12 Best Shopping in Madrid, Spain

Madrid's porcelain whisperer, Gallardo fashions secondhand shards and custom-made porcelain elements into runway-ready jewelry and accessories.

Alpargatas, or espadrilles, grace the feet of chic beachgoers from Nantucket to Nevis, but Madrileños have been rocking these rope-soled sandals (in some form or another) for at least six centuries. Antigua Casa Crespo opened in 1863 on what was then the outskirts of town, and it remains the city's most legendary alpargatería, thanks to the breadth of styles, colors, and patterns on offer. Their wares are still made by hand from esparto grass in Spain.

Opened in 1904, this is the best of Madrid's many ceramics vendors. Despite the name, the finest wares sold here are from Manises, near Valencia, but the blue-and-yellow Talavera ceramics are also excellent. All pieces are hand-painted and bear traditional Spanish motifs that have been used for centuries.

A well-curated selection of vintage threads keeps this boutique packed with cool kids. There's a particularly wide selection of billowy patterned shirts and worn-in Levis. There's another location by Sol at Plaza de Herradores 8.  As in all vintage stores, be sure to check garments for stains, tears, and missing buttons before buying.

Established in 1823, Casa de Diego manufactures fans, umbrellas, and classic Spanish walking sticks with ornamented silver handles and also sells traditional Spanish ornamental combs, mantillas, and castanets. The British royal family buys autograph fans here for signing on special occasions.

There's no better shop in Madrid for top-quality Spanish artisan wares. The shelves in this tiny independently owned boutique off Plaza de la Paja are lined with everything from exquisite Andalusian pottery to hand-sewn blankets, antique esparto baskets, and leather soccer balls.

On Sunday morning, Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores is closed to traffic and jammed with outdoor booths selling everything under the sun. Find everything from antique furniture to rare vinyl of flamenco music and keychains emblazoned with "CNT," Spain's old anarchist trade union. Practice your Spanish by bargaining with vendors over paintings, heraldic iron gates, new and used clothes, and even hashish pipes. Plaza del General Vara del Rey has some of El Rastro's best antiques, and the streets beyond—Calles de Mira el Río Alta and Mira el Río Baja—boast all sorts of miscellany. The market shuts down shortly after 2 pm, in time for a street party to start in the area known as La Latina at and around the bar El Viajero in Plaza del Humilladero.

Off the Ribera are two galerías, courtyards with higher-quality higher-priced antiques shops.

Owners Juanma and Rigas travel from village to village to source the stunning artisan ceramics, fabrics, glass, and more on display at this sunlight-filled boutique. Don't miss the Níjar ceramics with their cheery colorful splotches and the Caribbean-blue vases of hand-blown Mallorcan glass.

A favorite among local fashionistas, this store has two branches—one dedicated to high-end women's wear and another to furniture and decor—on the same street.

This sleek cheese shop with on-site "caves" for aging is a cheese lover's paradise. Seek out rare treasures like Torrejón, a raw ashed-rind sheep’s cheese from Castile, and snap up a bottle of organic Spanish wine while you're at it. There's a second location in La Latina on Carrera de San Francisco 14.

These are not your grandma's embroideries! Yolanda Andrés's thought-provoking "paintings with thread" interpret the centuries-old technique through a modern-day lens—with stunning results. Beyond the framed artwork (don't miss the technicolor "Artichoke" line), there are embroidered pillowcases, totes, and more.