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Bermuda Shopping Guide 2026: Best Local Stores, Malls & Tips
Why Bermuda Shopping Is Different
Bermuda has no sales tax. That sounds like a discount until you see the price tag, because almost everything sold on the island is imported, and the government collects import duty on most of it. The duty is built into the shelf price.
So a bottle of perfume or a designer handbag in Hamilton often costs roughly what it costs in New York or London, sometimes a little less, sometimes the same. The genuine savings live elsewhere.
The real value in Bermuda shopping is what the island itself makes. Cedar carvings, fused and hand-blown glass, pink sand jewelry, locally produced perfume, rum, rum cakes, original art, ceramics, and one-of-a-kind crafts. These items carry no import duty because they are made on the island, and they exist nowhere else in the form Bermuda produces them.
A visitor who walks out with a Lili Bermuda perfume bottle, a Studio 8 fused glass piece, a pink sand pendant, and a box of Outerbridge's Sherry Peppers has spent their money well. A visitor who flies home with a Swiss watch saving 5 percent, has not.
Stores on Front Street, Hamilton City, Bermuda
Photo: Darryl Brooks, Shutterstock
The other thing worth understanding before you arrive: Bermuda is not a chain-store destination. There is no Zara, no H&M, no Apple Store, no Sephora, no Starbucks. The retail scene is locally owned boutiques, multi-generation family department stores, and small artisan studios. For some visitors this is the appeal. For others it comes as a surprise.
Either way, planning your shopping around what the island actually offers, rather than around what you might find at home, leads to a much better experience.
Bermuda's military and British colonial history has left the island full of small collectibles. Old tins, buttons, bottles, antique china, brass fittings, vintage prints. Many find their way to the back-alley antique shops and small dealers tucked into Hamilton's side streets.
Combined with the maritime heritage (brass propellers, ship's plates, marine knots, regatta memorabilia), Bermuda gives serious browsers and collectors a deeper hunt than the high-end Front Street shops suggest at first glance.
The main shopping hub is
Hamilton City. Front Street, Reid Street, Queen Street, and Church Street between them hold the largest concentration of stores on the island.
The
Royal Naval Dockyard at the western end is the second hub, particularly for cruise visitors and craft shoppers, with the
Clocktower Mall and the Bermuda Craft Market as anchors.
Somers Wharf and Water Street in the Town of St George cover the eastern end, smaller in scale but rich in artisan studios.
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Quick Guide by Visitor Type
Different visitors need different routes. Use this section to skip to the parts of the article that matter for you.
Cruise visitor with 4 to 6 hours. Walk Front Street and Reid Street in Hamilton (15-minute ferry from Dockyard), or shop the Clocktower Mall and Craft Market without leaving Dockyard. Both are good. Hamilton has more variety and the department stores.
Dockyard has more locally-made craft under one roof. Pick one, not both. Read the Hamilton or Dockyard walking guides below.
Cruise visitor on a Sunday. Hamilton is quieter. Clocktower Mall and the Craft Market at Dockyard open seven days. In Hamilton the supermarkets, the Phoenix Centre pharmacy, 59 Front, Brown and Co., and Gibbons Company all keep Sunday afternoon hours; most boutiques stay closed. See the Hours section.
Hotel guest with a week. Spread your shopping across all three hubs. Hamilton mid-week for the main stores and Harbour Nights on Wednesday evening. St George on a Tuesday during the season for Market Nights. Dockyard on any day, but Saturday mornings are best at the Craft Market when actual makers are at the stalls.
Resident or repeat visitor. Skip to the Popular Island Stores and Hamilton Walking Guide sections. The category links below also lead to deeper pages on rum, perfume, books, jewelry, and shorts.
Pre-trip planner buying gifts to bring home. Read the What to Buy and Customs sections first. Decide what you want, then decide where to find it. The category links each open a deeper page with stores and pricing detail.
In general, Bermuda shops trade Monday through Saturday, 9am or 10am opening, 5pm or 6pm closing. Sundays and public holidays, most stores are shut. Hamilton on a Sunday afternoon feels quieter than the rest of the week. If you arrive in town after closing on a weekday expecting to shop, you will be disappointed.
The exceptions matter. The Phoenix Centre at 3 Reid Street opens 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 12 noon to 6pm Sunday. Brown and Co. on Front Street opens Sundays. 59 Front opens 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm on Sundays.
Gibbons Company opens Sundays. Supermarkets stay open 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm to 5pm Sundays. The Clocktower Mall in Dockyard opens seven days a week, as does the Bermuda Craft Market when cruise ships are in.
Harbor Nights is the single best evening of the week to shop in Hamilton during the season. The street festival runs every Wednesday from mid-May through late August, 7pm to 10pm. Front Street closes to traffic, vendors set up stalls along the harbor, Gombey dancers perform, and most Front Street stores stay open well past their normal closing time. Many run until 9pm or later.
