La Cañada Shopping Centre
It’s true that high street shopping is considerably more comfortable in Spain than in the UK. However, when it gets too hot, it’s good to know that you can take refuge in an undercover shopping centre. Marbella’s La Canada Shopping Centre, situated just off the N-340, coming off at the junction labelled “Ojen” and “ Parque Commercial” even offers free underground parking to keep your car cool.
Open from 10am to 10pm, you are free to shop all day stopping just for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whilst you are there, you can even do your supermarket shopping at the large Alcampo supermarket which not only sells the obvious food, but also clothes, CDs, household equipment and even furniture.
But for most women, food shopping is a boring chore; we want to know what shops there are for us. Well, firstly if you are feeling a bit homesick and missing your UK high street, take your pick from the following familiar names, unfortunately for the guys, it’s just ladies only:
UK High Street Names
- Top Shop - you might find it is slightly more expensive and a bit slower with the trends.
- Dorothy Perkins - same as above. Good selection of accessories and knickers.
- H&M - a refreshingly tidy and organised one that is often a month ahead of the UK with stock, some say what you pay in pounds in the UK, you pay in Euros)
- Evans - much needed here in Spain where fashion seems to be prohibited for anyone bigger than a 12/14)
- C&A - remember this high street fave, I used to get all more clothes from there when I was a teen!)
- Mango - albeit a Spanish import, anyone who hasn’t seen a Mango and Zara in the UK has been living in the wilderness for the past five years. A huge store with two floors.
- Zara - a huge one level Zara with Mens, Ladies and Children’s
Spanish Ladies Fashion
- Bershka - up to the minute affordable fashion for teens and twenties
- Stradivarius – all the latest fashions with a few classic pieces such as crisp white shirts and basic city shorts at very affordable prices. Their choice of jeans is popular too.
- Blanco – Young fashion with vivid colours and patterns. A good selection of ballet pumps in all different colours.
- Pinke – Cheap as in price and quality. Along the lines of the UK store Select. If you have the patience to search through all the tack, you might find something.
- Pull and Bear – Funky urban/street wear. Lots of denim jeans skirts etc
- Massimo Dutti – classic with a fashionable twist, lovely wearable evening wear. Good tailoring.
- Promod – appeals to the Dorothy Perkins, Next Shopper. More “grown up” and better quality. Lovely knitwear and coats.
- Benetton – lots of bright colours and classic casual.
- Adolfo Dominguez
- S’fera – Looks like a mini department store, split into sections according to styles and colour. Has a small lingerie and cosmetic department.
- Cortifiel – Classic smart ladies clothes. Good quality targeting a more mature clientele but not for those looking for the latest fashion. Other shops that are part of the Cortefiel group are Springfield, Milano and Women Secret.
- Punto Roma – The Spanish equivalent to Evans offering fashion in bigger sizes. Probably not as fashionable as Evans but good for smart clothes such as trousers and jackets.
- Pedro del Hierro – Elegant and feminine designs. Beautiful dresses. Worth noting that this designer also does an interior range, although it is not available in this store.
- Caramelo – Galicia based company where the clothes are manufactured. Beautifully cut, classic designs with a contemporary twist.
- Purificacion Garcia – Aimed at the 30 plus market, although some British people in their thirties might find it a bit too formal for everyday wear. Not as expensive as you would imagine from their elegant window display.
- Inexplicable - glittery footballer's wives evening dresses.
Ladies Underwear
- Oysho – pretty and funky designs in underwear and loungewear. Limited range of sizes and bigger busted women will be disappointed.
- Women Secret – can be a bit confusing to work out the purpose of some of clothes or rather where you are supposed to wear them so everything can be described as loungewear. Funky colours and accessories make great gifts.
Men
- Springfield – casual with a wide range of sizes. Great for casual shirts, t shirts, jumpers in bright colours and comfy combats.
