We first visited Sorrento in 2014 and fell in love with this town instantly. This was in part because of the shopping options; our home is full of things from Sorrento that we’ve purchased across the years and we can now share this knowledge with you in this complete guide to shopping in Sorrento.

On this page I’ll cover:

• A very brief introduction to Sorrento
• Key information for shopping in Sorrento
• Shopping for authentic souvenirs, including ceramics and inlaid wood
• Finding great food and drink, including limoncello
• Discovering the best fashion for women and men
• Shopping for homeware and interior decor
• Other shopping options near Sorrento

Before we set off on our shopping experience in Sorrento there are some key things I’d like to share with you:

• Sorrento is seasonal, with most of the large hotels closing in November and re-opening in March. This means there are a lot less visitors here during the winter and as such many of the shops – including some of those recommended on this page – are closed also. If you have your heart set on visiting a particular store, be sure to confirm in advance of your trip that they will be open to avoid disappointment.

• Don’t be afraid to barter in the smaller shops, particularly if you’re paying with cash. This isn’t something that comes naturally to most visitors from the English-speaking world, but if you are buying a good amount of things (not just a fridge magnet!), shopkeepers are often willing to give you a small discount if you ask and are happy to pay in cash. Note that this will not be the case in the larger shops and brand stores.
• On the note of cash, there are not many ATM’s in Sorrento, and the ones that are there are often out of cash during the busy summer months. As such, you should plan accordingly, and of course, if you travel with cash, take the relevant precautions to keep it safe.

If you are looking for an authentic souvenir from Sorrento, or the perfect gift for a family member or friend, you can’t go wrong with real Italian ceramics or Sorrento’s local speciality of inlaid wood.

Sorrento ceramics traditionally are decorated with bright colors and bold designs. Lemons are heavily featured along with other plants, in everything from small espresso cups to large vases for gardens.

The inlaid wood of Sorrento is more delicate, with intricate details and patterns in both geometric designs as well as pictures of landscapes and scenes from the area.

In both cases you’ll find many shops throughout Sorrento’s main shopping streets offering ceramic and inlaid wood products, but for us, there are just two shops you should consider visiting and buying from.

Unfortunately many of the souvenir shops in Sorrento sell products that have been mass produced, sometimes not locally, and therefore do little to support the local economy beyond the sales tax that is collected on purchases.

For ethically sourced and locally produced items we recommend visiting:

• Nicky (Via Fuoro 11) for unique ceramic goods from small items such as magnets up to large homeware pieces such as serving sets and platters. Nicky’s store is not as polished as some of the other ceramic vendors in Sorrento but don’t let this put you off; his shop is full of artisan-made products which you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. We’ve bought so much from Nicky over the years that he insists that we shouldn’t get something every time we visit his shop, but with an ever-changing stock, we can never stop ourselves!

• Mastellone Guiseppe at Via Torquato Tasso 19 for inlaid wood items from chess sets to coasters. This small but beautiful shop is run by Umberto and his brother who make everything you see on sale by hand. They follow traditional craft methods to feature the intricate details that make inlaid wood items truly unique.

Our favorite shop to purchase anything food and drink related from is Vivi e Sfizi at Via Fuoro 22, directly (conveniently) opposite Nicky’s ceramic shop.

This store doesn’t look that big from the front, but as you enter you’ll see it goes far back, and it’s at the end where you’ll enter a foodie’s paradise.

Here you’ll find everything from high-end wines to artisan pastas, with a lot more on offer. I will routinely stock up on my favorite beer which is produced in Sorrento by Birrificio Syrrentum who make use of the area’s iconic flavors such as lemon and orange to create unique brews.

Beyond the speciality goods on sale here you’ll also find a great selection of wines (from all over Italy and beyond), beers, pastas, sauces, herbs, meats and much more.

Vivi e Sfizi is also a wonderful shop to find unique gifts or souvenirs as they stock a large range of quality kitchen and homeware gadgets alongside their food and drink range.

Let’s talk about limoncello

What makes for a good limoncello is somewhat subjective. Some people like it sweet, and others like it more sharp and borderline bitter (I’m absolutely the latter if you’d like to get me a bottle!).

