Downtown flagship has a concierge desk and valet parking. The Nordstrom Rack store at 4th Avenue and Pine Street, just next to Nordstrom, has great deals on marked-down items.

Design devotees and architecture buffs alike gravitate to this beautifully curated shop, where everything on the shelves celebrates form and function. Rare international art, architecture, and design books (including a few for kids) share space with sleek home goods from Alessi and Iittala. You’ll also find elegant notebooks, portfolios, and design tools. For a quirky, memorable gifts that are as beautiful as they are functional, consider a pentagram typography calendar, an Arne Jacobsen wall clock, or an aerodynamic umbrella.

These folks have spent about 50 years carving out a reputation as one of the best wine markets in the city. With more than 1,000 wines personally selected from around the world, Pike and Western offers expert advice from friendly salespeople and is organized both by region and flavor profile. You'll find Pacific Northwest varieties along with stand-out, approachable vintages from the Old World wine regions.

Locally designed dresses, hand-made ceramics featuring East Asian ingredients, and cute children's toys from Hawaii somehow all make sense in this small boutique. The owners, both named Kaitlin and from Hawaii, curate an amazing selection of clothes, crafts, jewelry, and home goods, mostly produced in Seattle or by Asian American makers. Their eye for everything classy and cute, from boba tea-shaped cat toys to elegant Czech glass earrings makes shopping fun, and they stock European raincoats and cozy hoodies for all genders, in case you forgot to bring the right outfit for the weather.

This independent record store is a mecca for vinyl lovers, stocking both vintage classics and the latest indie darlings. It's clean and organized, but with just the right amount of a time-worn vibe. Along with the vinyl, you'll find CDs and even cassettes, and a staff of enthusiasts happy to point you in the right direction. If they have one of their free in-store events when you're in the neighborhood, stop by for a unique musical experience.

If you want to get a true sense of Pacific Northwest style, this men's and women's clothing shop embodies it all, from casual plaid button-down shirts to wood-framed sunglasses. They make a point of sourcing top-quality goods from local and regional makers.

Whether you need to bring home an ironic "West Seattle Island" shirt or vintage-style Pacific Northwest hoodie, this cute neighborhood gift shop and boutique has one-of-a-kind clothes to help you remember your visit to Seattle. The rest of the shop is filled with stylish gifts for kids and adults, plenty of cards, and fun locally made products such as bath salts, candles, mugs, and more.

Sophisticated yet relaxed, this upscale women’s boutique offers quality European-inspired looks for all ages. Stop into the Moorish-inspired space for a party dress, statement jewelry, or elegant separates.

Alki Beach gives off SoCal vibes, but the one thing it lacks is surfable waves. Still, that doesn't stop this surf shop from selling everything else you might need for a day on the beaches of L.A. or West Seattle. Beach gear, swimsuits, and sunglasses will keep everyone ready for hanging out in the sand, while the Island-style clothes, accessories, and gifts will make you feel like you might be somewhere warmer or with bigger waves. The merchandise makes a good souvenir (and conversation starter), especially the fleecy sweatshirts for when the sun inevitably goes down and the breeze blows in off the cool water.

Nestled into a residential neighborhood, this spacious gallery features work by artists from all over the country, along with locals in its "Niche Market" space. There's a focus on inclusiveness and diversity, and they don't shy away from big, bold pieces. Note that open hours are limited to afternoons.

In this impressive trifecta of shopping centers, you'll find just about any chain store you've heard of (and some that you haven't). Bellevue Square's wide walkways and benches, its many children's clothing stores, kid's hair salon, and first-floor play area make this a great place for little ones, too. A variety of local restaurant groups and national chains serve quick, good casual food, and you can park for free in the attached garage. Take the sky bridge to Lincoln Square to catch a flick at their 16-screen cinema, organize your life at the Container Store, or sample an assortment of other retail outlets. Eat at one of the several high-end restaurants, the famous Din Tai Fung, or the upscale food court. Bellevue Place, across from Lincoln Square, hosts a variety of stores, restaurants, and a Fonte Coffee Roaster. From Black Friday through Christmas Eve, thousands of people line Bellevue Way between the shopping centers every night at 7 pm to experience the festive and free Snowflake Lane extravaganza.

A short stroll from the big tech companies based along the canal, Blue Owl encourages male shoppers to go beyond the ubiquitous khakis and polos of the tech world with high-end denim, leather goods, and other clothing and accessories from Japan, Canada, Europe, and the USA. The Pacific Northwest-friendly flannel shirts may cost a small fortune but they’re the softest you’ve ever felt. Blue Owl also has a reputation for carrying Seattle’s best selection of raw denim---once broken in, the highly coveted small-batch jeans supposedly provide an unsurpassed look and fit.

If you love microbrews, then make a pilgrimage to Bottleworks to peruse its massive collection. With 16 taps plus around 950 chilled varieties of malty goodness available, including seasonal varieties, vintage bottles, and global rarities, there's a beer for everyone here—as well as a good sampling of mead and cider. Try a few beers from the taps or bottles (with corkage fee) in their sit-down area, too.

Amazing sandwiches, croissants, and coffee.

Crossroads Trading Co. carries dependably cute and trendy used clothes, bags, and accessories. Their buyers screen each item, so you won't be stuck poring over a rack of stained T-shirts. It's all clean, bright, and fun.

This small, stylishly outfitted shop with a roll-up door for warm days, stocks a great, varied selection of great-condition used vinyl, including deep-catalog albums, plus a lot of 45s. Local audiophiles adore this place.

A Seattle institution since 1979, Dusty Strings has long been delighting folk and roots music lovers with beautifully crafted hammered dulcimers, harps, guitars of all stripes, banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins. The relaxed shop invites hands-on browsing, and the lilting strains of traditional melodies often fill the space.

Opened in 1988 and still thriving, this record store will make you feel cool enough to wander the aisles and browse the new and used vinyl, even if you've never dropped a needle in your life. A staple of Seattle's music scene, it hosts free in-store performances by bands you've probably heard of (Pearl Jam has played here), along with selling records, CDs, cassettes, and DVDs. Listening stations let you preview albums before purchasing, and the attached café offers the kind of breakfast you'd want after a night of rocking out. Every other Monday is Music Quiz night.