50 Best Shopping in Madrid, Spain

Madrid's porcelain whisperer, Gallardo fashions secondhand shards and custom-made porcelain elements into runway-ready jewelry and accessories.

Alpargatas, or espadrilles, grace the feet of chic beachgoers from Nantucket to Nevis, but Madrileños have been rocking these rope-soled sandals (in some form or another) for at least six centuries. Antigua Casa Crespo opened in 1863 on what was then the outskirts of town, and it remains the city's most legendary alpargatería, thanks to the breadth of styles, colors, and patterns on offer. Their wares are still made by hand from esparto grass in Spain.

Opened in 1904, this is the best of Madrid's many ceramics vendors. Despite the name, the finest wares sold here are from Manises, near Valencia, but the blue-and-yellow Talavera ceramics are also excellent. All pieces are hand-painted and bear traditional Spanish motifs that have been used for centuries.

A well-curated selection of vintage threads keeps this boutique packed with cool kids. There's a particularly wide selection of billowy patterned shirts and worn-in Levis. There's another location by Sol at Plaza de Herradores 8.  As in all vintage stores, be sure to check garments for stains, tears, and missing buttons before buying.

Established in 1823, Casa de Diego manufactures fans, umbrellas, and classic Spanish walking sticks with ornamented silver handles and also sells traditional Spanish ornamental combs, mantillas, and castanets. The British royal family buys autograph fans here for signing on special occasions.

There's no better shop in Madrid for top-quality Spanish artisan wares. The shelves in this tiny independently owned boutique off Plaza de la Paja are lined with everything from exquisite Andalusian pottery to hand-sewn blankets, antique esparto baskets, and leather soccer balls.

On Sunday morning, Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores is closed to traffic and jammed with outdoor booths selling everything under the sun. Find everything from antique furniture to rare vinyl of flamenco music and keychains emblazoned with "CNT," Spain's old anarchist trade union. Practice your Spanish by bargaining with vendors over paintings, heraldic iron gates, new and used clothes, and even hashish pipes. Plaza del General Vara del Rey has some of El Rastro's best antiques, and the streets beyond—Calles de Mira el Río Alta and Mira el Río Baja—boast all sorts of miscellany. The market shuts down shortly after 2 pm, in time for a street party to start in the area known as La Latina at and around the bar El Viajero in Plaza del Humilladero.

Off the Ribera are two galerías, courtyards with higher-quality higher-priced antiques shops.

Owners Juanma and Rigas travel from village to village to source the stunning artisan ceramics, fabrics, glass, and more on display at this sunlight-filled boutique. Don't miss the Níjar ceramics with their cheery colorful splotches and the Caribbean-blue vases of hand-blown Mallorcan glass.

A favorite among local fashionistas, this store has two branches—one dedicated to high-end women's wear and another to furniture and decor—on the same street.

This sleek cheese shop with on-site "caves" for aging is a cheese lover's paradise. Seek out rare treasures like Torrejón, a raw ashed-rind sheep’s cheese from Castile, and snap up a bottle of organic Spanish wine while you're at it. There's a second location in La Latina on Carrera de San Francisco 14.

These are not your grandma's embroideries! Yolanda Andrés's thought-provoking "paintings with thread" interpret the centuries-old technique through a modern-day lens—with stunning results. Beyond the framed artwork (don't miss the technicolor "Artichoke" line), there are embroidered pillowcases, totes, and more.

This popular Galician designer creates simple, elegant lines for men and women. Of the numerous locations around the city, this flagship is the most varied and cutting-edge.

Amateur and professional cooks will love this terrific little shop (est. 1978) that sells everything from paella pans to earthenware cazuelas (casserole dishes) to olive-wood cheese boards. Cooking classes in Spanish are also available.

Seseña is the oldest cape tailor in the world and one of Madrid's most emblematic shops. Since 1901, this family-run business has outfitted the likes of Picasso, Hemingway, and Michael Jackson in traditional merino wool and velvet capes, some lined with red satin.

You'll find an impressive collection of English-language books here, including translated Spanish classics. Note to analog travelers: this is your spot to score excellent printed maps.

For cooks on the hunt for hard-to-find Spanish ingredients, Casa Ruiz is an obligatory stop. The bulk purveyor specializes in dry ingredients, from beans to pulses to spices to chocolate, and they carry only the best. Seek out Manchegan saffron, judiones de La Granja (extra-large white runner beans), and Asturian fabes to make real-deal fabada (bean stew) in your home kitchen.

Founded in 1894, Casa Yustas has headgear ranging from the three-corner hats of the Guardia Civil to Basque berets to Andalusian sombreros de mayoral. Designed as hands-free umbrellas for the rainy Cantabrian coast, Basque berets (sourced from legendary hatter Elosegui) are much wider than those worn by the French and make excellent gifts.

Spanish jeweler Mar Aldeguer sells nature-inspired jewelry made from precious and semiprecious metals and stones at this welcoming boutique.

This is the flagship store of two young Spanish designers with clothes and accessories for both men and women. All garments are handmade in an atelier north of Madrid. Other stores can be found on  Calle de Sagasta 4 and  Calle del Clavel 4.

This renowned ceramicist is known for painted plates and gleaming white urns decorated with animal motifs.

This company has sold guitars since 1882, and its store includes a museum of antique instruments. Prices for new handmade models start at around €1,500, though some of the top concert models easily break the €10,000 mark.

A block off San Bernardo, this is a charming café and bookstore with a good selection of used books in English. They sell bagels, too—a rarity in Madrid.

Buy (mostly Spanish) used books by the pound at this stall occupying a former casquería (offal shop).

The polar opposite of your standard stuffy gallery, La Fiambrera sells colorful pop art at affordable prices. There's also a small bookshop and café.

You'll find organic local cheeses, gourmet tinned food, charcuterie, and natural wine at this pocket-size shop.

Every attendant is a trained sommelier at this sprawling wine store. Beyond the 4,000-plus bottles from nearly every viticultural region imaginable, there are books, glasses, and bar accessories on sale. A Spanish restaurant on-site pours some 50 wines by the glass and has outdoor seating (skip the food; it's overpriced and underwhelming). 

Luxury Spanish fashion house Loewe (Lo-EH-veh), which is having a moment among trendy young Spaniards, carries designer purses, accessories, and clothing made of butter-soft leather in gorgeous jewel tones. That voluminous red dress Rihanna flaunted at the 2023 Super Bowl? A Loewe masterpiece. The store at Serrano 26 displays the women's collection; men's items are a block away at Serrano 34.