When I started living in Barcelona I was not used to the Spanish commercial schedules at all. I still think the most of the stores here should change their opening times to the new people’s way of living. I can’t help to feel that stores don’t want to sell more than they do because they’re closed just when people are off, and are walking on the streets.

However, I know a secret that could save your life the same night you come late at home. When you open the fridge and then you realize it’s empty, don’t worry! You still have a last chance to find some bread, cheese and drinks at La Perla de Sant-Gervasi.

This place is not just another bakery. You will find there many types of canned supplies, all kind of drinks, some vegetables, snacks and confectionery or even… bread! As you see this is not just a tip but a great advice. Use it wisely.

Details about this spot
La Perla | Shopping
Santjoanistes 6 | Above diagonal (area map) | +34932371930
11:30 - 00:30 daily

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Sant Antoni is in one of Barcelona’s very Catalan (= very boring) neighborhoods. Nothing is happening over there, the streets are clean and the inhabitants are close to marriage - or pension.

But once a week, the neighborhood is waking up: Sant Antoni’s flea market calls people from all over town. All ages and nationalities come to have a look at a variety of books, DVDs, computer games, old magazines, posters…

Maybe you are collecting Claudia Schiffers first Vogue-covers, or you are just interested in how to construct of a WW 1 missile- this is your place.

Combine your snooping for old treasures with a visit of Barcelona’s goldies:

Els tres Tombs (Ronda San Antoni 11), a tapas bar located on one of Barcelona’s most noisy street corners, invites you for a drink and some delicious and typical Spanish snacks. Talking? impossible. This place is for watching and observing - one of the Barcelona’s best terraces to just shut up and gawk.

Details about this spot
Sant Antoni flea-market | Shopping
Ronda Sant Antoni | Eixample (area map)
Sun 10:00 - 13:00

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Let them fry, cook and steam, but baking? No. Being all good in cheese and ham, it seems that the Spanish did totally forget about their bread.

After years of suffering white, boring and unhealthy, it took some people from Iceland to bring Barcelona the joy of baking: stylish Barcelona-Reykjavik bakari offers everything yummy and healthy; banana carrot scones, cakes, pastries, pizza, bread, quiche, vegan products, with sugar and without, everything comes overloaded with taste and good ingredients.

No recommendations, just this much: try everything! Maybe a bread is triple the price (about ? 6.00, price goes by weight) of a Spanish one, but be sure that your stomach is filled for half a day or more.

Apart from that, the personal is super friendly and helps you making your choice in this wonderland of plenty.

Everybody loves the healthy and delicious bread and that’s why Barcelona-Reykjavik opened a new great place in one of the most famous streets in Gracia (Calle Asturias, 20).

Details about this spot
Barcelona - Reykjavik | Snacks, Shopping | Bread € 6.00
Calle Doctor Dou 12 | El Raval (area map) | +34933020921
Mon - Sat 10:00 - 21:00

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Get ready. I’m going to give you some information that you won’t find anywhere else. I want to recommend to you a very special place. I’m talking about Bocí, one of these places where is really easy to find quality and great care about products and service.

What would you like to taste today? It doesn’t matter how complicated is your appetite or how demanding is your palate, Bocí knows perfectly how to satisfy your needs.

As frequent customer I know that Bocí offers much more than what I’m used to consume there. If I have a high regard for somebody I go to Bocí to find some box of chocolates to make a special gift or perhaps some delicious birthday’s cake. It’s also a great place to have a breakfast or ask for food to take away packaged carefully.

Bocí elaborates the most of the products they offer diary. Attention is polite and they take good care of every single detail to present their goods. It’s one of those places where you go and think “I don’t know where to start” because you feel tempted to ask almost everything. The price reflects its quality but I know you won’t regret to pay for it.

Enjoy.

Details about this spot
Bocí | Shopping, Coffee & tea
Vía Augusta 112 | Above diagonal (area map) | +34932371313
07:00 - 22:00 daily

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“Tourists come in and want to know, ‘Is it a jewelry shop?’ ” Carles Mampel, the multi award-winning pastry-chef genius owner often jokes. And you’ll see why. The brightly lit, pristine interior displays edible artworks in glass cabinets.

Spurred by the deserved success of their shop and tapas bar in El Born Bubó has opened a shop in the Eixample. Situated on Calle Bruc on the corner with Calle Provenza, just off  Diagonal, Bubó sells beautiful cakes, mousses and chocolates such as you never seen or tasted before. Barcelona is home to many, many adventuresome chocolatiers but, for me, Bubó takes the biscuit.

For an unforgettable taste experience stop by for a coffee and a cake or mousse, or treat yourself, or your lover, or your mum, to a little box of exquisite chocolates. And relatively inexpensive when compared with other chocolate shops in the city. Well worth a visit.