The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce publishes the exact season dates each year. For visitors whose daytime hours are taken up with beaches and tours, this is when to do the bulk of your Hamilton shopping.
Market Nights in St George run on Tuesday evenings in season, generally May through August, starting at 7pm at King's Square. Smaller and more historic in feel than Harbour Nights, with about 50 vendors, the Town Crier ducking the wench at 7:30pm, and the Gombeys arriving shortly after. Worth planning a Tuesday around if you are staying in the East End or have a rental car.
During December, many Hamilton retailers extend their hours for late-night Thursdays, late-night Fridays, and Sunday shopping through the Christmas season. The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce coordinates this and publishes the dates each year. If you are visiting in December, check the Chamber's site close to your trip.
Pro Tip: When three or more cruise ships are docked in Hamilton or Dockyard, Sunday and after-hours rules often quietly bend. Some stores open Sunday afternoons or extend weekday hours to catch the foot traffic. The cruise schedule is public and posted weeks in advance. Plan your Sunday shopping around a heavy port day, not against it.
Payment and Currency
You can pay in Bermuda dollars or US dollars throughout the island. They circulate at 1:1 par. Most ATMs dispense Bermuda dollars by default. If you arrive with US dollars, you can spend them anywhere without converting.
The change you get back will usually be in Bermuda dollars, which are useful while you are on the island but worthless once you leave. Spend down or convert before flying out.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. American Express is accepted at most larger stores, hotels, and restaurants, though some small boutiques and craft vendors still do not take it. Discover cards, while valid globally, are rarely accepted by Bermudian merchants because the local banking network does not commonly process them. If Discover is your only card, bring a Visa or Mastercard backup.
Contactless and tap-to-pay is now standard at the major Hamilton stores, restaurants, and ferry and bus terminals. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most of these.
Small craft vendors, Harbor Nights stalls, and the Bermuda Craft Market still prefer cash, both because the convenience fee on small card transactions hurts their margin and because reliable card processing at outdoor stalls is hit-or-miss.
A few well-loved Hamilton establishments are cash only by choice. Rock Island Coffee at 48 Reid Street is the best-known of these.
ATMs are available at the Butterfield Bank and HSBC branches in Hamilton, St George, and a few other locations across the island, plus at the airport. Foreign debit cards work at all of them. Check your home bank's international withdrawal fees before you travel.
If you carry credit cards that have never been used abroad, you may need a PIN for chip-and-PIN terminals at small merchants. North American chip-and-signature cards work at most major retailers but occasionally fail at small ones. Set up a card PIN before leaving home, and tell your bank you will be in Bermuda so they do not freeze the card on a foreign transaction.
Pro Tip: Tipping at smaller shops, craft vendors, and Harbor Nights stalls is best done in cash. Card slips at small businesses route through processors that take a percentage off the top, and the vendor sees less of the tip. Cash, US or Bermudian, is what they actually receive.
Some items are uniquely Bermudian and worth seeking out. Others are well-priced versions of European or American brands. Here is what to look for.
Bermuda Cedar Items. The island's native cedar trees produce a fragrant, fine-grained wood that local craftsmen have worked since the seventeenth century. Mugs, book ends, carvings, sculptures, picture frames, trays, and the famous cedar pens are made by hand and sold at the Bermuda Craft Market in Dockyard, at the Littlest Drawbridge Shop, and at independent makers across the island.
Real Bermuda cedar pieces have a distinctive smell that lasts years. If a piece does not have that scent, it may be imported or a cedar substitute.
Cedar Pen at Bermuda Craft Market, Dockyard
Bermuda Gombey Rag Dolls. Miniature dolls representing the masked, costumed Gombey performers of Bermuda's traditional dance. Brightly painted, often handmade, and they hold their color well. Read about the
Gombey Dance Tradition.
Banana Leaf Dolls and Angels. Made from Bermuda banana leaves, often by the island's own Robbie Chameau, whose Christmas-tree banana leaf angels became a Bermuda holiday tradition.
Pink Sand Jewelry. Bermuda's coastline holds its famous pink sand, the colour produced by red foraminifera mixing with white coral and shell. Local jewelers encase the actual sand in rings, pendants, earrings, and charms. Alexandra Mosher is the best-known designer working with pink sand, and her flagship sits at 5 Front Street in Hamilton.
Sand dollar earrings with pink sand
Photo: slgckgc, flickr, cc by 2.0
Bermuda Longtail Jewelry. The white-tailed tropicbird, locally called the
Longtail, nests on Bermuda's cliffs each spring and summer. Its silhouette appears on gold and silver pendants, charms, and rings across the island. Some pieces combine the longtail design with embedded pink sand. Davidrose Studio in St George and Hamilton does some of the most distinctive longtail and island-inspired work.
