Markets and independent shops in Washington, D.C.

Markets and independent shops in Washington, D.C.

1. 
   BuyBookshopDupont Circle

   Kramers

   A great independent bookstore and a tried and true Washingtonian experience. It's an odd bookstore, in that it has a full restaurant and bar—pick up a travel guide inferior to this one and then sit down for filet mignon, perhaps? Occasional evening author talks, and live music on weekends.

   Sun-Thu 7:30AM-1AM, Fri Sat 24 hr; brunch (popular and crowded): Sat Sun 8AM-3PM·Food: $10-20 · Wi-Fi · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible
2. 
   BuyMarketCapitol Hill

   Eastern Market

   D.C.'s biggest public market has been housed since 1873 in a 19th century brick building, just a few blocks from the Capitol. The market is open every day, but weekends bring an additional influx of vendors ranging from local farmers to antique furniture. The market burned down in 2007, but reopened in June 2009.

   Tue-Fri 7AM-7PM, Sat 7AM-6PM, Sun 9AM-5PM·Wheelchair accessible
3. 
   BuyCraft shopWest End

   Indian Craft & Map Store shops

   Want to own a piece of America? OK, you can't actually walk in and purchase federal lands, or buy a mining permit. The gift shops, however, are open to the public. In business since 1938, the Indian Craft Shop has numerous American Indian handcrafted items, including pottery and jewelry, as well as books. The map store resides under the name of "Earth Science Information Center."

   Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:30PM
4. 
   BuyMarketNear Northeast

   Union Market

   Opened in 1931. A warehouse-style indoor market featuring 40 boutique shops and plenty of food options. A must-visit if you are in the area!

   Closed · opens 11 am Friday
5. BuyBookshopCapitol Hill

   Capitol Hill Books

   Housed in a small, old rowhouse next to Eastern Market, this bookstore is a local favorite, jam-packed with used books on every imaginable subject. For a delightful surprise, be sure to open the cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms.

   Mon-Fri 11:30AM-6PM, Sat Sun 9AM-6PM

6. BuyArt shopDupont Circle

   IA&A at Hillyer

   Hillyer Art Space

   This is one of the hipper galleries in town, often sporting live DJs. Its mission is tied vaguely to international, cross-cultural communication, and it puts on exhibits by established international artists, as well as locals.

   Mon 10AM-5PM, Tue-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 11AM-4PM

7. BuyBookshopDupont Circle

   Second Story Books and Antiques

   This is the one and only great used bookstore anywhere nearby. The collection is big and well curated by very knowledgeable staff, and they have a section for rare and collectible books. It's one of the best browsing bookstores you'll ever come across.

   10AM-10PM daily

8. BuyArt shopEast End

   Touchstone Gallery

   This artist-cooperative owned gallery is friendly and crammed with local artwork. Prices are reasonable, and events are packed.

   Wed-Fri 11AM-6PM, Sat Sun noon-5PM

9. BuyMarketEast End

   Downtown Holiday Market

   Held in late November and December, this market sells an array of handcrafted items, jewelry, pottery, and food.

   Closed · opens 11 am Saturday

10. BuyBookshopWest End

    Reiter's Scientific Books

    The leading scientific, medical and technical bookstore on the East Coast, with a loyal following of visiting scientists and scholars. It also claims the distinction of the city's oldest bookstore, in business since 1936.

    Mon-Thu 9:30AM-7:30PM, Fri 9:30AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-6PM

11. BuyChocolatierDupont Circle

    The Chocolate House

    This shop, tucked away on a lower level, carries a wide selection of chocolates, and has small art gallery.

    Tue-Sat noon-8PM; Sun noon-5PM

12. BuyGeorgetown

    Addison/Ripley Fine Art

    One of D.C.'s most prominent galleries, which exhibits mainly contemporary and impressionist abstract paintings.

    Tue-Sat 11AM-6PM

13. BuyBookshopDupont Circle

    Middle East Books and More

    A non-profit bookstore selling books, pottery, and food related to the Middle East, with a particular focus on Palestine.

    Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM; Sat 11AM-7PM

14. BuyBookshopWest End

    GW University Bookstore

    There's one reason to come here, and that's GW paraphernalia—apparel, mugs, stationery, books, etc.

    Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM, Sat 11AM-4PM, Sun noon-4PM

15. BuyShaw

    Adamson Gallery

    A smaller gallery focused on contemporary photography and digital prints.

    Tue-Fri 11:30AM-5PM, Sat noon-5PM

16. BuyFarmers marketEast End

    The Penn Quarter Fresh Farm Market

    A farmers market held on Thursdays, 3-7PM, from April to November.

17. BuyGift shopUpper Northwest

    Transcendence-Perfection-Bliss of the Beyond

    A toy store with a selection of unique items, and quite the wild name.

18. 
    BuyEast End

    CityCenter

    A large luxury shopping development built in the 2010s on the site of a former convention center. Has many very pricey shops, including Tumi, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Hermès, Gucci, Burberry, BOSS, Arc'teryx, and Allen Edmonds. The pedestrian-only Palmer Alley has seasonal overhead displays that make for a nice photo-op. There is also a seasonal farmer's market Tuesday afternoons, and periodic cultural events.
19. BuyRecord shopAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights

    Smash Records

    D.C.'s punk rock scene was legendary in the 1980s, and this was its most famous record store. It has a great collection of both old and new punk and other local indie CDs, as well related books. Also on offer is a small selection of cheap punk fashion.

