Barcelona Shops

Historically, this 170-year-old design house has been in the business of haute couture, and while they still produce a house line for women and offer custom tailoring and suiting services for men, the lush space is mainly devoted to a handpicked assortment of big-name lines. For women, there’s Balenciaga, Lanvin, and Saint Laurent; for men, Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, and Nick Wooster.

With a focus on Barcelona-based designers and under-the-radar lines from all over the world, this two-story multi-purpose space (shop, gallery, and studio) offers a little bit of everything, from furniture to home décor to clothing to kids toys to art. And while the assortment is vast, the fun, modern aesthetic acts as the unifying factor. To make the best use of the space, the owners host workshops, talks, and exhibits for the local community.

Like Antigua Casa Crespo in Madrid, La Manual is where you want to go for authentic Spanish espadrilles. With roots that go back to the Spanish Civil War, it’s really no wonder the handmade slip-ons, slides, lace-ups, and wedges have amassed a cult-like following among locals. Tourists tend to get a little overwhelmed at the sight of floor-to-ceiling cubbies packed with shoes, but at under $50 a pop, leaving with multiple pairs is totally justifiable.

Though it's broken up into six distinct boutiques (two men’s, two women’s, plus a concept shop and a home décor store), La Comercial as a whole takes up a significant stretch of El Born’s best shopping street. With a designer roster that includes Carven, Comme des Garçons, Fornasetti, and Kenzo to name a select few, it’s easy to compare it to say, a Barneys, but the clever use of space and merchandising make a shopping experience here feel entirely new.

Hailed as the biggest travel-centric bookshop in all of Europe, 30-year-old Altair is an essential stop for slightly less app-obsessed globetrotters. In addition to multi-lingual guides and maps for destinations far and wide, the shelves here are stacked with biographies, memoirs, and specialty tomes on everything from flora to fauna to architecture.

This color-happy shop is a paradise for anyone born before 1982 or old souls with an interest in records, polaroid cameras, and quirky home décor. While the kitschy stuff is clearly the draw, the offering of contemporary, design-centric brands like Fern Living, Papier Tigre, and HAY shouldn’t be missed. Also worth exploring is the excellent children’s section, stocked with everything from delightfully analog wooden toys to sweet retro-inspired enamel plates. Leave plenty of time to browse the wall of indie publications: All the usual suspects are here (Kinfolk, Toiletpaper, Cerial) plus more obscure titles like Kink and Victory.

As the name implies, this beautifully made clothing line is inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle, resulting in elegant, low-key separates and accessories for men and women. While there are now outposts scattered all over Europe and the clothes are made mostly in family-run factories in Spain and Italy, the flagship boutique is situated right in the center of Barcelona with a second outpost nearby.

As the name implies, this beautifully made clothing line is inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle, resulting in elegant, wearable separates and accessories for men and women. While there are now outposts scattered all over Europe and the clothes are made mostly in family-run factories in Spain and Italy, the flagship boutique is situated right in the center of Barcelona with a second outpost nearby.

If you’re looking to invest in one great made-in-Barcelona item to bring home, one of Carolina Iriarte's handcrafted leather bags should be it. The two beautiful shops (each one looks more like an apartment than retail space) also serve as Iriarte’s workshops, so you can witness the slightly masculine, vintage-inspired satchels, elevated fanny packs, clutches, and briefcases come to life on the spot.

If you’re looking to invest in one great made-in-Barcelona item to bring home, one of Carolina Iriarte's handcrafted leather bags should be it. The two beautiful shops (each one looks more like an apartment than retail space) also serve as Iriarte’s workshops, so you can witness the slightly masculine, vintage-inspired satchels, elevated fanny packs, clutches, and briefcases come to life on the spot. The second outpost is on Plaza Real.