I am sharing this small boutique in Fira, Santorini, Kisira Concept Boutique because I’ve never been in a store quite like it.

Of course Rome is abundant with amazing fashion boutiques, one of the reasons I love living here.

We just enjoyed a week on the Greek Island of Santorini somewhere I had never visited before and having explored the famous cliffside village of Oia (where incidently there is no shopping to speak of) it’s the place with the famous blue domed churches, and when we went absolutely packed I discovered the best shopping on the Island is in the capital Fira.

The shopping I was told was the best on the island, it’s the place where the cruise ships dock and tourists in their hoards disembark to shop so I was expecting an abundance of high end fashion boutiques.

It’s not actually like that at all. We arrived by bus, it was a 10-15 walk from the bus station to the main shopping area, a warren of cobbled streets a top a pretty steep hill. The views when you finally make it to the top, the gift for making the climb. Definitely think about comfortable footwear as these shopping streets are not accessible by car and the cobbles are brutal without comfy shoes. I’d recommend trainers not sandals and definitely not heels if you don’t want to break your neck.

It’s bustling and the merchants care about their businesses but it’s more cafes and artisan studios than high fashion shopping.

If you want to buy gold or gemstones there’s a jewellery quarter where the shops are prestigious with prices to match but the fashion shops were more catering to tourists than genuine fashionistas. Many of the shop window displays were punctuated with a designer piece here and there and I did spot a Missoni shop and a small Dolce and Gabbana store but the stock obviously wasn’t as current as our own flagship stores in Italy.

One shop I did go into, and somewhere I did buy a couple of pieces, although not high designer, was Kisira Concept Store where the friendly service was provided by a man, something I have not experienced before in a smaller boutique only in places like Balmain or Gucci where many of the stylists and retail assistants are men.

This shop was a bit like an art gallery, a collection of rooms you meandered through each with their own personality and creative displays. The merchandising was original and exciting, a mix of high designer and more locally sourced artisan pieces I really enjoyed exploring.

It was cleverly put together some pieces very expensive and some not so, so you could curate a look according to your own budget or just pick up an interesting pair of sunglasses, an unusual pair of shoes or a great beach tote.

For anyone who love fashion especially anyone spoiled by Italian retail, in my view the best in the world, better than Paris or London you are not going to find anything in Fira quite like it, however the vibes and extensive stock at Kisira Convept Store in Fira are well worth a browse.

I will give one heads up, some things in the shop weren’t worth the money charged, lovely things but things all the same you might pick up at a local market for a fraction of the price with a ”I bought this in a special boutique” price tag.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a store quite like it. It definitely got me wanting to shop.