Longtail pendant with pink sand
Photo: slgckgc, flickr, cc by 2.0
Bermuda Moongate Jewelry. Moongates are stone arches built into Bermuda gardens that, by tradition, bring good luck to any couple who walks through them. Silver moongate charms, pendants, and rings are made by several island jewelers and sold across Hamilton and St George.
Bermuda Perfumes. Lili Bermuda is the island's heritage perfume brand, produced at Stewart Hall in St George since 1928 under Master Perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone. Their core range includes Lily, 64 West (a cedar-based men's cologne), Mary Celeste, Coral, and Petals. The Hamilton boutique sells the same line, and there is a Lili Bermuda outlet at the National Museum of Bermuda in Dockyard. The Stewart Hall perfumery also runs perfume-making workshops where visitors blend their own custom scent. Book ahead, especially in cruise season.
Hand crafted glass items. Studio 8 Glass at the Clocktower Mall in Dockyard is a working glass fusion studio where pieces are made and signed on site. They specialize in fused glass jewelry, pink sand lockets, and small home decor pieces. Visitors can join short fused-glass workshops and create their own keepsake.
Glass roses from Dockyard Glassworks
Photo: slgckgc, flickr, cc by 2.0
Bermuda Rum Cakes. Heat-sealed cakes made with Gosling's Black Seal rum, available in several flavors. They survive transit well, last for weeks once opened, and make practical gifts. The Bermuda Rum Cake Company is the dominant producer, sold across the island.
Gosling's Black Seal Rum. Produced in Bermuda since the 1860s. Black Seal is the original dark rum, 80 proof, the base of the Dark 'n Stormy. Gosling's also produces Old Rum (a sipping rum), Family Reserve, and Gold Bermuda Rum. The flagship shop is on Front Street in Hamilton, where you can taste before you buy.
Bermuda Shorts. The proper Bermudian short, knee-length and worn with knee-high socks and a blazer, is genuine business attire on the island. Two stores represent two different ends of the Bermuda shorts story. English Sports Shop at 49 Front Street has made the traditional knee-length version since 1918, and this is what Bermudian men actually wear to work.
TABS sells a contemporary, brighter, fashion-forward version of the same shorts. Both are authentic. Choose based on whether you want the traditional or the colorful contemporary.
Hot pepper sauces and food products. Outerbridge's Original Sherry Peppers sauce is a Bermuda classic, used by locals as a finishing condiment on fish chowder, soup, and almost anything else. Available across the island at supermarkets and gift shops.
Cuban cigars. Sold openly in Bermuda. If you are flying home to the United States, leave them on the island. US Treasury rules prohibit US persons from bringing Cuban-origin tobacco products into the country from any third country, including Bermuda. Confiscation at customs is the most likely outcome, with penalties possible. UK, EU, and Canadian visitors face no such restriction.
Click a shopping category link below to know about the items that are usually available in the island in that category and find out the best stores in Bermuda selling them.
Art and Craft. Galleries, studios, and craft centers exhibiting and selling work by renowned and emerging Bermudian artists.
Bermuda Books. Books on the island's history, art, architecture, marine life, and diving. Plus the top bookstores on the island.
Clothing Stores. Apparel shopping in Bermuda, from boutiques to department stores to resort wear.
Bermuda Local Food and Drinks. Food products, wine, spirits, and the places that sell them. The deeper page covers rum, rum cakes, hot pepper sauces, and local jams.
Glassware and Ceramics. Studio 8 Glass, the Jon Faulkner Gallery (the former Bermuda Clayworks), the Island Shop, and others.
Gifts and Souvenirs. Including handmade cedar items at the Littlest Drawbridge Shop in Dockyard, Lisa-Ann Rego's landscape paintings at her Dockyard studio, and Salt Spray Soap Co. at 7 Water Street in St George, which sells hand-cut soaps with the Bermuda map carved into the bar alongside their body butters and lip balms.
Sweet Saak Bakery, previously a storefront on York Street in St George, now operates as a delivery-only bakery; their cinnamon buns and baked goods can be ordered through local courier apps if you are staying in a rental and want fresh local baking sent over.
Perfume and Cosmetics. Lili Bermuda, Gibbons Perfume Shop, the cosmetics floor at 59 Front, and the Dockyard outlets.
Kids Stores. Clothing, art and craft, games, books, and toys for children.
Thrift Stores. Charity-attached thrift shops with secondhand items at low prices, useful for budget souvenirs and unusual finds.
Tattoo Parlors. Reputable studios for visitors who want a permanent souvenir.
Duty Free Shopping. The airport duty free area and the Dockyard duty free shop near the cruise pier.
Bermuda has no malls in the American sense. The four properties below are smaller indoor shopping arcades rather than full malls, and they each have a specific character.
Washington Mall. Located at 20 Church Street in the heart of Hamilton, Washington Mall is the largest indoor shopping centre on the island, with over fifty retailers, a food court, salons, and a cinema. The mix is mostly locally owned shops selling clothing, leather goods, jewelry, accessories, and gifts. Useful when the weather is bad or when you want everything under one roof. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.