Details about this spot
BUBÓ | Shopping, Snacks | Chocolate covered noodle lollipops from € 0.80
C/Bruc 150 | Eixample (area map) | +34934590508
Mon 15:00 - 21:00, Tue - Sat 09:30 - 21:00, Sun 09:30 - 15:00

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Concepción market, situated between Calle Aragón and Calle Valencia, is 120 years old - though you wouldn’t know it as it has been thoroughly modernized. As well as housing a range of excellent cheese, fish, fruit, meat, veg and deli stalls, the market also has: 3 bars; a 24 hour florists (yep - flowers 24 hours a day, 363 days of the year); a large Caprabo supermarket; an electrical appliance store (selling freezers, pcs, washing-machines etc); an underground car-park, and, very interestingly, a well-organized book-crossing point with titles in English, French and German as well as Catalan and Spanish.

If you spend more than € 10.00 at any stall you can claim a free car-park ticket. The market also hosts regular tasting sessions and cookery workshops for kids. Well worth a visit if you like good food and want to avoid the often crowded La Boqueria market on the Ramblas.

Details about this spot
Concepción market | Shopping | Free
Calle Aragó, 313-317 | Eixample (area map) | +34675693616
Mon 08:00 - 15:00, Tue - Fri 08:00 - 20:00, Sat 08:00 - 16:00

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This place great tip if you love cooking international recipes at home, but can’t seem to find some of the ingredients because they are odd here (never mind how popular they are in other latitudes). I’m talking about DeliShop, the kind of food and cooking supplies store you were looking for.

DeliShop develops an interesting culinary and commercial concept (world cooking basics), ideal for a city like Barcelona where an important proportion of its population comes from so many and different places.

What would you like to eat today? Where does that flavour comes from? Let your appetite pick up the right destination: Maybe Japan or India, China, Thailand, North or South America? If you feel curious about other cultures you should go to the DeliShop and take a look. You will make a trip around the world at a glance.

Details about this spot
DeliShop | Shopping, Art & culture
Travessera de Gracia 141 | Gracia (area map) | +34932389945
Mon - Sat 11:00 - 21:00

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Situated uptown, you will find this nice and colorful shop that sells products from different countries in the world. You can find clothes, accessories, food (ecologic products), books (quite spirituals), arts and craft objects, music, movies, decoration objects…

It’s a good place to get lost because they have a lot of curious stuff. And once you get tired there’s a beautiful garden at the back of the store where you can sit down and have a coffee (probably from Colombia or Brazil). It’s peaceful and romantic.

Also when you buy in Olokuti you are contributing to responsible consumption and to some ethics rules.

Details about this spot
El Olokuti | Shopping, Coffee & tea
Calle Asturies, 36 | Gracia (area map) | +34932170070
11:00 - 20:00 daily (closed for lunchtime)

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Encants is Barcelona’s biggest flea market nearby the Torre Agbbar, Barcelona’s newest architectural high light made by the French star architect Jean Nouvel. Els “Encants Vells” is originally called “La Fira de Bellcaire” and is one of the oldest markets in Europe dating back to the 14th century. Now the market is bigger than 15.000m2 and has 100.000 visitors every week.

Going there is spending half a day looking and snooping for old treasures (books, clothes, furniture, kitchen accessories and many more).

It is not easy to orientate yourself between all these hundreds of little stands and people, but that’s maybe not necessary. Just get lost, let go- but watch your bag! There are always pickpockets around. Don’t be surprised, it’s very likely that you’ll find your stolen bike on sale.

If you are tired from your search for hodgepodge and knick-knacks, grab a coffee to go and sit down in the sun. Watch the people go by, have a chat with a local vendor and let time fly.

Soon enough you’ll find yourself back in Barcelona’s buzzing city centre with Zara’s and Mango’s at every street corner. But here in Encants enjoy time, freedom and atmosphere far beyond Barcelona’s shopping centers.

Details about this spot
Encants Vells market | Shopping | Free
Glòries Metro station | Eixample (area map)
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 15:00

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This is a typical example of a shop where you find yourself buying things you actually don’t need at all.

But when something so colorful, so exotic, and so cute crosses your way, you cannot overcome the temptation.

Inflatable plastic pandas and elephants from Japan, mini tools for all occasions from Korea, kitchen accessories from the former GDR, Chinese thermos flasks, and posters of different sexy hair styling ideas from India will brighten up you or your friends homes once you are back.

One can find more than 300 weird and surprising products from more than 20 countries on display, chosen and collected by the owners themselves and their friends.

Don’t bring home flamenco dolls and bulls anymore. Get some weird souvemirs at “Fantastik”!

Details about this spot
Fantastik | Shopping
Carrer de la Mercè, 31 | El Barrio Gotico (area map) | +34932954877
Mon - Sat 11:00 - 21:00

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This very big store has a lot of different furniture and objects to decorate your house in a very original way. You will find all kind of plates, glasses, tablecloths, curtains, frames, mirrors, tables, armchairs, garlands, beds and much more.

The store is a mix between classical, bohemian, colonial and ethnic style. So you can be sure that you will find what you are looking for.

Everything matches in this store and it’s a pleasure to hang out there just for the eyes even if you are not going to buy anything.

Details about this spot
Maisons du Monde | Shopping
Via Diagonal, 405 | Eixample (area map) | +34933683207
Mon - Sat 10:00 - 20:30

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Marina Maas is a very talented artist who has opened her own shop next to a lovely place in El Gotico.

