We wandered into Swoon Books as part of the Ballard Book Crawl (incredible event, 10/10, highly…read morerecommend) and oh, what a lovely find. The store is so aesthetic and thoughtfully curated, it's like the kind of bookshop that makes you want to read every book on the shelves. The LGBTQ+ selection was excellent and very visible, not tucked in a corner, which immediately made the space feel welcoming and intentional. The vibe overall is just really pleasant and warm, you can tell it's a place that actually loves books and the people who love books. Left very happy with my finds and already thinking about going back.

This place is so cute! I love that they have a nice mix of books and merch. The staff was helpful…read moreand they offered to provide recommendations or order when I inquired about a book they didn't end up having in store. The value is pretty typical for books (no notable mark ups) but I love the vibes of shopping here. They also appear to be dog friendly which is a huge plus to me. Highly recommend! I joined their rewards program so I'll def be back!

Best book deals! I love the FriendShop in the Seattle Public Library as there's always something…read morehere that every bibliophile would appreciate and love. It's a great place to shop at for any book lover. Located in the Seattle Central Library branch on the main level, the shop is not large, but the selection is quality. First off, there are always so many treasured books that are discounted, like four bucks for a vintage hardcover of a literary classic or two bucks for paperback best seller! You cannot walk into this library branch and miss out on the book deals here. Selection always changes, too, so it's worth coming back on a frequent basis. In addition to a wonderful selection of discounted books, there are also library-themed items, including Seattle Public Library goods, like totes, prints, Christmas ornaments, etc. The gifts you can find for book lovers here are plenty! From stickers, to journals, to even a set where someone can build their own library, with old school library slips to place in books for checking out and so on. It's pretty darn cool. Friends of Seattle Public Library volunteers that work here check in with customers, offering assistance and so forth. If you visit on the first Thursday of the month, items are discounted. Gotta love it.

I love shopping at the FriendShop, it is full of the cutest, most unique items. Since they are…read moreobviously closed I was thrilled to find lots of online options. Last week I purchase one of the boxed sets they offer, the Cat box set. I asked if it was possible to change out one item and Lisa, the manager, could not have been more helpful. Eager for the next birthday a friend has so I can gift some of the spectacular items in this set. Thank you FriendShop!

This little shop was so much fun to browse. There were so many things that I would have loved to…read morehave brought home with me to San Francisco, but as a chronic overpacker, I really didn't have room. Lucky for me that they have an online store that will ship to me! There were art prints that I loved, and a book series by Nolen Lee that I am ordering soon. Great shop worth a visit!

I love Handmade Showroom! I make it a point to stop here every time I'm in Seattle and I always…read morefind a gift for someone here and my cats always get a little something. They have a great cat/dog toy section! The store features art and goods from local artists and there's so much cute stuff. I can easily spend 15-20 minutes perusing all the goods. I found the employees to be lovely whenever I visited. They sometimes would tell me about an artist if I'm looking at their wares and I love hearing more detail about things but I never felt pressure to buy anything.  Also they sell anything under the sun here from jewelry to vases to clothes to things for kids and babies. Great variety. I found a random darling egg sticker for my friend who loves eggs and my friend found these cool mushroom magnets for her sister who loves mushrooms. See, this store is amazing!  Pacific Place is a shell of its former self. A lot of the stores have closed and it seems like most people who do come here are coming to eat at Din Tai Fung or HaiDiLao but if you're in this mall make sure to stop by the 3rd floor and check it out! Highly recommend it! There's something for everyone. Also can be a fun way to while away some time if you're waiting for your seat in the above restaurants.  Also I just learned they have a website  https://thehandmadeshowroom.com/ so apparently I don't have to be in Seattle to shop their goods! Free shipping on orders over $50.

Probably one of the cutest shoppy shops I've ever been to!…read more Their selection is so thoughtfully curated and displayed in the most intentional way. If you're looking for any gifts that are cute, unique, and sentimental, this is the spot. Trinkets, homeware, stationery, toys (so many jelly cats!), and more! There are two whole levels to explore and marvel. I'm docking off a star for the staff. They really weren't friendly and I felt a bit out of place and surveyed the entire time I was inside.

I have since learned that the unkindness and lack of empathy from the employees here are a reason…read morethey have lost business over the years. Do not go here and let your little ones play. Or touch anything in the store. After going to Stuhlbergs for over three years, I was never told that my kids could not touch the books. I actually been told that we can touch and play with the cars that are in the children's area. I've never felt discriminated against because I have a young 17 month old who left a book there for a minute while I finished tending to my other kid Do not recommend if you have kids. I will take my business for jellycats to paper source or other small businesses in the area that welcome people of all ages.

