33 Best Places to Shop in Washington, USA

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. 

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.

Both a farm market popular with kids and a craft distillery that's a hit with adults, this family-owned apple orchard on the main road between Lynden and Bellingham is a fun stop for stocking up on fresh produce and gourmet snacks and sampling house-made brandy, vodka, and gin. The on-site café is popular for breakfast and lunch, offers hard ciders and beers on tap, and—naturally—serves delicious apple pie.

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.

A lovely stop as you begin a drive down scenic Chuckanut Drive, this sprawling space showcases works in all media by more than 400 artisans, including contemporary art glass and furniture and housewares crafted from local materials. Stroll through the lush sculpture garden to see the array of colorful works for yards and patios. 

With an array of upscale, seaside luxe-living essentials like soy candles (hand-poured on-site in small batches in scents like sailcloth, fog, moss, and water), this high-ceilinged, brick-walled home-design and gift boutique smells as good as it looks. Look for furniture fashioned from reclaimed wood, nautical-theme throw pillows, jewelry, seashells, and air plants in recycled-glass terrariums. There's a second location on Bainbridge Island.

Owned by an Orcas Island–born sommelier who worked at restaurants in Vail and Vegas before returning home, this cheerful little bottle shop and tasting room in Eastsound has a great selection of wine, beer, and cider from around the world, including a wine series, the Orcas Project, that is produced in collaboration with Pacific Northwest winemakers and artists.

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.

On weekdays or any Saturday when there's a football home game, you can pop into Ferdinand's, an ice-cream and cheese shop in Washington State University's food-science building, to buy aged Cougar Gold, a cheddar-type cheese in a can. Ice cream is made daily from milk from the university's dairy cows and served in cones, dishes, shakes, malts, floats, sundaes, and banana splits to enjoy on the spot. Or take home a pint, quart, 3-gallon tub, or party pack to share. Espresso drinks are also available and about half the price of a chain coffee shop.

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.

Since 1904, this family farm has been growing and selling cherries, peaches, apples, pears and other local fruit. The historic white clapboard shop also carries pies, muffins, cookies, and tarts. 

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.

Stop by this cooperative gallery to see impressive displays of pottery, sculpture, jewelry, art glass, paintings, and quilts by resident artists, including an upstairs gallery devoted to original paintings by well-known Northwest landscape artist James Hardman. You'll find gifts in a wide price range at this wonderful space.

A stroll through the historic house, outbuildings, and gardens of this enchanting arts complex on a bluff overlooking President Channel and Waldron Island is more than just a chance to browse beautiful pottery—it's a great spot simply to relax, soak up the views, and be inspired by the shop's 80+ years of shaping clay and community. More than a dozen regular and guest potters exhibit and sell their wares here, everything from functional dinnerware and mugs to fanciful vases and wall hangings. Pottery isn't always the most kid-friendly but this place has playful outdoor pieces and a very cool tree house to check out.

The Owens family established this marvelous smokehouse in 1887 and has been running the self-proclaimed "candy store for the carnivore" ever since. You'll find no processed meats here—just the house-smoked and cured jerky, bacon, sausage, chicken breast, bone-in pork chops, and more, along with a big selection of sauces, condiments, and gourmet goodies. Meat vending machines located throughout the state, including outside this store, mean you can satisfy your cravings day or night.

This venerable aqua farm on the northern end of the peninsula is a must for fresh oysters and clams. You can take your purchases to your lodging or a picnic, or enjoy them, raw or barbecued, on the expansive deck overlooking what's been called America's cleanest estuary, Willapa Bay. The on-site deli also sells beer, wine, and other gourmet goodies. 

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 200-acre organic farm and dairy on the edge of Bow produces exceptional cow's-milk cheeses, plus kefir and yogurt. There's also a selection of pork, veal, and beef products, from animals raised on this beautiful farm. You can sample the goods in the tasting room or get a bite to eat—cheese plates, mac and cheese, and labneh (a cheese made from strained yogurt) cheesecake are among the specialties. There's cider, beer, and coffee, too.

You'll find honey, lavender, sea glass jewelry, pottery, and locally grown produce in abundance at this Saturday market, a tented affair with lots of color and live music, held between early May and late October.

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.

Tacoma's increasingly vibrant maker culture is showcased at its highly popular night markets, which take place at Foss Waterway Seaport. As many as 80 artists and makers sell their wares at gatherings that run from 5 until 10 pm on Saturday nights and feature music and a slew of food and drinks vendors. The night markets are typically followed the next day by a Sunday brunch market from 11 am to 4 pm.