The best concept stores in Barcelona

Jessica Benavides Canepa

Concept stores in Barcelona pay homage to all things design, not only as an aesthetic but as a cultured way of life. Selling everything from cutting-edge clothing to artwork to eclectic home décor, these shops also offer the priceless gift of imagination and innovation. Ever the trendsetter, the Catalan capital excels in the art of constant reinvention, as evidenced by the slew of fashion-forward stores catering to dapper dandies in search of a little extra pizazz.

Boo

Located in boho-centric Gracia, Boo’s curated selection of global fashions and emerging designers perfectly embodies the colourful hood’s lively spirit and is one of the most popular concept stores in Barcelona. The shop, curiously named after the iconic novel To Kill a Mocking Bird’s unlikely hero, Boo Radley, is a dimly-lit, quasi-lodge of slate-grey walls, kooky décor (think mounted deer heads, phone booth changing rooms and a porcelain pooch) and natural wood displays. Arguably, the main attraction here is the bespoke merchandise that includes books, scents, travel-inspired art and chill music compilations. Standout designers include Hemen Biarritz, a limited-quantity underwear brand based in France, the Spanish brand Fox Haus, whose clean-lined fashions are also eco-conscious and Barcelona exclusive Maison Kitsuné, the whimsical streetwear collection of the offbeat sound-cloud collab house.

Boo | Photo: Bea Schulze

Edition leather bags are among the most popular items available at the shop or from the comfort of your own home

Nuovum

On a quiet corner between the multi-cultural Raval district and the buzzy La Rambla, one of the smallest concept stores in Barcelona, Nuovum, displays its original wares in honeycomb-shaped wooden boxes. Jose Manuel Sevilla is the creative curator behind this unusual set-up; one where bees represent Sevilla’s hand-picked designers who in turn create honey (goods) for his style-savvy client base. Items range from quirky décor to leather accessories to jewellery created by talented Spanish up-and-comers and select collections from around the globe. Eye-popping human-faced animal lamps, hand-crafted two-toned rings, and limited edition leather bags are among the most popular items available at the shop or from the comfort of your own home, online.

Nuovum | Photo: Bea Schulze

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Be

Boasting three locations in Barcelona, Be is a concept store for people who enjoy their clothes, books and household items with a generous side of personality. Everything in stock (updated daily) is one-of-a-kind or at the very least, hard to find, tempting shoppers to instantly snatch up whatever catches their eye. For your added pleasure, the shop on Diagonal even features a comfy flora-filled outdoor terrace for post-shopping coffee breaks. Favourite finds at all stores include the Polaroid Instant Lab (designed to print your smartphone photos), Marshall’s retro-fab radio with a handy Bluetooth adapter and kooky photo organisers from Umbra.

Be | Photo: Bea Schulze

Nordicthink

If minimalism is your mantra, then Nordicthink is the interior design store for you. The white-washed showroom complete with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls is the perfect backdrop for inspiration: classic Scandinavian furniture, lighting and accessories are cleverly assembled to resemble complete living spaces and designed to kick start décor ideas with a nod towards mod designs. Brands that sing in harmony include Boråstapeter, a notable Swedish wallpaper design co. that add dashes of mirth to your walls; Ethnicraft, producer of fine wood furnishings; Denmark-based Fern Living provides retro accessories for every room and Light Years (the name probably says it all) maker of aesthetically-pleasing lamps for the ultimate Scandi-inspired home. If you are looking for one of the most stylish concept stores in Barcelona with a focus on interior design, then look no further.

Nordicthink | Photo: Bea Schulze

Jaime Beriestain

Chilean-born interior designer Jamie Beriestain is certainly serious about branding. His namesake concept store is the epitome of design living for the posh gentleman, featuring items such as home furnishings, textiles, gardening products, decorations, lighting, flatware and a charming café/restaurant — all smartly packaged at a swanky address in the Eixample district. Conversation starters include stuffed animal mounted heads (cuter than it sounds), multi-hued dessert bowls, a mini spice garden as well as herb-scented room fragrances and candles.

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