Must-see shopping in New England

  • Salmagundi

    Streetcar Suburbs

    In our humble opinion, every man should own at least one fedora. And if not a fedora, some other fun and functional head-topper. If you are intrigued by…

  • Montague Bookmill

    Pioneer Valley

    This place promises 'books you don't need in a place you can't find.' Luckily, both claims are slightly exaggerated. Housed in a converted cedar gristmill…

  • Dancing Lion Chocolate

    New Hampshire

    Chocolate has a pedigree at Dancing Lion, where the passion of master chocolatier Richard Tango-Levy is just as compelling as the chocolates. Tango-Levy…

  • Vermont Country Store

    Southern Vermont

    People come from far and wide to Weston's famed Vermont Country Store, founded in 1946 and still going strong under the Orton family's ownership, four…

  • LL Bean Flagship Store

    Midcoast Maine

    A 10ft-tall Bean Boot sits outside the flagship LL Bean store. Although a hundred other stores have joined it in Freeport, the wildly popular LL Bean is…

  • Maine Craft

    Portland

    Past the clever title of this shop is an excellent retail and arts space, showcasing the best of the state's contemporary crafts and maker movement. You…

  • Jobi Pottery

    Cape Cod

    You'll likely see Jobi pottery, with its distinctive fish designs, for sale across the Cape. It's worth making the trip to where it all comes from. At…

  • Northshire Bookstore

    Southern Vermont

    Forming both the geographic and the intellectual center of the Manchester community, this thriving independent bookstore is the best in Vermont, with a…

  • Brookline Booksmith

    Streetcar Suburbs

    Year after year, this independent bookstore wins ‘Best Bookstore in Boston.’ Customers love the lineup of author talks and poetry readings, the emphasis…

  • Ward Maps

    Cambridge

    If you’re into maps, you’ll be into Ward Maps. It has an incredible collection of original antique and reproduction maps, with a special focus on Boston,…

  • Mainely Murders

    Southern Maine Coast

    This well-curated independent bookstore dedicated to crime, noir and suspense fiction is a treat, dripping with character and playful attitude. Staff are…

  • Coast City Comics

    Portland

    This is a great shop for comics, graphic novels and all the fantastically nerdy accoutrements that grow around such goods. There are shelves of horror…

  • Left Bank Books

    Midcoast Maine

    This small, friendly bookstore has well-curated stacks that include a solid local-interest section, and a kids' area that's a joy for parents with…

  • Loveland Bohemian Marine

    Provincetown

    Everything for sale at Loveland Bohemian Marine, from the stationary to the linens, feels like it is chosen with the utmost care. The overall vibe of the…

  • Housatonic Trading Company

    Connecticut

    This funky unpretentious dealer has an eclectic mix of antiques, fashion, fun stuff, furniture, books and bric-a-brac spanning decades, at reasonable…

  • Brattle Book Shop

    Boston

    Since 1825, the Brattle Book Shop has catered to Boston’s literati: it's a treasure trove crammed with out-of-print, rare and first edition books. Ken…

  • Burlington Farmers Market

    Burlington

    Every Saturday from May through October, downtown Burlington bursts into life with this enormously popular farmers market. All vendors must grow or make…

  • Enjoying a yarn in Trident Book Store and Cafe," Boston's Alternative"

    Trident Booksellers & Café

    Back Bay

    Pick out a pile of books and retreat to a quiet corner of the cafe to decide which ones you really want to buy. There’s a little bit of everything here,…

  • Brimfield Antique Show

    Massachusetts

    Six miles west of Sturbridge is the Brimfield Antique Show, the largest outdoor antiques fair in North America. How big is it? The fair takes place on 23…

  • Harvard Bookstore

    Cambridge

    Family-owned and -operated since 1932, the Harvard Bookstore is not officially affiliated with Harvard University, but it is the university community’s…

  • Boston Public Market

    Boston

    A locavore's longtime dream come true, this daily farmers market – housed in a brick-and-mortar building – gives shoppers access to fresh foodstuffs,…

  • Converse at Lovejoy Wharf

    Boston

    Occupying the ground level of the Converse world headquarters, this flagship store has a sweet selection of its classic sneakers, including some true…

  • Thorncrest Farm and Milk House Chocolates

    Connecticut

    Imagine if you could hand-pick the cows you wanted to produce the milk you use to make daily batches of delectable chocolates. Well, that's what Kimberly…

  • North Bennet Street School

    Boston

    The North Bennet Street School has been training craftspeople for over 100 years. Established in 1885, the school offers programs in traditional skills…

  • Salmagundi

    Boston

    While the flagship Salmagundi store in Jamaica Plain has a bigger selection, this second location in the North End still offers some 4000 hats for your…

  • Hero's Welcome

    Northern Vermont

    Boaters for miles around cast anchor at this popular general store, whose amusing wall display of ‘World Time Zones’ features four clocks showing…

  • Topdrawer

    Back Bay

    Travelers! Here is a store full of things you need, even if you didn't realize you needed them. Everything from plush fold-up slippers (perfect for chilly…

  • Paridaez

    Beacon Hill & Boston Common

    Boston designer Allison Daroie knows women play many roles, and she believes their clothing should too. That's why her classy, minimalist pieces can…

  • International Poster Gallery

    South End & Chinatown

    This niche gallery stocks thousands of vintage posters from around the world. Thousands. The posters span the globe, with themes ranging from food and…

  • For Now

    Boston

    Calling itself a 'retail incubator' and a 'pop-up collective,' For Now showcases a constantly changing and growing collection of local and regional…

  • Grolier Poetry Bookshop

    Cambridge

    Founded in 1927, Grolier is the oldest – and perhaps the most famous – poetry bookstore in the USA. Over the years, TS Eliot, ee cummings, Marianne Moore…

  • Book Barn

    Southeastern Connecticut

    Bibliophiles rejoice! You have nothing to lose but your cash at New England's self-proclaimed largest used bookstore, spread now over four locations in…

  • On Centre

    Streetcar Suburbs

    The friendly folks at this little boutique can help you find the perfect gift. The jewelry is inexpensive and highly original; much of it is designed by…

  • Eugene Galleries

    Beacon Hill & Boston Common

    This tiny shop has a remarkable selection of antique prints and maps, especially focusing on old Boston. Follow the history of the city’s development by…

  • Off Piste

    Portsmouth

    Oops. This hip and mischievous gift shop got a visit from police after a window-shopper complained about off-color language on an oven mitt in the window…

  • SoWa Open Market

    South End & Chinatown

    Boston's original art market, this outdoor event is a fabulous opportunity for strolling, shopping and people-watching. More than 100 vendors set up shop…

  • Boing!

    Streetcar Suburbs

    Boing! is fun. It's fun that they have an exclamation point at the end of their name and crazy colorful creatures adorning their facade. And it's really…

  • Artists for Humanity

    Boston

    Artists for Humanity is a local charity organization that encourages urban youth to get in touch with their creative sides. That means you're doing a good…

  • Good Vibrations

    Streetcar Suburbs

    Down a narrow alley and marked by a discreet sign, this woman-focused sex shop is worth seeking out. The tasteful and tantalizing boutique offers sex…

  • Ars Libri

    South End & Chinatown

    Ring the doorbell: it's worth it. Specializing in rare and out-of-print titles, Ars Libri is an art bookstore extraordinaire, filled from floor to ceiling…