In a world of online shopping, it’s never been harder to entice customers into a bricks and mortar store. Why deal with the crowds and chaos that comes with hitting the high street when you can buy what you want from the comfort of your sofa? However, there are a select number of stores that offer an unparalleled shopping experience, either through its artful edits, stylish decor or unique concept. Here, we present the 10 best.
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10 Of The Coolest Stores In The World
Dover Street Market, London
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Dover Street Market, London
London is not short on good shops, but for cutting edge, truly interesting brands Dover Street Market has the edge. It's been in the business for more than a decade - a long time in fashion terms - but Rei Kawakubo and Adrian Joffe's impeccable edit, beautifully designed space and engaged, passionate staff consistently raise the shopping bar. DSM offers items you never knew existed, let alone needed. Clever, stylish and agenda-setting, this is a go-to for any discerning shoppers.
Dover Street Market, 18-22 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG Photo: Instagram
Rare Market, Seoul
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Rare Market, Seoul
Founded in 2014, Seoul's Rare Market - situated far from the busy shopping destination of Rodeo Street - is changing the way Korean women approach fashion. Mega brands such as Chanel and Dior have dominated the circuit here, but Rare Market hopes to break the mould by serving up talented, little known designers who deserve airtime, including its own brand We11Done.
Rare Market, 95-5 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea Photo: Instagram
Merci, Paris
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Merci, Paris
Just because Colette closed its doors last year, it doesn't mean Paris has lost its lustre in terms of offering shoppers experiential, chic retail destinations. Step forward Merci, a renovated 19th century wallpaper factory, which sells a chic mix of fashion, interiors and books which can be read in its intimate cafe. What sets Merci apart is high-low focus and its friendly, inviting atmosphere.
Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris, France
Photo: Instagram
The Apartment, New York
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The Apartment, New York
The idea behind the Apartment, an airy third floor space in New York's Soho, is to put merchandise into context. The store is formatted like a stylish home; there are no display cases or mannequins here and everything is for sale, from chairs and vases to coats and the hooks they hang on. Think a high-end, super luxe fashion version of Ikea.
The Apartment, 76 Greene St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Photo: Instagram
Daikanyama T-site, Tokyo
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Daikanyama T-site, Tokyo
Daikanyama is Tokyo's equivalent of Brooklyn or Peckham, a hipster mecca where neon lights are replaced by winding streets and an air of tranquility. Prepare to spend hours in Daikanyama T-site, an expansive book store, which has won awards for its striking design. As well as books, there's a great music selection and a monogramming service for gifts. Its Anjin lounge is an unbeatable destination to enjoy a cocktail with the new book or rare periodical you've just acquired.
Daikanyama T-site, 17-5 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku Tokyo Photo: Instagram
Normann, Copenhagen
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Normann, Copenhagen
Normann is part store, part art installation. If you've an eye for minimalist Scandi style, this is an ultimate retail spot. Normann has had a varied and colourful past, formerly taking the guise of a water distillery, a theatre, sound studio and a cinema - all of which it nods to through its design. Like an exhibition, its window display is ever changing, as is is product offering which spans original and eye catching homeware.
Normann Copenhagen, Østerbrogade 70, 2100 København, Denmark Photo: Instagram
The Writer's Block, Las Vegas
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The Writer’s Block, Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn't most people's default when it comes to culture, but The Writer's Block in the city's downtown district is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. A fake forest filled with artificial birds is the backdrop to this intimate independent book store, which also doubles up as a workshop for aspiring writers and bookmakers. Readings and signings from visiting performers and authors are regular sightings. At the entrance sits a letterpress from 1890 that the owners are hoping to restore.
The Writer's Block, 1020 Fremont St #100, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA
Photo: Instagram
Bungalow Eight, Mumbai
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Bungalow Eight, Mumbai
Bungalow Eight is a peaceful oasis in the middle of bustling Mumbai filled with interiors curios carefully chosen from local flea markets, in addition to emerging fashion and jewellery brands all made using local materials. Located across three floors, Bungalow Eight's focus is mixing traditional Indian antiques and fashion with international post-modern finds. Even if you don't buy anything (although we challenge you not to), this is a worth a visit if not to experience its serene ambiance.
Bungalow Eight, Wankhede Stadium, North Stand E & F Block, D Road, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020, India
Photo: Instagram
Song, Vienna
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Song, Vienna
Vienna might not be a default when considering cool stores, but the city's hipster district of Praterstrasse is home to avant-garde boutique Song, first founded in the 1990s by Korean-born Myung il Song - now considered a style idol among residents. A fashion, art and interiors hybrid, Song sells luxe brands such as Celine, Vetements and Haider Ackermann and a selection of artfully chosen furniture. Song also boasts a gallery space, as well as an atelier where clothes are made and artists prepare work for exhibitions.
Song, Praterstraße 11, 1020 Wien, Austria
Photo: Instagram
Casa Perfect, LA
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Casa Perfect, LA
If looking inside picture-perfect homes that you can't afford is your idea of heaven, then Future Perfect's store concept is for you - three gallery-cum-shops that simultaneously serve as a home and retailer stocking the latest and greatest design discoveries. Its appointment-only LA outpost, Casa Perfect, is an aesthetic delight, a midcentury house with an outdoor pool set in the hills above Hollywood. This is experiential shopping at its best; if anything is going to make you want to invest thousands on a wooden, upholstered chair this is it.
Casa Perfect, address available upon appointment
Photo: Instagram