6 Best Places to Shop in Esquilino and Environs, Rome

This funky little bookshop has a large selection of comics and graphic novels, most of which are in Italian. It also sells posters and prints by local artists, which can make nice souvenirs. The caffè inside serves coffee, cocktails, and light bites and has seating outside.

Colorful Chie Mihara shoes, chunky handbags, luxurious perfumes, boutique jewelry, and funky dresses make this one of the best local shops in boho San Lorenzo. The focus is on innovative clothes from local and international designers like Alice Marrone, Apuntob, Hannoh, and Rundholz.

Part of the Max Mara group, Marella is sometimes described as Max Mara's little sister, as it sells slightly more youthful and affordable clothes than the original. Expect elegant, high-quality coats, jackets, and pants; dresses, skirts, and blouses that are often done in colorful prints; and accessories such as shoes, bags, scarves, and sunglasses. During semiannual sales (in January and July), you can find especially good deals. There's also a location near the Spanish Steps on Via Frattina.

This massive covered market is an excellent place to wander thanks to its Italian, Asian, and African specialties. Many of Rome's top restaurants get their main ingredients here.

Vintage aficionados, university students, musicians, and the occasional costume designer looking for something a little offbeat all love browsing through the racks of this hip vintage clothing emporium. The clothes fly off the racks quite quickly thanks to its eclectic selection of 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s apparel and shoes at hard-to-beat prices. The shop has another location on Via dei Serpenti in Monti.

Rome's handiest central shopping mall is this cluster of shops that stays open until 10 pm (even on Sunday), conveniently located right inside Rome's biggest train station, Stazione Termini. In a city not exactly known for its convenient shopping hours, this "shop before you hop" hub is a good spot for last-minute goodies. Stores include ever-popular chains like Mango, Moleskine, and Sephora; bookshops with good selections of English-language best sellers; a grocery store; and a well-stocked food court.