
Shopping with friends is an easy way to enjoy Laguna Beach’s laid-back retail scene.
Laguna Beach brings tourists from all over each year. Lifelong Californians, visitors from the East Coast, Mid-America, and international travelers all come to this seaside enclave to enjoy the spectacular scenery, fantastic attractions, recreation opportunities, and of course, the glorious weather.
However, there’s more to this area than sand, sea, surf, and sun. It’s a fantastic location for shoppers, and in true Laguna Beach fashion, it does it in its own relaxed style. From designer outfits fresh from the runways to handmade crafts and souvenirs impossible to find anywhere else, Laguna Beach is as much a shopper’s paradise as it is a beach lover’s haven.
Here, we’ll take a look at what makes the area so special as well as look at the venues for the best shopping in Laguna Beach.
Table of Contents:
- What Makes Laguna Beach Shopping Special?
- Best Shopping Spots in Laguna Beach, CA
- New and Notable Laguna Beach Shops for 2025-2026
- Must-Visit Shopping Boutiques in Laguna Beach
- Worth the Drive: South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa
- Frequently Asked Questions About Shopping in Laguna Beach
- Discover More about Living in Laguna Beach
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Some of the best places to shop in Laguna Beach are concentrated around Downtown and Forest Avenue, the HIP District along South Coast Highway, and the boutiques scattered throughout North and South Laguna. For large-scale luxury shopping, South Coast Plaza in nearby Costa Mesa is worth the drive. |

A scenic view overlooking Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California.
What Makes Laguna Beach Shopping Special?
California offers endless shopping options. Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are known for major retail districts, designer brands, and the latest trends. Laguna Beach offers something a little different: a more relaxed, intimate shopping experience where boutiques, galleries, surf shops, and specialty stores are easy to explore at your own pace.
What sets Laguna Beach apart from these major cities is its more intimate, relaxed pace. No need to rush or worry about crowds. You don’t need a meticulously planned itinerary to enjoy the best shopping in Laguna Beach. The town’s compact but bustling shopping districts make spontaneous visits a delight. You’ll find a mix of renowned brands and locally owned boutiques, with options ranging from fashion and home décor to surf gear, jewelry, and gifts
The variety of shopping experiences invites you to explore its charming streets whenever the mood strikes. You can check out standalone luxury boutiques, stroll through high-end department stores, visit vibrant outdoor markets, or discover charming beachside shops. Each spot offers a unique vibe, allowing you to find just the right place for your mood. And with everything within easy reach, it’s a breeze to hop from one store to another if you feel like mixing things up.
Best Shopping Spots in Laguna Beach, CA
Now that we’ve looked at what separates Laguna Beach from other shopping locations, let’s dive in and see where to shop in Laguna Beach.
Downtown Village
Downtown Laguna Beach, centered around Main Beach, Forest Avenue, and the surrounding streets, is one of the easiest places to begin a shopping day. The area brings together independent fashion boutiques, surf-inspired stores, gift shops, jewelry, galleries, home décor, and restaurants within a relatively compact, walkable area.
Strolling through the easy-to-walk streets, you’ll find all sorts of cool spots perfect for a laid-back afternoon. True shopping enthusiasts know the joy of heading out with no set plans. Just walking around open to whatever catches your attention can make even the most seasoned shopper excited.
Shop owners and their staff are always ready for a friendly chat, making the whole experience feel natural and uninhibited. You won’t feel pressured to do anything more than appreciate what’s there on any given day.
Forest Avenue is particularly useful if you want several stops within a short walk. Tuvalu is at 295 Forest Avenue, while Hobie Surf Shop sits almost directly across the street at 294 Forest Avenue. Other downtown businesses and galleries continue along Forest Avenue toward Coast Highway, making this an easy area to browse without a strict itinerary.
The HIP District
Another excellent location is The HIP District, short for Historic and Interesting Places. This unique shopping destination grew around historic Laguna Beach properties such as La Casa del Camino and the Old Pottery Place.
Today, the district mixes that early-20th-century character with contemporary retail, dining, galleries, wellness businesses, and services. It’s currently home to dozens of businesses, including Laguna Beach Books, Sound Spectrum, Tea & Turmeric, The Bead Shop, Thalia Surf Shop, and newer additions such as Shoals Boutique.
The ocean views serve as the perfect backdrop as you wander through the record shops, bookstores, and clothing boutiques that line the streets. In keeping with the area’s strong artistic vibe, you’ll find places that sell handcrafted jewelry and home decor.
Scattered among these are coffee shops, quirky in the best way possible, where you can enjoy your coffee, watch passersby, and take in the weather.
You won’t have to leave once you get hungry. There are several restaurants here that cover a wide enough range that you’ll easily find something to suit your tastes.
Laguna Lumberyard
The Laguna Lumberyard at 384 Forest Avenue remains part of downtown Laguna Beach’s shopping scene, but it is better described today as a collection of smaller shops, services, dining, and creative experiences rather than a conventional open-air shopping mall. The property has also welcomed several noteworthy new businesses in 2026.
