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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