Whether you’re on vacation, or shopping locally in Taos, how do you know what to buy? What exactly should you bring back home with you from your shopping excursion. These shops have your memories of Taos at hand. Unique, individualistic gifts to soothe your soul until you return to Taos once again. Outside of the many art galleries in Taos these are the most creative shops among us, (some actually are art galleries with a bit extra).
Vintage Tourism Sign
Criteria for being added to this list is such: range of merchandise, is there a ‘classic’ souvenir available, price point needs to be from $10. or less and up, is there hand crafted merchandise available, craftsmanship in general, is the merchandise well displayed and well curated, avoidance of mostly 'factory made' merchandise, do the shop-owners show they care, are they located in the 'heart' of Taos. Try being a tourist in your own town, all of these store owners will treat you like you belong here!
Opening hours tend to be 10-5 in Taos
Taos has the worst directional signage, don't be afraid to ask if you've taken a wrong turn.
Taxonomy 12-5 Thursday-Monday 102 Dona Luz Street
575-224-2231
A Cabinet of Curiosities and Oddities, featuring local taxidermy and home decor. Don't let the taxidermy collection stop you from shopping here, you'll discover so much more.
Everywhere Taos 11-5 Tuesday-Sunday 108 Unit H Kit Carson Road 575-425-0926
A stunning selection of contemporary home goods and objects of beauty. A completely new and unique shopping experience in Taos.
Two Graces 10-5 Daily 105 Barela Lane, Taos 575-758-4101
There are many antique shops, curio shops, vintage shops and thrift shops, this is not any of those. Two Graces is a shoppers experience in its own world. The tag line here is Art, Books and Curios but it’s an explorers paradise. Interested in art in Taos, this place has it covered. Want to learn more about the southwest and what you’re looking at, they’ve got it covered. Need a little retail therapy, if you can’t find something unique and wonderful here, then you aren’t actually looking. Holly Sievers & Robert Cafazzo showcase the things they love here in their Taos shop, recently located to this location just off Kit Carson Road.
Interior view of Two Graces new space
pre-1970's Vintage Hopi Kachina Dolls (at far right is a contemporary 'old style' doll)
*Hot Tip: The best collection of vintage Hopi & Zuni Kachina dolls in Taos. Cafazzo also specializes in restoring these and other wooden objects.
Chokola Bean to Bar 11-6 Daily 100-198 Juan Largo Lane 575-779-6163 www.chokolabeantobar.com
This award winning chocolate shop is the Taos destination you’ve been looking for. A variety of Whipped and Hot Chocolates will make you swoon. During summer months the rich chocolate ice cream selection will make you feel like a kid again. Deborah Vincent and Javier Abad are always working in ‘the factory’, where you can see them grinding beans and tempering chocolate right in plain sight.
The most beautiful blackboard in Taos with bags of Cacao Beans waiting to be turned into chocolate
A selection of Chocolate Cream Mousse and candy bars in artists designed packaging
*Hot Tip: The package designs on their bar chocolates are by local Taos artists, ask about the occasional signed editions by Larry Bell.
Reneux Consignment Boutique 10-5 Daily 126 Camino de Santa Fe (Southwest corner of Taos Plaza) 575-758-4460
You want a consignment clothing store to be selective and that’s exactly what you get with Shelia Ross and her Reneux Boutique. The selection of denim jeans and jackets put this shop on my hipster list for women’s clothing stores in Taos. If you’re in need of something fancy to wear and don’t want to break the budget, shop here. Looking for something to wear anytime, shop here. My only regret is that she doesn’t carry menswear.
Denim Jackets and Jeans
Jewelry and handbags
*Hot Tip: Check out the selection of vintage costume and southwest jewelry, bling, bling.
Six Hand Hat Company 11-7 Wednesday - Sunday 133 North Taos Plaza 575-751-3186 www.sixhandhats.com
If you choose to walk by this shop without going in to explore, that’s a big mistake. Peer in the windows, there’s more than the finest hand made hats made by Mikel Robinson right there on site. Rows of those little cactus and succulents that are on everyone’s radar right now, cases and tables stocked with items such as metal ‘findings’, turquoise nuggets and framed reliquary imagery.
A variety of lovely items at Six Hand Hats
The best sign in Taos
A display of handmade Six Hand Hats
*Hot Tip: Purchase a few of the best bandanas and dish towels that you’ll find anywhere in Taos.
Jones Walker Of Taos 10-6 Daily 127 Bent Street 575-758-7965 www.joneswalkeroftaos.com
Hands down two of the sweetest shop owners in Taos. Max Jones (the painter) & Tony Walker (front of house) curate a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Showcasing local art they love and vintage finds that pull this shop together with tastefully articulated rooms.
Entryway to Jones-Walker featuring Taos blue accents
Max Jones paintings and products on display
*Hot Tip: Buy it when you see it is mandatory here, one minute they’ve just gotten something new in, the next minute it’s been purchased.
UltraViolet Floristry 11-5 (closed Sundays) 107b Bent Street
707-517-3397
This modernist florist shop is a much needed personal experience in the heart of the Taos Historic District. Owner Britt Brown will customize arrangements for your home of your Taos event.
Taos Blue 9-5 Daily 101 Bent Street 575-758-3561 www.taosblue.com
Another of the shop owners who have been in business seemingly forever, Sue Westbrook changes things up as the seasons sway. Local contemporary craftsmanship at it’s finest. Here’s where you’ll find artist made pottery that will make your table settings sparkle. Featuring sculpture, mixed media assemblage and glass artworks. Simply the best window displays in Taos, they’ll mesmerize and draw you in to shop.
