Seven experts name the world’s best cities for shopping

Many of us are addicted to online shopping, mostly for convenience but also due (with some notable exceptions as per below) to disappointing retail experiences in Australia where merchandising and service are often less than compelling.

But have we lost something in doing our shopping by clicks? For many us, venturing into the wider world, wandering through boutiques, markets and historic department stores has always been one of travel’s great pleasures, whether it’s looking for a special souvenir to remind us of our stay, nabbing a bargain we can’t find at home or soaking up the atmosphere of a souk or bazaar.

Face-to-face shopping is more than retail therapy or just buying more stuff. It can be a means to converse with strangers, understand cultures and directly support artisans and people in struggling economies.

For seasoned world shoppers, it’s as much the experience as the purchase. The thrill often relates to good service and finding something unique, something to treasure that has a memory attached to it.

Traveller asked seven Australian retailers, some with a strong online presence, to name their favourite shops and shopping cities around the world and to share tips from their travels.

Christine Barro, Christine, Melbourne

The interior of Liberty, a prestige London department store housed in a Tudor-revival style building.Credit: Getty Images

Doyenne of Melbourne fashion, Christine Barro was for many years accessories buyer at the now- closed women’s fashion store, Georges, before opening her eponymous treasure house of high fashion.

The one shop overseas I love is Liberty, Regent Street, London.

What I love about it is the history and architecture of the building and I love it top to toe, so I work it from the bottom up. I start in accessories, then I scale up through the fashion to the top floor into the needlework department and the knitting and sewing room. I stop for luncheon in the little lunchroom which is full of ladies who have just come from the sewing room upstairs.

Shopping forms part of my travels because retail tells me a lot about the city – it’s a footprint of the mood of the people.

Christine Barro.Credit: Nicole Cleary

The most cherished item I’ve bought overseas is a purple Lacroix wool-crepe suit from the Lacroix store on rue Saint-Honore, Paris, in the 1980s. I wore it to my wedding in 1992 and I enjoy that image every day, as I have it framed on my desk.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a Sonia Rykiel mid-blue, wool-jersey, wide-leg pant and matching V-neck sweater bought in Paris in the 1970s. The wear I’ve had out of that! Sonia Rykiel popped in from her apartment above as I was trying it on, and just to have her appear was very special.

The shop in Australia that I love is Alpha 60 [in Victoria, NSW, WA and New Zealand]. It’s run by a sister-and-brother team from Melbourne, and the experience of shopping in their Chapter House, Melbourne, store is very special.

The world’s best shopping city is Paris – little places in the Marais, in the side-streets off [Boulevard] Saint-Germain and in the arcades near Place des Victoires. I still to go to department stores such as Printemps and Bon Marche. I walk those floors and look up at the wonderful ceilings.

Online shopping is something I’ve never done and I don’t imagine I ever will. I like to view something and get the story behind it and engage with the retailer.

See christineoncollins.com; libertylondon.com;
alpha60.com.au

Victoria Collison, Victoria Collison, Paddington, NSW

Paul Bert Serpette Market, just outside of Paris, specialises in antique furniture, art and decorative objects.Credit: Stéphane Asseline

Victoria Collison worked as a fashion stylist for more than 25 years. Inspired by her love of interiors, fashion, art and travel, her eponymous store focuses on new and vintage decorative homewares such as French linen sheets and Murano glassware.

Victoria Collision.

The one shop overseas I love is antique market Paul Bert Serpette just outside Paris. It is a specialised market within the larger flea market. It covers a few blocks and incorporates dealers in furniture, art and decorative objects.

What I love about it is wandering through all the little alleyways and streets, constantly being inspired. It’s my favourite way to spend a day in Paris. I love the fact that there are some shops just selling door-knobs or curious household items, while others have some of the finest decorative pieces.

Shopping forms part of my travels because, as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by the combination of travel and shopping – they go hand in hand. It starts with foreign supermarkets and pharmacies, flea markets, and I gradually work my way up to finding the best shopping destinations for interiors and homewares.

The most cherished item I’ve bought overseas is a set of 1930s emerald-green Murano glasses from a little shop in Verona – I can hardly bear to use them.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a set of Etruscan-style Sicilian glass vessels from a vintage shop in Palermo.

The shop in Australia I love is Studio Alm in Woollahra, Sydney, which sells furniture and decorative objects, including pieces by India Mahdavi whom I very much admire.

The world’s best shopping city is London – Portobello Road on Friday and Saturday mornings is one of my all-time favourites. Then there are all the wonderful interior and design shops in Pimlico Road and the Newson’s Yard complex. For the ultimate traditional English shopping experience head to the Burlington Arcade and Jermyn Street, followed by the galleries in the West End.

Online shopping is now a way of life for all of us, however I still love the actual experience of going to a shop and seeing things in reality.

