27 Best Places to Shop in Barcelona, Spain

Ceramic pieces from all over Spain are on display at this large store; more than 140 different artisans are represented, with maps showing what part of Spain the work is from. There are several other branches of Art Escudellers in the old city.

This expansive concept store stocks a bit of everything, from men’s and women’s clothing and accessories to home goods, spices, teas, and soaps, plus a wide range of Spanish-language books and games.

Showcasing the handmade work of designers from the region, the sweet-natured owners, Irene and Iván, present unique gift and souvenir ideas, such as art prints of Barcelona, crossbody bags, notebooks, and jewelry that’s made with love in their on-site studio.

While it's perfectly possible to dash in and fill your bags with boxes of Cacao Sampaka's exquisite cocoa creations to take home with you (or nibble on the way back to your hotel), consider setting aside 30 minutes to sit down in the pleasant in-store café and order an "Azteca" hot chocolate drink. Quite possibly the best hot chocolate in Spain, a sip of this thick, rich, heaven-in-a-cup is the highlight of any Barcelona shopping spree.

At the corner of Carrer de la Palla and Banys Nous, this café and shop sells wine and foodstuffs such as honey, biscuits, chocolates, and preserves made in convents and monasteries all over Spain. You can pop in to pick up an exquisitely packaged pot of jam, or linger over divine pastries and coffee in the tearoom.

Just up the street from Santa Maria del Mar, this coffee emporium is famous for its sacks of coffee beans from all over the globe and is said to serve the best cup of coffee in Barcelona, also available to go. El Magnífico's coffee is also available from Brunells bakery.

This shop is one of the most aromatic and picturesque in Barcelona, bursting with teas, coffees, spices, saffron, chocolates, and nuts. The star is an almond-roasting stove in the back of the store—purportedly the oldest in Europe, dating from 1851 like the store itself, so make sure to pick up a bag of freshly roasted nuts to take with you.

A sleek and breezy Balearic Islands look for women is what this designer from Mallorca brings to the fashion scene of urban Barcelona in a whitewashed shop reminiscent of an art gallery. Her dresses transmit a casual, minimalistic elegance and have graced many a red carpet all over Spain.

Though one of Europe's oldest flea markets, Els Encants has a new home—a stunning, glittering metal canopy that protects the rag-and-bone merchants (and their keen customers) from the elements. Stalls, and a handful of stand-up bars, have become a bit more upscale, too, although you'll still find plenty of oddities to barter over in the central plaza. It's open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday—the latter is the busiest day so if you want a more relaxed rummage, go during the week. 

This is the bookstore to seek out if you're interested in the Pyrenees or in exploring any part of the Catalonian hinterlands. Maps, charts, and books detailing everything from Pyrenean ponds and lakes to Romanesque chapels are available in this diminutive giant of a resource. The space doubles as a restaurant, serving wine, cheese, and a few traditional Catalan dishes. It's been family owned and operated since 1916. 

To-die-for pastries, croissants, and chocolates have made Foix de Sarrià, founded in 1886, a Barcelona landmark. J. V. Foix, the son of the patisserie's founder, was an important Catalan poet who managed to survive the Franco regime with his art intact. He was born in the building that houses the branch of the shop at Major de Sarrià 57; one of his best-known poems is engraved in bronze on the outside wall. On Sunday, barcelonins come to Foix de Sarrià from all over town; Sunday just wouldn’t be Sunday without a cake from from arguably Barcelona's best patisserie, to take to grandma’s. 

Directly opposite the giant rose window of the Santa Maria del Pi church, the knife store (ganivet is Catalan for knife) beneath this lovely sgraffito-decorated facade takes cutlery culture to a new level. Knives, razors, scissors, hatchets, axes, swords, nail clippers, tweezers, and penknives are all displayed in this comprehensive, cutting-edge emporium.

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 10 of. There’s also a dedicated bookshelf on everything from astrology and Tarot to crystals and travel notebooks.

Espadrille shoes evolved in different styles in different parts of Spain. In Cataluña, the most traditional espadrille, and the kind that Salvador Dali loved, is called "Espardenya del Payes" (literally "the shoe of the peasant") and the style is open on the sides, and the typical colors are black and white. In Pamplona espadrilles are called "Pamplonicas" and they have super tight stitching (they're worn for the running of the bulls festivities so they can't be loose!), and they're traditionally white and red in color. On the island of Menorca, espadrilles are made using leather so that they can be in contact with water. When they have a heel, as is traditional in Valencia, they're called "Valencianas." Handmade Barcelona sells all of these styles and with lots of variety in terms of stitching, colors, and materials.

You can even custom-design your own at the shop's interactive 90-minute workshops, where participants choose the color, base, ribbon, and stitching style, and get to make them alongside an in-house artisan. You'll learn even more about the history of these versatile, comfortable shoes, made famous by Salvador Dalí, who wore them everywhere he went, including meetings with designers Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel, both of whom later adapted the style for the international market.

