Monmouth named among the Top 20 retailers in the world Times Newspapers Ltd

THREE London stores have been named among the top 20 retailers in the world by an exclusive style magazine.

Music store Rough Trade East, designer menswear seller Oliver Spencer and Monmouth Coffee were chosen in the poll for Monocle magazine's April edition.

By contrast, New York could muster only one entry on the list, while Paris managed two.

Editor Tyler Brûlé describes its Top 20 as a "carefully curated hot list" of the best retail experiences from around the globe.

Rough Trade East, whose Rough Trade predecessor in west London spawned a record label that signed dozens of bands from The Smiths to The Libertines, was the sole music store to make the list.

"20,000 handwritten recommendations and outstanding vinyl and CD selection"

The emporium just off Brick Lane was chosen for its "20,000 handwritten recommendations and outstanding vinyl and CD selection".

Rough Trade's retail director Stephen Godfrey said: "It’s a pure delight to share and introduce music to our customers, and we hope that comes across in the store atmosphere."

Despite opening its Bloomsbury store just last year, Oliver Spencer already boasts Hollywood stars Orlando Bloom and Benicio Del Toro among its celebrity clientele.

Store manager Tom Bodaly said the label designed and produced most of its menswear in London and demand had never been higher despite the recession.

He said: "We feel privileged to sit next to these well established retailers after only being here as a store for a year."

Monmouth Coffee, which has been serving caffeine addicts in Covent Garden since 1978, was named for "for loving what they do and knowing their beans".

Monocle’s Top 20 Retailer "hot list":

Demasie, Barcelona

Roden Gray, Vancouver

Oliver Spencer, London

JR Leder, Berlin

Monmouth Coffee, London

Rough Trade East, London

Truck Furniture, Osaka

Ciclic, Barcelona

Eslite, Taipei

Isetan food hall, Tokyo

Odin, New York

Frederic Malle, Paris

Svenskt Tenn, Stockholm

Hakusan, Tokyo

Johnny Farah, Beirut

Bi Rite, San Francisco

Pierre Hardy, Paris

Lisn/Aoyama, Kyoto/Tokyo

Aspesi, Milan