See victoriacollison.com; paulbert-sepette.com; studioalm.com

Sandra Shmith, demi dS, Melbourne

Sandra Shmith bought one of her most beloved items from the David Gill Gallery, London.Credit: David Gill Gallery

Former Vogue Australia fashion editor Sandra Shmith joined forces with veteran fashion retailer Dominique Burgoine to open demi ds which produces quality hand-tailored shirts and clothing.

The one overseas shop I love is Dimore Gallery [a contemporary design store] at Via Solferino, Milan, Italy.

What I love about it is that it’s inspirational, unexpected and has always-changing design spaces with collectable 20th century pieces and a transportive Italian ’60s playlist.

Sandra Shmith.

Shopping forms part of my travels because it’s a great way to get to know a destination a little more. Revisiting a favourite shop can be like catching up with an old friend and hearing their news. A little piece of the place we travelled to stays with us in the form of the purchase brought home.

The most cherished item I’ve ever bought overseas is an Oriel Harwood green glazed ceramic head/vase from David Gill Gallery in London. Husband Justin and I bought it for each other as a Christmas present around 1996 whilst living in London.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a tiny antique enamel hand-painted teapot found in a Shanghai antique market in the Bund area about 2006 when living there. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I’m not sure of its value, but it’s precious.

The shop in Australia I love is Pan After in Collingwood, Melbourne. It has a unique collection of objects for the home.

The world’s best shopping city is London. It has the best of everything and the most individual specialty shops.

Online shopping is a game-changer in that it’s super convenient. However, there is nothing like a shopping experience in a great store with wonderful service.

See demidsmelbourne.com, dimoregallery.com, davidgillgallery.com, panafter.com.au

Russel Koskela, Koskela, North Sydney

Hill of Content in Melbourne is the Australian shop Russel Koskela loves.Credit: Aaron Francis

In 2000, Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky co-founded one of Australia’s most innovative furniture and homewares design businesses, championing Australian manufacturing. Koskela is Australia’s first furniture company to become a certified B Corp.

The one overseas shop I love is Kokuyo in Tokyo, Japan.

What I love about it is that it’s a redesign of a 45-year-old building into a fusion space with coffee, furniture, workspaces, outdoor areas and those beautifully designed stationery products that Japan is renowned for.

Shopping forms part of my travels because it’s interesting to see different cultures reflected in their offerings. Perhaps weirdly, I love visiting grocery stores in different countries to see different food offerings and how food is retailed. Of course, I also love visiting design stores.

Koskela directors Sasha Titchkosky and Russel Koskela.

The most cherished item I’ve bought overseas is a collection of handmade terracotta ceramics we collected from different villages in Sri Lanka and northern Argentina.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a beautiful set of hand-carved, hand-painted animal masks that hang on the wall. They are totemic and were made by traditional Argentinian craftspeople in the Salta region.

The shop in Australia I love is Hill of Content bookstore in Melbourne. It’s pretty incredible that a bookstore is still going strong after 100 years, especially when the sector has been hammered by online retailers.

The world’s best city for shopping is Tokyo. It is really interesting for retail as it fuses items that are traditionally made with big-brand retail.

Online shopping is necessary and convenient but misses some of the magic and connection you get from a really great retail experience.

See koskela.com.au ; kokuyostore.com; hillofcontent.com

Saskia Havekes, Grandiflora, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

Display at Casa del Bianco, a purveyor of fine linens in Milan, Italy.

In 1995, Saskia Havekes opened Grandiflora, a small atelier for fresh flowers. She has published four books, launched a collection of fragrances and designed floral collections for celebrities such as Cate Blanchett.

The one shop overseas I love is Casa del Bianco in Milan, Italy.

Saskia Havekes.

What I love about it is that there is a feeling of quality on your first entrance. It’s a family-run shop founded in 1940 to sell household linens and fabrics and now also sells sleepwear and a children’s clothing line.

Shopping forms part of my travels because it is a great indicator of the culture and tone of the city and landscape. I especially love to go to other flower shops and flower markets to get a sense of what flowers are seasonal, where they come from and how much they cost. The collective smell serves as endorphins and always uplifts me.

The most cherished item I have bought overseas was when I assisted my friend [American floral designer] Jeff Leatham on a large wedding in Paris some years ago. We visited Jamin Puech, and Jeff helped me choose a bag that I’ve cherished ever since.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a Jacquemus men’s denim shirt from a sale at Dover Street Market in Singapore.

The one shop in Australia that I love is E&M Greenfield in Surry Hills, in Sydney, for ribbons and fabrics. The ambience is wholesale but partly open to the public with New York garment district vibes.

The world’s best shopping city is Milan. Quality seeps out of every door jamb. The elegance and grunt make it my kind of town.

Online shopping is somewhat disappointing as it’s never as good as the real thing. But it does serve its purpose when I’m unable to get to where I need to shop.

