Gone Shopping: Copenhagen and Amsterdam

Dora

When in London, I lose myself in aisles packed with fragrant teas and charmingly decorated tins of biscuits. In Paris, it’s all about the shoes and bags… that is, when I’m coming up for air from macarons and croissants. And on a recent trip to Copenhagen and Amsterdam, I found another shopping focus: all things cooking and serving. After wandering from stores stacked with gorgeous china to ones with the most delicate ceramics to emporiums with an encyclopedic collection of kitchen-wares, here, a few of my personal favorites.

Dora, Copenhagen: Maybe I was on a high from my delicious breakfast at Granola across the street, but from the moment I walked into Dora I was ready to move in. Bar carts filled with glassware were nestled alongside stacks of Duralux; there were perfect little notebooks, unusual lightbulbs designed for placement inside dangling paper pendant lamps, and all the woven baskets you would need to cart your loot out. For those with more Krones to blow, the vintage-style furniture and rugs are killer. www.shopdora.dk/

Hay, Copenhagen: Located in the city’s central shopping district, this two-story design temple focuses mostly on furniture. But, there are tools a-plenty to make even the most mundane kitchen tasks devastatingly stylish, including a gorgeously weighty set of kitchen scissors and a sleek stone rolling pin. The minimalist glassware is a great find that would work with almost any plates back home. Make sure to hit mega-home store Illums Bolighus and the Royal Copenhagen flagship store a few stores down, as well. www.hay.dk/

Keramiker

Keramiker Inge Vincents, Copenhagen: Nestled alongside foodie heavyweights like Relae, Manfred & Vins, and Coffee Collective on hopping Jaegersborggade, this ceramics shop is turning out delicate hand-crafted pieces meant for both utility and display. I left with a delicate tea-light in the shape of a paper bag ­and the winding latte mugs. www.vincents.dk/

Duikelman, Amsterdam: With two locations on one block, these kitchen-focused stores have enough gear, books, and doo-dads to keep even the most intense professional chef entertained. Coffee purists will appreciate the dedicated espresso machine and coffee boutique, while the upstairs cookbook area kept me occupied for quite some time. The vast tea towel selection also happens to make excellent wrapping for other presents. www.duikelman.nl/

Pluk

Pluk, Amsterdam: It’s work visiting Pluk to gawk at the space alone, a sprawling, lofty boutique and restaurant in the Nine Streets shopping district. After snacking on goat cheese, zucchini and walnut sandwiches and freshly-squeezed organic juice, make sure to check out the carefully curated selection of mugs, cups, vases and other small (translation, packable) home goods. The aesthetic is more girly than its hyper-sleek neighbors which, depending on who you’re shopping for, could be a good thing. www.pluk9straatjes.nl/

MELISSA LIEBLING-GOLDBERG