Menorca Shopping Ideas
All you need to know for shopping. Clothes, best buys and those island markets.
Menorca is small, understated and traditional, so don't expect any shopping centres in or out of town or any of the Spanish chain clothing stores, never mind international and thankgoodness!
Shopping is relaxed, individual and done at leisurely pace. If you are fed up of looking at the same repetition in clothing chain stores back home then you will enjoy the individuallity that little boutique shops on Menorca offer. For self caterers the supermarkets are not huge, larger ones are situated on the local town's commercial area ( signposted as Poligno ) so you will need a hire car / taxi to reach them.
Shop Hours
Opening times for most shops is 09.00-09:20 -13.30 and 16.30/17.00 - 20.30. Big supermarkets open Mon. - Sat. 09.00 - 21.00, and some on Sunday mornings ( 10 -14:00 ) . (Some small shops open until 10.00). Exceptions are in the bigger beach resorts., where some may stay open all day during mid june - mid september.
Best Buys on Menorca
Naturally, most things have to be importred so the the best buys are the locally produced goods.
Abarcas
Now fashionware, these extremely comfortable sandals' origins were simple footwear on the farm. Never mass produced, they lend themselves to individualism and these days feature a myriad of handpainted designs and a rainbow of different soft coloured leathers. Once worn, you'll quickly realise while they are so popular as summer footwear. The shape is unisex and the soft leather moulds to any shape foot.
There are many outlets from the various manufacturers across Menorca.
Calle Goya, 3 - Ferreries, Menorca www.ria.es
Shoes and Leather ware
Menorca has a long tradition for making high quality leather goods and this continues today. However many of the brands will be unknown to you as they are sold mostly in french and german quality clothing stores. Locally bought you can indulge in some quality new shoes heels, flats and boots.
Jewellery
Menorca suprisingly has a long handmade jewellery tradition. There are quite a few Bijou shops where the aritist creators can be seen at work in the back while your eyes wonder over the original works on display.
Nuria Deya at Carrer Ciutadella 12, Ferreries www.nuriadeya.com
Very enjoyable on sumer evenings is to browse the night market stall where costume jewellry is sold. Ciutadella and Es Castell harbours are recommended. Night Markets
Where to Shop
Clothes Shopping Menorcan Style Photo Tour
As said previously there are no high streets, but individual and clusters of clothing shops in Mahon and Ciutadella so a little bit more effort (we know you'll manage it! ) and planning is required.
If there is only a single visit 'allowed' then try Ciutadella old town - you might only window shop as the prices are for quality, but it's lovely to wander with cafe stop offs.
Dont forget that Siesta applies here so from 13:00 to 17:00 nothing will be open. Evenings are the prefered time for shopping, taking in some Tapas aswell.
Around Mahon, the clothes shops are a little more spread out in the old town along the main pedestrian shoppings streets ( Calle Nueva ) and not forgetting the side streets of Carrer del Carmen,Carrer del Cami des Castell - see shopping maps for guidance.
Leather Factory Outlet Stores
Pons Quintana
Produce very feminine luxury women's footwear right here on the island. A name that might be unfamiliar in UK as a lot of the production is sold in fashionable shops in France and Germany. Renowed for their handmade woven leather designs (each take 2 days to make) . Pons Quintana have shops in Mahon (S'Arravaleta 21) and Ciutadella (Sabaters 5 - Poligno) www.ponsquintana.com
Menorca Tips
Alaior is home to the Pons Quintana shoe factory shop. At the factory shop you will get heavily reduced prices on beautiful shoes and boots and see the full range at the boutique there.
Outlet Shopping
If the thought of outlet store shopping sets your heart thumping, relax, this is all small scale stuff with more and more places advertising themsleves as 'outlet' but in reality is just a marketing ploy. Outlet stores can be found at at out of town commercial areas (signposted Polignos ) in Ferreries,Ciutadella and Mahon.
Castillo Menorca
An outlet store in the western end of the island with childrens entertainment area and lots of parking. Ideal place for the children to loose their energy and mums to well, do what mums do best at outlet stores.
There is a big Lladro shop with displays on site, in addition to branded goods there are basic souvenirs and holiday goods on sale.
Open May - October. Open 10.00am-7.00pm. ME-1 Km point 35 - 7 km from Ciutadella.
www.castillomenorca.com
