Shops and boutiques
Ganiveteria Roca
Plaça del Pi 3, 08002
933 021 241
Open Monday–Friday 10am–1.30pm and 4.30pm–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm and 5pm–8pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 59, 91, V13
The shop is wheelchair accessible
Even peering through the window of this hardware shop is exciting. Everything is immaculately displayed, from the smallest pair of scissors to magnifying mirrors. As well as things for the kitchen – including sturdy mandolins and flexible steel knives for carving your jamón ibérico (cured ham) – the shop stocks old-fashioned razors, badger hair brushes and shaving soap in wooden bowls. Roca has been around since 1911, and you’ll be served by friendly staff who know their products well. If you’re looking for traditional items, this is the best shop in town.
Casa Beethoven
La Rambla 97, 08002
933 014 826
Open Monday–Tuesday, Thursday–Friday 9am–8pm, Wednesday 9am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Saturday 9am–2pm and 5pm–8pm
Metro Liceu Bus 14, 59, 91, V13
The shop is wheelchair accessible
This incredible independent shop has been here since 1888, selling everything novice musicians and seasoned performers could need – customers have included some world famous singers, including Plácido Domingo, Montserrat Caballé and Josep Carreras, although classical music is not the only genre found here. Alongside sheet music and musical instruments Casa Beethoven sells books, CDs and recordings. On some Saturdays, live concerts are staged – an opportunity to hear local musicians in an intimate setting.
Sombrerería Obach
Carrer del Call 2, 08002 933 184 094
Open Monday–Friday 10am–2pm and 4pm–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm and 4.30pm–8pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 14, 59, 91, V13
The shop is not wheelchair accessible
Occupying one of Barcelona’s famed centenary buildings, this traditional hat store is a remarkable relic of the early 20th century. On passing the windows full of pale straw panamas, football caps and ladies’ cotton sunhats, the interior is quite a surprise; it’s altogether empty. In fact, the drawers that line the walls are full to bursting with every kind of hat you could wish for – simply ask for the model you wish to try on and, after having your head measured by a member of trained staff, your potential purchase will be retrieved. This is perhaps the closest you’ll come to a living museum, but here, you can try on and buy any of the hats or caps in store.
Magatzems del Pilar
Carrer de la Boqueria 43, 08002 933 177 984
Open Monday–Saturday 10am–2pm and 4pm–8pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 14, 59, 91, V13
The shop is wheelchair accessible but quite small
Ask to see one of the exquisite hand-embroidered shawls in this shop and they will be laid out in front of you like precious artworks. It is easy to imagine the elderly shop assistants wearing them to church or other festive occasions; entering this shop is like stepping back in time. The garments make a lovely gift, or a delicate cover-up for cooler nights on La Rambla.
La Casa de Les Sabatilles
Baixada de la Llibreteria 10, 08002 933 150 705
Open Monday–Saturday 10.30am–2pm and 4pm–8pm
Metro Jaume I Bus 45, 120, V15, V17
There is a small step at the entrance
Like a number of shops in Barcelona, Sabatilles specialises in stocking one particular item, and in this case it’s espadrilles. You can get all kinds of different designs and sizes here, and all are still made in the traditional way with sturdy string soles and simple canvas uppers. In winter, come here for the comfy, natural wool slippers.
Coses de Casa
Plaça Sant Josep Oriol 5, 08002 933 027 328
Open Monday–Saturday 10am–8pm
Metro Jaume I, Liceu Bus 14, 59, 91, V13
The shop is wheelchair accessible
Everything in this lovely shop is made in the upstairs atelier, from the owl-printed cushions and flowered tablecloths to plump hen keyrings, little purses and soft pillows. There are lots of nice sewn things for the kitchen here – think children’s cotton aprons and brightly coloured oven mitts. This is the only place in Barcelona to buy typical Mallorcan patchwork quilts called llengos. Sewn from handwoven fabric in indigo blue and yellow ochre, they are a rarely seen artisanal homeware. It’s hard not to feel happy surrounded by the bright oranges and crimson patterned quilts, and if they inspire you to make your own craft items, you can buy cloth by the metre here, too. To top it all, expect excellent customer service every time.
