Essentially a fractured city, Berlin has no distinctive shopping centre. Instead retailers have sprouted up all over, although those of a similar type prefer to congregate around each other.

There are two main shopping streets: Friedrichstrasse in the East, and the almighty Kurfürstendamm in the West. You can find all big international brands and shopping centers here.
Some of the shopping centers can be worth visiting, but my favorite shopping areas are: Spandauer Vorstadt in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg.

In Spandauer Vorstadt, which is a part of Mitte, there are lots of beautiful and interesting shops to be found. Seek out the streets Neue- and Alter Schönhauserstrasse, Mulackstrasse and Münzstrasse.

In Prenzlauer Berg and in Kreuzberg, there are lots of good small designer shops and thrift stores,  where you can find great bargains.
Most shops in Berlin don’t open until noon, but they stay open late.

Kurfürstendamm

(nicknamed Ku´damm) is a pretty touristy and commercial area. Besides various expensive brands, the street is home to the well-equipped department store KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens).

Mitte

Spandauer Vorstadt is an area in Mitte crowded with shops of interest. Check out the following in Mulackstrasse.

Lala Berlin

The German label that Claudia Schiffer is often spotted in. You will find knit-wear in cool designs and great qualities.

Lala Berlin, Mulackstrasse 7
www.lalaberlin.com

Starstyling

A treasure of a place that carries its own brand of imaginative t-shirts, dresses and badges. The style is street wear in this purple and yellow shop.

Starstyling, Mulackstrasse 4 

Schwarzhogerzeil

Clothes from Antik Batik, Isabel Marant, John Smedley and Zucca, among others. 

Schwarzhogerzeil, Mulackstrasse 28, 

Leo Bettini

You can buy home made pasta here – and since we are in Germany, of course Knödel as well.

Leo Bettini, Mulackstrasse 33
www.leobettini.de

In Neue- and Alter Schönhauserstrasse you have to go exploring. The streets form a Mecca of great fashion stores and the shops sit like pearls on a string.

AM 1-3

Don’t miss the Schiesser store, which has an enormous selection of quality underwear, as well as beautiful children’s clothes and great designer items. The owner is the brother of Kostas Murkudis, who has designed a special luxury underwear collection for Schiesser. This collection, along with designer underwear from Martin Margiela and Yohji Yahmamoto, can be found in the shop on Münzstrasse 21, which is hidden in a courtyard behind the Schiesser store.

AM 1-3, Münzstrasse 21-23

The Corner

Berlin’s answer to Parisian concept store Colette.
The Corner, Französischestrasse 40 

Stue

On the border between Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte is a beautiful little treasure of a design store. 
A Danish and a German girl own the shop, and they sell retro furniture and articles for everyday use, like B&O radios from Denmark.

The shop opened ten years ago and is furnished like a living room (“Stue” is the Danish word for living room). ”When we opened, most interior design stores were decorated like big loft spaces. Instead, we chose to go in the opposite direction and arrange the items the way they are supposed to be used”, explains Heike, one of the two owners. The shop also offers items from Japanese and Danish potters and a Berlin hatter.

Stue, Torstrasse 70

On Friedrichstrasse in Mitte, you will find big international designer names at the department stores Dussmann Das KulturKaufhaus, Galeries Lafayette and Quartier 206. The last one in particular is worth a visit.

Department store Quartier 206

The shoe lounge on the second floor is a Mecca for shoe lovers. Long couches, thick carpets and shoes by Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo.

Designs by American Marc Jacobs and Matthew Williamson hang side by side with German Strenesse and Danish Noir.

Department store Quartier 206, Friedrichstrasse 71
www.departmentstore-quartier206.com

Art

Mitte is where most art galleries are located. Stroll around Auguststrasse, which teems with little galleries, mainly exhibiting new experimental art. Make sure you check out:

KW (Kunst Werke) Institute for Contemporary Art

It is located in an old margarine factory and you enter through an impressive courtyard. KW does not have a permanent exhibition, but it offers five levels of changing contemporary art, represented by a large specter of German and international artists. To the delight of children and simple souls, there is a built-in slide from the second to the first floor.

KW (Kunst Werke) Institute for Contemporary Art, Auguststrasse 69

Kreuzberg

Kreuzberg offers most places of interest around the streets Oranienstrasse, Schlesischestrasse and Bergmannstrasse. Loads of small designer shops, you just have to go exploring. 
You can check out the following:

Fritz

A nice jewelry store. Besides the pieces by the owner Fritz, several other goldsmiths are represented in the shop, and there are always new articles on display in the showcases.

Fritz, Dresdener Strasse 20 (corner of Oranienstrasse and Oranienplatz)

Prenzlauer Berg

The best shopping can be done around the streets Kastanienallee, Kollwitz Platz, Knaackstrasse and Rykestrasse, which is characterized by a multitude of small designer shops, thrift stores and green spaces.

Most people go to Oderbergerstrasse for vintage clothes. Check out:

Cachecouer

Another wonderful thrift store where it pays off to go exploring. The lady who owns the shop is not very chatty, but if you ask her, she will tell you stories about the old days and how you really ought to wear the pretty dresses and shoes that you can find in her shop.

Cachecouer, Schönchauseralle, at the corner of Schwedtrestrasse. 

Helmholtzplatz

This square is a true sanctuary, full of playing children. Surrounding the green space is a multitude of cafés, a lot of them with organic food and beverages.

Mauerpark

The flea market Mauerpark is the best in Berlin. Lots of plastic nostalgia from the GDR, such as  lamps and crazy figurines, uniforms and hats. But also a lot of pretty clothes and furniture (if your suitcase is big enough…) 

The market only stays open on Sundays from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Mauerpark, Mauerstrasse 63-64

By Mette Lomholdt & Katrine Salomon