Clocktower Mall. Originally built as a warehouse for the Royal Navy in the nineteenth century, the Clocktower at the Royal Naval Dockyard now houses boutiques, galleries, and branches of several Hamilton stores. Open seven days a week, which makes it the default Sunday shopping option for cruise visitors and West End residents.
Bermudiana Arcade. At 27 Queen Street in Hamilton. A smaller arcade with a tight selection of stores and a couple of restaurants. Useful as part of a Queen Street walk between Reid Street and Front Street.
Walker Arcade. At 12 Reid Street. The upscale brand mix is the draw, and it connects through to Front Street on one end.
Hamilton's shopping grid is easier to navigate once you understand the three parallel east-west streets and the cross streets that connect them.
Front Street runs along the harbor, on the south side of the city. This is the highest concentration of upscale boutiques, the heritage jewelers, the flagship department stores, and the cruise-visible storefronts. Stores tend to price slightly higher here because of the foot traffic.
Reid Street sits one block inland, parallel to Front Street. Most of Hamilton's main department stores and a mix of mid-range clothing and lifestyle shops are here. Sometimes the same brand carried on Front Street appears on Reid Street at a marginally better price, because the rent is lower.
Church Street is one more block inland, with Washington Mall as the main draw and a mix of services, electronics, and pharmacy.
Queen Street runs north-south, perpendicular to the three above, and crosses Front, Reid, and Church. The Bermuda Book Store, Flying Colours, the Island Shop, and Bermudiana Arcade are here.
For a walk that covers the essentials in two hours, start at the western end of
Front Street near the ferry terminal, work east along Front (Coral Coast at 15, Urban Cottage at 11, Alexandra Mosher Studio at 5, Crisson Jewellers at 31, Davidrose Studio at 47, English Sports Shop at 49, 59 Front at 59, Gosling's flagship), turn left up Queen Street (Bermuda Book Store, The Island Shop, Flying Colours, Bermudiana Arcade).
Then come back west along Reid Street (1609 Design at 12, P-Tech at 2 on the corner of Queen, Atelerie at 9 inside Washington Mall, Phoenix Centre at 3, Gibbons Company at 21, Brown and Co. at 35 Front via the Reid Street rear entrance). That loop covers the bulk of what visitors come to Hamilton for.
At Urban Cottage (11 Front Street), owner Nicole Golden curates an eclectic mix of women's apparel, jewelry, vintage and contemporary homewares, and locally made bath and beauty products in a two-storey space.
At &Partners (46 Par-la-Ville Road, just off Front Street), husband-and-wife pair Peter Lapsley and Andrea Sundt curate locally made objects from Bermudian designers alongside Scandinavian and Brooklyn design pieces. Glass by Jahday Ford, ceramics by Louisa Bermingham, cedar work by Alex Davidson, candles, and prints.
At TABS (12 Reid Street), the contemporary version of Bermuda shorts in bright colours, plus matching knee socks, polo shirts, and accessories.
At 1609 Design (12 Reid Street), Bermudian designer Joanna Stapff sells handcrafted island-inspired jewelry, the Bermuda Map collection, plus curated boutique apparel, candles, and gifts. Hours Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.
At Makin' Waves (11 Church Street), Bermuda's largest surf shop since 1988. Branded swimwear, sunglasses, wetsuits, snorkel and dive gear, paddleboards, Yeti, Stanley, and printed beachwear. There is a second Makin' Waves outlet in Dockyard for cruise visitors.
At Della Valle (19 Queen Street, just off Front Street), custom-made sandals fitted to your foot in a range of heel heights. Italian leather, island-inspired embellishments, and each pair signed with the wearer's initials embossed in the sole. Allow time for fitting if you want a pair made.
Phoenix Centre at 3 Reid Street is the original Phoenix pharmacy plus a department floor with toys, books, gifts, accessories, jewelry, candies, and household items at fair prices. Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sunday 12 noon to 6pm.
At Gosling's on Front Street, you can taste Black Seal, Old Rum, and the other Gosling's products before buying. Gift packs ship-ready.
At Naked Zero in Old Cellar Lane, the cobbled alleyway off Front Street, owner Sue Khan stocks eco-friendly and waste-free goods. Bamboo toothbrushes, plant-based shampoo and conditioner bars, organic teas, essential oils, and local brands like Asé Naturals.
Coffee and food breaks. The Rock Island Coffee at 48 Reid Street roasts its own beans on site and does cappuccinos, drip coffee, and baked goods in a cozy vintage setting. Cash only and hours are limited, roughly 7am to 1pm weekdays and to 1pm on Saturday.
Devil's Isle Cafe at 19 Burnaby Street is the farm-to-table standby with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and craft cocktails open from morning until late.
Pro Tip: Front Street prices reflect the harbor view and cruise foot traffic. The same brand on Reid Street or inside Washington Mall is often a few percent cheaper. For high-ticket items like watches or fine china, this can be meaningful. Walk both before you commit.
