161 Best Shopping in Maine, USA

This well-established gallery showcases artwork that captures the beauty of Maine, including Dana Heacock's brightly colored giclèe prints, cards, and Abacus calendars. Well-executed, often entertaining home-decor items and delicate or statement pieces of jewelry also make excellent souvenirs of your visit to Boothbay Harbor.

Run by the Island Institute, this inviting shop showcases an array of fine creations by Maine artists and artisans. On display are wooden goods, jewelry, soaps, books, housewares, clothing, fine art, and more.

At this salon-inspired gallery, relax on antique furniture while gazing at framed paintings, mostly of island and coastal Maine scenes, that fill the dark walls. Opened in 1996 and representing approximately 30 artists of national renown who live, summer, or paint on Mount Desert Island, works range from $500–$10,000. The owner's background is in art history, and she warmly welcomes even those who are "just looking" and shares her art knowledge, especially the stories of painters who've been drawn to the island since the 1800s.

For the fanciest knickers in downtown Portland and one of the best bra fittings around, head to Aristelle. It's where to find elegant undergarments and lingerie, as well as naughty little numbers that would make Bettie Page blush.

In addition to having a well-rounded selection of books, magazines, and stationary, this fabulous independent bookstore co-sponsors many literary events throughout the year. 

In a restored barn and Cape-style house, one of Blue Hill’s earliest residences, this shop carries more than 3,000 carefully selected wines, as well as cheeses, breads, groceries, local and imported beer, cider, cooking ingredients, and coffees and teas.

The store is well stocked with books and tasteful gifts for all ages. The café has lovely pastries and top-notch coffee.

The impossibly hip and well-selected array of goods at this modern-design shop makes it an excellent place for both window-shopping and finding gifts for just about anyone on your list (including yourself). A refreshing departure from the rest of the somewhat stodgy gift shops in the village, this boutique is chock-full of eye candy, most of which is also functional. There are many locally sourced and contemporary products, from hats and jewelry to novelty books, home decor, and outdoor adventure essentials. Check out Daytrip Jr., its equally hip children's store around the corner.

This delightful shop is housed in a bright-red Maine barn filled with household items both useful and pleasing to the eye. Browse the collection of ceramics, linens, kitchen essentials, and more by small-batch makers, and pick up a few artisan treats, too.

In a restored 1800s farmhouse in the center of town, this gallery showcases exceptional paintings and sculptures from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The focus is on artists inspired by Maine's beauty, especially those who have painted on Monhegan Island. Among those represented are Rockwell Kent, James Fitzgerald, Andrew Winter, Carroll Thayer Berry, and Charles Woodbury. Contemporary artists include Andrea J. Peters, Kevin Beers, and Henry Isaacs.

Don't miss this charming little store in a sweet old mansard-roofed structure. The upstairs once served as a community dance hall, and the original piano is still on the stage. Kids will delight in the array of "penny candy" as well as fun small toys. There are also kitchen utensils, candles, gifts, pretty cards, and books. At an outdoor window on the side of the building, you can order an ice-cream cone to enjoy on a walk down to the harbor.

Set in what was once a department store, this gallery sells fine art; contemporary fabric, metal, wood, glass, and ceramic decorative items and housewares; and jewelry and accessories. Everything is handcrafted by a diverse group of established and emerging Maine artists.

This beautiful, multifloor gallery is nestled inside a jewel box of a building that was once a bank. Step inside, feast your eyes on fine contemporary paintings, beautifully wrought gold jewelry, sculpture, and perhaps purchase a new treasure. Be sure to go up to the rooftop sculpture garden. It's a delightful spot with views over the town to the harbor.

Featuring tea towels, napkins, the softest T-shirts, and other textiles hand-printed in Rockport with delightful animals and other nature themes, this inviting shop also stocks home goods, glassware, cards, cooking and gardening books, and plants.

A feast for the eyes, this lovely, two-floor gallery showcases a wide variety of beautifully wrought works, almost all of it created by Maine artists. There are paintings, sculptures large and small, carvings, unusual jewelry, cards, and more.

A smart menswear boutique (and mainstay of the Old Port) that will have you looking suave in no time. Most impressive is the shop's balance of contemporary, casual pieces and custom men's suiting.

Owned and operated by a former fashion designer, this stunning, well-curated concept boutique features women's apparel, shoes, accessories, and contemporary housewares. The stock can be quite pricey, but these are high-quality investment pieces meant to build a wardrobe around.

