El Corte Inglés

Description:

• The main Barcelona branch of Spain's largest department store chain -- which now has few serious competitors -- sells a wide variety of merchandise, ranging from traditional handicrafts to high-fashion items, and from Spanish records to food. The store has a restaurant and cafe and offers consumer-related services, such as a travel agent. It also has a department that will mail your purchase. Not only that, but you can have shoes repaired, hair and beauty treatments, and food and drink in the rooftop cafe. The basement supermarket (Plaça Catalunya branch only) is the best place to pick up wines and other foodstuffs to take back home. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 10pm.

• © Frommer's 2013