For a state as saturated in history as New Hampshire, it should come as no surprise that some of the best antique shopping in the world can be found in our own little Granite State. Whether you love collectibles, go crazy for ephemera, or long for that one perfect piece of colonial furniture, there is truly something for everybody and every budget. Step into the past and return ready to decorate with a grand tour of the best antique and vintage stores in New Hampshire.
Named for the bowerbird, a fascinating species whose male members build fancy structures to attract their mate, continually devoted to reshaping and redecorating their creations to keep them looking their best. Enter Bowerbird and Friends, a delightful shop comprised of antique bits and pieces, all unique separately but stunning when layered on one another in a showroom. Visit for festive ornamental pieces, silver, and furniture.
More than 150 dealers and consignors, 12,500 square-feet of space, and more treasures than you can imagine. Rochester’s Union Street Antiques is a group store dedicated to providing not only continually fresh inventory but a pleasant shopping experience. Stop by for a quick visit, or spend the day for some of the best antiques and collectables in the region.
Found along the Antiques Trail, Robin’s Egg is a delightful group store with a passion for helping their customers find just the perfect thing. Robin’s Egg presents with a rustic refinement and dedication to service that easily earns it a spot on my list.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, though Twin Elm Farm be but little, it is fierce. In an industry that has become about cavernous spaces, this Peterborough favorite packs a punch in much smaller (albeit 19th century farmhouse) packaging. Thirty dealers cycle their goods through the location, promising a new experience with every visit. With excited and knowledgeable staff, and truly gorgeous inventory, Twin Elm Farm holds up to the collectables colossi throughout the region.
Boomerang Used Furniture and Funky Stuff is the absolute perfect place to buy a gift, and if you end up giving it to yourself, that’s really none of my business. A seemingly random collection that somehow makes perfect sense, the wares discoverable at this Plymouth shop are singular to say the least. Though they are decidedly offbeat, a seasoned hunter can bag valuable and special antique pieces, alongside the quirkier offerings.
There is something about browsing antiques inside a defunct 1950s department store that just makes sense. Shopping the way we used to shop, for what we used to shop for. From furniture to dishware to ephemera (admittedly my favorite category), this Lakes Region gem delivers consistent quality and selection.
Ranked by New Hampshire Magazine as the best rural antiques store in the state, Potato Barn specializes in lighting, from chimneys to kerosene lamps. They also focus on clothing, having opened the on-site “Lady’s Slipper Vintage,” a shop full of fashionable finds dating back to as early as the 1800s. The owners are actively involved and true lovers of antiques, happy to do their best in tracking down customer wish lists.
Sage Farm Antiques is not so much a store as it is a stationary market, operating one weekend every month. What they lack in hours they make up for in impact, offering an entirely fresh inventory with each market, as well as a new theme. Dedicated professionals selling quality vintage and antique goods make this pop-up prodigy an easy choice for my list.
For more than 30 years, the New Hampshire Antique Co-op has delighted locals and visitors alike with their selection and service. One of the best places to shop if you demand precise details with your purchases, the staff and dealers are knowledgeable and patient. Twenty-thousand square-feet turns somehow manageable when divided into thoughtful categories and spaces, and feels instead like a small town filled with impeccable shops all within ridiculously easy walking distance.
From decor to collectables, the Concord Antique Gallery has assembled quite an inventory, much of which is available at reasonable cost. An accessible counterpart to ultra-high-end locations, this group shop is a lovely assemblage of collectables, vintage, and true antiques. Great for locals or as an add on to any trip to the capital.