Scandinavian living room seen from above, with a bent-wood pendant lamp, round oak dining table and curved sofas

Design for Travelers: Boutiques, Objects & the People Who Make Them

Design is how we read a city, and the person behind the counter usually has the best tips. So we cover it through people: Dzmitry Samal on the Paris boutiques he actually visits, Berlin's vintage archives walked rather than listed, and a Danish lounge chair you can actually sit in.

From our writers

Design through the makers

The way I use glasses is nothing to do with my eyes. Eyewear changes a face; it is the fastest piece of design a person can wear.
— Dzmitry Samal, SAMAL DESIGN in From Renault cars to Paris eyewear
Berlin's vintage archives sit on the ground floors of apartment buildings, which is why the good ones are found on foot.
— Locals Insider Team in Berlin's vintage archives and concept stores
From the 2026 lists

Shops worth the detour

Eight concept stores across four cities, each checked against its live listing — addresses, opening days, and what makes it worth the walk.

Off the beaten path

Not-so-obvious picks

Two of our most-read editorial deep dives in this category.

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Photos, places, and short dispatches from our writers — between articles.

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