Home to clothing designers Hugo Boss and Ulli Knecht, Stuttgart has its fair share of boutiques that range from interesting to elegant. Klett Passage, across from the train station, is an underground mall full of upscale shops. If you follow the Königstrasse from the station for about half a mile, you'll likely find anything you want in one of the retail stores that line the street. There are somewhat more expensive boutiques along the Calwer Strasse, especially in the gleaming chrome-and-glass arcade, Calwer Passage. Bargains galore can be found at the Saturday morning flea market on the Karlsplatz between the old castle and the new palace, where clothes, books, furniture, household items, art, and just about anything else are likely to turn up.
In business since 1723, Tritschler, Am Marktplatz 7 (tel. 0711/1204574; U-Bahn: Charlottenplatz), stocks glass, porcelain, and fine china as well as cutlery and decorative housewares. Pavillon, Eberhardstrasse 31-33 (tel. 0711/243134; U-Bahn: Rathaus), specializes in silver from the 19th and 20th centuries, and also sells glass, crystal, Meissen porcelain, and a few paintings.
The city's largest bookstore, Wittwer, Königstrasse 30 (tel. 0711/25070; S-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof), carries many books in English and has tables placed throughout the store so that you can comfortably scan potential purchases. For a bit of everything, head to the city's largest department store, Breuninger, Marktstrasse 1-3 (tel. 0711/2110; U-Bahn: Charlottenplatz), where glass elevators whisk you through several floors of housewares, furnishings, and fashion. Take a break for chocolate or gingerbread at Susi, Königstrasse 1 (tel. 0711/2264115; S-Bahn: Hauptbahnhof).