- Massimo Dutti – classic but contemporary fashion
- Armand Basi – not the latest fashion as such, this affordable designer has a distinctive look to his clothes. More expensive that most of the other men’s high street names but not quite in the Boss price range for this reason you won’t see lots of people wearing the same.
- Coronel Tapioca – for men and women. Casual clothes with an adventure/safari feel. Good for comfy combats and shorts. Lots of neutral colours.
- Pull and Bear – casual alternative to Massimo Dutti aimed at the 20 to 45 age groups. Limited range of sizes, maximum being a small Large.
- Often – a slightly more urban spin off of Pull and Bear.
- Zara Man – fashionable but limited range of sizes. Their tops come up quite small.
Shoes
La Cañada isn’t the best shopping centre for shoe shopping and can be disappointing. Try the following but don’t get too excited as I wouldn’t recommend any of them for value for money or latest fashions:
- Scarpi Shoes
- Cordones Shoes
- Carpi Shoes
- Pysco Shoes
Interiors
If its furniture with a familiar name that you are looking for there’s a great Habitat store.
- Zara home have the prettiest bed linen, cushions and other accessories for the home.
- Casa – have lots of fun and funky things for the home ranging from glasses to candles.
- Textile – Bed linen
- Natuzzi – beautiful modern furniture from Italy.
- Imperial – furniture ranking from modern to classic.
Children’s Clothes and Toys
- Imaginarium Toy Shop – Lots of bright colours and tactile object. Not a great choice compared with our own Early Learning Centre and not a lot to stimulate a child past the age of five.
- Chicco – good quality toys, equipment for babies and a limited selection of toys. Lovely, good quality pyjamas and clothes for up to three years.
- Okaidi – comfy clothes designed to be placed in and thrown in the washing machine.
- Hennes – good value, easy to look alter fashionable clothes which appeal to children with cartoon motifs. Lots of themed accessories. Underwear, pyjamas, bags and hair bands.
- Womans Secret Kids – cool shop with mini versions of Women Secret designs in pyjamas and leisurewear. The colours and patterns are bright and eye catching.
- Caribu – lots of smock dresses and little wool cardis for girls and shirts and smart trousers for boys.
- Zara – good value, not necessarily good quality as buttons fall off and stitching becomes loose but irresistibly cute designs. The tops are small so it is worth getting a size bigger for underarm comfort and growth.
- Fantasia - children's shoes with brands including Kickers, Geox, Coverse, Ralph Lauren.
- Gocco - Children's clothes. Quite traditional with lots of smock dresses and pretty blouses for girls and short trousers for boys.
Gifts
Funky Fish - Very pink, with lots for the teenage girl market. Flip flops, clocks, bracelets...
Body Shop
Books and DVDs
Fnac – wide selection of children’s books in Spanish. Small English section. Lots of CDs and DVDs.
Leisure
The most refreshing thing about La Cañada is that there is more to it than just shops. There is a multiscreen cinema which often shows British and American films in their original languages, mainly in the afternoon. There is also a bowling alley, with an amusement arcade and great children’s rides. In fact, La Cañada is actually quite doable with little children as there are all kinds of Euro rides which can be sued as bribes, all over the centre including a really pretty carousel ride outside KFC and other restaurants.
Jewellery Shops
There are also some wonderful jewellery shops in La Canada, what could be a better way to spend your holiday than looking through a collection of gorgeous diamond rings or if the sun puts you and your partner in the mood, there are some wonderful engagement rings to choose from.
Restaurants
Bodega Andaluza - authentic, good value spanish tapas
El Rincon
La Pizza
Latinos
La Papardella - wholesome pasta dishes and very authentic pizzas.
Pasta Piazza
Gambrinus
Restaurante Ali Omar
Yimel's Pizza Bar
Relais de Paris
Wrap Cafe - Sushi
Ben and Jerry's - ice cream and waffles
California - snacks
Hormo de Arles - snacks