19 Best Places to Shop in Downtown, Seattle

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A petite, colorful boutique by Pike Place Market, Pirkko carries a selection of high-quality Finnish and Scandinavian clothing and accessories, including famously bold pieces by Marimekko. A rainy Seattle day might give you the perfect excuse to purchase one of the shop's collection of bright, modern raincoats.

Need a brass-plated medieval French duck press? You've come to the right place. Culinary artists and foodies have flocked to this popular Pike Place Market destination since 1972. The chain's flagship shop is packed to the rafters with thousands of kitchen items, including an exclusive line of copper cookware, endless shelves of baking equipment, tabletop accessories, cookbooks, and a formidable display of knives. There's also a small selection of specialty ingredients.

When you're ready for a break from sightseeing, make a detour into this relaxing tasting room and wine store in the northern end of Post Alley. Several Washington State boutique wineries are represented; most of the bottles are handcrafted and/or reserve vintages. Taste the offerings, then buy a bottle or two—you can sit and enjoy your pick in the wine bar without paying for corkage.

First opened as "La Buona Tavola" in 2003, this family-run space grew out of a passion for truffles and adding a touch of gourmet to the everyday. As the name suggests, this Pike Place shop specializes in all things truffle: salts, oils, honey, and even truffle-infused brittle, as well as balsamics and a few other specialty food items. Truffle Queen also stocks hand-selected wines from Italy and Washington from small wineries, which are available for tastings, glass pours, and bottles to take home.

Offering an art-forward take on gems and jewelry in a spacious contemporary gallery, Turgeon Raine employs only staff with a design background—you can work with them to create a one-of-a-kind piece, or pick from house-made items on display. It's also Washington's exclusive representative for Patek Philippe watches.

This small store in the courtyard of the Inn at the Market is worth a visit just for how heavenly it smells. With a lovely line of artisanal jewelry, luxurious bath products, and enticing—and often aromatic—gifts, it makes for a relaxing stop in the Pike Place tour. A standout favorite is Seattle-based fragrance brand Antica Farmacista—you'll want every scent of their luxury reed diffusers. Watson Kennedy's sister store ( 1022 1st Ave.) includes vintage furniture, tableware, gourmet foods, and its own line of beeswax candles.

Many of the city's best chefs get their herbs, spices, and salts at this aromatic shop under Pike Place Market. From Middle Eastern, Asian, Italian, and Pacific Northwest–inspired blends, to cinnamon, paprika, and chilis from around the world, home chefs will be in heaven here.

Before you buy a teenage relative—or anyone else for that matter—an oversize T-shirt that says "Seattle!" head up to Fremont's Destee-Nation for one that's a lot more distinctive.

The Seattle Team Shop has your Seahawks, Sounders, and Mariners needs covered.