10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Seattle

Ballard Avenue is the main shopping street through Seattle’s trendy Ballard neighbourhood. Lined with charming fashion boutiques and independent stores, this once sleepy fishing community is now alive with the hustle and bustle of eager shoppers looking for their latest retail therapy fix.

You won’t find any mainstream brands here. Instead, surround yourself in unique clothes shops, fabulous homeware stores and treasure troves of quirky finds – from gifts and crafts to jewellery, hats and bags. Check out Prism for clothing, Lucca Great Finds for special gifts, and Space Oddity Vintage Furniture for all your home decor needs. When you’re done browsing shops and admiring arty window displays, pick a nearby cafe to grab a coffee and rest your weary feet.

Pike Place Market is undoubtedly Seattle’s most famous market – an unmissable shopping experience and the iconic heart of the city. Located in the middle of Downtown, the famous neon-lit sign marks the spot where visitors come from far and wide to witness the famous fish throwers in action.

When people purchase from the market’s fish stalls, the fishmongers famously throw the item of choice (no matter what its size) – giving a whole new meaning to “catch of the day”. Aside from traditional food stalls, you can explore the offbeat shops of the market’s lower level and even visit the world’s first Starbuck’s store, which, due to its historic significance, still maintains its original appearance today.

Pacific Place is arguably Seattle’s premier shopping mall, occupying an entire block in the city’s bustling Downtown district. Spread over 5 floors, there’s everything from local brands to international names such as Tiffany & Co. and Lululemon. Have your credit card at the ready as you browse clothing and jewellery shops, tech stores, galleries and more.

A recent rejuvenation means it’s an excellent place to while away a few hours, as it’s not just a shopping mall, but an entire entertainment hub in itself. There are ample dining options, an 11-screen movie theatre and even live music events held throughout the year. While you’re there, don’t forget to cross over the sky bridge to the neighbouring Nordstrom flagship store.

Capitol Hill is the epicentre of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community – a vibrant and trendy neighbourhood with fantastic independent shops and boutiques to match. Located just a short walk from Downtown, you’ll know you’ve arrived once you find yourself ambling along rainbow-coloured sidewalks or when you come face-to-face with the life-size Jimi Hendrix statue.

Particularly popular with younger shoppers, the Capitol Hill area is a hipster’s haven, teeming with quirky thrift shops, gift shops and galleries, such as Revival Shop Seattle, Butter Home, and KOBO Shop & Gallery. Be sure to check out the fabulous Melrose Market and find the hidden alleyway down to Chophouse Row for the ultimate urban-rustic shopping and dining experience.

Georgetown Trailer Park Mall in Seattle certainly isn’t any regular mall – it’s a whole new unique and eccentric shopping experience. As the name suggests, the site is made up of a handful of vintage trailers, as well as several pop-up shops featuring local artists and indie makers, all selling handmade crafts, gifts, vintage items and collectables.

Georgetown itself is a little off-the-beaten-path, about a 10-minute drive south of Downtown, but it’s well worth the journey there, even for the mall alone. It’s set up on a parking lot every weekend and has stalls selling coffee and the irresistible Lowrider Cookies too. Fun fact: Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You video was filmed in Georgetown and sees him take a taxi towards the mall.

University Village is a popular open-air shopping mall in Seattle’s lively U-District. The hangout for students from the University of Washington, this unique shopping and dining experience attracts far more than just the young crowd it was built for. There’s everything here, from local favourites such as the Eddie Bauer clothing store, to big-name brands like Gap, H&M, J. Crew and Levi’s.

University Village isn’t just about the stores, either. Once you’ve you’re your shopping, take your pick from around 30 different food and drink venues, ranging from Italian restaurants and sushi bars to candy stores and even plant-based ice cream shops. It’s also where you’ll find the world’s second-ever Starbucks, too, which opened in 1972.

Farmers’ markets in Seattle are as much a part of the city’s culture as coffee, grunge and the great outdoors. Near enough every neighbourhood in the city holds some sort of weekly farmers markets, showcasing the best local produce. Here are just a few to keep an eye out for…

Pike Place Market is a must, with its flying fish and its ‘meet the producers’ ethos, plus there’s the magnificent Ballard Farmers Market every Sunday. The University District Farmers Market is popular and affordable and the Capitol Hill Farmers Market draws a younger crowd, with its later start and its tantalising baked goods. The fantastic Fremont Sunday Market goes beyond just food stalls, selling everything from vintage clothing and records to antiques, too.

Westlake Center is one of Seattle’s most popular shopping malls, offering 4 floors of well-known fashion brands and a food court. Located in the middle of Downtown, its accessibility makes it a prime choice for visitors and locals alike. Helped, too, by the fact it’s right next to the Westlake monorail station.

You’ll find shops such as Claire’s, Lush, Zara and Saks OFF 5^TH here. The Nordstrom flagship store is just across the road, too. However, if you’d rather not pay the higher prices that you’ll find there, then stick to the Westlake Center. The entire lower level of the mall is a Nordstrom Rack, where you can get your hands on the famous retailer’s brands at a fraction of the cost.

Pioneer Square may be one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Seattle, but it keeps up to the minute as one of the city’s trendiest shopping destinations. This historic corner is renowned for its red brick buildings and Renaissance Revival architecture, making it a desirable area to set up a quirky boutique or a quaint little gift shop.

Wander along cobbled streets, browsing the likes of Bon Voyage Vintage for colourful clothing, Agate Designs for mesmerising crystals and visiting more galleries than you can shake your Starbucks at. Speaking of coffee, the neighbourhood’s tree-lined pedestrian zones are dotted with plenty of cafes, too, serving up some of the best roasts in the city.

The Elliot Bay Book Company is an enchanting independent bookstore, well-renowned throughout Seattle and beyond. Located in the city’s popular Capitol Hill neighbourhood, the impressive, multi-level building houses around 150,000 titles on its stunning cedar shelves, making it a literary lover’s dream.

The store is particularly known for its collectable editions and also plays host to many events and author readings throughout the year, so be sure to check out what’s on around the time of your visit. Events aside, it’s well worth stopping by to grab yourself a book or 2. But, even better, if it’s a rainy afternoon, why not while away your time getting stuck into one of your new purchases in the cosy onsite cafe?