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Aldolfo Domínguez
This Galician is one of Spain's most celebrated fashion designers. His designs are classic and a little conservative, but it is timeless fashion for men and women, with exquisite tailoring and quality materials.
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Altaïr
If you need any encouragement in planning your next trip, these travel specialists will give you a nudge in the right direction. The range of local-interest books, guides to everywhere and maps is impressive.
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Antinous
An extensive bookshop with his-and-hers gay literature, Antinouswww.museocerabcn.com is also a centre of gay culture. Out the back is a relaxed café, which doubles as an exhibition space and stage for book presentations.
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Antonio Miró
The doyen of Barcelona couture, Antonio Miró made his name by producing elegant and unpretentious classic fashion of the highest quality for men and women. Miró also does an attractive line in accessories.
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Arlequí Màscares
A little house of horrors (or delights, depending on your mood), this shop specialises in masks to wear and for decoration. Stock also includes a beautiful range of decorative boxes in Catalan themes.
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Armand Basi
Once the outfitter of James Bond and now doing design, Armand Basi is a stylish stalwart who does slinky numbers for the gals, uptown suits in black, evening wear and accessories.
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Art Montfalcon
Beneath the over-arching vaults of this Gothic cavern is spread an incredible range of gift ideas and art. The most appealing are the prints of local and universal inspiration. Thrown in are original works of art by local artists, framed and ready to go, and a whole range of Barcelona memorabilia, from ceramics to arty T-shirts.
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Bad Habits
Bowl up to this bunker full of ballsy and original fashion for women unfazed by risk. Blurring the lines between feminine and masculine, colour and monochrome, Bad Habits stocks international labels as well as its own line.
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Bagués
This is more than just any old jewellery store. The boys from Bagués have been chipping away at precious stones and moulding metal since the 19th century, and many of their classic pieces have a flighty Modernista influence. There is a branch in Casa Amatller in the Manzana de la Discordia.
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Bulevard Dels Antiquaris
Part of the Bulevard Rosa shopping mall, this stretch is crammed with more than 70 antique shops tempting you with the this-and-that of old. A few specialists to look out for include Brahuer (jewellery), Govary's (porcelain dolls) and Victory (crystal).
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Bulevard Rosa
With over 100 shops featuring some of the most interesting local designers of fashion and jewellery, this 1980s creation is the best mall in the city for style and a few hours of boutique-browsing.
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Caelum
From all corners of the country arrive the carefully prepared sweets and other goods that have been the pride of Spanish convents through the centuries. Tempting and traditional items such as sticky marzipan (made in closed-order convents) and olive oil with thyme find their way into this specialist store. Head downstairs to the cavernous café area, once a medieval Jewish bathhouse. You can also take a seat at a huddle of tables upstairs.
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Camper
This classic Mallorcan shoe merchant continues to stamp all over the international market by successfully treading the fine line between rebellion and commercialism. There are branches all over town.
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Carrer de Ferran
There's a Custo branch at Carrer de Ferran. Created in the early 1980s by the Dalmau brothers, Custo is the biggest name in contemporary Barcelona fashion and one of its trendiest exports. The company specialises in unique long-sleeved T-shirts, for men and women, with bold and psychedelic graphics.
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Casa del Llibre
This chain of general bookstores is among the best stocked in town. The 'home of the book' covers a broad range of subjects and has decent sections devoted to literature in English, French and other languages. It also organises readings and book presentations.
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Casa Gispert
Nuts and coffee are roasted in an antique 19th-century wood-fired oven at this wonderfully aromatic wholesaler. Hazelnuts and almonds are the specialities, complemented by piles of dried fruit and a host of artisanal products, such as mustards and preserves.
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Castelló
This family-run chain has been tickling the ear lobes of Catalans since 1935, and have five stores in El Raval. Each specialises in a different genre so, between them, you're bound to hit the right chord. Aside from the main branch, try Carrer dels Tallers 3 for classical music, No 9 for alternative, hip-hop and other contemporary sounds and No 79, another general store.
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Cereria Subirà
Even if you're not interested in flickering flames, you'll be impressed by the ornate décor here. Nobody can hold a candle to these people in terms of longevity - the Subirà name in wax and wicks has been in demand since 1761, although it's only been at this address since late in the 19th century.
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Cubiña
You might not want to take furniture items back on the plane, but this contemporary design shop is worth a browse and a stop if only for the setting, a magnificent Modernista building constructed by Domènech i Montaner in 1895.
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Custo Barcelona
Created in the early 1980s by the Dalmau brothers, Custo is the biggest name in contemporary Barcelona fashion and one of its trendiest exports. The company specialises in unique long-sleeved T-shirts, for men and women, with bold and psychedelic graphics. There's also a branch at Carrer de Ferran (M0083, C3; 93 342 66 98; Carrer de Ferran 36).
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Drap
This busy shop brings out the giddy little girl in all of us - which generally comes as a surprise to blokes - as it's packed to the rafters with everything relating to dolls and their well-being, from miniature jars of jam to intricate handmade mansions.
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El Corte Inglés
This monster of retail has everything you could possibly want and lots more that won't have crossed your mind. There's also a rooftop café with a splendid view. There are branches at Avinguda Diagonal 471 (A4), Avinguda Diagonal 617 ( M008F, B4) and Avinguda del Portal de l'Àngel 19 ( M0090, A4).
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El Ingenio
Liven up your party with El Ingenio's bewildering range of tricks, fancy dress, masks and other accessories. Pick up a stick-on Salvador Dalí moustache, or ride out on a monocycle in a devil's outfit.
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El Magnífico
Take a veritable tour of world coffee with the friendly Sans family. They had so much fun with their beans and blends that they opened another store across the street, Sans & Sans (D5; Carrer de l'Argenteria 59), devoted to more than 200 types of tea.
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Elephant
This bright bookshop is off the main tourist tracks but is a helpful haven of books in the Queen's English. Stock ranges from fiction to kids' stuff, with a smattering of reference works and a healthy secondhand section.