The Royal Naval Dockyard at the western tip of Bermuda is the single best concentration of locally made craft on the island, and the natural shopping destination for cruise visitors who never leave the West End. The whole area is walkable in a couple of hours.
The
Clocktower Mall anchors the main shopping. Inside, you find branches of several Hamilton stores, a duty free shop, jewelry stores including a Crisson outlet, gift shops, and a few cafes and a restaurant. Open seven days. This is where to head first if you are docked at King's Wharf and want indoor, climate-controlled shopping.
The
Bermuda Craft Market in the Cooperage building is the largest concentration of Bermuda-made craft anywhere on the island. Cedar carvings, pottery, hand-painted signs, jewelry, soaps, banana leaf dolls, paintings, and prints. Many stalls are run by the makers themselves. Open seven days when ships are in.
Pro Tip: Saturday mornings at the Craft Market are when the actual makers are most likely to be at their stalls. Mid-week afternoons often see sales staff in place of artisans, which removes much of the appeal of buying direct.
Studio 8 Glass in the Clocktower Mall is a working glass fusion studio. Pink sand lockets, fused glass jewelry, ornaments, and home decor pieces are made on site. Visitors can book a workshop and create their own fused glass keepsake with around six ready-to-wear pieces in a two-hour session.
Jon Faulkner Gallery at 7 Camber Road, formerly known as Bermuda Clayworks, is Bermuda's principal commercial pottery. Hand-thrown stoneware, salt-glazed Raku pieces, custom house plaques with island flora and fauna, vivid island-coloured tableware, and a paint-your-own pottery option. Master potter Jon Faulkner is often on site. Phone: 441-234-5116.
Bermuda Arts Center at Dockyard. Open daily 11am to 4pm. A non-profit charity gallery established in 1984 to support local artists, with three resident artists in the studios working on paintings and sculpture, and rotating group exhibitions every four to six weeks. The Bermuda Book Store now operates a branch inside the Arts Center, selling Bermuda titles, bestsellers, children's books, and Bermuda Rum Cake Company cakes. Everything sold at the Arts Center is made in Bermuda.
Littlest Drawbridge Shop. The widest range of hand-crafted Bermuda cedar items at Dockyard. Bowls, candle holders, letter openers, pens, trinket trays, and traditional goblets, alongside rum cakes, hot sauces, cookbooks, and a small selection of cigars. Hours April to October Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm; November to December daily 10am to 5pm.
Lisa-Ann Rego Studio. The Bermudian artist's gallery and working studio in Dockyard, with her landscape paintings of the island sold directly. Her work focuses on vivid colour and realistic island scenes.
Lili Bermuda outlet at the National Museum of Bermuda. The brand maintains a Dockyard outlet at 1 The Keep, open 10am to 4pm when there is a ship in port. The full Lili Bermuda perfume line is sold at the same prices as the St George perfumery.
Davidrose Studio Dockyard Terrace. The husband-and-wife jewelry team's third location, open Sunday to Saturday 10am to 4pm with their full Bermuda-inspired collection including the Bermuda Triangle pieces.
Makin' Waves Dockyard. A second Makin' Waves outlet for surf and snorkel gear, sunglasses, swimwear, and beach souvenirs.
Pro Tip: Dockyard has the only duty-free shop outside the airport, located near the cruise pier. The selection is narrower than the airport, focused on Bermuda-made gifts, souvenirs, rum, and rum cakes. Worth a quick browse on your way back to the ship, but the airport duty-free has wider variety and the same Bermuda product prices.
The Town of St George at the eastern end of Bermuda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the oldest continuously inhabited English town in the Americas. Its shopping has a different character from Hamilton: smaller, more artisan-driven, less brand-focused. The walkable area is compact, centered on King's Square and Water Street.
Somers Wharf on Water Street holds a tight cluster of boutique stores, craft outlets, and waterfront eateries. A good place to start a St George shopping walk.
The Bermuda Perfumery at Stewart Hall, 5 Queen Street, is the home of the Lili Bermuda fragrance line, produced on site since 1928. Master Perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone leads the operation today. Visit to see the production process, browse the full range, and book a perfume-making workshop where you blend your own signature scent.
Free guided tours daily at 11am and 3pm. Wednesday and Saturday afternoons there is high tea served in the garden by Sweet P. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm (winter hours January to March: 10am to 4pm daily). Phone: 441-293-0627.
Saltwater Jewellery Design at 6 Water Street is a three-generation family operation by Kelli Thompson, her mother Roseclair, and daughter Mya-Erin. Handcrafted jewelry from Bermuda sea glass, freshwater pearls, Venetian glass, and semi-precious stones. Phone: 441-519-9906.
Davidrose Studio at 22 Water Street is the husband-and-wife jewelry team's flagship, with island-inspired pieces including the Bermuda Triangle design, longtail bird pendants, and custom engagement and wedding bands. They also operate locations at 47 Front Street Hamilton and Dockyard Terrace. Phone: 441-293-7673.
