Madrid
This original shop in the southwestern corner of Plaza Mayor sells an outstanding array of homemade designer souvenirs, from stone, ceramic and glass work…
Must-see shopping in Mediterranean Europe
Thessaloniki
Fresh fish and meat, cheeses, top-notch fruit and vegetables, bread, oils, honey, vinegars – you name it, it's all to be found in this high-end 'closed…
Naxos
This wonderful ceramics shop in Apollonas, just up from the seafront tavernas, features beautiful vases – some traditional, some rather more abstract –…
Istanbul
Serious antique shoppers should make their way to this old-fashioned business near the bazaar's Nuruosmaniye Gate. Silver candlesticks and trays,…
Lindos
Celebrating the work of upcoming artists and jewellers, this fabulous boutique is the best place in Lindos to buy fine gifts at affordable prices.
Athens
A Greek-Spanish duo specialising in silkscreen designs inspired by classical motifs. Especially nice are their leather notebooks, wallets and more, where…
Fira
Not only do these guys produce some of Santorini's hottest craft beer (Volkan, served at their caldera-edge cafe), but this deli is also a terrific place…
Malasaña & Conde Duque
This concept store down the Gran Vía end of Malasaña is the epitome of style, although it's less Malasaña retro than a slick new-Madrid look. Designer…
Syntagma & Plaka
This impeccable small store (two shops, one upstairs and one down around the corner) stocks super-cool gear, from fashion to housewares and gifts, all by…
Lucca
For an exquisite pair of handmade leather shoes (men and women), jackets and leather accessories, delve into the fashionable boutique of Florentine…
L'Eixample & Southern Valencia
A very elegant perfume shop specialising in boutique scents sourced from around the world. It's an enjoyably different experience away from the supermodel…
Thessaloniki
It's difficult to categorise this place – it includes a workshop, a shop, an exhibition space and a cafe-bar. Run by agriculturist Christos and the…
La Latina & Lavapiés
One of the last makers of traditional Spanish wineskins left in Madrid, Botería Julio Rodríguez is like a window on a fast-disappearing world. They make a…
Fira
Ceramics artist Andreas Alefragkis has been perfecting his craft over the course of three decades and the results are striking. Behold the hanging…
Hora (Naxos)
Inside the kastro, this remarkable antique shop hides inside a restored 800-year-old Venetian mansion. Even if you're not a collector who'll salivate at…
Western Anatolia
This restored Ottoman house is home to the showroom of world-renowned ceramics artist Mehmet Gürsoy who is credited with helping to revive the traditional…
L'Eixample & Southern Valencia
This historic fan-maker, in business since 1810, offers hand-painted manual cooling units ranging from a very reasonable €10 for the basic but pretty ones…
Cagliari
Cagliari's historic morning food market is exactly what a thriving market should be: busy, noisy and packed with fresh, fabulous produce such as fish,…
Kaş
Run by Orhan and Martina, a charming Turkish-German couple and long-time residents in Kaş, Turqueria is an Aladdin's cave of treasures that include old…
Oia
Follow quotes and words that wind their way down the steep stairs into a little cavern with floor-to-ceiling shelves of books: fiction, philosophy,…
Trieste
This jewel-box pastry shop and cafe was one of Joyce's favourites. Its nutty, spicy, boozy Triestine speciality cakes – putizza, presnitz and pinza – are…
Venice
Nelson Kishi's studio contains wonderful prints and original works, mainly in ink on paper, many of them depicting Venetian scenes. Kishi's delicate and…
Granada
By day, La Oliva sells fine Spanish wines, high-end olive oils and other gourmet treats. By night, the tables come out and multilingual owner Francisco…
The Veneto
Taking over the town's main piazza and surrounding streets, Asolo's monthly antiques market is one of the region's finest, peddling anything and…
Verona
Don’t be fooled by the name – this is no ordinary dusty antique shop. Rather, it is a treasure trove of vintage posters, maps, prints, engravings and…
Fira
This gallery is filled with the sinuous, surreal woodwork of Albanian-born sculptor Eduart Gjopalaj: delicate, lattice-like platters, serene faces…
Calabria
Even among Italian delicatessens, this long-established salumeria is something special. It’s a temple to all things fungoid (get your Sila porcini here),…
Volterra
One of only four female alabaster carvers in Volterra, Gloria Giannelli creates elegant hand-carved pieces that are rich in fretwork detail – the vases,…
Valencia
For any of your hat needs, head to this venerable concern near the Estación del Norte, run by the Albero family since 1820. Many are made by the family,…
Corfu Town
Gloriously aromatic spice and condiment shop, run by an ever-so-enthusiastic Greek-Canadian-Lebanese woman with a palpable love for devising her own…
Thrace & Marmara
This excellent store near the main square in Merkez sells locally produced items including artisan-made soap, olive oil, jams, honey and dibek coffee. The…
Salamanca
The official shop of the University of Salamanca has a stunning range of stationery items, leather-bound books and other carefully selected reminders of…
Corfu Town
Fabulous sculptures, paintings and objets d'art are sold at this gallery. The pieces are uniformly expensive, but you're welcome to just browse.
Toledo
Pick up some of Toledo's famed marzipan (almond-based confectionery) at this outlet of the highly regarded local brand.
El Raval
Globe-trotting products at this chic little temple to soap and perfume have been handpicked, by journalist Lucía and chef/interior designer Oriol, for…
L'Eixample
Ramon Casas designed the 1898 Modernista shopfront advertisements at this culinary temple of speciality foods from around Catalonia and beyond. Artisan…
Valencia
This excellent wine shop has reasonably priced reds and whites from all over the country, as well as some interesting spirits, olive oils and sherries…
Palermo
After years living abroad, Loredana Lo Verde returned to her native Palermo, opening this little studio-gallery in La Kalsa. Inspired by Sicilian icons,…
Pollença
A gallery, designer homeware store and artist-in-residence project rolled into one, Hito is run by New York expat jewellers Gillian Conroy and Danica…
Skiathos Town
Crammed with handmade jewellery and unusual antiques, such as 20th-century carpets and 19th-century spinning sticks made by grooms for their intended…