If you'd like to take home a piece of Maine, this is the place to shop. Everything in this large store was created by the state's finest artisans and artists. There's lots of jewelry, plus clothing, home decor, art, kids' items, and much more.

Think of this store as a mini L.L. Bean, with a good selection of premier outdoor apparel and gear and knowledgeable staff to help with your selection. In addition, you can rent kayaks, canoes, SUPs, bikes, camping gear, and winter sports equipment. Maine Sport also offers a roster of guided fresh- and saltwater canoe, kayak, SUP, and fishing trips and tours, plus biking and hiking tours.

There is also a shop on Main Street in Camden, plus a third location in Rockland.

This independent, community-minded bookstore is a great place to browse, discover new books, and settle into a wing chair or sofa to read for a bit. There's a good selection of works by Maine authors, and book signings are often held for new releases.

Taking in the appetizing scents in this shop is almost enough, but sinking your teeth into one of Monica's truffles, bonbons, crèmes, or caramels is pure heaven. Try a needham, a traditional Maine candy with a sugar, coconut, and potato filling, or a chocolate-shape moose or lobster. Conveniently on Route 189 at the turn for West Quoddy Head Light, it's owned by a Peruvian native (yes, Monica) and also carries clothing and accessories from her homeland. Indeed, some chocolates have a Peruvian filling.

An anchor in downtown Belfast, this two-decade-old gallery showcases the work of a super-talented family: luminescent paintings by Joanne Parent; dreamlike, mixed-media creations by Lee Parent; and masterful, mostly black-and-white or sepia photographs of the Maine coast and its fishing vessels and traditional windjammers by Neal Parent. These are complemented by the work of a handful of other talented artists.

Rabelais Books, whose slogan is "Fine Books on Food & Drink," is an ode to the art of cooking, drinking, and eating (and writing about it). Get lost in one of the many recipe reference tomes, many of which are very rare (they span six centuries). Browse the collection of vintage and hard-to-find menus, or pick up a book or two for your favorite foodie. Hours vary, so make sure to check the website before you go.

Renys is a beloved Maine institution—or, as their slogan says, "a Maine adventure." It has 17 locations throughout the state, and a visit to Maine truly isn't complete without browsing the endless bargains at at least one of them. Damariscotta is where it all started seven decades ago, and the original store—a quaintly crowded clothing store at 116 Main Street—is still going strong. Stop in there for bargains on Columbia, Carhartt, and other brands. Then cross the street and browse the larger outlet at 163 Main Street for great deals on housewares, nonperishable food items, seasonal goods, toys, and much more. You'll be amazed at what you find. And don't miss Waltz Soda Fountain, open during the summer at the left side of the building. It's been there since 1948. Order a malted, egg cream, lime rickey, or Moxie ice cream float at the counter, and slide into a booth to enjoy your sweet trip down memory lane.

Accomplished artist Sarah Richards specializes in horses and other animal subjects, capturing them in flowing swaths of color. In addition to original paintings and prints, Richards' gallery sells drinkware and clothing bearing some of her most popular images. Also here are lovely watercolors by her late mother, the talented floral artist Lyn Snow.

The brand's flagship location displays totes in every shape and size made from recycled sailcloth and decorated with bright, graphic patterns. Check out the display that shows you exactly how a sail is used to create all the different bags and accessories. The factory store, located just a few blocks away on the Custom House Wharf, is where the bags are actually sewn; you can find some factory sales as well. 

You can peek into the workshop next door to see potters create this shop's beautiful plates, vases, and other vessels—often decorated with lighthouses, pine trees, lupine, chickadees, or other Maine-centric illustrations. The merchandise also includes home accessories, jewelry, and other items made by local artisans. There's a second shop in downtown Damariscotta.

Whether you’re looking to use it yourself or give it as a gift to your favorite home cook, the kitchen goods from this family-owned, Maine-based company are unusually delicious and useful. Spices are the focal point, and they’re inspired by far-flung destinations but made in nearby Brunswick. But the growing cookbook selection is commendable, too; it spotlights Maine authors and ingredients. And then there’s the nifty hodgepodge of kitchen wares—handmade ceramic oyster platters from local artisans, sleekly designed pepper mills, and spoon rests made of black marble and acacia wood.