English Sports Shop St George at 30 Water Street is the East End branch of the Hamilton Bermuda shorts retailer. Phone: 441-297-0142.
Salt Spray Soap Co. at 7 Water Street sells hand-cut soaps with the Bermuda map carved into each bar, plus body butters, lip balms, and salt scrubs. Sweet Saak Bakery, formerly at 16 York Street, has closed its storefront but still operates as a delivery-only bakery; their cinnamon buns and baked goods can be ordered through local courier apps if you are staying in a rental and want fresh local baking sent over.
Pro Tip: The St George artisan shops keep shorter hours than Hamilton, and some only open Tuesday through Saturday. If you are making a special trip to the East End for a specific shop, call ahead to confirm hours. Several of the smaller studios close for an hour at lunch.
A curated list of stores worth knowing about across the island.
59 Front at 59 Front Street, Hamilton. The largest concentration of branded beauty and cosmetics on the island. Clarins, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, Jo Malone, Clinique, Shiseido, Bare Minerals, Origins, Moroccan Oil, GlamGlow, Fenty Beauty, and Lili Bermuda.
The home goods section stocks Villeroy and Boch, Wedgwood, Waterford, Portmeirion, Swarovski, Kate Spade, and Yankee Candle. Also carries Alexandra Mosher pink sand jewelry, Picturesque Bermuda books and prints, and a curated selection of Bermuda gifts.
Owned and operated by The Phoenix Stores. Wheelchair accessible. Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Phone: 441-279-5429.
Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery at 5 Front Street. The flagship for Alexandra Mosher's pink sand collection, with rings, earrings, pendants, and necklaces set in sterling silver and gold. The shop also offers Bermuda's first permanent jewellery bar, welding seamless bracelets and anklets while you sip pink champagne. Studio tours are available daily. Phone: 441-236-9009.
Atelerie at 9 Reid Street (inside Washington Mall). Owner Heather Macdonald has curated this 2,400-square-foot two-storey boutique since 2008. Designer apparel from Gigi Clozeau, Hunza G, Alemais, Ganni, Staud, Diane von Furstenberg, Helmut Lang, Vince, and Rag & Bone, plus fine jewelry, beauty, home goods, and a pantry section. Custom Bermuda map costume jewelry is the boutique's signature. Phone: 441-296-0280.
The Island Shop at 3 Queen Street. Artisanal home decor, gifts, and souvenirs with hand-painted island designs by Barbara Finsness on Italian ceramics, hand towels, linens, melamine, pillows, and prints. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm. Phone: 441-292-5292.
Crisson Jewellers at 31 Front Street. The official Rolex retailer in Bermuda for over 50 years, plus Tudor, Movado, Frederique Constant, Bulova, Seiko, Citizen, David Yurman, Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, Fope, Mikimoto, and Pandora.
Their Bermuda-inspired Island Sand and Island Silver collections feature pink sand pieces. Now in their fourth generation. Additional locations at 16 Queen Street and the Clocktower Mall in Dockyard. Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Phone: 441-295-2351.
Pro Tip on Crisson: Crisson holds the Rolex authorisation, but waitlists for popular Rolex models (Submariner, GMT-Master II, Daytona) are global and Bermuda is no exception. Walk-in availability is rare. Visitors planning a cruise day around picking up a specific Rolex model should call ahead and adjust expectations. Crisson does carry an excellent selection of pre-owned and other watch brands that are immediately available.
Bermuda Book Store at 3 Queen Street. The island's main independent bookstore since 1937, owned today by Hannah Willmott and Miriam Kaye. Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Phone: 441-295-3698. A second Bermuda Book Store branch operates inside the Bermuda Arts Centre in Dockyard.
Brown and Co. at 35 Front Street. Bermuda's most comprehensive department store at over 20,000 square feet on the harborfront, with entrances on Front, Queen, and Reid Streets. Designer fragrances, designer brands including Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and Prada, Bath and Body Works, Bermuda gifts from Lili Bermuda, Hallmark (the largest Hallmark store outside North America), the Bookmart bookstore, and the Glaze Cafe overlooking the harbor. Part of The Phoenix Stores group. Open Sundays.
English Sports Shop at 49 Front Street. The traditional Bermuda shorts retailer since 1918, selling the knee-length, formal-business version that Bermudian men wear with knee socks and blazer to work. Made-to-measure Alexandre of London suits, British rugby shirts, linen jackets, cotton and cashmere knitwear, and Hugo Boss. East End branch at 30 Water Street, St George. Phone: 441-295-2672.
P-Tech at 2 Reid Street, on the corner of Queen Street. The island's main consumer electronics store, part of The Phoenix Stores. Bose, Sony, GoPro, Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Apple, HP, Lenovo. Plus a repair centre for PC, Mac, tablet, and mobile devices. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Phone: 441-295-5496.
