This quaint little shop sells romantic, hand-crafted treasures, including bedding for the whole family, quilts and room decor, pretty teapots and cups, purses, unique figurines and other such nostalgic gifts and ornaments. For children, one can find fabric dolls, wooden and felt jewellery, doll houses and quality aesthetic items of a like sort. Prices are on the high side, though reasonable, considering that everything is handmade.
Pretty Things Workshop, at 12 Krakra Str and 3 Moskovska Str. Some online shopping available at e-prettythings.com.

For gorgeous, charming gifts of distinctive jewellery, candles, tea accessories, paintings, handmade cards, photo frames and seasonal decorations, this boutique will have you covered (and converted). Also offers exceptional Christmas tree ornaments. Art Shop Kikka, at 28 Shipka Str. A small gift shop with hand-crafted pottery and ceramic home items, as well as paintings, candles and unique earthy jewellery, and some traditional Bulgarian music.
Art Shop Magazincheto Spolouka, at 46 William Gladstone Str.

This serene haven in Sofia offers gorgeous hand-crafted Bulgarian souvenirs, including knitted woollen clothing for all ages, pottery and art, natural toys for children, one-of-a-kind cards, a large selection of beautiful silver jewellery and many other captivating objects. It occupies a number of different rooms, and it is such a pleasure wandering about, as if on a treasure hunt discovering delights so pleasantly displayed. Even better, Traditzia Foundation supports socially disadvantaged people and entrepreneurial artisans by generating opportunities for them to help themselves, and whose crafted items are featured in the shop.
Traditzia, at 36 Vassil Levski Blvd, traditzia.bg

For adorable artist-related gifts, Slunchogled is the epicentre of creativity: art supplies, beads, ribbons galore, soft felt shapes, decoupage paper, fabric dyes, tiny wooden furniture to be painted or appliqued, gift sets, little bits and bobs, and many children's craft kits, all resulting in an oasis of a shopping experience. Also exotic teas by the gramme.
Slunchogled, in Sofia at 13 Ivan Vazov Str; in Varna at 14 Shipka Str, slanchogled.com and teabg.com.

Pampering
Bulgaria is abundant with pharmacies carrying the usual L'Oreal and Nivea; Apteka Remedium's largest location on Tsar Shishman Street offers such an opulent selection of foreign cosmetic brands, making you feel as if you are in Western Europe. Nothing is behind the counter, so you may spend as much time browsing, and pondering and comparing ingredients, as you like. Natural face and body care selections are the Italian Planter's Eco_bio, the German Weleda and Primavera, luscious Dutch body butters and scrubs by Greenland, and the British Faith in Nature.
Apteka Remedium, at 17 Tsar Shishman Str.

This sizeable two-storey location in the city centre offers beauty products on the first floor and a large selection of mainstream children's toys on the second. Selling perfumes, make-up, skin care and basic toiletries, this shop is a sort of English Boots chemist without the pharmacy. On offer are also Bronnley's fine English soaps, and almost all their bath and body products, for a nostalgic themed gift, as well as a large range of natural body products by Greenland. A unique item unseen elsewhere is the quality soap by Nesti Dante, made in the Italian saponeria (classic slow cauldron) method, and packaged in the most colourful and beautiful paper that no one will be able to throw away. The soaps weigh a generous 250g, with innovative varieties such as Citrus Peel, Red Basil & Lime, Pomegranate & Blackcurrant, and Lettuce, or themed soaps titled Villages & Monasteries or Enchanting Forest.
Bonjour is on Slaveikov Square; NestiDante.com.

"Your own private spa" is the motto of this Bulgarian soap company, whose luxurious soaps and skin care products are intended to recreate an enchanting spa experience in one's very own home. Soaps are sold by weight, and sliced from larger loaves in front of you, the fun part being that you can pick up the unpackaged soaps and sample all the scents and textures. The bars are saturated with colour, and their fragrance, the biggest plus of this company, never weakens (unlike mass-produced soaps). Aromas are luscious and engulf your body in perfume, with endless choices, usually created with essential oils. Varied soap bases are available, depending on your skin's needs: glycerine, olive oil, cream, dead-sea salt and mud, and their exfoliating line with an integrated loofah sponge. Body, bath, face care and decorative candles are available, too.
Casyopea, at 19 Tsar Shishman Str, Mall of Sofia and City Center Sofia. For locations in other cities and abroad, check out casyopea.com.

