Vienna
Sneakers are displayed in gallery-like surrounds here: the stylish shop with reclaimed oak floors and industrial ducting doubles as an exhibition space…
Must-see shopping in Central Europe
Prague
The most exclusive and respected of Bohemian glassmakers, Moser was founded in Karlovy Vary in 1857 and is famous for its rich and flamboyant designs. The…
Vienna
'Spice & books for cooks' is the credo of Babettes, with a round-the-world tour of cookbooks to browse. On weekdays, a different lunch special (such as…
Staré Město
There are seven of these kinds of Manufaktura outlets across town (another pared-down version has dozens of branches nationwide), but this small emporium…
Vienna
Featuring Scandinavian, French and Dutch designs from labels such as Homecore, esther perbandt and Holmegaard, this open-plan lifestyle store sparsely…
Berlin
This sparkling retail quarter is tailor-made for black-belt mall rats. More than 270 shops vie for your shopping euros, including flagship stores by Karl…
Prague
Established by Tomáš Baťa in 1894, the Baťa footwear empire is still in family hands and is one of Czechia’s most successful companies. The flagship store…
Historic Mitte
Stop by the Berlin branch of the exquisite French fashion emporium if only to check out the show-stealing interior (designed by Jean Nouvel, no less),…
Vienna
Selling whimsical, romantic designs, this airy atelier provides respite from the racks of glitzy Viennese ball gowns available across the city. With nary…
Budapest
Rákóczi tér has been home to this handsome blue-and-yellow market hall since 1897. Renovated in the early 1990s after a fire, the market contains all the…
Prague
Nový Smíchov is a vast shopping centre that occupies an area the size of several city blocks. It’s an airy, well-designed space with plenty of fashion…
Prenzlauer Berg
Surrounded by cafes perfect for carbo-loading, this smallish flea market on a leafy square lets you ride the retro frenzy with plenty of groovy furniture,…
Vienna
Sandra Haischberger's exquisite handmade porcelain reveals a clean, modern aesthetic. Her range of home accessories, tableware and lighting is minimalist,…
Ljubljana
If Idrija in Primorska is not on your itinerary but you hanker for some of the fine lace for which that town is renowned, visit this shop. It has a large…
Kraków
You can peruse books and sample cake and coffee in this combo bookshop/coffeehouse. There's a small English-language section and a quaint selection of…
Prague
Claiming to be the biggest music megastore in Czechia, this huge, multi-level store stocks pretty much everything, including Western chart music,…
Budapest
Home to a half-dozen young local designers, YLKA Design Studio is a workshop and a showroom. Its eclectic collection includes fashion, leather goods as…
Budapest
Although Palmetta Design has its home in the town of Szentendre, this small boutique in Budapest’s XI District is worth a visit as it showcases a range of…
Vienna
Austrian favourite Manner – a glorious concoction of wafers and hazelnut cream – has its own concept store decked out in its signature peachy-pink. Buy…
Staré Město
Get a souvenir in the way of a modern remake of the legendary Czech Botas sneakers from 1966. The sneakers were long forgotten in history, until two young…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
Just to the right as you enter Budapest's most famous ruin pub, Szimpla Kert, this shop is an Aladdin's Cave of design and vintage curiosities. It stocks…
Prague
Palác Knih Neo Luxor is Prague’s biggest bookshop – head for the basement to find a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction in English, German, French…
Berlin
All your basic shopping cravings will be met at this attractive indoor mall with 130 shops spread over three floors. The basement has supermarkets, a…
Prague
The friendly and knowledgeable staff members at this long-standing shop are happy to show you around their impressive stock of secondhand cameras,…
Zürich
Inspired by cupcake shops in London, Michelle’s has evolved from a market stall to a full-blown bakery selling freshly made cakes that range in flavours…
Podgórze
Starmach is among the city's most prestigious galleries of contemporary painting and sculpture, exhibiting both emerging and established Polish artists…
Vienna
This wonderfully cluttered bookshop stocks Vienna’s best collection of literary and hard-to-find titles in English – history, culture, classic and modern…
Kraków
This self-described concept store embraces a mission of featuring art, furniture, accessories, lighting and glassware made exclusively by Polish designers…
Zürich
This sustainable-living concept store sells a sizable selection of organic, ecofriendly and Fairtrade products such as bags made from recycled materials…
Vienna
Creaking wooden floorboards, uneven bric-a-brac tables and winding stairways give this vintage shop and cafe a ramshackle, living-room feel. Browse for…
Budapest
Tiny, low-lit boutique selling delicious and artfully packaged, award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate made in nearby Budafok. The range of handmade…
Erzsébetváros & the Jewish Quarter
This wonderful, hip silkscreen studio, design shop and gallery focuses on local talent and sells bags, leather goods, prints, T-shirts, stationery and…
Budapest
This Hungarian luxury skincare company uses the minerals and benefits of Budapest's famous thermal waters. Products on sale at their flagship store…
Zürich
A treasure trove for lovers of everything retro or vintage, this thrift store has three floors of furniture, homeware, bicycles, records, toys and…
Kraków
Tiny gallery selling vintage photographs, including beautiful black-and-whites of life in Kraków in the 1920s and '30s. Most of what's on offer are copies…
Eastern Kraków
In case there was any question about Poland transitioning to capitalism, here’s your answer. This massive mall near the train station contains 270 stores;…
Kraków
High-end, second-hand women's clothing store featuring well-chosen tops, skirts, dresses and shoes from luxury labels, but at a fraction of the original…
Budapest
This delightful shop presents the work of numerous local designers, with everything from jewellery and cuddly toys to handbags and a range of beautiful…
City West & Charlottenburg
With its first flagship store in Germany, Uniqlo brings Japanese style to Berlin in a suitably futuristic setting, complete with LED ticker tapes…
Vienna
Designer Ina Kent handcrafts understated clutch, shoulder and tote bags from vegetable-tanned leather. Attached to the boutique is Ina's workshop where…