W.J. Boyle and Son on Queen Street. Bermuda's main shoe store for generations. Formal and casual footwear for the whole family. Phone: 441-295-1887.
Flying Colours at 5 Queen Street. The Riihiluoma family's gift and clothing shop, opened in 1937. T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts with Bermuda designs, locally made jewelry, pink sand items, beach gear, and Bermuda souvenirs. Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm, closed Sundays. Phone: 441-295-0890.
Customs and Bringing It Home
What you pay at home depends on where you live and how much you spent.
US returning residents. Each traveler has an $800 personal duty-free exemption when returning from Bermuda. Families travelling together can pool exemptions on a joint declaration, giving a family of four a combined $3,200 allowance. Above the exemption, duty is applied at flat or item-specific rates.
The US Generalized System of Preferences applies to Bermuda: if at least 35 percent of an item's value was added in Bermuda, the item can be brought into the US duty-free regardless of how much you spent. Keep receipts that show Bermuda origin for genuinely island-made items.
Alcohol: one liter of spirits per adult duty-free, and beyond that, federal excise tax and state taxes vary. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes and 100 non-Cuban cigars per adult duty-free. Cuban-origin tobacco products may not be brought into the United States from Bermuda or any third country.
UK returning residents. Personal allowance of £390 worth of goods, plus alcohol and tobacco allowances. Cuban cigars are legal to bring into the UK.
Canadian returning residents. Allowances vary by length of stay outside Canada. Cuban cigars are legal.
Bermuda departure. If you have shopped heavily, declare anything you are unsure about. Bermuda does not levy export duty on Bermuda-made items.
Shipping Home
For breakables, large items, or anything that would exceed your baggage limits, several Hamilton stores will arrange shipping. The major department stores (Brown and Co., Gibbons Company, 59 Front, Crisson) all handle shipping for items they sell, and most know the duty implications for the major destination countries. Expect to pay shipping plus insurance, plus any destination-country duty separately on delivery.
For Studio 8 Glass pieces, the Jon Faulkner Gallery, and the larger Craft Market items, the studios pack carefully for hand-carry but generally do not ship internationally. If you buy fragile from these vendors, plan to carry it.
The Bermuda General Post Office at 56 Church Street in Hamilton handles small international parcels at reasonable rates. US package shipping was suspended for a period and has now been restored. Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, last customer received 4:30pm. Useful for sending rum cakes home if you are over your bag weight.
Pro Tip on rum cakes: The same Bermuda Rum Cakes sold at Hamilton and Dockyard stores are also sold at the Bermuda International Airport duty-free shops, often at the same prices. If you are flying out, buying at the airport saves you carrying them around all day.
Same logic applies to most of the airport duty-free selection: bottle for bottle, the prices match the island stores. The airport selection is narrower, but for last-minute gifts on departure day, it is the simpler move.
Address-finding. Bermuda street numbers are inconsistently posted. Some Front Street shops do not display numbers on the building, and outside Hamilton even street names can be missing. Ask. Bermudians are exceptionally helpful with directions, and most shop staff know exactly where every other shop on the island is.
Sale seasons. The fall and winter months are off-season for tourism, and many stores discount inventory to clear it. January and February have the best sales. End-of-summer sales in late August and early September clear resort wear.
Resort branches. Several Hamilton stores keep small branches at the major resort hotels (Hamilton Princess, Rosewood Bermuda). Selection is limited, but they often open on Sundays and public holidays when the Hamilton flagships are closed, and pricing matches the main store including during sales.
Sizing. Stores often re-label European or British garments to US sizing for North American visitors. If you find a piece in its original European or British labeling, ask a sales associate for the US-equivalent size. They keep conversion charts.
Cruise day extended hours. When cruise ships are docked in Hamilton or Dockyard, individual stores often extend their hours informally. There is no published cruise-day timetable, but more ships generally means more stores staying open longer and more flexibility on Sundays.
Wheelchair access. Front Street and Reid Street are flat and easy. Many older Hamilton buildings have one or two front steps. The Clocktower Mall, Washington Mall, and 59 Front are fully wheelchair accessible. Some St George shops are in heritage buildings with narrow doorways and steps.
Carrying purchases. Bermuda buses do not allow large packages onboard, and ferry crews have some discretion. If you plan a heavy shopping day in Hamilton and are staying in another parish, factor in a taxi for the return.
Conclusion
Bermuda rewards the shopper who knows what they are looking for. The locally made goods (cedar, perfume, pink sand jewelry, fused and hand-blown glass, rum, rum cakes, ceramics, and original art) are the genuine value, and they are not sold anywhere else.
The imported luxury goods are well-priced but not dramatically cheaper than at home, and the absence of chain stores is part of what makes the island's retail character what it is.
