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Ampelmann The cute little “walk/don’t walk” signal guy, born in East Germany, makes a classic Berlin souvenir. Find all things Ampelmann in special shops in Postdamer Platz and Hackescher Markt, and at most tourist kiosks. Mitte; Postdamer Platz and Hackescher Markt; www.ampelmann.de
Antonia Goy Berlin-based fashionista Antonia Goy creates magic in her tiny showroom – reversible coats that can be worn upside-down as capes, screen-printed silks, and halter dresses that combine pinstripes and gingham to good effect. The designer herself is a cheerful part of the shopping fun. Mitte; Brunnenstrasse 142; 011-49-30-44-650-386; www.antoniagoy.com
Berlinomat One-stop shopping for fashion, gifts, and accessories from Berlin’s hottest young designers. Friedrichshain; Frankfurter Allee 89; 011-49-30-42-08-1445; www.berlinomat.com
Bonbon Macherei Handmade sweets in traditional flavors like rhubarb, malt, and caramel. Kids will love watching the hard candy get made in 100-year-old molds. Free samples come hot off the presses. Mitte; Oranienburger Strasse 32; 011-49-30-44-05-5243; www.bonbonmacherei.de
Fiona Bennett Hat designer Bennett’s works are wearable art at the couture level. Gracing high-end heads like Christina Aguilera, Katie Holmes, and Brad Pitt, they’re priced accordingly. Mitte; Grosse Hamburger Strasse 25; 011-49-30-28-09-6330; www.fionabennett.com
Fussgarag This airy “foot garage” on Friedrichshain’s main drag trends toward comfortable footwear from well-known brands like Adidas, Clarks, and Vans but adds a small selection of niche continental brands like Giesswein (Austria) and Grünbein (Switzerland). Friedrichshain; Simon-Dach-Strasse 13; 011-49-30-8472-6777
Heimspiel As its name suggests, Heimspiel (“home game”) is all about native Berlin talent, with a well-chosen selection of locally designed clothing, accessories, and home designs in a spare gallery space. Look for loose-fitting, colorful pieces by Animo. Friedrichshain; Niederbarnimstrasse 18; 011-49-30- 2068-7870; heimspiel-berlin.de
KaDeWe The Kaufhauf des Westens (KaDeWe) department store provides all the European high-end brands (Prada, Hugo Boss, Guerlain) along with practical delights like fine fountain pens and writing paper. Follow your nose through the astonishing selection of perfumes on the ground floor, then graze in the gourmet paradise found in the 6th-floor food hall. Schönenberg; Tauentzienstrasse 21-24; 011-49-30-212-10; www.kadewe-berlin.de
Lesen & Lesen Lassen This cozy spot is the epitome of the independent neighborhood bookshop. Even if you cannot decipher German, the shop’s bold, linear postcards of East Berlin’s iconic Fernsehturm (“television tower”) don’t need translation and will seem über-cool to recipients back home. Boxhagener Platz; Wühlischstrasse 30; 011-49-30-291-5382; lesen-und-lesen-lassen.de
Moove Wohnen From expensive minimalist sofas and postmodern plastic chandeliers to brightly-colored kitchen utensils with personality by German design firm Koziol, Moove Wohnen offers a friendly look at what’s cool in trends for the home. Mitte; Rosenthaler Strasse 63-64; 011-49-30-28-38-6561; www.moove-wohnen.de (German only)
Olivia Erich Hamann’s Classic Bittere Schokolade (dark chocolate), made in Berlin since 1912, is just one of the highlights of this darling pan-Europe chocolate shop. Drop by after browsing the flea market; it’s one of only a handful of stores in the area to keep Sunday hours. Boxhagener Platz; Wühlischstrasse 30; 011-49-30-6050-0368; olivia-berlin.de
Potsdamer Platz Multi-floor shopping mall, cinema with stadium seating, and breathtaking architecture built on the former no-man’s land between East and West Berlin. The newest addition is the Lego Land Discovery Center. Mitte; www.potsdamerplatz.de
Simonuno The superior quality of this store’s eco-friendly, fair-wage T-shirts and sweatshirts will have you reevaluating any prior affinity to American Apparel. The 14 styles for men and women are exceptionally soft, made of bamboo fabric, come in 22 sophisticated colors, and start at just $24. Friedrichshain; Simon-Dach-Strasse 1; 011-49-30-2936-4448