Located in a street that looks like a fairy tale, you will find this lovely shop very similar to an Ali Baba cavern.

This incredible artist makes real masterpieces from almost any object. From a pan, a spoon, a fork or a breadboard, she creates wonderful pieces of art: paintings, collages, chairs, hat stands, tablecloths… Her very expressive paintings are mainly about women with big eyes and mouths. The whole shop is colorful, cheerful and happy. It gives you many ideas for decorating your house.

But this young lady does not have a regular schedule; you never know when she’s going to open her shop. Used to be around 9 -10 pm but anyway if the shop is closed, you still can go for a drink at the bar located just in front of the shop and who knows, if you are lucky enough she will open in the meanwhile…

Details about this spot
Marina Maas shop | Shopping | Art piece from € 15.00
Calle Jupi, 4 | El Barrio Gotico (area map) | +34933106803
No regular opening times schedule: best to call

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I love my local market. I just read a survey in a newspaper today which reports that in Spain people in Barcelona have the shortest travel distance when shopping - an average of just 470 meters - half the national average. I can see why - we’ve got four markets in Gràcia.

La Albaceria is situated on the busy Traveserra de Gràcia, just 200 metres from the Library (see this article), so I always swing by on my way to and from. You’ll find some of the very best veggies, fruit, fish, meat, cheeses and herbs here as well as a Japanese sushi and fresh noodle bar, a Greek grocer and a second-hand bookstall.

The market has three bars, all of which sell food prepared with ingredients from the market, so, when you’re done shopping for veggies you can cool your heels and slake your thirst before buying your fish, meats and cheeses.

The city hall does a really inspiring job of promoting the city’s markets - with healthy eating tours led by nutritionists - including tours for diabetics and weight watchers - and giving practical demonstrations on food preparation.

The market recognizes its centrality to life in the barrio through actively promoting health related campaigns such as giving blood and supporting local social and cultural initiatives.

Details about this spot
Mercat de la Albaceria Central | Shopping
Travessera de Gràcia, 186 | Gracia (area map) | +34932136286
Mon - Thu 07:00 - 14:30 & 17:30 - 20:30, Fri - Sat 06:00- 15:00 & 17:00 - 20:00

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Ras is probably one of the most interesting book shops in town owned by the Barcelona based Actar editorial.

Specialized in architecture, design and art, it offers a variety of books and magazines from international editorials.

Besides being a book store, Ras is also an exclusive gallery exhibiting contemporary art and design.

Check their website for exposition openings and get some chocolate, nuts and wine for free! But watch your alcohol consumption; you might end up buying some of the gorgeous accessories, displayed in the entrance area.

Ras is one of the gathering points of Barcelona’s urban scene, as it also offers many books on street art, and you might as well end up with a hot skater date!

Details about this spot
Ras bookshop | Art & culture, Shopping
Calle Doctor Dou 10 | El Raval (area map) | +34934127199
Tue - Fri 11:00 - 21:00

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Finding a good vintage store in Barcelona is not easy- it seems that Spanish people are not really into the idea of wearing other people’s old clothes.

Luckily there is one street that saves the recalling of old spirits - Calle Riera Baixa.

Door on door, second hand stores offer everything a vintage lover’s heart desires: boots, sunglasses, 70s summer dresses, jeans, bikinis from the 40s…Here you’ll find the good old dress for good old fun!

The best shop to go to is definitely “Le Swing”, unfortunately also the most expensive one. Just don’t get intimidated by their staff - probably everybody would develop that attitude when working in this shop. Apart from that, the Catalans are not famous for their customer-friendliness…

When tired from shopping, you also find a beautiful old cafe in the same street: stylish in its old spirit- just like you.

Details about this spot
Rierra Baixa | Shopping
Calle Riera Baixa | El Raval (area map)
Mon - Sat; 11:00-14:30, 17:00-19:00

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Vinçon is a design store situated in what was once the painter Ramon Casas’s family house - just a few metres from Gaudí’s famous apartment building La Pedrera.

Casas, together with his collaborator Rusiñol, was a witty, clever arts activist who did a lot to prepare the way for the following generation of artists such as Picasso. In keeping with the building’s cultural history the store features a gallery at its heart - La Sala Vinçon - showing work by artists, photographers and product designers.

During the Christmas period the gallery promotes a very succesful art supermarket where you can pick up an original print or painting for less than � 100. Even the carrier bags are artist designed - and have become collectors’ items.

I really enjoy visiting this shop - not to buy things, I could never afford to, but for two reasons: firstly to enjoy the arts and crafts decorative stone, tile and ironwork, and secondly to pick up ideas. Call in, have a wander around, check out the quirky toys and gadgets, climb the stairs to the first floor and marvel at the huge fireplace.

Wander out onto the patio at the back, where you’ll see what was the family chapel, and the trees which grow from inside the shop. Turn around and look up at the back of La Pedrera.

If only Vinçon had a coffee shop and a place to sit and read a book. Like a Catalan Ikea for grown ups with platinum credit cards.

Details about this spot
Vinçon | Art & culture, Shopping
Passeig de Gràcia 96 | Eixample (area map) | +34932156050
Mon - Sat 10:00 - 20:00

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