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If you’ve been here before, you might know that I’ll always make time for vintage and thrift shopping in a new city. So it’s no surprise that carving out time for a bit of shopping in Bari was a very high priority during my visit!
I firmly believe that shopping small, independent, and secondhand/vintage or antique is one of the few guaranteed ways left that you can authentically engage with and explore a destination these days. With travel becoming more and more oversaturated, curated, and polished, I think it’s so important to hold on to the authenticity we have left!
Plus, this is a great way to collect one of a kind souvenirs, and actually chat with locals while you’re shopping.
Bari is the exact perfect type of place to vintage and thrift shop. It’s gritty and authentic in ways that big capital cities (it’s the capital of Puglia) often struggle to maintain. The sheer number of vintage shops, record stores, and cool/intimidating people we saw in Bari really are a testament to how great this place is.
Start scrolling to get the full guide of all the best shopping in Bari, and if you want to easily import it into your Google Maps, check out my Google Maps shop.
Delve into Italy
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Italy posts and guides if you’re still planning your perfect trip!
The Best Shopping in Bari
🌟 AN IMPORTANT NOTE 🌟
If you plan on shopping in Bari, it’s important to understand store opening times in Puglia.
In general, you can expect most shops (and really, all kinds of establishments) to be closed between 1pm and 5pm for the daily pausa. This can be a challenging adjustment, but think of it as an opportunity to slow down and smell the roses! And use the time to rest up – just like the Italians do.
For other must-known tips before visiting Puglia, check out my things to know before visiting Puglia post.
1. Second Chance Vintage
Second Chance Vintage is incredibly well curated, and manages to keep at bay the overwhelming vibe that some vintage shops have. While I thought they had some great pieces, and it was all well maintained, it did feel overpriced in my opinion, so we didn’t buy anything here.
They also carry a decent amount of reworked vintage, which I always enjoy seeing. I feel like this is the ideal type of shop for someone who hates digging through messy racks for a gem. It’s organized and maintained so it’s an ideal experience for someone who hates the stress.
2. Bidonville
This was my second favorite vintage shop in Bari. There are two storefronts just next door to one another, so make sure you don’t miss the second one.
The first one is a bit more “boy” coded. A lot of sports jerseys and mens shirts, very casual and sporty vibes. The other side though, is much more of a treasure trove.
They have lots of true vintage pieces lining the walls and shelves. The racks are full of well maintained vintage clothing and there’s even a whole back section of the store with more to check out.
They also offer some reworked pieces—Daniel got a cropped shirt that had been given an embroidered applique. I would say that Bidonville is one of the more “worth it” shops on the list.
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3. Venere Musica e Libri Vintage – Via Melo da Bari 184
Venere Musica e Libri is basically impossible to find on the internet. They don’t seem to be on Google Maps, and their Instagram is all but abandoned.
We found this gem of a store the old-fashioned way: by accidentally stumbling upon it en route to another shop!
The woman who runs the place doesn’t seem to speak any English, but she was super friendly and tried to help where she could anyway.
The walls are lined with used books, almost entirely in Italian, but a very cool selection nonetheless. The bulk of the shop, however, is taken up by racks of vinyl records, used and new, spanning genres and countries. We ended up taking home a few random used records as well as some specific Italian records she recommended. Definitely recommend checking this Bari second hand shop out if you’re into vinyl!
4. I Fanizzi Lab
I Fanizzi Lab left us a bit puzzled. The vibes were a bit weird, but that might just be because it was a slow day and the people on staff were hanging out by the register not paying much attention, which is frankly relatable.
I felt like a lot of the pieces were closer to what I would describe as good quality thrift, rather than vintage.
However, there was a nice selection of denim and leather which may be worth the visit on its own. Another nice thing about this shop is that it’s quite big, and very close to the historic center, so it’s worth popping in regardless!
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5. Scenario
Scenario is probably both my and Daniel’s favorite vintage store in Bari. The selection in here was insanely well curated, and insanely well priced. Now, that’s not to say it’s particularly cheap, but it’s beyond fair for the quality of what you’re purchasing.
The owner here was also exceptionally nice, chatting to us about Bari and London and vintage while we shopped. When Daniel was interested in a pair of leather boots he went online to investigate the retail price for us, which is how we learned we were getting a nearly €400 price reduction.
The shop carries clothes for all genders, but when I was there I did feel that it leaned a bit more androgynous/male. It’s very possible this changes as the stock changes though, and I still think it’s worth a visit regardless.
6. New Records
We spotted New Records because it’s just across the street from Scenario.
We didn’t end up spending very long here because it was all new records, and we’re usually more likely to want to peruse second-hand vinyls if I’m honest.
However, I wanted to throw it on the list anyway because some people
would prefer to explore a regular record shop! And if that’s you, New Records is perfect.
7. Pescivolanti
Pescivolanti is a small but well curated little shop that carries high quality second hand and vintage pieces.
It’s very intentionally curated and mission-driven: committed to sustainability and bringing life back to older pieces.
I would say that Pescivolanti feels more like a cute little boutique than a vintage store, which I think was the goal!
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8. Urban cose da vestire
Great and fashionable selection at this shop.
A good mix of vintage pieces through the decades and a warm and inviting atmosphere in the store.
I think there was a bit more women’s clothing here than men’s, but it’s possible that the stock changes regularly.
I nearly bought a perfect white skirt here but the fit just wasn’t quite right, and I’m still sad about it.
9. Prinz Zaum Bari
Prinz Zaum Bari is one of my absolute favorite types of establishments. It’s a bit of a bookstore (with a leftist slant), a bar, a coffee shop, and an event space. I wish we’d had enough time to visit in the evening to grab a drink, but I was still pretty enamored by it when we visited during the day to check out the books.
This is definitely one of my favorite types of places. Celebrating smaller publishers and authors, cool merch and vibe, and overall a wonderful atmosphere. A classic “third space” if I’ve ever seen one.
I’ll be back here for sure next time I’m in Bari.
10. Mix Market Records
We sadly did not have time to visit Mix Market records, which is a bummer because looking at the reviews and photos makes me think we would have enjoyed it.
People seem to say that the selection is great and the owner is knowledgeable.
Plus, as a bonus, it’s nearby to Urban l’assassineria urbana, which is one of the recommended places to get spaghetti all’assassina.
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P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Are you ready for your Bari shopping adventure?
There’s honestly very few things more satisfying to me than vintage and thrift shopping, so to do it while traveling is just icing on the cake. I hope this post was useful to you as you plan all the Bari thrift stores you want to visit!
If you’re still planning the perfect trip to Puglia, check out the archives here, and if you want more ideas for your time in Bari, check that out here.
Also, you may be interested in my Google Maps if you think it would be helpful to download this whole list directly into your own Google Maps app!
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