Madrid shopping guide

Madrid is not just a city with a long history, a fine cultural heritage and the best night-life in Europe. Rapid economic growth in Spain in recent years has been reflected in the range of shops in general, and in the clothing sector in particular. Some big names have had stores in the city for many years, while others have opened recently in the wake of the upturn in the country's economy.

The major stores are concentrated in the district known as Barrio de Salamanca. The area's main shopping street is Calle Serrano, which boasts a great many top stores and brands including Armani Collezioni, Carolina Herrera, Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Gucci, the El Corte Inglés department store chain and the fine leatherwork of Loewe.

On the streets parallel to Serrano, Calle Claudio Coello has a great selection at the multi-brand store Delitto e Castigo, the impeccable lines of Brioni, Catalonian designer Armand Basi, the international Custo Barcelona and the multi-brand Amarcord, owned by actress Penélope Cruz; Calle Lagasca has the multi-brand store Just One; and Calle Velázquez deserves special mention for Ekseption, one of Europe's finest multi-brand stores.

Ekseption, calle Velázquez

Running perpendicular to these streets is Calle José Ortega y Gasset, where the highest concentration of luxury brands can be found. This street is home to Valentino, Hermès, Chanel, Escada, Dolce & Gabana, Bottega Veneta, Dior and Hugo Boss, among others. Parallel to it are Calle Goya, home to Façonnable, and Calle Jorge Juan, where you can find Etro and the men's multi-brand store Gallery.