Shopping while traveling can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a trip — and not just for those known to indulge in retail therapy back home. Browsing through independent boutiques, artisan workshops and concept stores allows you to interact with local shopkeepers and to stumble upon unique items that you may not easily find elsewhere.
In Barcelona, as in the rest of Spain, visiting the markets is an unmissable experience, but be aware that you may not be able to take jamón and other meat products home. You can, however, pick up a bottle of high-quality olive oil, vermouth or your favorite wine.
When it comes to fashion, you might be tempted to spend hours on end at well-known chain stores and international shops, but given that space in your suitcase is usually prized real estate, focus your attention on locally made pieces you’ll treasure for years.
El Born’s maze-like streets make it a good neighborhood to get happily lost in searching for one-of-a-kind finds. Alternatively, those looking to optimize their time rather than wander the roads aimlessly can book Made in Barcelona, a signature experience reserved for guests of Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Majestic Hotel & Spa — a landmark on the grand Passeig de Gràcia since 1918 — to visit exclusive ateliers and meet the creators behind the irresistible pieces they’ll be desperate to take home.
Unique art
Barcelona’s impressive architecture has seeped into the psyche of creators, with countless studios and galleries tucked away on side streets. At Ornamante, in El Born, artists Francisco Aguilera and Xavier Ferrer imagined a whole mythology around whimsical creatures said to merge human and animal DNA.
Their fantastical beings, called Bipeds, come in several shapes and sizes, from vibrantly hued rhinos and pot-bellied walruses to mice with lightbulbs for heads and special editions in collaboration with other artists. These statement pieces are bound to become collector’s items.
Local fashion
The wide, leafy Passeig de Gràcia is lined with luxury boutiques and international labels, but its surrounding streets are home to exclusive shops and fashion ateliers featuring pieces that will turn heads. Whether you’re after a unique haute couture dress for your next glamorous cocktail party or want to refresh your office staples with ready-to-wear fashion, Teresa Helbig has you covered. Designed for independent women who refuse to blend in, each piece is a testament to the designer’s obsession with details, craftsmanship and quality fabrics.
Guests of the Majestic Hotel & Spa can meet the designer and her seamstress mother during one of the shopping tour’s stops to learn all about how the brand came to be and get a sneak peek at its atelier and upcoming collections. Those with little fashionistas in the family will be happy to hear that the brand recently launched a kids’ line as well.
Artisanal chocolate
Founded in El Born in 1797, Chocolate Amatller now has several branches across the city. As one of the oldest chocolate brands in Europe, it maintains a traditional-modernist look that takes you back in time. You can sample different flavors before deciding on the chocolate bars, pralines or elegant tin cans filled with assorted chocolates.
The 40-minute Amatller Experience lets you try your hand at grinding cocoa beans before indulging in a hot cocoa tasting. Alternatively, those staying at the Majestic can book The Chocolate Trail, an experience that will take them to several of the city’s most famous chocolatiers.
Leather handbags
Leather goods are high-quality items you can take home with you, whether for yourself or as a gift for a loved one. Born in Barcelona in 2017, Mietis was founded by designer María Fontanellas, who makes nostalgic items inspired by ’60s and ’70s cinema, art deco and mid-century design.
Her timeless handbags are built to last and are unlike anything you’ve seen before. Refusing to follow trends or copy others, the designer believes real luxury is authenticity, not status. You can find the flagship boutique just off Passeig de Gràcia.
Gaudí-inspired items
Trencadís, a broken mosaic technique made famous by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, can be found everywhere in Barcelona, from the iconic Sagrada Família to Park Güell.
At the gift shops of Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera), two other Gaudí masterpieces, you can pick up eye-catching souvenirs featuring trencadís motifs. You’ll find everything from tasteful keychains and bookmarks to quality jewelry and hand fans.
Traditional shoes
Espadrilles (also known as espardenyes in Catalonia) are the ideal summer shoes. Whether flat or wedge-heeled, they’re made with rope and canvas, making them highly breathable and comfortable.
Once considered humble peasant shoes, espadrilles now come in high-end versions from retailers like Castañer, just off Passeig de Gràcia, who have been crafting them for almost a century.
Stationery
Known as Europe’s largest stationery store, Raima has been around since 1986. Occupying five floors in a 16th-century building in the Gothic Quarter, this colorful haven dedicated to paper and art supplies is the perfect place to grab a sketch book or journal for documenting your travels. Either would make a great souvenir for someone with limited luggage space.
