10 Best Vintage Shops Rome

10 Best Vintage Shops in Rome

Bowler Vintage Fossgate York by Malcolmxl5 from Wikimedia Commons

Buying wonderful vintage things in Rome ten years ago was pricey and time-consuming. There were a few quality resellers, but they demanded a lot of money for their old goods, to put it frankly.

However, as the city’s vintage appreciation has grown, the selections and pricing have become much more accessible.  Why should you purchase vintage? Even if you don’t dress in the sixties, seventies, or eighties clothes from head to toe, gently used accessories lend quality and sophistication to any ensemble.

They don’t create bags like they used to, and buying vintage jewellery is like buying into history, adding a genuinely distinctive touch to an ensemble.

1. Mercato Monti

The cult of the hipster is alive and well in the streets around Piazza Della Madonna Dei Monti, and they are rocking some inspiring looks. Any vintage lover should start their search in Monti: there are many great stores here, plus the revival of the hipster is alive and well and rocking some inspiring looks in the streets around Piazza della Madonna Dei Monti.

If you’re in Rome on a weekend, start with Mercato Monti, a covered market with roughly 30 booths and 10 merchants offering well-selected second-hand clothing and reconditioned objects: we adore the old books that have been transformed into reading lights by adding Edison bulbs. Although the prices are high, there is a good range of antique silk scarves and more current pre-loved coats and shirts, as well as entertaining, brand-new items like crazy t-shirts and fabric bags.

2. Le Vesti di Messalina

Vintage and Antique Stores by Stacie from Wikimedia Commons

This vintage boutique is easy to overlook among Rome’s vintage shops, yet it has a fantastic selection and cheap rates. According to a local guy friend who shops here on a daily basis, this is one of the greatest places for guys to find used leather, denim, and fabric jackets to suit their inner rocker, mod, or punk. The collection of jeans, in particular, is fantastic.

3. King Size Vintage

King-Sized Vintage has a wonderful collection of shoes for both ladies and men, as well as a large number of purses, albeit the quality and age of the merchandise vary substantially. There are a lot of 70s and 80s clothes, so it has a dressing-up feel to it, but there are also felt hats, tea dresses, and a huge selection of Dr Martens shoes and Clarks desert boots for everyday use.

4. Flamingo

Flamingo is an unmarked business on the charming Via del Boschetto that specializes in high-end vintage couture as well as some brand-new, period-style items manufactured in-house.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill secondhand store; instead, it’s a treasure trove of absolutely immaculate condition items, with pricing to match. Look for Valentino handbags, Yves Saint Laurent shoes, and Ferragamo scarves, as well as some stunning jewellery. Definitely one of the best vintage shops in Rome.

5. Le Gallinelle Abito

While the outfits at Le Gallinelle are nearly all new and designed in-house by the three fashion designers who operate the company, it is also a great location to get vintage purses. They only have 8 to 12 bags on show at any given time, and they aren’t always big-name items, but the quality is the greatest.

Many of these bags are pristine, therefore I’m guessing they’re antique deadstock (items created a few decades ago but never sold, languishing in stock rooms for years). For the last six months or so, Le Gallinelle has been collaborating with Sacripante Gallery, the next-door showroom space, to sell its items, so if number 61 Via Panisperna is closed, try number 59! Also, keep an eye on Le Gallinelle Abito’s fantastic Facebook page for more ideas.

6. Gocce di Memoria

Gocce di Memoria has been operating for a long time and is still a good place to go in Rome for vintage sunglasses, couture bags, men’s ties, and other one-of-a-kind items.

The prices range from moderate to high, but it’s always worth stopping by to check what’s on offer. If you’re looking for something outside of business hours, they also have an Etsy store!

7. De Nisi Vintage

I tried to stay away from antiques for this list, but I couldn’t leave this place off. If you like antique designs, you’ll adore this fantastic vintage business, which specializes in furniture and vintage lamps, as well as a variety of other home accessories. There are a lot of flairs here, from mirrors to posters, ceramics to sculptures and chairs, with largely Italian and French pieces for sale.

8. Pifebo

I’m not going to lie: Pifebo is one of my favourite games. I like vintage accessories to clothing, yet this shop inspires me to wear a preppy zip-up, Adidas tracksuit, or Metal-logo leather jacket like nowhere else.

Pifebo is also known for having the greatest variety of inexpensive antique handbags in town – there, I said it! This is my go-to spot for finding inexpensive no-name bags made of high-quality leather for around €25, as well as Bridge bags, designer shoes, and brand-new vintage-style sunglasses. One of the greatest vintage boutiques in Rome at an incredible price.

9. Pifebo Kilo Shop

If you thought Pifebo was cheap, wait till you see their Kilo Shop next door. This shop sells entire bags of garments at incredible costs, as well as low-cost, no-name antique bags. The clothing is only €15 a kg, with bags costing €10 and used shoes for €10. Extreme deal-seekers will love it.

10. Tempi Moderni

Via del Governo Vecchio, Rome’s other vintage destination is home to some of the city’s oldest vintage shops. The prices are a little more, but it’s worth a look. Boutique Tempi Moderni is a one-of-a-kind shop that specializes in Bakelite and celluloid jewellery from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as pop art prints and vintage styles, including magnificent couture items from Europe’s most prestigious design companies.

Vintage clothes are your best choice if you want to stand out and imprint your identity with a distinct sense of style. It’s simple to brighten your life, introduce some comedy, and show others how it’s done with vintage clothes.