We think one of the best ways to get to know a city is by shopping. We're not talking about malls, international box shops, or fast fashion stores that you see in just about every city, continent, and street corner these days (okay maybe not EVERY). While we are guilty of stumbling into those on our trips once in a while, that's not why we love shopping in a new city.

We're talking about shopping at small independent boutiques with a story to tell about their brands, their neighborhoods, their cities.

We love these shops because they embody the spirt of Barcelona. They are timeless, at times a bit nostalgic, but contemporary at the core. Like Rue Saint Paul, they love quality, authenticity, and beautiful designs.

Whether you are a first time visitor, a long time resident, or a frequent traveler to Barcelona, we hope you can stray away from the main streets and step inside of these boutiques. 

COLMADO

 

Colmado means "full of", and Colmado shop is full of design, quality, timeless, and beautiful things.

What is the best selling product from your store? The wooden jewelry from wolfandmoon, Pale swimsuits and Pleguezuelos clothes for women. La Paz for men.

What is an essential piece of clothing or accessory that every Barcelona woman owns? A jumpsuit! An easy piece that suits you up in an effortless way.

We love to travel and so do our readers! Tell them where you would want to travel to next? My next trip will be to Japan in February! And with luck also Korea. I'm really excited!

Where is your favorite place to eat, drink, and shop in Barcelona? It's difficult to choose only one restaurant in Barcelona, and there are new openings constantly! I suggest Terraza Martinez, Green Spot and Xemei. And for shopping of course El Born neighborhood ;)

Tell us anything else about your store or why you love Barcelona! Barcelona is a cozy place that is open to the world and the people. It has creativity, design, and it's fun. Barcelona is "full of" beautiful places, people, food, music, culture, sea, mountains, etc... :) Barcelona está Colmada!

Photo Credits (clockwise): @colmadoshop / @claireheinui, @olgadelaiglesia / @diarte / @claireheinui

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La Manual Alpargatera

In 1940, Joan Olivé and Emilia Martínez decided to create a new business to develop something unseen at the time: “fashion” espadrilles. Until then, espadrilles were just humble cheap shoes, never used for “fashion purposes”; it was something very comfortable to wear, but used only by lower class people or occasionally for gardening, working, etc. They decided to bring espadrilles to a higher level, to the fashion world by introducing heels, wedges, embroideries, and new designs.

Nowadays we can see fashion espadrilles all over the world, but this is the place where they were first made, still made traditionally, & hand-made, live in front of the customers.

What is the best selling product from your store? We have a few models that are best selling including Pinxo, Valenciana, Thelma, and Camping Ribete. Also the Barcemola series, depending on the week.

What is an essential piece of clothing or accessory that every Barcelona woman owns? Pinxo is now very fashionable. A lot of brands are making our traditional Pinxo model.

We love to travel and so do our readers! Tell them where you would want to travel to next? Bali, because we like nature and deep breaths, or Japan, for it's culture and arts.

Where is your favorite place to eat, drink, and shop in Barcelona? Tako BCN Sushi Bar, Tickets, Pepa Tomate. There are plenty of places to eat and drink wonderfully, and I'm just mentioning three places where we try to go as often as possible. As for shopping, we love to discover little places in the small streets of Gràcia or the Gothic Quarter, where you can find your favorite shop when you least expect it. 

Tell us anything else about your store or why you love Barcelona! Both our shop and Barcelona are classic, but modern and creative, but with history and tradition. It is comfortable and fashionable. We treat people well and are open to new ideas without resigning our heritage. We both like comfort and try to enjoy what life gives us.  

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Photo Credits (clockwise): @lamanualalpargatera

BOO

 

Boo is an independent boutique showcasing high quality garments manufactured in Europe from historical labels and emerging brands.

What is the best selling product from your store? Our all-time classic stripe t-shirts by Saint James. It has been produced in a family factory in France since 1895.

What is an essential piece of clothing or accessory that every Barcelona woman owns? A summer dress ;)

We love to travel and so do our readers! Tell them where you would want to travel to next? My next trip is around the corner, to the Aeolian Islands, quiet and beautiful... pure mediterranean.

Where is your favorite place to eat, drink, and shop in Barcelona? Bar del Pla for amazing tapas, Casa Bonay for drinks, and Product National Bruit for shopping.

Tell us anything else about your store or why you love Barcelona! Barcelona is a great place to visit, the weather is amazing, the people are friendly and the quality of life, especially on the long summer days is like nowhere else... hope you come visit us!

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Photo Credits (clockwise): @boostories / @tcnbarcelona / @boostories / @boostories