See grandiflora.net; casadelbiancomilano.it; emgreenfield.com

Ian Hemphill, Herbie’s Spices, Charmhaven, NSW

Ian Moore’s three-acre garden-flanked Distillery Botanica site.

Author and TV and radio presenter Ian Hemphill is one of Australia’s foremost culinary herb and spice specialists. With wife Liz Hemphill, Ian launched the groundbreaking Herbie’s Spices in 1997. The couple regularly hosts Spice Discovery Tours to India.

The one shop overseas I love is Hatchards bookstore in Piccadilly, London.

What I love about it is that while a Kindle may be convenient when travelling, there is nothing quite the same as reading a real book, right down to the aroma and feel of paper. This five-storey bookshop was founded in 1797, and every floor is stacked with books to meet every reader’s desire.

Shopping forms part of my travels because whether an exotic international destination, or an Australian country town, the shops tell one so much about the interests and culture of the residents. Naturally with an obsessive interest in flavours, I’m always drawn to food ingredient shops and markets.

Herbies Spice’s fonunder Ian Hemphill.

The most cherished item I’ve bought overseas is a camel rug purchased from a gallery in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. The rug was made at home by the cameleer’s wife, in the saddle-bag style.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a domestic grinder. It’s the size of an old-fashioned meat mincer, but it grinds spices. I found it in the Ernakulam Markets in Cochin, India in 1997. The only drawback was that it was made of cast iron and weighed about 10 kilograms.

The one shop in Australia I love is Distillery Botanica , in Erina, NSW. Gin distiller Philip Moore, who founded a wholesale herb nursery called Renaissance Herbs in the 1980s, is passionate about herbs.

The world’s best shopping city is London with its amazing array of fresh foods and specialty ingredients in Borough Market near London Bridge.

Online shopping is convenient when buying from trusted brands, where you know the products and their provenance and receive honest information and after-sales service when requested.

See herbies.com.au; hatchards.co.uk; distillerybotanica.com

Lucy Borland, Agence de Parfum, Rosebery, NSW

Chez Dede in Rome.

Lucy Borland of Agence de Parfum.

Lucy Borland hosts perfume masterclasses around Australia. She has worked in the beauty and fragrance industry for 35 years and with independent Australian perfume company Agence de Parfum for 15 of those.

The one overseas shop overseas I love is Chez Dede, Via di Monserrato, Rome, Italy.

What I love about it is that I stumbled across this beautiful boutique by chance and could not believe the curated collection of beautiful things. It’s a feast for the senses.

Shopping forms part of my travels because I love to find treasured things that are unique to places.

The most cherished item I’ve bought overseas is a Gucci silver magnolia ashtray which was used in its boutique in the 1950s. It has individual petals that were given to clients so they could smoke and shop.

The best bargain I’ve snared is a collection of 1960s drawings and paintings in a little store near the Trevi Fountain, all now framed in our dining room.

The one shop in Australia I love is Manteau Noir in Daylesford, Victoria. Established in 2014, this is a unique destination store curated by Victoria Varrasso. It offers authentic service with warmth and love.

The world’s best city for shopping is Rome which has an extraordinary array of independent and unique boutiques. The people, the culture, fashion and food resonate with my sense of style.

Online shopping is a gamble, but if I can’t find something I’ve missed out on I always look on eBay.

See agencedeparfum.com.au; chezdede.com; manteaunoir.com.au

Seven more legendary stores well worth the trip

Back veranda of the Barefoot ethical shop, gallery and cafe in Colombo.

Barefoot, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Founded by artist Barbara Sansoni in 1964, this ethical shop, gallery and cafe bursts with brilliantly coloured, inexpensive local textiles and hand-crafted clothes, toys and bags. See barefootceylon.com

A Vida Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal
There are several shops all stocking authentic Portuguese products, from tins of sardines to soaps and jewellery. See avidaportuguesa.com

Hands, Tokyo, Japan
This chain of DIY stores sells everything from kitchen knives to floral toilet-seat warmers and excels in quirky tools and knick-knacks for the home. See info.hands.net

Citypharma, Paris, France
Reserve plenty of space in your luggage for a shopping spree at this huge Left Bank pharmacy which stocks French beauty brands at discounted prices. See pharmacie-citypharma.fr

Century 21, New York City, US
The famed discount department store has reopened its Cortland Street flagship since closing for some years after 9/11. Word is it’s more like a factory outlet these days. See C21stores.com

E.Dehillerin, Paris
Opened in 1820, this kitchenware store in Les Halles is a treasure trove of all the equipment you need for French culinary adventures at very reasonable prices. See edehillerin.fr

Stockholms Stadsmission, Stockholm, Sweden
There are a few branches throughout Stockholm of this wonderful charity store run by a homeless shelter, including one in Gamla Stan (Old Town). See stadsmissionen.se