As I wandered around the city while visiting Seattle I decided to find the coolest and unique spots…read moreI could find for all the things I love - stationary, artisan-made goods, unique gifts, and artwork that is affordable. I even saw jewelry, name brand reusable bag line merch, and stickers here at Butter Home. Of course there was quite a variety of home goods too including candles, books, etc. I saw some great artwork that was Seattle-themed and a lot of cool large paperclips, stamps, and whatnot to bring back to my office mates as small gifts. You will find something for you and then some here. Service was great as I asked the person working for any other nearby shops. They had great suggestions for other spots to eat and hang out in the neighborhood. I was super happy they were friendly enough to make some recommendations.

Cute and unique! If you're searching for some niche home decor or trinkets, you've come to the…read moreright place! Look for signs that say "Chophouse Row" and you'll see Butter Home on your right in the alley. They have lots of items that are great for gifts! They had stationery, kitchenware, artwork, and lots of Baggu. It's a small store, but there was lots to look at. A nice change-of-pace compared to other stores in the area. A hidden gem :)

Such a fun experience to try in Seattle!…read more The staff were outstanding, with Mikey in particular going above and beyond! He made the whole process a blast, walking us through each step with energy and enthusiasm that kept things fun and easy to follow. Even while assisting multiple guests at once, he made sure we always felt supported and never left waiting. Once you're familiar with the process, you'll select a vessel and explore 30+ scent options displayed along a scent wall. The team helps you discover which fragrances blend well together to create your ideal combination. This is where Mikey's expertise really shined! He suggested scents I hadn't considered, and they worked beautifully with my favorite scents. After creating your perfect scent ratio, the oils are blended into wax, and left to set for 2-3 hours. Prices were comparable to other handmade candles you find at farmers markets, plus ELM uses a coconut apricot wax. Be sure to book a reservation, they fill up quick!

What a perfect place to do candle making, in addition to making your own reed diffuser, room spray…read moreand wax melts! I know Elm Candle through work and remembered some of my work colleagues coming here to do a team bonding event. My girl friend was turning 30 and said she would be doing a birthday activity here! Our scent specialist, Mikey was super helpful! They had everything prepared for our ladies to partake in the session and the instructions were on the card which was super cute since it also had a 'Thank You' at the back in support of their small business. You put your name and select which item you want to make. I chose a room spray since I have SO MANY candles at home! Mikey had us choose which container (room spray only had one kind) but candles had a variety. I wanted to make the reed diffuser initially but they were sold out! Next, they had a variety of scents on the wall so you could write those on your card and star your faves! Coffee beans were provided to help with your nose since you smell so many scents! Mikey was so patient with all of us and walked us through the process! I was super pleased with my scents. He evaluated each of our cards, asked us what kinds of scents we are into, and then gathered 3-4 essential oils to smell -- you can mix and match. You can omit one or add another depending on your preferences. We left with cute little bags! It was such a wonderful experience! It's a little pricey but definitely worth it.

Such an adorable treasure trove right next to Crossroads! The store is filled with everything from…read moreSanrio stationery, blind boxes, and plushies to Japanese kitchenware and home decor. The far right of the store also features a tea wall offering a large variety of tea, including matcha tins and many specialty blends. Shiga's Imports is a wonderful place to browse, whether you're looking for something specific or a thoughtful gift.

Love this store! Lots of cute Asian products!…read more Upon entering they have really cute Asian and foodie themed cards, I got one for my mom. They have a decent size selection of tea that you can purchase by the bag and prices are fairly reasonable. I fell in love with their pen section! Omg the pens were so cute and they were doing a buy 4 get 1 free deal. The pens were about $3 each. They also had lots of plushies, stickers, keychains, and a lot of other nice things!

What a stunning store. We drove by and said to my partner that we have to stop in and I'm so glad…read morewe did. This is an eclectic, charming, mix of everything type of store. From self care to stationary, bar goods, to blankets, hair clips to candles. It's clear that everything here is carefully and loving sourced and curated. We found some stunning hand tooled leather bookmarks and chatted with the staff for a long while. Things were reasonably priced for what they were selling and I really thought this was suck a treat to visit. 12/10.

A great store downtown Seattle near the Moore Theater. This store has an eclectic selection of high…read morequality goods at a great value. The service is top notch as well and is a great place to stop in to downtown.