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Spain

Shopping in Spain

  1. A

    Cerámica Fabre

    Classic pots with distinctive granadino green or blue-and-white glazing can be bought at Cerámica Fabre.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Montón de Trigo Montón de Paja

    With handcrafted handbags, block prints of Segovia and a host of other artsy, locally made items, this shop is ideal for creative gifts.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Galeria Maeght

    This high-end gallery, housed in one of the fine medieval mansions for which this street is known, specialises in 20th-century masters. It is as enticing for the building as the art.

    reviewed

  4. D

    La Casa de los Quesos

    Cheese lovers will want to make a stop here; you'll find every imaginable variety with plenty of regional choices.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Elkar

    Basque publications are strongly represented here. Also books in Spanish and a few in English and there's an excellent map and travel section.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Custo Barcelona

    The psychedelic decor and casual atmosphere lend this avant-garde Barcelona fashion store a youthful edge. Custo presents daring new women’s and men’s collections each year on the New York catwalks. The dazzling colours and cut of anything from dinner jackets to hot pants are for the uninhibited. It has five other stores around town.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Nosotraos

    Everything from gay girl calendars to bear T-shirts and books appear in this multifacted gay and lesbian store in the heart of the ‘Gaixample’.

    reviewed

  8. H

    Altaïr

    Enter the world of travel in this extensive bookshop, which is a mecca for guidebooks, maps, travel literature and all sorts of other books likely to induce a severe case of itchy feet. It has a travellers’ notice board and, downstairs, a travel agent.

    reviewed

  9. I

    El Corte Inglés

    El Corte Inglés occupies four separate buildings a little west, on Plaza de la Magdalena and Plaza del Duque de la Victoria.

    reviewed

  10. J

    LTC

    Andalucía’s top map shop; handy if you’re plotting a regionwide tour. From Plaza San Sebastián head northeast up Avenida Menéndez Pelayo for 600m.

    reviewed

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  12. K

    Uno de 50

    Close to where in-your-face Malasaña intersects with could-go-either-way Chueca, Uno de 50 offers up silver jewellery that wouldn’t look out of place in either barrio. It’s chunky and loud and not very subtle, but there are some great pieces here and they’re as original as the manner in which they’re displayed.

    reviewed

  13. L

    Hibernian

    The biggest secondhand English bookshop in Barcelona stocks thousands of titles covering all sorts of subjects, from cookery to children’s classics.

    reviewed

  14. M

    La Condoneria

    Run out of kinky coloured condoms? Need a fresh batch of lubricant? Pick up these vital items and a host of bedside novelties and naughty bits here.

    reviewed

  15. N

    Bodega Mezquita

    This sumptuous place is one of a number of excellent delicatessens in town. It sells a huge selection of olive oils, jamónes and wines.

    reviewed

  16. O

    Tejuelo

    Handmade paper products, fountain pens, leather-bound books and a small but rich range of classically upmarket stationery make this place stand out.

    reviewed

  17. P

    Adolfo Domínguez

    The stylish shop of this inventive Spanish designer is where you'll find utterly casual and colourful designs for the consciously cool among us.

    reviewed

  18. Q

    Vinçon

    An icon of the Barcelona design scene, Vinçon has the slickest furniture and household goods (particularly lighting), both local and imported. Not surprising, really, since the building, raised in 1899, belonged to the Modernista artist Ramon Casas. Head upstairs to the furniture area – from the windows and terrace you get close side views of La Pedrera.

    reviewed

  19. R

    Imaginarium (Salamanca)

    This wonderfully personal toy shop sells creative toys, books and games; it treats kids respectfully here, with separate entrances for kids and adults.

    reviewed

  20. S

    Imaginarium (Argüelles)

    This wonderfully personal toy shop sells creative toys, books and games; it treats kids respectfully here, with separate entrances for kids and adults.

    reviewed

  21. T

    Jesús del Pozo

    For glamorous evening wear for ladies ( not ‘women’, we were informed by the shop assistant), it’s difficult to go past this Spanish designer.

    reviewed

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  23. U

    Elkar Megadenda

    Basque publications are strongly represented here. It also stocks books in Spanish and a few in English, and there’s an excellent map and travel section. There are a couple of other branches in the city.

    reviewed

  24. V

    Camper

    What started as a modest Mallorcan family business (the island has a long shoemaking tradition) has, over the decades, become the Clarks of Spain. Camper shoes, from the eminently sensible to the stylishly fashionable, are known for solid reliability and are sold all over the world. It has eight shops in Barcelona.

    reviewed

  25. Booksellers (Chamberí)

    This suburban bookshop has close to the largest selection of English-language titles in town, covering novels, history, travel literature and Spanish themes.

    reviewed

  26. W
  27. X

    Vila Viniteca

    One of the best wine stores in Barcelona (and Lord knows, there are a few), this place has been searching out the best in local and imported wines since 1932. On a couple of November evenings it organises what has by now become an almost riotous wine-tasting event in Carrer dels Agullers and surrounding lanes, at which cellars from around Spain present their young new wines. At No 9 it has another store devoted to gourmet food products.

    reviewed