Forn de Pa Sarret Pastisseria
Carrer de Girona 73, 08009
934 874 390
Open Monday–Friday 7am–9pm, Saturday 8am–2.30 pm
Metro Girona Bus 7, 50, 54, 62 H12
The shop is wheelchair accessible
This friendly bakery is reason enough to visit this less glamorous part of town. The 19th-century Modernista exterior echoes the traditional skills still used in the kitchen to make the countless delicious breads, cakes and bagels on offer. It was established in 1866 and the popularity of Forn Sarret shows no signs of wavering, its crusty nut breads, spelt honey loaves and chocolate croissants continuing to tempt customers through the doors. It’s worth making a trip here solely for a bite of one of their divine ensaïmada or crema catalana (crème brulée).
Ferreteria Villa
Rambla de Catalunya 54, 08007 932 160 282
www.ferreteriavilla.com Open Monday–Friday 9.30am–1.30pm, Saturday 10.30am–2pm, closed on Saturdays in August Metro Passeig de Gràcia Train Provença
Bus 7, 16, 17, 20, 22, 24, 28, 43, 44, 67, 68
The shop is wheelchair accessible
Take a little piece of Barcelona home with you via some moulded brass door handles, finger plates and other decorative items from this elegant ironmonger. It is also one of the few shops where you’ll find Barcelona’s distinctive, hexagonal-patterened pavement tiles – perfect for transforming your patio.
La Pastisseria Barcelona
Carrer d’Aragó 228, 08007 934 518 401
www.lapastisseriabarcelona.com
Open Monday–Saturday 9am–2pm and 5pm–8.30pm, Sunday 9am–2.30pm
Metro Passeg de Gràcia, Universitat Bus 7, 20, 63, 67, 68
The shop is wheelchair accessible
This is a dangerous place to come if you’re watching your waistline; delicate cakes, pastries and puddings of all colours and flavours leave customers spoilt for choice. Each perfectly formed cake is a work of art made by owner and 2011 world champion pastry maker José Maria Rodríguez Guerola and his talented team of chefs.
Come In Librería Inglesa
Carrer de Balmes 129, 08008
934 531 204
Open Monday–Friday 9.30am–8.30pm, Saturday 9.30am–2pm and 4.30pm–8pm
Metro Diagonal Bus 7, 20, 67, 68, H10, V13, V15 Train Provença
The ground floor is wheelchair accessible
In the middle of the fashionable district of Eixample you’ll find what is arguably Barcelona’s best English book shop. There is a huge selection of popular and literary novels, as well as hundreds of paperbacks, reference books, teaching books and dictionaries, and also a good children’s section. Located on a busy intersection, the shop is easy to find, but once you are inside it’s quiet and peaceful. Most people come here to browse but you can also order specific books for collection.
Hibernian Books
Carrer de Montseny 17, 08012 932 174 796
www.hibernian-books.com Open Monday 4pm–8.30pm, Tuesday–Saturday 11am-8.30pm
Metro Fontana Bus 22, 24, 87, 114, V17
There is a small step at the entrance but otherwise the shop is wheelchair accessible
Run by a friendly British couple, this old-fashioned book shop contains over 40,000 secondhand books. Most of the stock is in English although there are a few foreign language textbooks scattered about too; it’s a great resource for teachers of English as a second language. This is a real treasure trove for bargain hunters.
Farmacia Soler
Carrer de Jaume I 14, 08002 933 104 226
Open Daily 9am–10pm
Metro Jaume I Bus 45, N8, V15, V17
The shop is wheelchair accessible
This well-stocked chemist is worth knowing about for a number of reasons. It is centrally based, open every day of the year and has late opening hours. So, whether you need urgent precription medication or just some sun protection cream, this is the ideal place to go. It is no surprise that in the centre of this very walkable city, its bestselling items are for recently acquired blisters.
Servei Estacio
Carrer d’Aragó 270-272, 08007
933 932 410
Open Monday–Saturday 9am–9pm
Metro Passeig de Gràcia Bus 7, 20, 22, 24, 67, 68 Train Provença
The shop is wheelchair accessible
This large shop has almost everything you could ever need for your home and garden. From brightly coloured deckchairs (displayed on its sunny rear terrace) to artificial grass, garden spades, sewing scissors, coloured paper and cardboard gift boxes (pictured above), foam string and giant rolls of bubble wrap, it is the handyperson’s heaven. A radio often plays on the sixth floor but otherwise this DIY and interior design shop is a quiet, one-stop place for anyone looking to transform their home into a stylish Catalan abode. Knowledgeable staff can help you decide which tools are right for the job and will cut everything to size, from lengths of ribbon to garden fencing.
