Shopping · Baltimore · United States
Shopping in Baltimore
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Aspifi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Baltimore shopping is mostly independent: vintage and quirky shops in Hampden, boutiques in Fells Point, and food markets. Big chain stores cluster in Harbor East. Best souvenirs: Old Bay seasoning, Berger cookies and Natty Boh merchandise.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Old Bay seasoning
Where to shop
Hampden's 36th Street
Vintage clothing, kitsch, gifts, books and local design along The Avenue.
Fells Point
Antiques, record shops and boutiques on Thames Street and Broadway.
Harbor East
Upscale chains and designer boutiques along Aliceanna and Lancaster Streets.
Markets
Lexington Market
The city's historic market hall, rebuilt in 2022, with seafood and lunch stalls.
Baltimore Farmers' Market and Bazaar
A large Sunday-morning market under the Jones Falls Expressway from spring to autumn.
Cross Street Market
A refurbished market hall in Federal Hill with food stalls and bars.
What to buy
Old Bay seasoning
The spice blend created in Baltimore in 1939, sold everywhere in its yellow tin.
Berger cookies
Boxed fudge-topped cookies from Lexington Market or supermarkets.
Natty Boh merchandise
T-shirts and glasses with Mr. Boh, the one-eyed beer mascot.
Crab mallets and prints
Crab-themed kitchen gear, prints and decorations from Fells Point and Hampden shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · Downtown West
Lexington Market
Trading since 1782, Lexington Market moved into a new, light-filled market hall in 2022.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
Street · Hampden
Hampden and 36th Street
Hampden's main street, known as The Avenue, has vintage shops, independent boutiques, diners and bars in old mill-worker row houses.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Berger cookies, Coddies, Snowballs and Smith Island cake. Lexington Market, local supermarkets and convenience stores across the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor East | $$$$ | Glassy new towers, upscale hotels and restaurants between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point |
| Fells Point | $$$ | Belgian-block streets, 18th-century row houses and waterfront pubs |
| Canton | $$ | Row houses, a waterfront park and pubs around O'Donnell Square |
| Federal Hill | $$ | Hilltop park views over the harbour and a busy bar scene on Cross Street |
| Hampden | $$ | Quirky shops, diners and kitsch along 36th Street, known locally as 'The Avenue' |
| Charles Village | $$ | Painted row houses next to Johns Hopkins and the Baltimore Museum of Art |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- June: AFRAM — African American festival in Druid Hill Park (usually June)
- October: Fells Point Fun Festival (usually early October)
- October: Baltimore Running Festival and marathon (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for shopping, food lovers and quiet stays
Hampden
Quirky shops, diners and kitsch along 36th Street, known locally as 'The Avenue'
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Baltimore?
Old Bay seasoning, Berger cookies, Natty Boh merchandise and Crab mallets and prints.
+Where is the best shopping in Baltimore?
Hampden's 36th Street: Vintage clothing, kitsch, gifts, books and local design along The Avenue.
+What are the best markets in Baltimore?
Lexington Market, Baltimore Farmers' Market and Bazaar and Cross Street Market.