Unlike the Boqueria on the Ramblas, real Catalans actually shop at the Santa Caterina Market. It’s smaller and easier to manage (with much less risk of getting pickpocketed) so you can browse the various market stalls dedicated to meat, wine, cheese, canned goods, produce and fresh fish at ease. The perfect place to go if you’re looking to bring back jamón serrano, manchego cheese or a good bottle of olive oil. Head next door to Cuines for lunch if you’d prefer the market goods to be cooked for you.

You will see pieces from this design house and furniture store at a lot of the coolest places in Barcelona, including ratan tables and chairs from hotel Casa Bonay and Il Giardinetto and Santa y Cole lighting at Margot House. A favourite amongst design-conscious locals, AOO sells their own pieces, other items made in Spain (like beautiful olive oil dispensers from Mallorca and clay plots from Barcelona) plus some international homeware brands.

An underrated brand worldwide, but a shining star for Spain. Buy in Barcelona where the prices are more than reasonable. The clothing is the ideal balance between funky and chic and their shoes are cute, practical and reasonably priced. A perfect place to buy a birthday present whether it’s from their expansive collection of small leather items, printed scarves, funky jewellery or cute sunnies.

Need the perfect pony skin espadrilles or Bardot-style blouse for summer in the city? Look no further than Uterqüe, an upmarket Zara by Inditex, with steeper prices (think €89 for a pussy-bow blouse, €79 for shoes, and €250 for leather trousers) but a better shopping experience and higher quality. Uterqüe is increasingly being seen further afield in Europe and on the likes of Pandora Sykes. A store will be opening in the UK later this year, but it’s still better to buy in Spain where prices are cheaper.

The one place which is all glitz and glamour is Santa Eulalia, Barcelona’s most upmarket department store which stocks all the major international designers – Céline, Chanel, Acne, Stella McCartney – in a serene space. Look out for M2Malletier bags (one of our favourite designers) who have their studio in Barcelona.

A huge vintage store selling everything from denim cut-offs and floaty floral dresses to leather jackets and patterned silk shirts. The perfect place to stock up on summer dresses if you forgot how casual Barcelona is as a city. Everything is divided into sections to make it easy to shop and the menswear and womenswear section is equal in size. Prices are fair, and cheaper than most vintage nowadays.