Though its markets are truly something – high five to you, La Boqueria and Sant Antoni-Barcelona’s best shopping doesn’t just come from stalls. But where on earth to start? We get it. The boutiques and souvenir shops can be a lot to sift through. Fortunately, we have. Barcelona is a city that can accommodate a wide swath of shopping styles: both big spending, retail therapy types and those who looking to bring home a single piece that is, at once, unique, meaningful and cheap. This quick rundown of the retail scene will guide you through the must-dos, from the locals’ favorite deli to discounted designer labels.
Grey Street:
You’ll spot this charming gift shop, owned by Australian Amy Cocker, by a sign with the word “Mercería”-Spanish for haberdashery-handwritten in flowing italics. The sign is left over from another lifetime, but tradition, soul, and local preservation still reign supreme; hence the shop’s name, which nods to Cocker’s grandparents’ antique-filled house in Canberra. Read more…