Sea Love opened at 384 Forest Avenue, Suite 6, bringing an experiential fragrance concept to downtown. Visitors can choose from more than 100 fragrances and create a custom soy candle or reed diffuser with help from a scent stylist. Current experience prices range from $48 for a small candle to $65 for a reed diffuser, with most sessions taking approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Also new to the Lumberyard is Laguna Embroidery, which opened its shop there in January 2026 after operating as a local pop-up and resident embroidery business. Customers can personalize items or bring in their own pieces for custom embroidery. Recent featured examples have included embroidered totes around $58 and hand-embroidered shirting around $248.
Montage Laguna Beach
Shopping at Montage Laguna Beach currently centers on two resort boutiques. Treasures at Montage is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and carries resort wear, fine jewelry, and gifts from California designers. The Spa Montage Boutique is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and focuses on luxury skincare, activewear, wellness products, and gifts.
This makes Montage a useful stop if you’re looking for an elevated gift or resort-inspired purchase while spending time in South Laguna. The earlier references to Elaine Kim, R&R Surplus, and a larger collection called “The Shops at Montage” have been removed here because Montage’s current shopping information specifically promotes Treasures at Montage and the Spa Montage Boutique.
New and Notable Laguna Beach Shops for 2025–2026
Part of what makes Laguna Beach shopping worth revisiting is that the retail mix continually changes. Several distinctive new shops have opened recently, making them particularly useful additions to an updated Laguna Beach shopping guide.
Flea Style + The Original Hat Bar
One of the newest arrivals is Flea Style, which opened its first West Coast store in Laguna Beach on July 15, 2026. Located at 711 S. Coast Highway, the roughly 500-square-foot shop combines the Texas-born brand’s bohemian-meets-Western aesthetic with a distinctly coastal setting.
About half of the store is devoted to The Original Hat Bar, where visitors can personalize wool, straw, and trucker hats with bands, feathers, pins, patches, and other details. The rest features apparel, jewelry, gifts, home décor, vintage finds, and Laguna Beach-exclusive merchandise. Current store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Blueberry Hugs
Blueberry Hugs opened in South Laguna in summer 2025 and offers a shopping experience that feels somewhere between a boutique and a small gallery. Located at 2986 S. Coast Highway, the store specializes in handmade ceramics, Japanese tableware, glassware, incense, lifestyle goods, and pieces created by independent artisans.
There is a broad price range, which makes it useful for both small gifts and collectible pieces. As of August 2026, the store’s online selection includes items such as chopsticks from about $9, glassware around $28–$29, handmade mugs around $75, plates from roughly $52 and up, and larger decorative pieces exceeding $100.
Shoals Boutique
One of the HIP District’s newer fashion destinations is Shoals Boutique at 1276 S. Coast Highway. The boutique carries women’s clothing, denim, dresses, tops, jewelry, and accessories, giving shoppers another independent alternative to larger fashion retailers.
Current online pricing ranges from small accessories and jewelry starting around $12–$22 to dresses and premium apparel that can exceed $300. The boutique currently lists hours of 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.
Must-Visit Shopping Boutiques in Laguna Beach
Anyone can shop at a Laguna Beach mall and come out with something amazing. That’s just what happens here. But for those looking for the truly unique, it’s time to dive into this town’s dizzying network of independent boutiques.
The best shops in Laguna Beach are often hidden in plain sight, and some are very easy to pass by, especially in the trove of riches Laguna Beach offers. That’s just part of the charm of shopping, the joy of discovering independent stores and boutiques that may not resonate with others but have items that are just perfect for you.
That being said, there are some places we can recommend. Consider this your cheat sheet for some of the best shops in Laguna Beach.
ARIS
Famous for its relaxed modern vibe, ARIS is simple but stylish. This boutique makes keeping up with women’s fashion trends easy with its careful curation of contemporary clothing and accessories. You’re sure to find something that speaks to your personal style here, as long as you’re open to trying something new or asking for help from their knowledgeable staff.
ARIS remains at 1155 N. Coast Highway in North Laguna, making it a convenient stop if you want to extend your shopping beyond Downtown and the HIP District. The boutique focuses on women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, and a small selection of lifestyle and home items.
Tuvalu
Next up is Tuvalu, the creation of Laurie Alter, a native of Laguna Beach who not only started the company but also serves as its lead designer and visionary.
This store is a true reflection of Laurie’s love for her family and the coastal town where she grew up. When you step inside, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a world of relaxed luxury that captures the simple chic of California.
Laurie has a knack for selecting pieces that go perfectly together. From furniture to accessories to artwork, each item has been chosen with care. Whether you’re aiming to bring a bit of the beach into your home or you simply want to add some coastal sophistication, Tuvalu delivers every time.
For practical planning, Tuvalu’s Laguna Beach store is located at 295 Forest Avenue and is currently open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. The company specializes in coastal-inspired furniture, home décor, gifts, accessories, and one-of-a-kind finds.
