Boston shopping runs from the SoWa Open Market's 100+ maker tents to Newbury Street's eight brownstone blocks, Charles Street antique dealers and Harvard Square's independent bookshops. Massachusetts charges no sales tax on clothing under $175.
Year-round indoor market at 100 Hanover St with 30+ Massachusetts-only vendors: Red Apple Farm cider, Hopsters beer, Taza chocolate, Q's Nuts. Open Mon-Sat 8:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-18:00. Free entry, most jars $8-18.
Sunday market on Harrison Ave running May through October, 10:00-16:00, with 100+ art and craft tents, a vintage market in the basement lot and 30 food trucks. Free entry; prints $20-60, ceramics $25-90.
Five floors of working studios in a converted 1890s warehouse, roughly 70 painters, printmakers and jewellers selling directly. Open studios first Friday of each month 17:00-21:00; many studios also open Sunday afternoons.
South End shop stocking only small-batch American makers: Somerville-roasted coffee, Salem candles, Vermont chocolate, hand-thrown mugs. Open Tue-Sat 11:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-17:00. Gift boxes from $45.
Eight blocks of Victorian brownstones from Arlington to Massachusetts Ave, with basement-level independents at the Mass Ave end and flagships near the Public Garden. Most shops open 10:00 or 11:00 to 19:00.
A six-block run of dealers between Beacon and Cambridge Streets — Eugene Galleries for 19th-century Boston prints and maps, Twentieth Century Ltd for costume jewellery, Blackstone's for engraved gifts.
Seaport trade building with 100+ showrooms of furniture, textiles and lighting. Ground-floor showrooms are open to the public Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00; upper-floor trade showrooms admit visitors accompanied by a designer.
Sneaker boutique hidden behind a working vending machine inside an unmarked convenience store off Massachusetts Ave. Open daily 12:00-19:00. Limited New Balance collaborations $130-250, apparel $50-180.
Independent since 1932, with a used-book basement and Paige M. Gutenborg, an espresso book machine printing out-of-print titles in four minutes. Open daily 9:00-22:00. New titles full price, basement used stock at half.
Outlet beside the company's Boston headquarters selling seconds and past-season runs of the Made-in-USA 990 series. Open Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 11:00-18:00. Pairs that retail at $200 sell for $90-140.
Five floors and 150 dealers near Lechmere selling nautical brass, vintage Boston sports programmes, Fiestaware and old signage. Open Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, closed Mondays. Cash gets better results on larger pieces.
Small shop selling handmade truffles in hand-decoupaged keepsake boxes printed with vintage Boston images. Open Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-17:00. Boxes of nine truffles from $32, single pieces about $3.