146 Best Places to Shop in Washington, USA

According to Girl Meets Dirt founder Audra Lawlor, fruit is affected by terroir, just like wine, and the salty San Juan Islands breezes certainly seem to work magic on locally grown stone fruit and pomes. Lawlor's small-batch jams made in a collection of heavy copper pots are the perfect addition to a charcuterie board, with complex flavors like Rhubarb Lavender, Island Plum, and Orange Peppered Pear. The shop also carries housemade shrubs and bitters.

Seattle's oldest glassblowing studio and gallery lets you watch fearless artisans at work in the "hot shop." Some of the best glass artists in the country work out of this shop, and many of their impressive studio pieces are for sale, along with around 40 other Northwest artists represented by the shop.

Outside of San Francisco, Seattle has the largest Hawaiian population on the mainland. Hawaii General Store is a great resource for both those expats and anyone who loves Hawaii (and who doesn't?). With food, music, art, bath products, luau party supplies, and jewelry from the islands, the store is a warm little respite from Seattle's rainy winters.

"A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll," Horseshoe offers girlie Western wear and hipster styles. Comfy, sassy shirts and dresses are available from designers like Sanctuary, Lovestitch, and Amuse Society. Premium denim, cowboy boots, and unique jewelry are among the wares.

This vintage women's clothing store focuses on inclusive styles and sizes, making it a destination for anyone who has ever struggled to fit into clothes, or to trends. Owner Adria Garcia curates her selection with impeccable taste and impressive range.

Some of the ingredients used in the small-batch soaps and skincare products sold at this lovely-smelling Eastsound boutique are grown on the local Island Thyme farm. Founded in 1996 on Orcas, the aromatherapy-focused line is now carried across the state and beyond.

Since 1885, this beloved (and massive) general store has been dispensing everything from razor clam harvesting gear to boating supplies to, these days, all sorts of toys, beach gear, and anything else you might need for your seaside vacation. 

The window display of fun and funky boots and chunky leather shoes will likely catch your attention as you walk past. Wander inside, and you'll find the eclectic and colorful collection of the brand's own line of shoes, alongside combat boots and urbanized wooden sandals in men's and women's styles.

Japanophiles, get thee to this Tokyo-based chain for a huge collection of books, magazines, office supplies, collectibles, clothes, and gifts. Their manga selection is particularly impressive—nearly every title you could want is represented, and they'll happily order anything you don't find in the store.

This lovely store sells artisan crafts from studios in Japan and the Northwest. You'll find tasteful home wares, cute but functional gifts, and quirky pieces of furniture.

This small but sharp boutique curates a thoughtful mix of urban streetwear from hard-to-find designers such as Nudie Jeans Co., Barbour, and Fred Perry. The look is sophisticated yet maintains an edge. Kuhlman is also known for its custom clothing, crafted from exceptional European and Japanese fabrics.

Women whose sartorial leanings go beyond basic will adore the sophisticated dresses, gorgeous handknits, and the makings of great work outfits here, much of it from Europe and Japan. Younger fashionistas come here, too, for unique summer skirts and ultrasoft T-shirts. Everyone seems to love the whimsical lingerie collection. Les Amis carries some cool designers, such as Rachel Comey, Black Crane, and Epice Paris.

With its clean white lines and reverential displays, this sneaker store could be mistaken for an art gallery. The fashion-forward inventory is vast, ranging from Converse to Nike to Mihara Yasuhiro. Even if you're not in the market for new kicks, it's a fun place to discover just how stylish an athletic shoe can be.

This longtime bookseller is stocked with publications on San Juan Islands history and activities, as well as tomes about the Pacific Northwest. There's also a good selection of mysteries, literary novels, children's books, and craft kits, plus greeting cards, art prints, and maps. Many of the items sold here are the works of local writers, artists, and photographers.

Sit down with a slice of Sardinian flatbread, Nutella brioche, or a raisin twist—or more elaborate lunch options.

Since 1977, this two-story, 7,000-square-foot shop in the heart of Pioneer Square has been supplying families with games, toys, puzzles, tricks, candy, and figurines. They claim a professional child runs this friendly store—and it shows.

Known for fabulous service and designer labels, this high-end boutique treats every client like a superstar—and has been doing so since 1960. Men shop the ground floor for Armani, Etro, and Zegna; women ascend the ornate staircase for Prada, Emilio Pucci, and Lanvin. A freestanding Hugo Boss boutique sells the sharpest tuxedos in town.

One of the best all-purpose shoe stores in town, Market Street stocks so many styles and brands that you're sure to find something up your alley. Shoes for men, women, and children prioritize comfort, so you'll see sensible picks from Dansko, Hoka, and Blundstone, but there are plenty of fun options by Eric Michael, Pendleton, and Bueno, as well.

One of the oldest wine shops in the city is attitude-free and offers a wide selection from around the world. It's a good place to get an introduction to the remarkable range of wines made in Washington. Free tastings are held on Saturdays.

One short block of Melrose Avenue between Pike and Pine holds a concentration of adventures for your taste buds, including Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar. You'll also find here Melrose Market, a former automotive shop dating from the 1920s that's been transformed into a sort of hipster food court. Duck inside to check out several small, stylish dining options, a wine shop, and an artisanal butcher.

Whether you're searching for a laminated pocket map of Seattle or a world map made up of music notes, stop here for a massive selection of books, globes, charts, atlases, antique reproduction maps, and local satellite images. Don't let the store's location in the middle of Pike Place Market fool you: this is a Seattle institution, not a tourist trap.

Langley's independent bookshop, an institution since 1972, stocks a wonderful and eclectic array of fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks—and, according to the owners, "books you didn't even know you wanted until you stepped inside."

Vendors come here each Saturday from May to October to sell fresh produce and handmade arts and crafts.

This contemporary fine art gallery focused on Northwest and regional artists is known for its glass art, sculpture, and handcrafted jewelry. Artist receptions are held on the first Saturday of each month from 5 to 7 pm, part of Langley's First Saturday Art Walk.

In this basement-level specialty shop, you can sample gourmet salts; aged balsamic vinegars in flavors like fig, lemon lavender, pecan praline, and garlic cilantro; and infused olive oils such as basil, habanero, garlic mushroom, and rosemary.

Neat, clean, and well run, this complex housing more than 100 covered fruit, vegetable, pastry, and craft stalls sits at the north edge of downtown. You'll find all sorts of oddities such as ostrich eggs, button magnets, and glass sculptures. With several tiny international eateries tucked in between the vendors, it's also a terrific place to grab a bite and then walk over to the waterfront. During high season (April to October), it's open Thursday through Sunday; the rest of the year, the market is open one or two days a week.

This poetry-dedicated bookshop (one of only a few of its kind in the United States) is a space for literary-loving community and poetry books of all kinds. New, modern poetry books, used books, well-loved classics, rare editions, and poets from around the world are represented in A Poem Emporium, which occasionally hosts readings and events as well, and proudly represents minorities and contemporary social justice movements through both its book selection and window displays.

With a tiny spiral staircase leading to the basement, and resident cats wandering through the tightly packed aisles, Ophelia's offers a classic used-bookstore experience in an age when so many are disappearing. The owner is known for her excellent taste, and it shows—you'll find major titles from notable authors as well as obscure works and poetry books. Be sure to ask for recommendations—she'll be happy to help.

Comics and geek culture may be more popular than ever but many fans still feel underserved by the shops catering to the traditional audience. Enter Outsider Comics and Geek Boutique, a small, welcoming space that showcases comics and more created by and for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The unique selection might even make a new comics appreciator out of you.