54 Best Shopping in Rome, Italy

Founded in 1954 by Florentine stylist Carla Braccialini and her husband, Robert, this outfit makes bags that are authentic works of art in bright colors and delightful shapes, such as London black cabs or mountain chalets. The adorably quirky tote bags have picture-postcard scenes of luxury destinations made of brightly colored appliquéd leather. Be sure to check out the eccentric Temi (Theme) creature bags; the snail-shaped version made out of python skin makes a true fashion statement. There is another location on Via dei Condotti.

Founded in 1945, Brioni is hailed for its impeccably crafted menswear. Italy's best tailors create bespoke suits to exacting standards, measured to the millimeter and completely personalized from a selection of more than 5,000 spectacular fabrics. A single made-to-measure wool suit will take a minimum of 32 hours to make. The brand's prêt-à-porter line is also praised for peerless cutting and stitching. Past and present clients include Clark Gable, Barack Obama, and, of course, James Bond.

Opening its flagship shop near the Vatican in 1932, this gastronomic paradise has long been Rome's port of call for decadent delicacies from around the globe; there are now 13 locations throughout the city. Jonesing expats and study-abroad students pop in for local sweets, 300 types of tea, and even some good old-fashioned Kraft macaroni & cheese. If you need a pick-me-up, try the house-roasted espresso, which is some of the best coffee in Rome.

Set in a dazzling, seven-story space, Italy's best-known department store is packed topped to bottom with luxury goods, from cosmetics, handbags, and accessories to ready-to-wear designer sportswear to kitchen items and housewares. Even if you're not planning on buying anything, the basement excavations of a Roman aqueduct and the roof terrace bar with its splendid view are well worth a visit. There's also a location at Piazza Fiume.

Patrizia Pepe first emerged on the scene in Florence in 1993 with an aesthetic that's both minimalist and bold. Jackets with oversize lapels, playful pleats, mesmerizing mesh, and the occasional feathered poof set the designs apart. Spending time in the shop of this relative newcomer to the Italian fashion scene gives you the opportunity to pick up an item or two before the brand becomes the next fast-tracked craze.

This outfit has been making exclusive stationery since 1774. The first Rome shop opened at the request of the royal household, and this is where the city's aristocratic families still come for engraved wedding invitations and timeless visiting cards. It also sells desk accessories, wallets, and briefcases made using the best Florentine leather. 

Founded in the 1920s, Tod's has grown from a small family brand into a global powerhouse so wealthy that its owner Diego Della Valle donated €20 million to the Colosseum restoration project. The shoe baron is best known for his simple, classic, understated designs done in butter-soft leather, but his light, flexible Gommini line of driving shoes, with rubber-bottomed soles for extra driving-pedal grip, are popular as well. There is also a location on Via Condotti.

A Roman institution for 50 years, Volpetti sells excellent cured meats and salami from its buzzing deli counter. The rich aromas and flavors are captivating from the moment you enter the store. The food selection also includes genuine buffalo-milk mozzarella, fresh pasta, Roman pecorino, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and fresh bread. It's also a great place for assembling gift baskets, and it offers worldwide shipping.

Bursting at the seams with not an inch of space left on its shelves, this tiny little bookshop is a favorite meeting point for English speakers in Trastevere. Irish owner Dermot O'Connell goes out of his way to find what you're looking for, and if he doesn't have it in stock he'll make a special order for you. The shop carries everything from popular best sellers to translated Italian classics, as well as lots of good books about Rome.

With more than 40,000 books in English and shelves that are stuffed from floor-to-ceiling with both British and American editions, this large, friendly shop has been a mecca for English-language reading material in Rome for more than 60 years. The bilingual staff always goes the extra mile to find what you need, whether you're a study-abroad student looking for an art history or archaeology textbook or you're a visitor searching for a light read for the train.

Step inside this beloved deli for some of the freshest ricotta in town, as well as ham and salami, burrata cheese from Puglia, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Sicilian anchovies, and local wines—all served with polite joviality. Although not everything can be imported to the United States, some of the savory delights can be vacuum-sealed in case you want to pack some Italian specialties in your suitcase.

Rome's oldest pharmacy, in business since 1552, produces its own line of skincare products and dietary supplements. The shop's herbs and 18th-century furnishings evoke a store in Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, and although you won't find any potions, the pharmacists can whip up just-for-you powders, syrups, capsules, gels, or creams to soothe modern ailments.

Considered by many to be the Cadillac of fedoras, the dashing version by Borsalino has been a staple of the fashionable Italian man since 1857, adorning the heads of many silver-screen icons, including Humphrey Bogart (who donned one in Casablanca) and Harrison Ford (as Indiana Jones). Few hats are made with such exacting care and attention, and the company's milliners still use machines that are more than 100 years old. Borsalino also has boutiques near the Pantheon and Piazza di Spagna.

A landmark wineshop inside the former coach house of a noble Roman family, Buccone has shelves that stretch impressively from floor to ceiling and are packed with wines and spirits ranging in price from a few euros to several hundred for rare vintages. The historical atmosphere has been preserved in the original wood-beam ceiling, long marble counter, and antique till. You can also buy jams, pasta, and packaged candy—perfect for inexpensive gifts. A simple lunch is available daily, as are aperitivo and dinner (though reservations are required for dinner). However, it is the atmosphere and wine list rather than the food that makes the old shop noteworthy. For that reason, consider booking (a week in advance) a guided wine tasting that features highlights from many of Italy's important wine-producing regions.

