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Tours in Baltimore |
Shopping in Baltimore really brings to life the neighbourhood feel of the city. The most brazenly commercial and modern spot is the Inner Harbor, with its Gallery and Harborplace malls, full of the latest designer and brand-name shops. Many of the districts surrounding the harbour area have their own specialities. Mount Vernon’s renowned Antique Row (700-800 North Howard Street, and 200-300 West Read Street) has 40 antique shops and 70 dealers.
A little to the east of this, on Charles Street, are some small, individual shops, cafes and restaurants. Fells Point’s Broadway Market, with its stalls and shops, is the oldest existing building in the city (1785). Around it are curio shops, galleries and bakeries. Little Italy has a similar but more upmarket feel to it.
The oldest of them all is Lexington Market, just west of the Mount Vernon district (see Further Distractions). Other markets include Belair Market (on Gay Street and Fayette Street), Cross Street Market (at Charles Street and Cross Street), Hollins Market (on Hollins Street and Arlington Street), Lafayette Market (on Pennsylvania Street and Laurens Street), the newest Northeast Market (on Monument Street and Chester Street) and the Downtown Farmer’s Market (at Holiday Street and Saratoga Street).
The markets identify the local colour and flavour of a district. Each market has its own character, characters and specialities. All markets are open Monday-Saturday – except Hollins, which is closed on Monday. Baltimore Public Markets (tel: (410) 685 6169; website: www.bpmarkets.com) provides further information.
Baltimore also has many speciality stores. Two good bookshops are Bibelot, Woodholme Centre, 1819 Reistertown Road, and Kelmscott Bookshop, 32-34 West 25th Street, which specialises in rare books. For women’s clothing, there is the Village of Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road, a shopping complex about 10km (6 miles) from Downtown with, among 40 other boutiques, specialists such as Ruth Shaw, Octavia and Jones and Jones.
Betty Cooke Designer Jewelry/The Store Ltd, also at the Cross Keys, sells a top-quality range of handcrafted jewellery, as well as special gift items such as stationery, kitchen gadgets and coffee table books. Another good place for unusual gift items is Crafts Concepts, Greenspring station, on Falls Road and Joppa Road.
Shoppers in search of a city speciality should get hold of some Old Bay spice (a local seasoning), seeing as Baltimore’s main treat, crab cakes, might prove difficult to export. There is a range of Old Bay souvenirs too.
General shopping hours are 1000-1800, although many malls and large stores are open into the evening. Visiting shoppers should always retain receipts, as customs may ask to see that the 5% VAT has already been paid locally. Individual shops can provide tax and duty-free forms, allowing tax back on items upon departure from the USA.
A little to the east of this, on Charles Street, are some small, individual shops, cafes and restaurants. Fells Point’s Broadway Market, with its stalls and shops, is the oldest existing building in the city (1785). Around it are curio shops, galleries and bakeries. Little Italy has a similar but more upmarket feel to it.
The oldest of them all is Lexington Market, just west of the Mount Vernon district (see Further Distractions). Other markets include Belair Market (on Gay Street and Fayette Street), Cross Street Market (at Charles Street and Cross Street), Hollins Market (on Hollins Street and Arlington Street), Lafayette Market (on Pennsylvania Street and Laurens Street), the newest Northeast Market (on Monument Street and Chester Street) and the Downtown Farmer’s Market (at Holiday Street and Saratoga Street).
The markets identify the local colour and flavour of a district. Each market has its own character, characters and specialities. All markets are open Monday-Saturday – except Hollins, which is closed on Monday. Baltimore Public Markets (tel: (410) 685 6169; website: www.bpmarkets.com) provides further information.
Baltimore also has many speciality stores. Two good bookshops are Bibelot, Woodholme Centre, 1819 Reistertown Road, and Kelmscott Bookshop, 32-34 West 25th Street, which specialises in rare books. For women’s clothing, there is the Village of Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road, a shopping complex about 10km (6 miles) from Downtown with, among 40 other boutiques, specialists such as Ruth Shaw, Octavia and Jones and Jones.
Betty Cooke Designer Jewelry/The Store Ltd, also at the Cross Keys, sells a top-quality range of handcrafted jewellery, as well as special gift items such as stationery, kitchen gadgets and coffee table books. Another good place for unusual gift items is Crafts Concepts, Greenspring station, on Falls Road and Joppa Road.
Shoppers in search of a city speciality should get hold of some Old Bay spice (a local seasoning), seeing as Baltimore’s main treat, crab cakes, might prove difficult to export. There is a range of Old Bay souvenirs too.
General shopping hours are 1000-1800, although many malls and large stores are open into the evening. Visiting shoppers should always retain receipts, as customs may ask to see that the 5% VAT has already been paid locally. Individual shops can provide tax and duty-free forms, allowing tax back on items upon departure from the USA.
View Our Airport Guides for Baltimore:
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
