Paris
A favourite with chefs and locals, this chaotic street market's stalls are piled with fruit, vegetables and seasonal delicacies such as truffles. Behind…
Must-see shopping in Western Europe
Montmartre & Northern Paris
On stall-filled foodie street rue Poncelet, heady fromagerie Alléosse has its own cheese-ripening caves (cellars) spanning 300 sq metres with four…
Carvoeiro
Watch artists hand-painting traditional azulejo tiles at this pottery stocking a vast array of ceramics, from fridge magnets to plates, bowls, vases,…
Baixa & Rossio
This Lisbon landmark has been selling Portuguese wine since 1927 and is easily the best spot to pick up a bevy of local wines and spirits. It is…
The Algarve
Not only can you buy exquisite jams, chutneys, preserves, honeys, olive oils, carob powder and products, dried herbs, tinned fish, local wines and…
Paris
Not only does this contemporary, creamy white-fronted fromagerie (cheese shop) run by young, dynamic, food-driven duo Didier Grosjean and Thibault…
Notting Hill & West London
A cultural outpost of Japan in London, Japan House presents and celebrates Japanese art, design, culture, technology, craftsmanship and gastronomy in a…
Bordeaux
Follow local gourmets to this exquisite, oh-so-bourgeois chocolate shop, run by the same family since 1893. Fourth-generation chocolate-maker Thierry…
Jordaan & the West
Levitating lamps and vases (using magnets), retro flipping clocks, Delft-style porcelain with contemporary designs such as cyclists and tilting canal…
Luxembourg City
Luxembourg's finest designers and artisans are represented under one roof at this light-filled shop. Browse for women's, men's and children's fashions;…
Liège
This Belgian family business makes fabulous chocolates from cocoa that they grow, roast and grind themselves on antique equipment (apparently newer…
The West End
With its classic eau-de-Nil (pale green) colour scheme, the 'Queen's grocery store' (established in 1707) refuses to yield to modern times. Its staff –…
Bordeaux
Vintage designer fashion for men and women is the mainstay of Mathilde Milande's exquisitely arranged boutique, peppered from head to toe with an…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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…
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…
Oxford
Appropriately enough, the shop at the Ashmolean reflects the scope and variety of Oxford’s finest museum. William Morris would certainly approve –…
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…
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…
Utrecht
Obliging, knowledgeable staff can help you make sense of over 700 varieties of beer, arranged by flavour rather than provenance.
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…
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…
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…