Bulgari (also seen as Bvlgari) is to Rome what Tiffany is to New York and Cartier is to Paris. The jewelry giant has developed a reputation for meticulous craftsmanship melding noble metals with precious gems. In the middle of the 19th century, the great-grandfather of the current Bulgari brothers began working as a silver jeweler in his native Greece and is said to have moved to Rome with less than 1,000 lire in his pocket. This store's temple-inspired interior pays homage to the jeweler's ties to both places. Today, the mega-brand emphasizes colorful and playful jewelry, as evidenced by such popular collections as Bulgari-Bulgari and B.zero1.

This fragrance shop has been in the business of heavenly scents for more than 50 years. In addition to offering an array of labels like Acqua di Parma, Bois 1920, Bond No. 9, and Comme des Garçons, the store has courteous, multilingual staffers who know the merchandise, making a shopping experience here a lot more pleasant than a dash through duty-free. There are three locations around the city: two on Via Frattina and one on Via Oslavia in the Prati neighborhood.

A woman just isn't a signora without a good pair of gloves. Luckily the tiny Di Cori shop makes the most of their space by filling cubbyholes that reach to the ceiling full of technicolor gloves. All are made in Italy out of the softest lambskin, and lined with silk, cashmere, rabbit fur, or wool. They also carry a smaller selection of unlined, washable versions.

Dolce and Gabbana met in 1980 when both were assistants at a Milan fashion atelier, and they opened their first store in 1982. With a modern aesthetic that screams sex appeal, the brand has always thrived on excess and is known for its bold, creative designs. The Rome store has a glass ceiling above a sparkling chandelier to allow natural light to spill in, illuminating the marble floors, antique brass accents, and (of course) the latest lines for men, women, and even children. It also has an expansive accessories area.

Eddy Monetti, which began as a hat shop in Naples more than 130 years ago, is known for classic, upscale men's jackets, sweaters, slacks, and ties made out of wool, cotton, and cashmere. Sophisticated and pricey, the store carries a range of stylish British- and Italian-made pieces.

Elena Mirò is a high-end brand that offers curvy women sophisticated, beautifully feminine clothes in sizes 46 (U.S. size 12, U.K. size 14) and up. There are several locations in Rome, including one on Via Nazionale.

The shop is a great bet for unexpected souvenirs—from accessories to home goods to stationery supplies—from your Roman holiday. Retro tube socks dedicated to pizza appreciation and mouth-watering puzzles featuring high-definition photos of plates of pasta are a few of the fun and funky tchotchkes on offer.

For more than 100 years, Ermenegildo Zegna has been a powerhouse of men's clothing in terms of both construction and fabric. Indeed, to ensure a high standard of quality, Zegna prefers to produce all the wool fabric it uses. Suits here start from €2,000, with the top of the line, known as "couture," costing considerably more. Although there are also lines of sportswear and accessories, this really is the place to splurge on a formal, tailored suit.

Founded in 1931, one of Rome's oldest and largest antiquarian bookshops has a distinctive selection of scholarly and collectible books from the 16th to 20th century. In addition to rare and early editions on art and architecture, music and theater, and literature and humanities, the shop sells maps and prints.

Shoe lovers with a passion for minimalist design flock to Fausto Santini to get their hands on his nerdy-chic footwear with its statement-making lines. Santini has been in business since 1970 and caters to a sophisticated, avant-garde clientele looking for elegant, classic shoes with a kick and a rainbow color palette. An outlet at Via Cavour 106, named for Fausto's father, Giacomo, sells last season's shoes at a big discount.

Fendi has been a fixture of the Roman fashion landscape since "Mamma" Fendi first opened shop with her husband in 1925. With an eye for crazy genius, she hired Karl Lagerfeld, who began working with the group at the start of his career. His furs and runway antics made him one of the most influential designers of the 20th century and brought international acclaim to Fendi. Although the atelier, now owned by the Louis Vuitton group, still symbolizes Italian glamour, it's also gotten new life in the Italian press for its "Fendi for Fountains" campaign, which included funding the restoration of Rome's Trevi Fountain, and for moving its global headquarters to a striking Mussolini-era building known as the "square Colosseum" in the city's EUR neighborhood. The flagship store in Rome is on the ground floor of Palazzo Fendi. Upper floors contain the brand's seven private suites (the first ever Fendi hotel), and the rooftop is home to Zuma, a modern Japanese restaurant with an oh-so-cool bar that has sweeping views across the city.

Fratelli Rossetti is an old-world company with modern aspirations. Although known for its classic leather mens' and womens' loafers, some of its recent offerings are slightly more playful, with oversized tassels, say, or contrasting colors. It also has lines of leather sandals and sneakers.

Always timeless and luxurious, sometimes colorful or even playful—there is nothing like Frette's bed collections. The retailer has been a leader in sumptuous linens and towels for the home and the hotel industry since 1860, and sinking into its sophisticated cotton, satin, percale, or silk sheets is the perfect way to end the day. Complete your bedtime experience with pajamas and a gorgeous silk robe.

Furla very well might be the best deal in Italian leather, selling high-quality purses and wallets at comparatively affordable prices. There are multiple locations throughout the Eternal City (including one at Fiumicino Airport), but its flagship store is in the heart of Piazza di Spagna. Be prepared to fight your way through crowds of passionate handbag lovers, all anxious to possess one of the delectable bags, wallets, or whimsical key chains in trendy sherbet hues or timeless bold color combos.

If you're the type who dares to be different and prefers funky statement clothes and accessories, you'll love the edgy selection here. Look for classy, avant-garde men's and women's styles by A-list designers that include Gaultier, Westwood, Issey Miyake, and Yamamoto.

This gorgeous covered shopping arcade on the Piazza Colonna was envisioned in the late 19th century but not built until the 20th and finally opened to the public in 1922. Housed under a brilliant stained-glass ceiling, separate neoclassical-style storefronts sell some of Italy's most interesting brands. It's worth a visit just to marvel at the unique building.