Còpia Lab
Carrer de Sèneca 5, 08006
934 152 000
Open Monday–Friday 9am–2pm and 3.30pm–7pm
Metro Diagonal Bus 6, 22, 24, 33, 34, 87, V15, H8
There is a small step at the entrance but otherwise the shop is wheelchair accessible
It’s difficult to decide whether this is a shop or a photo studio. In fact, it is both. Come here to pick up some analogue film and Hahnemühle fine art photography paper, or have your photos developed by a team of experienced staff. Còpia has over 25 years experience working with world-renowned photographers, and has also collaborated with museums and galleries on various exhibitions. Its list of services ranges from film scanning, image procesing and retouching, to mounting prints and framing, and its staff will also offer advice on packaging and transporting any prints you’d like to take home.
Tons Interiors
Carrer Gran de Gràcia 12, 08012
932 377 820
Open Monday–Friday 10am–2pm and 4.30pm–8pm, Saturday 10am–2pm
Metro Diagonal Bus 6, 22, 24, 33, 34, 87, H8, V15
There is a small step at the entrance but otherwise the shop is wheelchair accessible
After stepping into this sophisticated interior design shop you may never want to leave; soft mohair blankets drape gracefully over solid oak chairs, capacious sofas come covered in fabrics made from all natural fibres, and pale, semi-translucent linen curtains hang from the ceiling. The colour scheme is muted, with largely dove-grey and monochrome furnishings, and hand-crafted ceramics such as Rina Menardi’s exquisite matt black bowls complete the picture. The grey velvet cushions are the shop’s own designs, as are the coffee tables and iron shelving units.
Cereria Subira
Baixada de la Llibreteria 7, 08002
933 152 606
Open Monday–Thursday 9.30am–1.30pm and 4pm–8pm, Friday 9.30am–8pm, Saturday 10am–8pm
Metro Barceloneta, Jaume I Bus 45, 120, V15, V17
There is a large step at the entrance so wheelchair access may be difficult
The interior of this shop is almost as fascinating as its eclectic collection of candles. A black and white chequered floor leads to a grand curving staircase and a backdrop of pastel-coloured wall panels: a suitable setting for the display of sophisticated chandeliers and simple beeswax candles. From huge church candles pierced with incense, to tiny red- and white-spotted toadstools and kitsch cartoon figures, you will find all kind of wax wonders in this extraordinary shop. This is the ideal place to come if you are looking for a unique, impeccably-packaged gift.
Laie
Carrer de Pau Claris 85, 08010
933 181 739
Open Monday–Friday 9am–9pm, Saturday 10am–9pm
Metro Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça Catalunya, Urquinaona Bus 7, 22, 28, 39, 45, 50, 54, 56, 62 B20, B24
The shop is not wheelchair accessible
It is easy to find a recently published Spanish language book here, whatever your desired genre; cinema, theatre, literary theory, poetry, gastronomy and art and architecture are just some of the topics accounted for. As well as novels and a wide range of non-fiction for both adults and children, Laie has an excellent selection of coffee table books on art and design, alongside monographs on the Spanish masters Gaudí and Picasso. It’s spread over 300m², so you’re bound to find a quiet corner to browse a few titles. Once you're done reading, you can retreat to the cafe on the mezzanine level.
Natural Mediterrani
Carrer d'Astúries 33, 08012 934 159 682
Open Monday–Saturday 10.30am–2.15pm and 5pm–8.30pm
Metro Fontana Bus 22, 24, 39, 114, V17
There are small steps at the shop entrance, but assistance with wheelchairs can be provided
The majority of the organic beauty products in this shop come from the Catalan or Aragon regions. Plant-based ingredients and a low carbon footprint make this an attractive store for the environmentally conscious, and a welcome change from the high-street cosmetic counters.
Dolceria de la Colmena
Plaça de l’Àngel 12, 08002 933 151 356
Open Daily 9am–9pm
Metro Jaume I Bus 45, 120, V15, V 17
There is a small step at the entrance but otherwise the shop is wheelchair accessible
Roughly translating as 'The Sweet Shop', the Dolceria is a must-visit for anyone after a sugar-coated biscuit to dip in their morning coffee. Nougat and other sweets line the shelves, and all are beautifully wrapped. Don't leave without trying a slice of the Xixona nougat mousse cake.