Gem Mountain Studios
If you’re looking to take home something more precious and longer-lasting than most souvenirs, visit Gem Mountain Studios. Located on the South Coast Highway, this boutique has been open since 1989, and in that time has been selling unique and ornate pieces of jewelry.
The family-owned and operated store is at 577 S. Coast Highway and has been in business since 1989. Its selection provides useful options at several price points: current examples include a Birthstone Charm Necklace at $46, Laguna Wave pendants from about $110, small Laguna Wave rings at $120, and large Laguna Wave rings at $187.
That makes Gem Mountain Studios particularly useful for shoppers who want a Laguna Beach-inspired keepsake but would rather have a concrete sense of budget before walking in.
Thalia Surf
Most coastal towns in California will have a shop inspired and catering for those who love the surf. Thalia Surf has everything that a surfer would need to catch some waves. Collaborating with top local surfers, they showcase incredible graphic design and art talents, blending classic and contemporary elements to provide unique and highly distinctive items. In their store, you can find a variety of high-quality surfboards, wetsuits, and beachwear suitable for everyone – from beginners to seasoned pros.
However, Thalia is much more than an outfit shop. There are art pieces, vinyl records, books, and movies. If you are visiting from a place where surfing is not feasible, you can return home with more than just a beautiful beach shirt.
Thalia Surf has been part of the Laguna Beach surf scene since 2001 and is located at 915 S. Coast Highway, one block from Thalia Street Beach. Visitors who want to surf rather than simply shop can currently rent a surfboard from $45 per day, including fins, leash, and wax. Full-length wetsuit rentals are currently $15 per day.
Hobie’s Surf Shop
Hobie Surf Shop has been part of Southern California surf culture since 1954, but Laguna Beach shoppers do not need to travel to the brand’s Dana Point store to visit one. Hobie has its own Laguna Beach location at 294 Forest Avenue, directly in the Downtown shopping area.
The store carries Hobie apparel, surfboards, wetsuits, accessories, and coastal lifestyle gear. For an idea of pricing, current Hobie apparel online includes T-shirts around $26–$30 and hoodies around $56–$58. Surfboards represent a much larger investment: current Hobie longboards commonly run from about $1,400 to more than $1,800, depending on the model.
Worth the Drive: South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa
South Coast Plaza deserves a place in a Laguna Beach shopping guide, but with one important clarification: it is located in Costa Mesa, not Laguna Beach. Think of it as a separate luxury-shopping excursion rather than part of a walkable Laguna Beach shopping itinerary.
The Segerstrom family opened South Coast Plaza in 1967 with 70 stores. Today, the center describes itself as having more than 230 boutiques and remains one of Southern California’s major destinations for luxury fashion, jewelry, beauty, home design, and dining.
Shoppers will find established names such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Christian Louboutin alongside more accessible contemporary brands. The center has also continued to evolve: notable 2026 openings include Golden Goose, Jaeger-LeCoultre, STAUD, Diptyque, Fueguia 1833, and others.
Dining options include destinations such as Vaca, Din Tai Fung, and Water Grill, so it is easy to turn a shopping trip into a half-day or full-day outing. Current general shopping hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; individual store and restaurant hours can vary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shopping in Laguna BeachWhat is the best street for shopping in Laguna Beach?Forest Avenue is one of the easiest places to start because it puts visitors in the middle of Downtown Laguna Beach, with boutiques, surf shops, galleries, gifts, home décor, and restaurants nearby. South Coast Highway is another major shopping corridor and connects the HIP District with shops farther south. What are some of the newest shops in Laguna Beach?Recent additions include Flea Style, which opened its first West Coast location in July 2026; Sea Love, which opened its Laguna Beach fragrance experience in 2026; Laguna Embroidery, which opened its Lumberyard shop in January 2026; Blueberry Hugs, which opened in summer 2025; and Shoals Boutique, a newer addition to the HIP District. Where can I buy locally inspired gifts in Laguna Beach?For Laguna Beach-inspired jewelry, try Gem Mountain Studios. Tuvalu is a strong option for coastal home décor and gifts, while Blueberry Hugs offers handmade ceramics and artisan pieces. Flea Style also carries Laguna Beach-exclusive merchandise and customizable hats. Where can I buy or rent surf gear in Laguna Beach?Thalia Surf at 915 S. Coast Highway sells surf gear and currently rents boards from $45 per day and wetsuits for $15 per day. Hobie Surf Shop at 294 Forest Avenue carries surfboards, apparel, wetsuits, and accessories. Is there luxury shopping in Laguna Beach?Laguna Beach itself is better known for independent boutiques, jewelry, galleries, home décor, and surf culture than large luxury department stores. Montage Laguna Beach has two upscale resort boutiques. For a much larger concentration of international luxury brands, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is the closest major destination covered in this guide. Is the Laguna Beach trolley free?Yes. The City of Laguna Beach operates free trolley service, although routes and schedules vary by season. During summer 2026, the Coastal Route runs daily along Coast Highway, and the Summer Breeze provides free park-and-ride service from Irvine on designated days. |
Discover More about Living in Laguna Beach
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