10 very unique shops in Europe

The scene above is probably very familiar to most of you if you replace this little boy with your own children, your partner or a friend. It’s happened to the best of us that, when we’re on a shopping mission, we’re not able to hold the attention of those accompanying us. Whether it’s bargain hunting, grocery shopping or searching for that illusive but most important outfit.

All is not lost! We’ve selected some of our 41 city guides’ great spots that take shopping to the next level. Bear in mind it is just a selection, there were many to choose from! But each and every shop offers fun or unique shopping!

1. Dežnik, Ljubljana (by Miha Poredoš)
This first shop is extremely unique. With it’s nondescript outside it’s easy to miss, and the wonders that are inside are also nearly extinct. The lady running Dežnik is the last person that sells andrepairs umbrellas. According to Local Miha she can repair your umbrella no matter the damage!

2. Vom Fass, Vienna (by Linda Nepicks)
This colorful image belongs to Vom Fass, a unique shop that’s all about oil, vinegar & liquor. Local Linda: “[..] have you ever seen green, red, white liquor in big round glass barrels, olive oil in a ton or vinegar being tapped in beautiful glass bottles and decanters?!”

3. Mimis, Athens (by Aggeliki Georgokosta)
Local Aggeliki about Mimis: “This tiny store fits hundreds of pairs of glasses, forming the widest collection I have ever seen. [...] “Mimis” consists of one of the oldest shops of Athens in time. Since 1962 [...]“

4. Monimoon, Barcelona (by Sonja Poehlmann)
Monimoon is special for those avid travelers that daydream about seeing and exploring the whole world, or those little tikes that love to spin and randomly point out places like Local Sonja: “When I was little, spinning the globe was one of my favorite games. You know, a little que será, será: Where am I going to live when I am all grown up? When the globe stopped, my finger would point at a magical place like Transylvania, Iceland or Zanzibar or whatever sounded like an exotic place to a seven-year-old.”

5. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul (by Zekeriya S. Sen)
Grand Bazaar offers you a multitude of buying-options. But Local Zekeriya highly recommends coming here to buy the Famous Evil Eye! Can you imagine yourself surrounded there by all these trinkets like shown in the picture?

6. Jünemann’s Pantoffeleck, Berlin (by Robby Block)
Everyone needs and loves comfy house shoes right? This shop specializes in keeping your feet toasty and warm and your floors a little cleaner! Local Robby: “So, while it might feel like a geriatric thing to do, get yourself a  pair of felt house shoes [...]“

7. HotKoTyr, Copenhagen (by Cindy Fonvig)
This is another fixer-upper. The fellow that owns this shop can repair any lamp that he comes across. And he has many many lamps, from pretty ones to goofy ones! Local Cindy: “HotKoTyr has existed for as long as I can remember and is definitely worth a visit. Even if you’re not in the market for a lamp.”

8. Globetrotter, Munich (by Emily Rash)
From the outside Globetrotter doesn’t seem very special. But on the inside there are vast amounts of fun waiting to be had!  We’re not giving anything away here, but we will tell you there’s even fun and entertainment in the ladies bathroom!

9. Tuban, Krakow (by Karolina Kolodziej)
Get ready for some bubbly fun! You can find any and all sorts of contraptions here to blow or make bubbles with. If you ask nicely, the store owners will even put you in one!

10. Orange Optika Tipton Glasses, Budapest (by Hélène Bienvenu)
The last of this list (but definitely not the last of what our Spotters have to offer in this category) are the unique glasses of Orange Optika. Here they turn vinyl’s into glasses! So decide on your favorite album and wear it proudly on your nose, or just browse the many offerings they have on display!