Leather Bound Journals and jewelry cases
Vintage style cushioned stand for the end of your bed
*Hot Tip: Try to resist asking what the actual color Taos blue is. Oh, alright go ahead and ask, after all she’s the expert.
Taos & Tribe, 110 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte suite a,(575) 613-2831
A specialty boutique of thoughtfully curated fashion. One of a kind handmade jewelry, vintage south western silver and turquoise pieces, and indigo serape's. Plein air oil paintings by Taos artists. Style and vibe..Artsy, chic, boho, edgy, grunge. “A little bit of everything good”
The Arc Anewera, 11-5 daily, 108 Kit Carson Rd Suite 108A,
213-308-3125
Handmade clothing at the Arc Anewera
Featuring a selection of Jewelry & Vintage Clothing, they customize and create their own style of contemporary clothes based on vintage style. One of the owners Olga Nazarova showcases her Black & White Photography in the gallery space.
Tea-o-graphy, 11-5 Monday-Saturday, 125 Kit Carson Road
575-741-6316
the front counter of the Tea Shop Teaography
Featuring their own small batch blended selections of Herbal or Black Teas. Stop by and take a sip, whether you're looking to try something a bit different from your usual cup of tea or looking for a unique gift.
Magpie, 218 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte Unit B, (781) 248-0166
An impressive variety of locally made arts & crafts, specializing in small, affordable and functional art.
The main interior space at RB Ravens
Historic Native American 'Dorothy Dunn School' Paintings
Antique Kachina Dolls at RB Ravens
A Taos bench
Tomorrow N Tomorrow 8-4 daily 101 A Camino de la Placita
575-779-0934
Bread & Produce at Tomorrow n Tomorrow bakery & cafe
This is an impressive Bread Bakery & Coffee Shop serving open faced sandwiches, Breakfast, Brunch or Lunch throughout the morning and early afternoon. Watch for them to open in the evenings when they'll be serving simple traditional pizza. This is truly the Hipster Hot Spot in Taos.
R.B. Ravens 9-1 Monday-Saturday 4146 NM 68/Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Ranchos de Taos 575-785-7322 or 575-770-7191
Proprietor Ray Trotter has seen it all come and go here in Taos from his perch on the southside of Taos. Specializing in the best of the best vintage Navajo Weavings, along with paintings from the Southwest that he has been selecting for many years. Once in a while he'll have some classic Pueblo Pottery or antique Kachina Dolls. He is a true Taos Treasure, and proud of his time here. I think of him as "Hip to be Square" as one of the first people to recognize the relationship between Navajo Rug Patterns to Modern Art, he is the real deal, an experience.
As to the letters at the center of the weaving, it is the phrase I Love You.
Consider this list as a Guide, it is quite worth a few hours of your time. There are many other shops along the route here, if you see someplace that looks intriguing take a look and see what they too have to offer. These are primarily the types of shops which we seek out when visiting other cities & towns when on vacation. Enjoy the list, it's not a competition. If you have disagreements or wonder why your favorite merchant isn't on the list, try creating your own online blog essays. It's not all that easy, it's actually quite a lot of work for a non-monetary thing to do, but I encourage you to do so.
Most but not all of these shops are owned by the proprietors themselves, you'll find them running their own shops on a day to day basis, seven days a week. These owners purchase, curate, stay ahead of trends and make many of the items you'll find displayed and arranged impeccably. Hip shops in Taos are an unexpected treat. You may not have realized or expected to find such wonderful places to enjoy in a town catering to tourism of the southwest region of the U.S., but they do exist and they are the true flavor and multi colors of Taos.
Most but not all of these shops are owned by the proprietors themselves, you'll find them running their own shops on a day to day basis, seven days a week. These owners purchase, curate, stay ahead of trends and make many of the items you'll find displayed and arranged impeccably. Hip shops in Taos are an unexpected treat. You may not have realized or expected to find such wonderful places to enjoy in a town catering to tourism of the southwest region of the U.S., but they do exist and they are the true flavor and multi colors of Taos.
Take the time to explore an unexpected aspect of a village full of artists and creators. Some people may think of Taos as quaint and arty, it even appears to have not kept up with the times in some aspects, this list will prove otherwise. Taos may not be the hippest place in the world but there are local businesses here that make inroads towards surprising you on just how cool it can be. Explore them all and tell them we (Two Graces) sent you.
Feather your nest from any of these lovely Taos shops
Feather your nest from any of these lovely Taos shops
*Please note: With these shops being operated by their owners there will be discrepancies in regular hours. If you find a shop closed during stated operating hours, try to take the time to go back and see them. If you find yourself running late and truly want to visit a particular store, please call them, most will try to accommodate your visit, even if it's after posted hours.
**As per business websites, these may give a sampling of what the store carries, not necessarily a complete inventory. Expect many happy surprises once you do actually visit these brick and mortar stores.
***My experience is that far too many people who actually live here don’t shop and explore Taos. Neither do the 'marketing' people staff, Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Center staff, who are supposed to be knowledgeable about what exists here.
****Disclaimer, Two Graces is my partners and my own shop. This list was created by me and is of my own opinion. No one has paid me to include any of the stores listed here.
*****While putting the new updated list together I visited each of these
stores. If you were to start with the first shop
listed here and follow them in order of appearance on the list you can cover
all of them in a few hours with time for a lunch break.
******Lastly I will admit that this article has been edited and updated from a
previous one which was posted in 2017 and which I absently deleted
(senior moment) and have not been able to retrieve. The previous article
had close to 5,000 views doing that two year time frame.
