Lviv
If you are in the market for some traditional Ukrainian folk costume and have rather a large budget, this vintage emporium sells the real thing with…
Must-see shopping in Eastern Europe
Golden Ring
'Polka' means 'shelf' in Russian, and every shelf here contains handmade wares from a different local artist – it's like a miniature craft fair. You'll…
Belgrade
The domain of hipster graphic artists, this small boutique does the city's best designer T-shirts, trucker hats, canvas bags, art prints and other design…
Ulan-Ude
This sparkling new shop doubles as a Buryat culture centre that runs lectures and masterclasses in traditional crafts. Goods include stylish jewellery by…
Irkutsk
Very central indeed, Irkutsk's well-maintained and perfectly authentic market is the place to stock up on cedar nuts, taiga herbs and Siberian fish,…
Moscow
Behind its elaborate 240m-long facade on the northeastern side of Red Square, GUM is a bright, bustling shopping mall with hundreds of fancy stores and…
Kyiv
Laska is a charity shop that sells both secondhand items and new clothing by Ukrainian designers. There are lovely notebooks, leather wallets and purses,…
Moscow
Peek in here for a glimpse of pre-revolutionary grandeur, as the store is set in the former mansion of the successful merchant Yeliseev. It now houses an…
Bucharest
This impressive branch of the Cărtureşti chain of books and gifts is located in an opulent, restored early-20th-century shopping emporium in the Historic…
Arbat & Khamovniki
If you're in the market for a fancy timepiece, pop into the Arbat outlet of ‘Russian Watch Traditions’. On this touristy drag, these small shops carry…
Arbat & Khamovniki
Considering the lack of flashy signs and kitsch, it would be easy to miss this plain storefront on the Arbat. But inside there are treasures galore, from…
Odesa
Lviv chocolate embassy in the heart of Odesa is a paradise for cocoa lovers. The chocolates come in many forms and there's a rich selection of candies to…
Moscow
Flakon is arguably the most visually attractive of all the redeveloped industrial areas around town, looking a bit like the far end of London's Portobello…
St Petersburg
Dating back to the mid-18th century, this is the company that used to make tea sets for the Russian royal family. Formerly known as Lomonosov China, the…
St Petersburg
Near the courtyard of the Berthold Centre, this delightful shop has lots of eye-catching objects, much of it made in-house or produced by St Petersburg…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
This is about the most clandestine fashion store we've ever reviewed. To get in, enter a graffiti-covered courtyard, then look for a small gap between two…
City Centre
A fixture at cutting-edge design fairs, this collective of Estonian designers has a permanent shopfront in the Solaris shopping centre. Selling the Nordic…
Kalamaja & Telliskivi
The sanitising of the train-station precinct is manifest in the supersession of the seedy outdoor market that once traded here by the sleek Balti Jaama…
Tryokhgornaya Manufaktura Factory Outlet
Presnya
Tryokhgornaya Manufaktura is one of the oldest textile factories in Russia, founded in 1799 on the banks of the Moscow River. The factory played a key…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Moscow’s favourite bookshop is huge, with lots of souvenir books devoted to language, art and history, and a good selection of maps and travel guides. A…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
This sweet boutique – encouraging shoppers to ‘dress for happiness’ – carries unique clothing by a few distinctive designers, including Moscow native Oleg…
Museum of the Romanian Peasant Gift Shop
Bucharest
For beautifully woven rugs, table runners, national Romanian costumes, ceramics and other local crafts, don’t miss the excellent folk-art shop at the…
Presnya
The best-known Russian fashion designer is Valentin Yudashkin, whose classy clothes are on display at the Louvre and the Met, as well as the State History…
St Petersburg
This cool store will thrill anyone interested in music and cinema, as it sells a very cool range of vinyls from all eras (it’s particularly strong on rare…
Arbat & Khamovniki
Among the largest bookstores in Moscow, Dom Knigi has a selection of foreign-language books to rival any other shop in the city, not to mention travel…
Kotor
Though you can't bundle them into your backpack (tempting as it may be), you can bring home the cats of Kotor in the form of beautiful, locally made…
Moscow
Zaporozhets makes clothes themed on popular Soviet cartoon films, such as Holidays in Prostokvashino, for hipsters born after the USSR collapsed who love…
Tartu
An array of artisans’ studios occupying three old houses set around St Anthony’s Courtyard produce ceramics, stained glass, jewellery, textiles,…
Bucharest
This delightful cafe-cum-art-gallery hosts the microgallery of Studio Receptor, showcasing original Romanian illustrations, and the Cărturești bookstore…
Presnya
This bustling store is the factory outlet for several local candy makers, including the most famous, Krasny Oktyabr (Red October). The display case is…
Bucharest
Beautiful, well-stocked wine shop with a comprehensive selection of Romanian and foreign wines, plus knowledgable salespeople to help you sort it out. In…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
These folks do a great service selling souvenirs – cups, plates and T-shirts – themed on inspired and whimsical drawings produced by children with special…
Bucharest
This bookshop, music store, tearoom and funky backyard garden is a must-visit. Amazing collection of design, art and architecture books, as well as…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Here you'll find perfume brands that you won't come by in a duty-free shop. All fringe international and Russian perfume producers are welcome, while Dior…
Korčula Island
It's a mystery how Kutak crams books written in Croatian, English, French, Spanish, Czech, Italian, German, Polish, Swedish and Mandarin into such a small…
Brasa & Teika
Slip on white cotton gloves and caress the books in this elegant shop that treats tomes like works of art – and in fact many are. Browse beautiful titles…
Iaşi
This long-standing local antiques shop sells everything from folk heirlooms and jewellery to rare, expensive icons. It can provide authorised sale…
Vilnius
A 'Joint Stock Company' selling handicrafts in amber, metal, ceramics, textiles and other materials. Great for unusual and educational toys. It also has…
Brasa & Teika
Take your pick of pleasures at this bifurcated shop: browse designer housewares on one side and delve into exquisite belts, bags and jewellery on the…
Vilnius
The local master of linen is Giedrius Šarkauskas. Inspired by life’s natural cycle, the designer produces collections sewn solely from linen. Accessories…