This petite shop sells Bulgarian-made leather goods by ELAI; the quality is good, and prices low. Hats, handbags, purses and the perfect-for-winter Ugg-style sheepskin house slippers for men and women are on offer. But their main product is gloves, lots of gloves for men and women, in every colour imaginable: lilac, teal, pink and spring green, as well as practical blacks and browns. Even more delightful are the different styles, from elegant elbow length, with delicate detailing, to grungy biker gloves with knuckle cut-outs. Varieties are available unlined, lightly lined and with extra-warm lining. Unfortunately, the company does not make children's sizes, so those cosy sheepskin slippers will have to be just for adults.
ELAI, at 27 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, gloves.911.bg

Decorating
Sparkling glassware of all sorts is on offer at this expansive and airy Turkish shop. Browsing is a pleasure, and you will find ice cream bowls, cake platters and every variety of glass, whether for water, martini or cognac. Also colourful patterned plates, cutlery, sushi servers and decorative traditional Turkish vases.
Pasabahce, at City Center Sofia.

Appropriately named Home, this two-storey shop sells home decor and furniture, in styles inspired by top designers, at affordable prices. Items are generally imported from countries close by, including Greece and Turkey, and are of reasonable quality.
Home, at 57 Vassil Levski Blvd.

Known as Tchibo in its native Germany, this popular chain store is half cafe-boutique, half home appliances and clothing shop. So while you are enjoying your daily java and Bavarian pretzel, you may happen to spot an inexpensive waffle iron/sandwich grill, a great winter coat for your little one and a stainless steel bathroom toiletry set. Well, in Bulgaria these shops do not encompass the cafe half, only on the home items, and I cannot pledge whether the shops are authorised representatives.
Nevertheless, the items are genuine German quality, in their original packaging, and electronics come with a one-year guarantee. Most importantly, prices are moderate, but you do have to pop in often, as stock is constantly revolving.
TCM at 46 Graf Ignatiev Str, 161 Rakovski Str, 40 General Gurko Blvd, 46 Ivan Denkoglou Str, 22 Gotse Delchev Blvd, in Mladost across from Billa, Lyulin at the co-operative; the central import warehouse is in Plovdiv, on the ring road on the way to Assenovgrad.

This large furniture and interior decor shop is a sort of imitation Ikea, though not quite providing the great Swedish design. Nevertheless, it is quite reasonable with products and prices, and a good one-stop location for home and family-related finds.
Como, at 267 Okolovrusten Put (Sofia ring road), Mladost 4, como.bg.

Amusing
For a multitude of contemporary media, Orange Center sells books, CDs, DVDs, European stationery, diaries and more, all under one roof, though many storeys high. Orange Center, at 18 Graf Ignatiev Str.

A one-stop shop for everything related to children: toys, clothes, baby gear, stationery, room decor, ride-on bikes and cars, all in an endless, affordable selection. Everything is mainstream and generally made in China, so this is not the place to find a future heirloom. The Greek Jumbo also sells kitchen and home items, adult accessories and lovely seasonal decorations.
Jumbo, at 51 Blvd Bulgaria.

For classics and current selections of Bulgarian- and English-language books, and covetable coffee table tomes, Booktrading will leave you satisfied.
Booktrading, at 50 Graf Ignatiev Str, 49 Khan Asparouh Str, 7a Slaveikov Sq and Sky City Mall in the Geo Milev borough.

For quality wines, spirits, tobacco, and cigars, the knowledgeable staff at Cheers can aid you in making an informed selection. All kinds of accessories are available, too, like humidors, cigar cases, cutters, hydrometers, designer lighters, ashtrays and gift sets suitable for a distinguished gentleman.
Cheers, at 59 Vassil Levski Blvd, 14 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd and 116 GS Rakovski Str; in Veliko Turnovo at 10 Ivan Vazov Str, cheers.bg.