131 Best Places to Shop in Venice, Italy

The most stylish of Venetians and visitors alike come here for women's and men's designer labels for every taste. Brands include Burberry, Fendi, Givenchy, Lanvin, Loewe, Moncler, and many others; be prepared to be wowed.

Young artisans have taken over from renowned ebrù master Alberto Valese, a Turkish word meaning "cloudy" that refers to a technique used to decorate paper. They produce beautiful and one-of-a-kind marbled papers used to decorate books, baskets, folders, and other objects.

All the one-of-a-kind clothes and bags on sale at this vintage-inspired boutique were designed and created by residents of the women's prison on Giudecca island.

Scarves and shawls for all come in myriad colors, textures, designs, and shapes. They've been a perennial favorite of Venetians and travelers alike since they opened in 1945.

This retailer of modern and contemporary art, along with photography, puts together windows representative of the whole gallery.

Contemporary visual artists who employ glass as their medium are featured by Caterina in her marvelous art gallery.

This is not your grandmother's lace—these fourth-generation lace makers have updated their designs to produce exquisite bed linens, lampshades, and other items.

This studio has been casting brass, bronze, copper, and pewter into artistic handles, menorahs, Carnevale masks, and real gondola decorations (which make great paperweights, bookends, or shelf pieces) since 1913. The coups de grâce are the brass chandeliers, exactly like those that hang in the Oval Office in the White House. Call to arrange a visit to the studio in Cannaregio when they pour.

Run by a second-generation shoemaker, this shop is one of the only places left in the city still producing Venice's iconic friulane slippers, invented in the 19th century and hand-stitched from velvet and rubber. The shoes are still worn by gondoliers today.

Beloved of artists and celebrities, this traditional printer run by amiable Gianni and his son creates handmade business cards, stationery, and invitations using vintage letterpress machinery. You can choose from the selection on offer or have your own custom designed and shipped to you at home. Ask Gianni about the history of the place and his loyal global clientele, and he'll likely regale you with tales and a tour of his lovingly curated museum-workshop. Don't touch the antique equipment, though.

Cobbler-designer Giovanna Zanella Caeghera creates whimsical contemporary footwear in a variety of styles and colors. She was a student of the famous Venetian master cobbler Rolando Segalin.

A hat shop that's been around since 1901 offers an assortment of Venetian and gondolier straw hats, Panama hats from Ecuador, caps and berets, and some select scarves of silk and fine wool; there's even a special corner dedicated to accessories for antique cars.

At Godi Fiorenza, Patrizia Fiorenza's designs in silk chiffon appear more sculpted than sewn—they're highly tailored pieces that both conceal and expose. Her sister Samanta is a jewelry designer and silversmith whose unique pieces compliment any outfit.

This petite shop is the best place in town to find traditional Venetian wool capes, known as tabarro, and classic hats, such as the Ezra Pound (soft fedora), the tricorno (three-cornered hat), and the cilindro (top hat).

Monica Martin's wonderful art studio is housed in the ex-monastery turned arts hub not far from the Palanca vaporetto stop. Drop by to see the artist at work on her vibrant, cartoonlike watercolor paintings of Venice. The shop is full of her other artworks, designs, and gift ideas such as ceramics, mugs, accessories, stationery, and more experimental mixed-media pieces.

A great deal of so-called Burano Venetian lace is now machine-made in China—and there really is a difference. Unless you have some experience, you're best off going to a trusted place. Jesurum has been the major producer of handmade Venetian lace since 1870, and now specializes in lace incorporated into elegant home linens, such as beautiful bedsheets, bath towels, and placemats.

This is a treasure trove of papier-mâché objects, panels, and masks designed for the theater stage. Their masks have starred on catwalks and in commercials and films, including Casanova, Gambit, and Eyes Wide Shut. Mask-making classes are offered by appointment.

Seek out this small shop hidden away near the end of Via Garibaldi to meet the wonderful, engaging female artists working on their striking and colorful contemporary glass jewelry.

This lovely store features chic, contemporary glassware designed in the style of Murano master Carlo Moretti.

Despite the great popularity of the Venetian Carnevale, mask making is a dying art in the city. The large majority of masks for sale in the shops and kiosks of Venice are kitsch made in Asia and have little (if any) relationship to the popular local tradition. A shining exception is Sergio and Massimo Boldrin's Bottega dei Mascareri. Staunch traditionalists, the Boldrin brothers re-create beautiful and historically accurate versions of the masks of the Venetian commedia dell'arte. They have also carefully extended their repertoire to include masks inspired by characters in Tiepolo's paintings, thereby inventing new masks while remaining true to the spirit of 18th-century Carnevale. A mask from Bottega is about as close to the "real thing" as you can get.

A tiny bottega near Campo San Polo is run by a team of young goldsmiths and jewelry designers specializing in inlaid stones and mosaic tesserae. The work on display in their shop is exceptional, and they also create customized pieces. They are planning to offer a series of "experiences," either as demonstrations, or to guide you in designing, decorating, and even making an original piece.

The sculpted walnut-wood oarlocks (forcole) used exclusively by Venetian rowers may be utilitarian, but they are beautiful, custom-made objects that make for uniquely Venetian gifts or souvenirs. Saverio Pastor is one of the few remaining oar and forcola makers left in Venice.

A long-established treasure trove of unusual books, historic prints, and quirky postcards spills out of this crammed bookshop onto the pretty campo by the Miracoli church. Chat with friendly owner Claudio Vascon about your interests and he may dig out a fascinating antiquarian volume from his nearby storeroom.

Venetian perfumier The Merchant of Venice took over this historic bookshop, so it's not only a good stop for books in English, especially guidebooks and books on Venetian culture and food, but there's also an olfactory room where you can "browse" herbs used for perfumes as well as sign up for perfume creation courses. Studium is also particularly strong on English-language fiction with Italian, mostly Venetian, settings and themes.

Fine antique print and book aficionados will fall in love with this gem of a store run by the extremely knowledgeable Luca Zentilini. His focus is on Venetian culture and limited editions, with special interest in illustrated books from the 18th century. A large selection of Venetian maps are on offer, as well as etchings by masters including Tiepolo.

To see more of glassmaking's artistic side, visit this gallery-shop that highlights works from international contemporary glass artists.

Artists Maddalena Venier and Alessandro Salvadori of Materialmente envision "balancing the precious with the everyday." They succeed with a fascinating collection of fanciful, light-as-air sculpture, lamps, jewelry, and housewares.

Lorenzo will be more than happy to assist you in exploring the broad selection of wines from across the region, the entire Italian landscape, and beyond. You'll also find liquors and brandies, lovely bubblies, and even a few microbrews.