Top 10 Madrid Traveler
Top 10 Shopping in Madrid
10. Malasana
Looking for the best vintage and alternative fashion Madrid has to offer? Well we kick off our Top Ten Madrid shopping districts with the Malasana neighborhood, centered on Plaza del Dos de Mayo. You'll find Madrid's younger counterculture crowd enjoying the secondhand thrift-ware in shops like Popland, El templo de Susu, and La Cierva Vintage. Every Saturday in the spring and fall, you'll find tons of stalls filled with young designers and craftspeople at the DOSDE Market. A can't miss!
9. Lola Almela
For the best-of-the-best in flamenco shops in Madrid, look no further than Lola Almela. Located conveniently underneath the popular Amor de Dios flamenco school, this store specializes in all manner and styles of flamenco dresses and even custom flamenco-inspired dresses. You can't go wrong when this same store has been used to tailor clothes for Madrid's professional flamenco artists! Stand out at your next special occasion or party with a one-of-a-kind dress found only in Madrid. Mon - Fri 9 AM - 9 PM and Sat 9 AM - 3 PM.
8. Las Salesas
Independent fashion is the name of the game in the Las Salesas barrio. Take your time browsing through the many multi-brand retailers found through the streets, including Yube, Nice Things, and NAC. With all the walking around you'll do, don't forget to treat those feet at one of the many boutique footwear stores such as Aime’s shoes. It’s not all about fashion in the Las Salesas barrio—you’ll see galleries, bookshops, and more, making this a shoe-in on our Top 10 Madrid shopping!
7. Barrio de las Letras
Madrid’s Literary Quarter is the former home of great Spanish writers. This neighborhood pens its way onto our Top Ten Madrid retail districts by mixing traditional and modern in a decidedly bohemian manner.You’ll find all sorts of goods for sale by crafters such as musical instrument makers, silversmiths, tanners, and tailors. Of course you can't pay a visit to such a neighborhood without stopping in one of the many used bookstores. Be on the lookout for the local Shopkeeper Association’s 4-day festival, DecorAccion, where stores set up street stalls to display anything you could want!
6. Lavapies
A Top 10 Madrid shopping neighborhood filled with a melting pot of cultures, stores, and wares. You'll find sub-saharan crafts, northwest African lamps, hookahs, and all manner of unique goods. Don't miss out on the flower market found on Plaza Tirso de Molina. Highlights include the Helena Rohner store for all your creative jewelry needs; the Boteria Julio Rodriguez, maker of traditional Spanish wineskins (great for a souvenir); and Pepita is Dead, full of vintage unused clothing for men and women.
5. Plaza Mayor
One of the oldest plazas of the city hosts a variety of traditional shops and goods in the surrounding area. You'll notice that many of the streets are named for the ancient tradesmen that took up residence (Calle Cuchilleros for knife-makers, Calle Bordadores for embroiderers, etc.). A local gem, the centuries-old Almacen de Pontejos is where you can find all sorts of fabrics, thimbles, buttons, and anything to do with tailoring. In the wintertime, don't miss out on the Christmas market filled with classic nativity scenes, gifts, and Christmas decorations.
4. El Rastro Market
The traditional open-air street market of El Rastro makes it onto our Top 10 Madrid shopping for the wide variety of items to be found here. You’ll come across just about anything; vintage furniture, collector’s items, trinkets, baubles, and all sorts of second-hand antiques. Don't be afraid to haggle a bit with the locals: everything's negotiable! There's no fixed pattern to the stalls, but they're mostly grouped by category so don't be afraid to wander and take in all the sights. Vendors are set up on Sundays from 9 AM – 3 PM.
3. Centro Comercial Príncipe Pío
This spectacular Top 10 Madrid shopping experience was once home to a railway station in the western part of Madrid. Though still housing a Metro station and a few bus lines, the building now houses 3 floors of gift shops, beauty stores, sporting goods, and much more such as the likes of Zara, Bottega Verde, and Colonel Oisho. And if you ever need a break from shopping, stop by the food court or even see a show at the 8 screen cinema. Shops are open daily 10 AM - 10 PM.
2. Calle Jorge Juan
Only the most prestigious and famous labels (like Loewe, Mani, or Masscob) call Calle Jorge Juan home. With a heavier focus on men’s fashion (a refreshing change!), you won’t have to worry about finding a good suit or pair of pants in this Top 10 Madrid shopping sector. Being a unique combination of high-end menswear stores and outdoor café culture, even window-shopping is fun. If you’re visiting Madrid in June, be sure to hit up the San Jorge Juan festival, a celebration of men’s fashion, hosted by GQ.
1. Salamanca
The upscale Salamanca neighborhood, based around the streets of Serrano, Velazquez, and Goya, is the place to go for the top designer boutiques and most expensive stores around. The crème de la crème of Madrid shopping makes Salamanca, which is comparable to NYC’s 5th Ave or London’s Mayfair District, the icing on the cake when it comes to our Top Ten Madrid shopping. All of the high-end brands like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and even a Ferrari showroom call this area home. No matter your budget, Salamanca satisfies!