Zadar
Sheep cheese from the island of Pag is a celebrated Croatian culinary tradition. This is the Zadar shopfront for its multi-award-winning cheeses, as well…
Must-see shopping in Eastern Europe
Meshchansky & Basmanny
This tiny shop that sells secondhand vinyl and CDs has a few shelves dedicated to Russian indie music from the 1980s to present. There is also a Korean…
Eastern Siberia
Baikal fish, smoked and sun-dried, cedar pine nuts, sagaan-dalya and other local herbs – you'll find all of this in the small but bustling market located…
Sofia
Small, knowledgeable wine shop offering products from a variety of independent producers around the country. The engaging owner is more than happy to…
Southern Estonia
One of Estonia’s best antiques stores and a fun place to browse, even if you already have enough WWII helmets, scythes, sleigh bells, Soviet matchbooks…
Moscow
A showroom of a popular online shop, which focuses primarily on little-known Russian designer brands. Definitely a place to look for high-quality clothes…
Vilnius
This building contains both the workshop and retail outlet for the Black Ceramics Centre, dedicated to preserving and teaching the ancient Lithuanian art…
Presnya
This tiny store is packed with books, games, plush animals and beautiful painted wooden toys. This is the place to find some souvenirs for the little…
Virpazar
Every Friday during late spring and summer, you can buy locally-produced honey, rakija, olive oil, wine and handicrafts in a little market in the main…
Tartu
On the side of Toomemägi, next to Tartu's version of the Addams Family house, this sweet, small store sells handmade dolls and toys for the young and…
Podgorica
Fantastic bookstore that's also a gathering place for Podgorica's intellectuals and artists. The attached cafe often hosts art exhibitions, lectures and…
Volgograd
A terrific souvenir shop with shelves of over-the-top Soviet and WWII-themed shirts, hats, medals, models, flasks and loads of other perfect take-home…
Ulan-Ude
Sometimes moving, sometimes kitschy modern Buryat art, clothes and souvenirs. Buddhist-themed metal sculpture contains some of the most striking items.
Central Rīga
The largest travel bookstore in the Baltics overflows with a bounty of excellent maps (many published in-house), souvenir photo books and guidebooks.
Bucharest
The city's biggest and nicest mall, with lots of top-end shops and brands, plus an indoor skating rink, children's playground and IMAX cinema.
Vilnius
Design workshop, specialising in unique streetwear for men and women by Lithuanian designers. Some unusual accessories and gifts, too.
Iaşi
If Moldavia is truly impoverished, you'd never know it from this sleek hybrid of airport duty-free shops and American-style megamall.
Central Rīga
You might just forsake email: lovely handmade stationery and paper goods of all kinds are on offer here. Go on, write a letter.
Bucovina
Family-run shop selling distinctive local black-glazed pottery. Browse the collection or get a glimpse of the potters at work.
Central Rīga
Right by Alberta iela, this place sells a variety of art nouveau designer decor items, souvenirs, guides and postcards.
Vilnius
Displays the wares of top jewellers working with Baltic Gold in a room itself decorated with more than 500kg of amber.
Tivat
Browse to your heart's content at this gallery, representing many of Montenegro's leading contemporary artists.
Adriatic Coast
Sells wine from small Montenegrin producers, rakija in all its varied forms, and other local produce.
Vilnius
Hand-crafted scarves, hats, soft toys, cushions and clothes, made from natural fibres by local artists.
Ulan-Ude
Elegant artisanal ceramics by Ayuna Dorzhieva, who fuses Buryat motifs with modern art.
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Never mind the kitschy faux 'tsar's palace' it surrounds, this is the ultimate place to shop for matryoshka dolls, military uniforms, icons, Soviet badges…
St Petersburg
One of the world’s first indoor shopping malls, the ‘Big Merchant Yard’ dates from between 1757 and 1785 and stretches 230m along Nevsky pr (its perimeter…
Moscow
Alena Akhmadullina’s romantic, flowing fashions have been wowing trendsetters since 2005, when the St Petersburg designer first showed her stuff in Paris…
Kyiv
This small showroom in Podil has a great collection of clothing that incorporates Ukrainian national motifs and modern fashion trends. It's the perfect…
Belgrade
Rakia Bar’s gift shop is the place to go if you’d like to take home a little bit of the spirit of Serbia. The potent fruit brandy comes in a range of…
Belgrade
The first vintage shop in Belgrade has since expanded to also showcase the work of the city’s young creative talent. The treasure trove of items on offer…
The Carpathians
Kosiv's high-quality Hutsul crafts are sold at its well-known weekly craft market. It attracts sellers from across western Ukraine and from as far away as…
Dubrovnik
A welcome interlude in a streak of shops with cheesy souvenirs and Game of Thrones paraphernalia, Terra Croatica wears its Authentically Croatian Souvenir…
Association of Artists of the Decorative Arts
Arbat & Khamovniki
Look for the ceramic number plate and the small sign indicating the entrance to this 'exposition hall', which is actually a cluster of small shops, each…
Belgrade
Located in the historical Dorćol quarter, just below Skadarlija, the century-old Bajloni is one of Belgrade’s best open-air markets, with stands selling…
Presnya
Katya makes dresses, blouses, sweatshirts and more with brightly coloured applications – all around a single theme. It was 'Tropical Dreams' when we…
Kyiv
This is an apparel and crafts store where everything sold is of 100% Ukrainian origin. Most notable is the clothing, including some highly original…
St Petersburg
Pick up a locally designed T-shirt, sweatshirt, bag or other item of streetwear or accessory at this large unisex boutique with its entrance just off…
Presnya
In case you hadn't noticed the increasing militarisation of Russian society, here's an example: the Russian Army now has its own fashion line. There's…
Dubrovnik
Uje specialises in olive oils, along with a wide range of other locally produced epicurean delights, including some excellent jams, pickled capers, local…
