Each quarter entices the visitor in with its own particular charm. On the way to the St. Johann quarter the sun sporadically glistens through the gaps between the beautiful old townhouses and there are wonderful views of the Rhine. You’ll find small brands here with an artistic touch. The Matrix Shop, Grimsel and the Ooid Store all offer a unique shopping experience, be it for fashion, lifestyle, accessories or interior design. To still your hunger and thirst we recommend a visit to the Zur Mägd restaurant or the rather smart LA Restaurant.
We cross the Johanniter bridge and move into Klein Basel. The Feldbergstrasse whisks you on into the lively Matthäus quarter – an area full of popular bars, restaurants and quality-conscious shopping addresses. Riviera’s bright and cheerful looks and a unique selection of fashion labels and accessories are captivating. At Marinsel you will feel as though you are in a tiny wonderland, surrounded by creative inspirations for gifts and lifestyle products. You can indulge yourself with culinary delights at the Angels Share, Smuk, Da Graziella, Zum Onkel or the Zum Goldenen Fass.
From the Matthäus quarter our route takes you to the historic centre of Klein Basel. Apart from the Manor, which is one of the city’s largest shopping centres, where you can buy everything you could possibly need, there are plenty of other corners to shop in, which are easy to miss when you are just passing through. Ahoi Ahoi is the name of one of these treasure chests in the Unteren Rheingasse. Irma & Fred’s second-hand shop in the Claramattweg is also quite unique. The concentration of valuable finds here feels like a reflection of the concentration of gastronomic highlights in Klein Basel’s historic centre. This includes restaurants such as the Roter Bären, the Klingeli, Ufer7, the Krafft hotel, Zum Schmale Wurf and the Café Spitz – the last four all located on the banks of the Rhine.
Now we cross the Wettstein bridge to make our way back to Grossbasel. There are plenty of shopping inspirations between the Bankverein and the main station. In the boutiques Schritt für Schritt and Naked in the Henric Petri Strasse, and the Wicky concept store in the Brunngässlein, you can enjoy a personal consultation guided with plenty of sense of style. The Danoise boutique in the Aeschenvorstadt, which specialises in Scandinavian design for the home is also extremely stylish. A visit here is doubly worth- while because you can treat yourself to Danish delicacies in the Smørrebrød bar on the first floor. After this delightful stop we head to the next quarter of Basel: the Gundeli.
The range of things on offer here is huge and reflects the character of this immensely diverse quarter. The coffee roastery, La Columbiana, invites you in for a wonderfully aromatic coffee, the Roesch furniture store has a range of high-quality products for stylish modern living and the Abfüllerei shows you how to shop alternatively and sustainably by refilling your own bottles. And by the way, you can enjoy one of the best drinks in town at Werk 8.
We approach Basel’s city centre via the Spalenvorstadt. At Dandy Delirium you will probably find the most cutting-edge shirts in the whole city – and Living Room reveals itself as a real treasure chest full of wonderful accessories and vintage furniture. Down the Spalenberg a boundless shopping paradise awaits you with a multitude of small local brands. Tarzan, Edel Shirt, Street-Files, Atelier Risa, kleinbasel by Tanja Klein and Format Brigitte Hürzeler will captivate you with their stylish ranges in the field of fashion, manufactured by people with a passion. Do you need a pick-me-up? Visit Restaurant 1777 in the Schmiedenhof and enjoy the sandwiches and salad bowls that you can mix yourself.
The conclusion of our shopping tour will be the Freie- Strasse and the alleyways leading off from it. International brands such as Apple, Zara, H&M, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Hästens, Søstrene Grene, alongside Cartier and Bucherer vie for your attention here. The Globus department store offers a real shopping experience. As does the new concept store ThisIsYours Bistro & Store with a variety of inspiring realms. Inspired – you certainly are now, through and through. Because with inspiration comes the joy of discovery and the wish to explore this beautiful city yourself – just once more and then again. Involve yourself in it, feel it, experience it. This city will arouse something within you. A connection that will have you coming back, again and again.
