Ålesund
A delver's dream, this place: a chaotic antiques shop stacked floor to ceiling with curiosities and collectibles, from nautical pieces such as old diver's…
Must-see shopping in Europe
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
Dedicated to artisan cheeses from across Spain, this small shop is run by the oh-so-knowledgeable Katherine McLaughlin. The antithesis of mass production,…
Dijon
Northwest of Palais des Ducs is Dijon's fabulous 19th-century covered market, Les Halles. Enshrined as a national monument in 1975 (when it narrowly…
Medieval Centre & Red Light District
More than just a concept store showcasing Dutch-designed haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion, furniture, art, gadgets and homewares, the 700-sq-metre…
The Cotswolds
A country-chic temple to the Cotswolds' organic movement, 4 miles east of Stow, the sprawling Daylesford operation was kickstarted 40 years ago when a…
Auvergne
A staggering range of sweet temptations fill this richly decorated 19th-century boutique, with some recipes barely changed since it was founded in 1866…
Ceramiche Alessi Di Giacomo Alessi
Central Sicily
Giacomo Alessi is arguably Caltagirone's most famous ceramicist. Not only has his work been exhibited at La Biennale di Venezia, but he received a…
Amsterdam
On the last Sunday of the month De Pure Markt sets up in Park Frankendael, with artisanal and organic producers selling delicious gourmet foodstuffs…
The West End
Trading since 1853, this grandaddy of travel bookshops and seasoned seller of maps, guides and globes is a destination in its own right. Polar explorer…
Venice
This beautiful store selling antiquarian books, first editions, maps, sculptures and engravings is much more than a shop: it's a guardian of Venice’s soul…
Western Anatolia
The workshop belonging to the İznik Foundation, an organisation working to revive the craft of İznik tile-making, is a great place to start looking for…
Pag Island
Pag's most award-winning cheese producer has a wonderful shop where you can taste many of the cheeses before you buy; there are dozens to choose from and…
Naples
La Scarabattola's handmade sculptures of magi (wise men), devils and Neapolitan folk figures constitute Jerusalem's official Christmas crèche, and the…
South Holland
A shop associated with a social enterprise, Wereldwijven (Worldpeople) trains migrant women in sewing and embroidery, giving them a potential income…
East London
Imbibe beauty from the page at this atmospheric bookseller specialising in visual arts publications from the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. In…
Alfama, Castelo & Graça
A wonder wall of fabulous azulejos greets you as you enter this very special space. It's the vision of brothers Pedro, João, Ricardo and Tiago Cortiço,…
Lagos
Portuguese handicrafts at this artisan emporium include ceramics, blankets, scarves and bags, along with stationery, cookbooks and music, while gourmet…
Turin
A delightfully eccentric collection of handmade objects, light fittings, posters, textiles, cards and calendars fills this bright shop, which is run as a…
Milan
One of Milan’s most historic outfits (with a plaque to prove it), Pettinaroli has been furnishing the city’s best desks and purses since 1881 with luxe…
Livorno
Livorno-born Stefano Pilato (b. 1965) is the creative talent behind the sculptures and collages crafted from recycled tools, scrap metal, old hooks and…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Eco-conscious Parisian designer Anaïs Dautais Warmel takes unwanted fabric scraps from upholstery workshops and haute-couture fashion houses in Paris and…
Warsaw
To say that Tebe sells traditional Polish gingerbread does it a disservice. The edible and decorative pieces created here by Teresa Bilska are mini works…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Be whisked back in time to the elegance of belle époque Paris at this Montmartre shop specialising in perfume bottles. Gorgeous 19th-century atomisers,…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Candles made from natural, biodegradable wax in Parisian scents such as Jardin du Luxembourg (with lilac and honey), Place des Vosges (rose and jasmine)…
The Finnish Lakeland
Consider this a warning: once entered, this shop is almost certainly going to tempt you into extravagant expenditure. A showcase of top-quality Finnish…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
Brick walls, minimalist wood and metal fixtures, and pops of green from potted plants make this concept shop a delight to peruse. Indie brands abound in…
Athens
Billing itself as Greece's first activist bookshop, the Free Thinking Zone specialises in books on LGBT issues, refugees, violence in society and so on…
Nantes
A young Jules Verne was awed by this beautiful chocolate shop's chandeliers, marble floors and circular velvet banquette where Nantais have lingered amid…
Central & Eastern Istria
Occupying the extensive cellars of the elegant 1907-built Narodni Dom (People's House), this Aladdin's cave is filled with glistening bottles, hip flasks…
Thessaloniki
Architect Evangelia and set designer Athanasia, two wonderfully creative and warm women, started this little shop that makes and sells the most original…
Helsinki
Vintage Finnish glassware from renowned brands such as Iittala, Nuutajärvi and Riihimäki, and individual designers such as Alvar Aalto and Tapio Wirkkala,…
Oxford
Appropriately enough, the shop at the Ashmolean reflects the scope and variety of Oxford’s finest museum. William Morris would certainly approve –…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Once a clothing staple of Serra da Estrela mountain-dwelling shepherds, Burel, a Portuguese black wool, was all but left to disappear until this company…
Rovaniemi
Established in 1924, this former knife factory in a charming log cabin at the northwestern edge of town still makes knives today, along with jewellery,…
Namur
Spread across two floors, this giant cabinet of curiosities is a fun place to browse, with its array of old globes, antique maps, 1950s film posters,…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Former financial-trader-turned-jeweller Arnaud Soulignac is the creative mastermind behind this tiny boutique specialising in stylish and unique homewares…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Styled like a boutique, this contemporary fromagerie is a must-discover. Clément Brossault ditched a career in banking to become a fromager and his…
Confetteria Moriondo & Gariglio
Centro Storico
Roman poet Trilussa was so smitten with this chocolate shop – established by the Torinese confectioners to the royal house of Savoy – that he was moved to…
Athens
Meaning 'raft', Shedia is Greece's version of street-vendor magazines such as the Big Issue. Unsold copies are now being upcycled into an appealing range…
Prague
This rather unpromising, industrial corner in a forgotten Smíchov neighbourhood holds arguably the city's best Italian market, with all manner of breads,…
