Vienna
Founded in Germany in 1880, Steiff is widely regarded as the original creator of the teddy bear, which it presented at the 1902 Leipzig Toy Fair: an…
Must-see shopping in Europe
Vilnius
Dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional techniques of ceramics, Amatų Gildija is a hive of industry and beautiful handicrafts. It's an open…
De Pijp
Painted cotton-white inside and out, this chic little shop makes and sells its own scented candles and perfumes, and stocks fashion, jewellery and…
County Antrim
This nonprofit social enterprise sells handcrafted ceramics, soaps, art and textiles by some 60 Irish designer makers. There are some fine pieces to be…
Fira
The shark-head installation piece outside is sure to catch your attention. This is the main exhibition space of Yorgos Kypris, an internationally…
Munich
Munich's premier outdoors and travel stockist is worth a browse even if you've never pulled on a pair of hiking boots. The basement boasts a lake for…
Utrecht
Obliging, knowledgeable staff can help you make sense of over 700 varieties of beer, arranged by flavour rather than provenance.
Barcelona
Javier Blanco and Elisabet Vallecillo, who have made waves at Madrid's Cibeles Fashion Week, showcase their Barcelona-made women's designs at this…
Carpathian Mountains
Dedication to Polish bread-craft comes no more sincere than at this little wooden-shuttered bakery under an arcade on the Rynek. Antique equipment, wood…
The Midlands & the Marches
A vast timber barn 1.5 miles northeast of Ledbury is packed to the rafters with retro, antique and industrial treasures – everything from Victorian lamps…
Siena
Lorenzo Rossi is Siena's best baker, and his panforte (spiced fruit-and-nut cake), ricciarelli (sugar-dusted chewy almond biscuits) and cavallucci (chewy…
Warsaw
This sprawling antiques and bric-a-brac market is well worth the trip to the western suburb of Koło. Vendors sell everything from chandeliers, furniture…
Iraklio Province
Southern Iraklio Province's one must-stop shop, this family-run business in the tiny village of Kouses will woo you with Cretan spices and teas from its…
The Bosphorus Suburbs
Olive Farm is based in Datça, a Turkish region renowned for its olives. The company grows its own organic olives and uses them to produce a huge range of…
Bruges
Bruges has 50 chocolate shops, but just five where chocolates are handmade on the premises. Of those, the Chocolate Line is the brightest and best. Wildly…
The Veneto
This gorgeous bookshop, housed in an 18th-century noble palace, is one of the most beautiful in Italy, if not the world. Owned by the three Manfrotto…
Arezzo
A treasure trove of locally grown and produced foodstuffs, this organic market sells fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, dried pasta and legumes,…
Aliados & Bolhão
Founded in 1917, this delightfully old-school deli sports Porto's most striking art nouveau facade and is stacked to the rafters with smoked sausages and…
County Clare
A delight to explore, this emerald-green-painted bookshop overflows with new and secondhand literature, including rare titles across all genres from…
Klaipėda
Did you know that Colombian amber comes in emerald, ruby or even deep blue colours? This part-museum, part-jewellery shop has a remarkable range of items,…
East London
There’s been a market down here since the late 19th century, but the focus these days is artisanal food, handmade gifts and unique clothing. Cafes along…
Aliados & Bolhão
Bringing a new lease of life to a restored smithy, this store is the brainchild of Nuno and Rita. It harbours an eclectic mix of pop-ups selling…
St-Malo
The cheeses and butters handmade by the world-famous Jean-Yves Bordier are shipped to renowned restaurants around the globe. Showstopping butters include…
Moselle Valley
Barrels are suspended from the ceiling at this ultra-contemporary Vinothek. Taste and buy exceptional wines made from grapes grown on the hillside behind…
Northwest England
Atkinsons is one of Britain's most prestigious coffee merchants, serving up all kinds of exotic beans and loose leaf teas since 1840. It has been at this…
The West End
London's most legendary bookshop, where you can find even the most obscure titles. Once synonymous with chaos, Foyles got its act together and now this…
Western Canal Ring
Frozen Fountain is Amsterdam's best-known showcase of furniture and interior design. Prices are not cheap, but the daring designs are offbeat and very…
Ayvalık
A social enterprise helping unemployed women earn a living by creating fashionable items from throwaway materials, the 'Garbage Lady' saves at least six…
Borgarbyggð
A long-standing collaboration between local producers, this packed farmers market sits at the edge of town near the roundabout. It stocks everything from…
Neuchâtel
This third-generation chocolate maker, in the biz since 1919, creates dozens of different chocolates, including les éclats (Sfr9.80 per 100g) – square…
Bordeaux
Not only does the wine sold at this fantastically well-stocked cellar cover the whole range of prices (read: €2.50 to €5000 a bottle), bottles are also…
Hamburg
Original prints and postcards, many of which are pop-art originals and signed by the artist, Nina Hasselluhn herself, are worth browsing through at this…
Alghero
A cool independent bookshop doubling as a cafe and cultural centre. Most books are in Italian, but in summer it stocks a small range of English-language…
Nice
After the Cours Selaya produce market, this is Nice's largest outdoor display of fresh fruit and veggies – and an authentically local experience. When it…
Historic Mitte
It’s easy to lose track of time in this cultural playground with wall-to-wall books (including an extensive English section), DVDs and CDs, leaving no…
Bordeaux
Welcome to what must be the grandest wine shop in the whole of France. A magnificent central staircase spiralling up five floors is surrounded by…
Rotterdam
An emporium of eco-conscious and sustainable products, this indoor market hosts small businesses selling food, soaps, clothing, homewares, furniture and…
Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog
The most famous and still the best, Booth's is a thing of beauty – from the exquisite tiling on the outside to the immaculately catalogued shelves within …
Vienna
Some of the world's finest chefs use the oils and vinegars from this cornerstone of the Naschmarkt. At his Vienna distillery, Erwin Gegenbauer makes over…
Lucca
Be it a metallic-gold table bag for wine, a stone to keep your paper bread basket’s contents warm, body-care products made from olive oil or beautiful…
