Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Design
Whether you are looking for homewares, gifts or decoration, you'll quickly realise that Bar-
celona is a style city. This much is clear from its flagship design stores like Vinçon and Cu-
biña - and even the souvenirs have flair. High-end design shops are best found in
L'Eixample and El Born, while arty places are scattered around El Raval, where you'll find,
among other things, quirky furniture and homewares with a difference.
Boutique Barcelona
The heart of the Barri Gòtic has always been busy with small-scale merchants, but the area
has come crackling to life since the mid-1990s. Some of the most curious old stores, such as
purveyors of hats and candles, lurk in the narrow lanes around Plaça de Sant Jaume. The
once-seedy Carrer d'Avinyó has become a minor young-fashion boulevard. Antique stores
line Carrer de la Palla and Carrer dels Banys Nous.
La Ribera is nothing less than a gourmand's delight. Great old stores and some finger-
licking newbies deal in speciality foodstuffs, from coffee and chocolate to roasted nuts.
Amid such wonderful aromas, a crop of fashion and design stores caters to the multitude of
yuppies in the
barri
(neighbourhood).
Gràcia is also full of quirky little shops. In particular, check out Carrer de Verdi for any-
thing from clothes to bric-a-brac.
El Raval is fantastic for unique boutiques and artists selling their own creations - fashion,
prints and curios.
High Street Chains & Department Stores
Everyone knows that across Europe (and further afield), Spain's chains rule the high street.
This is the home of the ubiquitous Zara, Mango, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Massimo Dutti,
Zara Home (in fact, all owned by one company, Inditex) - and sure enough, you'll find all of
them dotted around Barcelona. Women's underwear is stylish and affordable at Oysho and
Women's Secret, while UK hits like Topshop and Topman also feature.
Spain's only surviving department store is El Corte Inglés - an enormous fortress-like
main branch towers over Plaça de Catalunya. It covers everything from books, music and
food, to fashion, jewellery, kids' clothes and toys, technology and homewares. There are
smaller branches across town. French chain FNAC is another biggie, selling books, CDs,
DVDs, computers and mobile phones.