    Mon-Thu noon-9PM, Fri noon-10PM, Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun noon-7PM·Limited wheelchair access

20. BuyBookshopGeorgetown

    Bridge Street Books

    A great little bookstore, conspicuously far from the university, which selects and presents its materials thoughtfully. The political and poetry sections are the big draws, although a specialist might be surprised to find their narrow subject covered comprehensively! Hosts occasional poetry readings, author events, etc.

    Mon-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun noon-6PM

21. BuyShaw

    Long View Gallery

    Art exhibits & events in an industrial-chic space with exposed brick walls & a courtyard.

    Closed · opens 11 am Thursday

22. BuyBookshopWaterfront

    Politics and Prose Bookstore

    A newly opened branch of D.C.'s largest and most influential independent bookstore. Features frequent talks by well-known authors.

    10AM-10PM

23. BuyWest End

    Western Market

    This shopping center, near George Washington University, is a historic building with many nice shops, several restaurants and food stalls, and a couple of really top notch bookstores.

    Open now · closes 9 pm·Wheelchair accessible

24. BuyWaterfront

    Martha Spak Gallery

    A contemporary art gallery with fine art and photography from local artists.

25. BuyWest End

    American Institute of Architects Bookstore

    Possibly the best museum bookstore around, with a great selection of books on architecture and history, along with some architectural photography books and other items. The AIA also host a gallery in their main building and library of artwork related to architecture, which is free and worth a peruse.

    Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM

26. BuyGeorgetown

    Everard's Clothing

    They clothed the man with the coiffe, former presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards, as well as several Miss America finalists. This is one of D.C.'s most famous local boutiques, specializing in men's clothing, and a famous selection of designer ties.

    10AM-6PM daily

27. BuyGeorgetown

    Georgetown Tobacco

    As you might expect, Georgetown is exactly the kind of place where one buys fine cigars. The selection is excellent, the staff knowledgeable, and there are a couple comfy chairs in the back where you can have a relaxed smoke (rare in this city).

    Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun noon-8PM

28. BuyCapitol Hill

    Groovy D.C.

    This is a very eclectic gift shop with unique gift cards, gags, and other arts & crafts. It's a little on the expensive side.

    Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-6PM Sun 11AM-5PM

29. BuyEast End

    Hemphill Fine Arts

    A swanky gallery that usually exhibits contemporary works by established artists.

    Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM

30. BuyCapitol Hill

    Hill's Kitchen

    A collection of high-end kitchen gadgets, cookware, and appliances, with also some gift and seasonal items. The upstairs hosts classes in cooking skills.

    Tue-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 10AM-5PM

31. BuyAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights

    Mercedes Bien Vintage

    A small men's and women's vintage store run by long-time D.C. fashionista of the same name. In a unique twist, the items on display are well organized, carefully selected, and don't require extensive browsing. Considering the careful attention to detail, the prices are quite affordable, and the fashions skew 1970s-ish, but other periods are also well-represented.

    Sat noon-6PM, Sun noon-5PM

32. BuyUpper Northwest

    Politics & Prose

    This is quite possibly the city's favorite independent bookstore, with a non-exclusive focus on politics, a coffee shop downstairs, and frequent, excellent lectures. It is far off the beaten path, about a mile north of the Van Ness-UDC Metro Station, but it's a rewarding destination.

    Mon-Sat 9AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-8PM

33. BuyUpper Northwest

    Tempo Bookstore

    This is a bookstore wholly dedicated to language resources: language learning books, software, linguistics texts, teaching tools, etc. A great place for philology nerds.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM

34. BuyGeorgetown

    The Phoenix

    A unique Mexican imports store that has been here for over 50 years. Their collections of jewelry (also from Germany and Israel), artwork, and other designs make for great window shopping.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-5PM

35. BuyShaw

    Transformer Gallery

    A non-profit gallery whose mission is to provide opportunities for emerging artists, focused on new, experimental works.

    Wed-Sat 1-7PM

36. BuyGeorgetown

    Village Art & Craft

    A funkier store than most in Georgetown, this little spot mostly sells Indian and some Middle Eastern style clothes, in addition to belly dancing outfits, and hookahs. Perhaps keeping true to the regions represented, you can actually haggle here if you like.

    Mon-Sat 11AM-7PM, Sun noon-6PM

37. BuyAdams Morgan-Columbia Heights

    El West

    One-stop gaucho shop. Snakeskin check, leather (crocodile, cow, and others) check, cowboy boots, check, large cowboy belt buckles, check. OK, it's not just gaucho apparel, and there are women's items here too, but most of the items are leather of some sort. And it's expensive.

    Mon-Fri 10:30AM-7:30PM, Tue 11AM-7:30PM, Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 9:30AM-7PM

38. BuyShaw

    Lee’s Flower Shop

    Opened in 1945, this family-owned business is one of only 3 businesses on U St to survive the 1968 riots.

39. BuyShaw

    Lettie Gooch

    Funky women's dresses, tops, rompers & colorful jewelry. Black + women owned.

40. BuyBrookland-Petworth-Takoma

    Loyalty Bookstore

    A well-decorated quirky bookstore with author presentations and sing-a-longs.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Washington, D.C. (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.