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Thanks to its unique mixture of old-world charm and eclectic creativity, Berlin is a shopper’s paradise. The city becomes a veritable fashion capital during the exquisite fashion shows and events of the biannual Berlin Fashion Week, and trade events like Bread & Butter regularly encourage local and international designers to highlight their work in showrooms and boutiques here. From extravagant designer shopping malls and high-end fashion boutiques to artisan handcraft producers, antique markets, and vintage stores, Berlin has something for everyone.
The city’s history plays an important part in its geography. Because Berlin was divided by the Berlin Wall for so many years, there is no pedestrian zone or single city center like in many other European cities. Instead Berlin has many different areas to explore and pockets of retailers are spread throughout its neighborhoods.
The city’s most glamorous shopping can be done near Mitte’s Friedrichstrasse and in the West Berlin promenade Kurfürstendamm, known as the Shopping Mile and home to the luxurious Kaufhaus des Westens department store, as well as many designer and big name international brands. But the charming side streets around Mitte’s Torstrasse and Hackescher Markt have become a much more popular destination for shopping in the city, with chic designers opening up ateliers and concept shops.
For the fashionable bohemian set, designer labels have less appeal here than elsewhere. You’ll see many of the young and trendy favoring high-end street wear paired with vintage items that appear to have cost not much more than a Brötchen (bread roll). The eastern neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukölln are home to a growing number of vintage and secondhand shops, and the city has a wonderful collection of flea markets that operate year-round. You’ll see modern influences of Berlin’s Bauhaus architecture movement in many of shops, incorporated into the store displays or as part of the home decor items. Near West Berlin’s charming Savignyplatz, the Stilwerk interior design center and surrounding design and home stores on Kantstrasse have become the design hub for the city. For shoppers looking for more price-conscious home furnishings, Neukölln offers several vintage furniture shops featuring Danish and Scandinavian home decor.
This small shop embodies traditional German liquor culture; there are schnapps and fruit brandies from family farms and independent distilleries for sale, among other items to pique a tippler's interest.
One of the city’s best farmers' markets sits on the pretty Kollwitzplatz square in Prenzlauer Berg. During its smaller Thursday and bustling Saturday markets, you’ll not only find a superb selection of organic produce, meats, cheeses, and pantry items, but also an array of prepared foods and sellers offering handmade home goods and gifts.
This is a smaller Sunday market tucked on a neighborhood square in Prenzlauer Berg, but one that many locals say is Berlin’s best, especially for its wide selection of vintage and secondhand furniture, housewares, books, and records.
A must-visit for shoe lovers, this shop has an impressive collection of exotic and vintage footwear, including suede heels, leather-trimmed boots, embroidered flats, and men’s work boots—all spanning the last six decades. Because of its diverse collection, the shop also regularly works with film and theater stylists.
This secondhand shop, on one of Prenzlauer Berg's liveliest streets, offers a well-curated selection of designer clothing, shoes, and accessories for both men and women. You'll find stylish labels like Acne, Nike, Marni, and Miu Miu. Be prepared for somewhat steep prices.
A food-lover’s paradise, this epicurean shop sells a wide range of products, from gourmet, artisanal pantry ingredients and kitchen tools to an extensive collection of cookbooks and food magazines. Handmade breads, pastries, and chocolates are available to satiate your appetite. There's also a nice selection of cheeses, as well as fine wines and craft beer. A second outpost is in Charlottenburg, at Wilmersdorfer Strasse 102/103.
With an odd assortment of retro furnishings, this ice-cream café and waffle shop takes over the entire corner of a Prenzlauer Berg sidewalk, especially on sunny days. Head to the second story and you’ll find a shop that captures young Berliner style, with vintage pieces, bold prints, and skinny fits, as well as shoes and jewelry. There's a second outpost on Oderberger Strasse as well as one in Mitte, plus outlet shops in Wedding and Neukölln.
Just off the lovely Zionskirchplatz, this shop is home to Berlin designers Anna Franke and Janine Weber. Their collection has a whimsical, feminine style and incorporates flowing fabrics and clean cuts. The shop also carries beautiful bags and accessories from Scandinavian and German designers.
The enormous Sunday flea market at Mauerpark, a favorite among hipsters and tourists, is absolutely packed in nice weather, turning the intersection of Bernauer Strasse and Oderberger Strasse (where the unofficial market outside the market begins) into a veritable Times Square of fun- and sun-loving young people. Head out early to find the best pickings, as most of the selection here is junkyard mixed in with the occasional handmade or repurposed product.
Melanie Dal Canton (MDC), stocks her elegant beauty shop with hard-to-find labels like Malin + Goetz, Biologique Recherche, and Berlin's Frank Leder. She takes time with every client, offering recommendations, and when you need even more care, there's a treatment room in back for facials and manicure/pedicures.
This sleek, multilevel concept store showcases a revolving collection of eclectic European and international designers, spanning high fashion, avant-garde labels, street wear, and accessories. Look for interesting limited-edition and capsule collections as well.
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