Washington's best shopping is concentrated in a few neighbourhoods. Georgetown (M Street NW and Wisconsin Avenue) has the most established retail strip, with independent boutiques alongside national chains in 19th-century townhouse buildings. Dupont Circle has good independent bookshops — Kramerbooks (1517 Connecticut Avenue NW) is a DC institution that stays open late and has a cafe. Eastern Market on Capitol Hill (7th Street SE) is a covered public market open since 1873, with food vendors inside and a weekend outdoor market for crafts, antiques, and produce.
For a uniquely Washington experience, the National Building Museum Gift Shop (401 F Street NW) stocks excellent books and design objects. Union Station has a large mall inside the grand Beaux-Arts terminal, useful for last-minute gifts.