Bata Shoe Museum — Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? An award-winning, five-story building by architect Raymond Moriyama provides a stylish backdrop for one of the world’s largest temples to footwear. Founded in 1995, this standout museum was built on the private collection of Sonja Bata, a shoe industry exec and world traveler who, over 50 years, amassed a fantastic treasure trove of shoes and related accessories. In addition to showcasing pieces from its nearly 15,000-item permanent collection, the museum also funds regular research projects and trips to explore global footwear traditions and the cultural, religious, class, and gender-related aspects of shoes—resulting in projects that have highlighted everything from the typology of Native footwear to the traditional dress of the Canadian Inuit. Ye shall know them by their permanent collection: How was it? Wander the four bold and contemporary permanent galleries to travel through 4,500 years of shoe history, from ancient Egyptian sandals and Chinese bound-foot shoes to clogs, platforms, and sleek stilettos beloved by contemporary celebs; there's even a dedicated section on fairy tale-themed shoes for kids of all ages. But also by their new shoes. How were the exhibits? Three more galleries house temporary exhibits—a spotlight on the art of Manolo Blahnik, for example—that often feature special “Guest Guides” from the fashion industry. What did you make of the crowd? As a lesser-known—and niche—museum, the Bata rarely has lines, though weekend afternoons and special exhibits and events can draw crowds of aficionados. You’ll mingle with shoe-lovers both local and tourist, and rarely any kids during the week—though there are school programs, story times, and dedicated family time on the weekends with shoe-themed arts and crafts, games of "I spy" through the galleries, and the chance to try on some fun and colorful pairs. On the practical tip, how were facilities? The small museum is easy to navigate. There's not a lot of seating, but you'll move through the galleries pretty quickly—and walking around gives you more opportunity to show off your own footwear, naturally. Any guided tours worth trying? The museum is self-guided, but bring your smartphone and some headphones to download the free "smartguides" detailing topics like the collection, the history of the museum, and the building’s architecture. There’s free Wi-Fi to make accessing the guides a snap. If you can't visit in person, there are also virtual tours held on select dates. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? The shop is small but well-curated with style- and fashion-related books, gifts, stationery, and accessories. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Don’t miss showstoppers like Marilyn Monroe’s red leather stilettos, John Lennon’s Chelsea boots, Queen Victoria’s silk slippers, Madonna’s platform Dolce & Gabbanas, Elton John’s silver and red high platform boots, and—delightfully—the Dalai Lama’s flip flops." - Sandra Ramani