As such, we would recommend you taste a few different types in the various stores around Sorrento, or consider booking on to a limoncello tasting experience. There is even the chance to taste authentic limoncello in a lemon grove at a couple of places!

Because Sorrento is the home of this iconic liqueur (a claim which is contested by Capri!), it is hard to find a bad limoncello here however. Take a stroll along the narrow street of Via Fuoro starting just off Piazza Tasso and stop at the many places to discover your limoncello options, or grab a bottle at Vivi e Sfizi if you’re pressed for time (the team here is always happy to help).

Whatever you do, just avoid getting the cheapest stuff you see, or anything sold in the supermarkets; these are mass produced versions of the real stuff made and sold here in Sorrento.

Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main street is full of boutiques and designer stores offering recognisable brands for both men and women.

Beyond the big stores, the old town of Sorrento with the narrow street of Via Fuoro and the other side streets offers dozens of independent shops selling linen clothing, handmade footwear (including loafers and sandals) and accessories. Here are some of our favorites:

Linen clothing

There are two things to bear in mind when shopping for linen in Sorrento. One, you want to find products which are 100% pure linen, and two, they should have been manufactured in Italy.

Items that meet this criteria will have a cost that is a little higher compared to items with a lower linen percentage, or have been produced outside of Italy, but you’ll absolutely notice the difference in quality.

We have one go-to place for linen products – Vanity – located at Via Fuoro 7. This is usually one of my first stops on a stay in Sorrento because I like to treat myself to at least one new shirt on most visits. This is both a practical souvenir, but also because after years of purchases, I know I’ll still be wearing it long into the future.

Men’s shoes

Peppe & Italia – This store is located at Via Torquato Tasso 24 and offers a large selection of men’s shoes with a range of both casual and formal options, all of which are handmade.

I love this store over other shoe shops as the owner takes a huge amount of personal pride in his creations, and most pairs include a little quirky badge making them truly unique.

Women’s sandals

Balduccelli Sandali -You’ll find this store directly opposite Peppe & Italia and just around the corner from one of our favorite restaurants.

All the sandals here are handmade using high quality leather and other materials, and in the slim chance you can’t find anything you like on the shelves, the team is ready to create something unique for you.

Women’s clothing

If you are in the market for something special and distinct from this area, consider visiting Antica Sartoria. This female-focused brand has a couple of shops in Sorrento (at Corso Italia 99/101 and Via San Cesareo 39) and is one of Sara’s favorites for fun vacation-ware and accessories.

Antica Sartoria are famous for their vibrant patterns and designs which feature prominently on their clothing, bags, beachwear and shoes, all at reasonable prices. If you’re visiting other parts of Campania, keep an eye out for this brand – you’ll find it in Ischia, Capri, Naples and more.

Beyond our recommended shops for ceramics and inlaid wood items, there is another store that we love when it comes to getting things for our home.

At La Feluca (Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani 60) you’ll find a range of decorative items from vintage prints, original works of art including paintings and sculpture, and much much more.

Over the years we have accumulated a lot of things in this store and always find ourselves paying a visit to get something new whenever we’re in town.

You’ll also find homeware and kitchen accessories for sale at Vivi e Sfizi which I detailed above in the ‘Food and Drink’ section.

If you’re looking to expand your shopping options while in Sorrento, consider visiting:

• Capri – This iconic island can be reached in under 30 minutes from Sorrento via ferry and is another paradise for shoppers. You’ll find the world’s most famous designers and luxury brands here, as well as smaller bespoke artisan boutiques.
• The Amalfi Coast – Towns like Amalfi and Positano are renowned for their high-end fashion and luxury goods, with many designer stores as well as local producers offering high-quality handmade ceramics. The towns along the Amalfi Coast can be reached easily from Sorrento by taking a ferry, or via a private transfer.
• La Reggia Designer Outlet for a range of discounted fashion designer labels and branded products. To get here you’ll need to first get to Naples (via train or ferry from Sorrento) and then a dedicated bus.