This ultrachic clothing store stocks both men's and women's clothing and accessories, all made by young Catalan designers. A labor of love that is spearheaded by local designer Carola Alexandre, who sells her own designs as well as pieces by the likes of Name BCN, Lubochka, and Mus Roew.

This family-owned (and women-owned) store sells vintage clothing, fabrics, jewelry, and accessories, with a focus on wedding dresses, veils, and lace. Despite the found-object attitude and ambience of the place, they're not giving away these vintage baubles, so don't be surprised at the hefty price tags. You'll also find a collection of their own bridal gowns, newly made but in romantic, old-fashioned styles. Notably, the shop supplied many costumes and props for the filming of Titanic.

If you appreciate old-school craftsmanship in footwear and reasonable prices, visit this boutique just off Carrer Ferran. Handmade rope-sole sandals and espadrilles are the specialty, and this shop has sold them to everyone—including the pope. The flat, beribboned espadrilles model used for dancing the sardana is available, as are fashionable wedge heels with peep toes and comfy slippers. The average price of a pair of espadrilles is around €60 and they ship globally.

This Valencia company is famed worldwide for the beauty and quality of its ceramic figures. Barcelona's only Lladró factory store, this location has exclusive pieces of work, custom-designed luxury items of gold and porcelain, and classic and original works. Look for the cheeky figurines by Jaime Hayon, a Spanish designer, and the spectacular chandeliers by Bodo Sperlein.

Hands-down, Barcelona's best bookstore for years, La Central has creaky, literary wooden floors and piles of recent publications with many interesting titles in English.

Occupying the ground floor of Lluís Domènech i Montaner's Casa Lleó Morera, Loewe is Spain's answer to Hermès, a classical clothing and leather emporium for men's and women's fashions and luxurious handbags that whisper status (at eye-popping prices).

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.

Viewed from the sky, the undulating roof of the Santa Caterina Market with its flamboyant hexagonal mosaic tiles reflects the treasures contained within it: fresh fruit, veg, meat, fish and other delights. The current iteration was designed in 1997 by architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue, while the roof by artist Toni Comella was a colorful addition to what was then a run-down food market originally built in 1845 to serve the neighborhood's blue-collar workers. Unlike the fabled La Boquería in La Rambla, this is a place where locals still go for their daily produce, even though its setting in one of the most tourist-heavy parts of city means many of the stall-keepers are also accustomed to conversing in English. While you're here, stock up on extra virgin olive oil from Olisoliva or try some Iberian jamón (ham) from Xarcuteria Carles, a local favorite.

Norman Vilalta was a lawyer in Buenos Aires before he decided to do something rather unusual: learn the trade of a traditional cobbler. He moved to Florence, Italy, to apprentice and learn the trade, and then set up shop in Barcelona. Today he is one of a handful of people in the world who produce artisanal bespoke shoes, which take three months to make (and can be shipped worldwide). The shoes come complete with a video showing the entire making of, and will set you back somewhere between €2,500 and €5,000. However, you will also join the ranks of the chef Ferran Adrià, the architect Oscar Tusquets, and members of the Spanish royal family as owner of a pair of Norman Vilalta shoes. And since they fit like no other and last a lifetime, you might consider it a worthy investment. For a more affordable option, Vilalta's ready-to-wear footwear is available at the high-fashion emporium Santa Eulalía on the Passeig de Gràcia.

A shop dedicated exclusively to men's accessories of the finest kind, the Outpost was created by a former Prada buyer who considers it his mission to bring stylishness to Barcelona men with this oasis of avant-garde fashion. The constantly changing window displays are works of art, providing a first taste of what's to be found inside: Robert Clergerie shoes, Albert Thurston suspenders, Roland Pineau belts, Yves Andrieux hats, Balenciaga ties. You enter the Outpost as a mere mortal, but leave it as a gentleman—provided you carry the necessary cash.

This sprawling 19th-century factory complex—with its gorgeous brick architecture, towering chimney, multiple courtyards, and verdant garden—now serves as a creative studio space for designers and artists. On the first weekend of every month, the Palo Market Fest invites the public to step inside the gates and experience the vast, very cool space. There's live music and DJs, street-food trucks, and dozens upon dozens of stalls selling a range of goods, from crafts to clothing.

The history of this luxury fashion superstore goes back to 1843; today, it's run by the fourth generation of the founding family and features one of the best luxury brand selections in the country. When you're done browsing, refresh with some tea and cake at the fabulous café-terrace on the first floor.

Near Santa Maria del Mar, this is perhaps the best wine treasury in Barcelona, with a truly massive catalog, tastings, courses, and events, including a hugely popular street party to welcome in new-harvest wines (usually late October or early November). Under the same ownership, the tiny grocery store next door offers exquisite artisanal cheeses ranging from French goat cheese to Extremadura's famous Torta del Casar. There are a few tables inside, and, for a corkage fee, you can enjoy a bottle of wine together with a tasting platter.