11 Best Shopping in Barcelona, Spain

Just across the Ronda Sant Pau, a street dividing El Raval from Sant Antoni, sits this market, designed in 1882 by Antoni Rovira i Trias and considered the city's finest example of wrought-iron architecture. The Greek-cross-shaped building covers an entire block, and some of the best Moderniste stall facades in Barcelona distinguish this exceptional space. A painstaking decade-long restoration incorporated the medieval archaeological remains underneath. The market is a foodie paradise of fruit, vegetables, fish, cheeses, and more, as well as counters for dining. On Sunday, when the interior is closed, you can wander the outdoor stalls of the weekly morning flea market searching for stamps and coins, comic books and trading cards, VHS, CDs, vinyl, and vintage clothing.

This family-run jewelry shop has an on-site workshop where you can see the jewelry being made. There are several collections, including one inspired by travelers and another that celebrates cultures around the world. 

Sifting through the new and second-hand vinyl is part of the fun at Discos Paradiso. Since opening in 2010, the store has done well curating a large selection of electronic music: techno, house, IDM, experimental, and everything in between. There’s plenty of disco, soul, hip-hop, and rock recordings as well. If you’re lucky, your visit may coincide with one of their exhibitions or musical events.

Barcelona’s love for retro and vintage reaches its pinnacle twice a month in two different squares. In Plaça Blanquerna, on the second Sunday of the month, Flea Market Barcelona (aka "El Flea") bring together the hipsters and the hippies, the dads and the dealers, who empty out their wardrobes and garages so that you can walk away with art-deco wall clocks or a 1970s hand mixer. Over in Plaça Salvador Seguí, on the first Sunday of the month, is the so-called "Fleadonia." 

Old meets new at this small but stylish shop. Restorer Lídia Matos and carpenter Oriol Viñas put their skills to good use when opening Fusta’m. Matos, for her part, collects and restores unique objects from around the peninsula. In addition to decorative pieces and original furniture from the '60s and '70s, Fusta’m sells a selection of glassware, ceramics, macrame, and other home decor items.

If you're looking for unique local gifts, this is the spot. The owner, Amy Cocker, hails from Australia and named her store after the address of her grandparents house in Canberra but the shop mainly showcases local talent, with items that include ceramics, jewelry, essential oils, candles, and other thoughtful pieces you’d never think to get but now want ten of. There’s also a dedicated bookshelf on everything from astrology and Tarot to crystals and travel notebooks. 

Holala! is more a lifestyle than a vintage store. The owners travel the world in search of garments for the next trend or wave of nostalgia and the the huge space is chockablock with clothing, furniture, objects, knickknacks, and other flotsam of the distant and not-so-distant past. Hawaiian surfboards, high-waisted Levis, nubby 1980s knits—it’s all put into a postmodern context at Holala! There's a smaller Holala! selling clothes only at Tallers 73, also in the Raval.

Housewares and children's clothing with a homespun sensibility are on offer in this charming store run by a Scandinavian couple. Bags made of Thai tapestries, wooden instruments, felt baskets, and handmade lamp shades are among the accessories worth checking out here. There is a second shop in the Barri Gótic at Boqueria 14.

This bookstore in the former chapel of the Casa de la Misericòrdia sells books amid stunning architecture and holds regular cultural events. You can sift through books of various genres, from anthropology and architecture to photography and poetry, and the English-language section showcases both best-sellers and lesser-known works. Behind the bookstore is Bar Central's lush garden restaurant, which is still a bit of a local secret. 

Made locally, this casual-chic clothing for men and women is constructed with natural cotton and wool in loose silhouettes to create an effortlessly cool look loved by El Raval’s armies of hipsters. Lovely leather bags and backpacks are available, too.

As the name suggests, Miscelanea shows a mix of art disciplines, including both emerging and established artists. The window display features a new artist every month.