You can find anything from onion rings to diamond rings at the 160 shops that make up Harborplace Mall (tel. 410/332-4191; www.harborplace.com), which is actually three separate venues: two stand-alone pavilions on Light and Pratt streets, and the Gallery, a vertical mall in the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. The Light Street Pavilion has the most food stalls and restaurants, plus some souvenir shops. The Pratt Street Pavilion offers specialty stores, clothing and jewelry shops, and more restaurants. The Gallery has three floors of shops, plus a fourth-floor food court. Most of the stores are franchises of national chains, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm.

The 75 shops in the Gallery (connected via skywalk to the Pratt St. Pavilion) include Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, and Coach. Santa's magical house is located between the Harborplace pavilions from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.

Markets & Malls

Baltimore still has several old-fashioned covered markets with vendors selling seafood, baked goods, produce, and sweets. The outdoor farmers' market, held under the Jones Falls viaduct, is a Sunday tradition for many people.

Village of Cross Keys -- This upscale shopping center, at 5100 Falls Rd. in north Baltimore, has local stores, plus a few chains such as Talbots and Williams-Sonoma. Hours are from 10am to 6pm or later. From downtown, take the Jones Falls Expressway north to the Northern Parkway East exit. Turn right at the light at Falls Road; the center is on the right.

Harbor East

For a neighborhood that didn't even exist a few years ago, this one's thriving, and the shopping is très chic. Most shops are on Exeter or Fleet Street. Look for something hot to carry your stuff in at Handbags and the City, 612 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/528-1443), or something cool to sit on at Arhaus Furniture, 660 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/244-6376; www.arhaus.com).

You'll also find plenty of restaurants, including Mustang Alley's Bar, Bowling & Bistro 10- and duck-pin bowling and sleek eatery, 1300 Bank St. (tel. 410/522-BOWL [2695]; www.mustangalleys.com). Or stop for a snack or supplies at Whole Foods, 1001 Fleet St. (tel. 410/528-1640), or for wine at Bin 604 Wine Sellers, 604 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/576-0444; www.bin604.com), which has wine classes on Saturdays and tastings on Thursdays.

Antique Row 

On a single block in Mount Vernon -- the 800 block of Howard Street -- lies an amazing string of antiques shops. The first antiques stores opened here in the 1840s -- they were furniture resellers, really -- making this the oldest antiques district in the U.S. Most of the shops are open from 11am or noon to 5pm. Street parking is metered -- bring quarters or take the Light Rail, which runs up Howard.

Amos Judd and Sons, Inc. (tel. 410/462-2000) is a dark little store filled with cases of English, French, and Italian accessories. The 20 dealers at Antique Row Stalls (tel. 410/728-6363), an 8,000-square-foot co-op, sell just about everything. They're closed Tuesdays.

The eclectic Connoisseur's Connection (tel. 410/383-2624) has a little of everything and often provides set pieces for locally produced movies. Dubey's Art and Antiques (tel. 410/383-2881) boasts a wealth of Chinese export porcelain and other American, English, and Asian treasures. For antiquities from Europe and Asia, see Richard Sindler (tel. 410/225-2727).

Check out the old silver at Imperial Half Bushel (tel. 410/462-1192) -- the shop fairly glitters with flatware and holloware. The 20th Century Gallery (tel. 410/728-3800) stocks American and European art pottery, as well as prints and paintings. Crosskeys (tel. 410/728-0101), which specializes in English, Continental, and American furnishings, is open only Saturday and Sunday.


Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.