Plan around the hours. Most boutiques are closed Sundays. Hamilton dies down at 5 or 6pm on weekdays except during Harbor Nights on summer Wednesdays. Dockyard opens seven days and is the cruise visitor's natural target. St George rewards an afternoon spent on foot.
Pay attention to where your money goes. Buying directly from the makers at the Bermuda Craft Market, at Saltwater Jewellery in St George, at Alexandra Mosher's studio on Front Street, at the Jon Faulkner Gallery in Dockyard, or at the Bermuda Arts Center, puts your money straight into the hand that made the piece. That, more than any tax saving, is what shopping in Bermuda is for.
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
John Killingsley-Smith (May 2016)
Can you help me please. Earlier this year we were lucky enough to visit your beautiful island on a cruise. Whilst there (we only had a very limited time) we tried to cram in too much in the short time there and subsequently missed out on somethings. Whilst in Hamilton and also in the Naval Dockyard I saw some navy blue hooded zipped sweat shirts with something like - NAVAL DOCKYARD BERMUDA - in large letters on the front. Didn't have the time to obtain one, which I now regret and wonder if you were able to put me in touch with a shop/store that sells them so I could perhaps get one sent over here as a souvenir please,. I would be grateful if you could assist please. I am nearly 78 yrs old and am an army veteran (Grenadier Guards) and live in Derbyshire, England. Sorry to put you to so much trouble.
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) May 2016
Good day, The store 'Flying Colours' sells hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) with Bermuda impressions (there could be few others as well). Designs however change. They are located in Hamilton. Here is their contact info:
Postal Address: Riihiluoma's Flying Colours, Box 895, Hamilton, HM DX, Bermuda
Street Address: 5 Queen Street, Hamilton.
Barbara Dyer (April 2015)
I will be in Bermuda in a couple months an my son is hoping I can find a Harley Davidson store to bring him back a shirt an hat. Is there a store in Bermuda an where?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) April 2015
There is no Harley Davidson store in Bermuda. However Harley Davidson T-shirts are sold in few stores around the island. You can check in the Clocktower mall at the dockyard.
April Ouellette (March 2015)
Hello, I have been searching for Bermuda Longtail Bird medallions like the ones I saw on many homes across the island. They appeared to be made of plaster and were flat on the back and easily attached to the exterior of the home. Can you give me an idea where I could purchase a few? I have searched the internet and have not found any. Please help! This would be the perfect 50th Anniversary present for my parents. Thank you for your time,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) March 2015
Hi, Bermuda Clayworks at dockyard makes varieties of plaques (house signs) with impressions of birds, animals, flowers, houses and many other things native to Bermuda. They are mostly pottery items. You can also customize your plaque, make it square instead of oval and with your own choice of impressions. They also make various other pottery and clay items.
Elaine Grierson (October 2014)
Could you let me know if the shops are open on Sunday. How far is it to Hamilton City from King's Wharf port?
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) October 2014
Shops at Clocktower Mall at the Kings Wharf port (dockyard) are open on Sundays, but not in Hamilton.
Jessica Lewis (July 2013)
Hi, I am traveling with my 79 year old mother. She was in Bermuda many years ago and said she wants to buy Irish knitwear for her great grandchild. Are there any stores that sell these?? Thanks,
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) July 2013
Hi, You may not get Irish knitwear like sweaters etc in Bermuda. You can try Irish Linen Shop (31 Front Street, Hamilton City). They mainly keep Irish linen items, table cloths, handkerchiefs, napkins etc and even children dress materials. Regards,
Jean Klug (June 2013)
OK, Bear with me. I was in Hamilton last August wondering around and I came across a building that looked interesting so I went inside. Well, I found myself with 3 floors to explore. Everything from linens to toys, crystal and something that I want to find again. I bought a jar of candy. It was different colored candy coated sea shells.
Not very expensive and for the life of me I can't remember the name of this wonderful place I found. Guess I was watching the time and wanted to get back to the ferry to take me back to the ship. Is The Bermuda Shop what I was in and where I found that wonderful candy? I am going back to Bermuda in October and would like to find that candy again and buy extras for gifts. Hope you can help me. Blessings, Jean
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) June 2013
Hi, From your description it sounds like you went to Phoenix building which is located at the corner of Queen and Reid Streets in Hamilton City. Phoenix Group originally started as a drug store in 1902 (this was their original store, The Phoenix Center). The group later expanded to a major chain of pharmacies in the island and then added the large department stores (Brown & Co.).
The Phoenix Building at Hamilton City (3 Reid Street) houses both the pharmacy and a branch of Brown & Co over three floors. You will find all sorts of items here including gifts and souvenirs, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics, jewelry, greeting cards, chocolates and candies, sunglasses, handbags etc. It's a great place to shop at reasonable prices. The Brown & Co. (which is part of the Phoenix group) also has a separate building of its own in Hamilton (35 Front Street). Open hours (at both places): Monday - Saturday (8:30am to 5:30pm), Sunday and Holidays (1pm to 5pm)
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