If there is anything that I love more than travelling, it is finding unique souvenirs to bring back home. Capturing my travel memories into cute collectables is one of my favourite activities whenever I visit a new destination. And shopping in Spain is nothing short of walking around in candyland.
On my second trip to Spain, one of the top priorities on my list, beyond immersing myself in the culture and landscapes, was to document my experience with shopping in Spain. And it did not disappoint.
If you love shopping, this article is the perfect comprehensive guide to help you find the most useful and unique souvenirs from Spain-specific shops. Since I shopped the most in Madrid and Barcelona, most of the shops are located there.
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Shopping in Madrid
Shopping in Spain offers a diverse and exceptional retail experience. I have never been as charmed as I was walking through the streets of Madrid, tempted to step inside every other store. But what truly makes shopping in Spain exceptional, you ask? The collection is a thoughtful amalgamation of art and culture. The luxury boutiques and niche stores offer a collection of pieces that resonate with playful and colourful patterns of the country. As for the retail stores in Spain, the fashion and trends are a little ahead in time as compared to the Indian markets. However, the best part is that shopping in Spain has an all-price range from luxury boutiques to retail stores to vintage stores.
Before you step out on a shopping spree in Spain, ensure that it is not a Sunday or a bank holiday. A lot of stores also close their doors during the siesta hours.
Luxury Boutiques
Madrid is also known as one of the luxury destinations in Europe owing to its fashion and haute couture. The Salamanca District is home to some of the most elegant streets dotted with sophisticated boutiques with the top luxury brands. You will also find the flagship Loewe store along the famous “Golden Mile” on Calle de Serrano.
You can also find more luxury houses including Hermes, Cartier, Zegna and many more at Galleria Canalejas.
Retail Stores & High Street
Dotted with some of the Spain’s most iconic fashion brands, Gran Via is Madrid’s most frequented street. From Zara, Mango to Bershka and Lefties, it is a shopaholics’ heaven.
I have curated a list of must-visit retail stores in the Where to Shop segment.
Vintage Stores
Madrid has some of the most iconic vintage and second-hand stores curated with a lot of thought and love. More than giving neighbourhoods a hipster edge, these stores have some of the quirkiest and rarest articles. Both Malasaña and Chueca district are famous for its vintage stores.
While I only browsed through a couple of vintage stores, I chose not to splurge on anything this time. However, I have curated a list of vintage stores for you to check out in Madrid in the Where to Shop segment.
Where to Shop
Shopping in Spain is one of the most exciting activity but it can also get overwhelming. This is a list of stores that I enjoyed shopping from:
Clothes and Footwear
Shopping in Madrid means checking out a lot of niche brands and these are some of the stores making the most buzz in the city:
- Thinking MU is a sustainable fashion brand which features colourful patterns and playful silhouettes. Think modern streetwear with unique tops, pants and dresses.
- LAAGAM is a Barcelona-based brand that focuses on modern streetwear. They have prints inspired by the Spanish rhythm of life with a lot of prints and patterns. The brand has stores in both Barcelona and Madrid.
- Mercules is a Spanish handmade bag brand. They carry a lot of statement pieces in different colours and textures.
- Eme Studios is a quirky streetwear brand that offers a variety of jackets, zippers and sweatshirts. Don’t be surprised if you find McDonald’s branded hoodies on the racks.
- Despacio Concept Store is a unique store where you will find everything from clothes and bags to quirky candles and stationery. Shopping here is an experience and one that you should try not to miss.
- Amlul is a sustainable womenswear brand with some of the most feminine and beautiful collection. Their collection has both flowy and well-framed silhouettes. What’s interesting is that the collection has a touch of old-European aesthetic.
- Flabelus is a Madrid-based brand where you can find some of the most comfortable and colourful Mary Janes. They have stores all over Spain and I highly recommend checking out the store.
While Madrid caters to a lot of niche stores, it also has a variety of fast-fashion retail stores. They have trendy collection at an affordable price.
- Stradivarius is a fast-fashion retail store. I highly recommend checking out the store for some affordable yet fashion-forward collection. From trendy jackets to cool summer-coded coord sets and dresses, the store had everything.
- Bershka is yet another one of Inditex brands. Although it is available in India, I found the collection in Barcelona better and trendier.
- Lefties is also a Spanish fast-fashion retail store. However, it is perfect for shopping last-minute clothes and accessories. The collection is affordable and wide. I particularly found accessories like jewellery, scarves and shoes to my liking.
- Pull and Bear is also from the same parent company of Zara, Inditex. However, the collection is very Gen-Z coded and they have great options for men.
Stationery
- Postal y Tinta is a print shop in Madrid. Away from the busy alleys this store offers some of the most unique Madrid-inspired prints in the form of postcards, posters, and tote bags. You can also post your mail from the letter-box planted right outside the store.
- La Postalera is purely Pinterest-girlie-coded. If I could, I would buy everything in the store, from the quirky postcards, unique ceramics, bag pins, jewellery to the tote bags and pouches. They have stores in Madrid and Valencia.
Food and produce
- Real Fabrica is an example of Spanish craftsmanship where everything is Spanish made. They offer a nice collection of Iberico jamon, extra virgin olive oils, sundried tomatoes, olives and sardine shaped chocolates among several other edible products.
- Torrons Vicens offers a large collection of the traditional Spanish sweet called torron or nougat. You can sample all the varieties before picking the one that you like. I got the soft almond nougat that I recommend trying.
- La Violeta is the most charming family-run chocolate and candy store in Madrid. Their violet candies and sugar coated violet flowers are particularly famous.
Ceramics and Homeware
- Real Fabrica also has some of the finest collection of scarves, slippers, beret hats, and perfumes. They also have a collection of ceramics unique to the Spanish culture. I highly recommend visiting here.
- El Moderno is like candy land for designers. They have the most unique collection from clocks to decor pieces to furniture, lamps and stationery. Although on the pricier end, it is worth popping in for a moment and admiring the collection.
- Ethnic Way is a Peruvian inspired store with a tasteful collection of hats, jackets, scarves and jewellery.
- Gritos de Madrid specialises in Madrid-inspired tiles perfect for gifting and curating your own collection.
Vintage Stores
Shopping in Spain means checking out the beating heart of vintage and timeless fashion. I have never seen vintage stores anywhere else like I saw in Madrid.
Besides offering unique, one-of-its-kind piece, these vintage stores in Madrid offer an exciting and unique way to explore the city’s fashion scene and evolution. Whether you wish to buy anything from a vintage store or not, it is still worth peeking in a look.
- Disco Cherry Vintage is home to retro style clothes ranging from unique dresses, topwear and even swimwear.
- Neare Clothes Vintage Shop is perfect for those who vibe with the Y2K and 00’s style. They have retro streetwear with baggy jeans and relaxed silhouettes. Also lookout for unique, quirky bags.
- Magpie Vintage is a dreamland for colourful and playful prints. From retro prints and old European aesthetic jackets, they have a large collection to browse from.
- LOOP Vintage has a carefully curated collection of clothing ranging from jackets, playful dresses and tops. The vibe is retro and Y2K looks.
- Siolam Vintage is the cool kid on the block with vintage jackets from YSL, burberry and even Levi’s. Moreover, they also have a nice collection of denims and accessories.
- Biba Vintage is your go-to shop for handpicked streetwear designer pieces. Think jerseys, adidas original bags and merchandise.
Final Thoughts
If you love shopping as much as I do, you’re gonna love shopping in Spain. While this article mostly captures the shopping scene in Madrid, there were equally tempting stores in Valencia and Barcelona. I only hope I get to return to both the cities soon to document my experience from there.
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