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The Big Apple is one of the best shopping destinations in the world, rivaled perhaps only by London, Paris, and Tokyo. Its compact size, convenient subway system, and plentiful cabs (or Uber or Lyft rides) make it easy to navigate with plenty of bags in tow. But what it really comes down to is the staggering number and variety of stores. If you can't find it in New York, it probably doesn't exist.
If you like elegant flagships and money is no object, head to Midtown, where you'll find international megabrands like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci, as well as famed department stores Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys. Nearby Madison Avenue has couture from Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang, and 5th Avenue is lined with famous jewelry stores such as Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Harry Winston. This is also the neighborhood to indulge in bespoke goods, such as handmade shoes from John Lobb. If you like designer pieces but can't afford them, don't despair—there are plenty of upscale consignment shops around the city where you can find last season's Chanel suit or a vintage YSL jacket.
The small, independent shops that once lined SoHo have largely been displaced by the likes of J.Crew and UNIQLO, but if you want to hit the chains, this is a great place to do it, because the neighborhood also provides high-quality people-watching and superb lunches. Poke around on the side streets and in nearby NoLIta for outposts of smaller local and foreign designers and, if you're craving some of old SoHo's artistic spirit, don't discount the street vendors' stalls, which sell handmade jewelry and simple cotton dresses.
The East Village and Lower East Side are hotbeds of creativity and quirky coolness, with little boutiques selling everything from retro furniture to industrial-inspired jewelry. They're tucked among bars and old tenement buildings. The Meatpacking District is another great shopping destination to find chic designer stores like Diane von Furstenberg and rag & bone along with independently owned boutiques. And if you jaunt over to Brooklyn, you'll discover that some of the city's hippest designers are hanging out at boutiques just across the East River.
Designed and made in France, these petites fashions for kids (from newborn up to age 12) are cute and stylish but also practical. Corduroy outfits have details like embroidered flowers and contrasting cuffs, and soft, fleecy jackets are reversible. T-shirts might have pictures of panda bears or Bob Dylan saying "It's alright, Ma."
Feeding the Village's sweet tooth since 1923, Li-Lac indulges shoppers with its almond bark and coconut clusters as well as such specialty items as chocolate-molded Statues of Liberty. The coconut rolls and chocolate-covered graham crackers tempt even the most stubborn dieter. To see how the small-batch chocolates are made, visit Li-Lac's Brooklyn factory.
Specializing in gummies—the kind that will only give you a sugar high—this jewel-box-size sweet shop stocks chewy morsels from Sweden, Spain, Germany, France, Australia, and Brazil, among other locations, with taste profiles ranging from sweet to sour to fruity.
Currently the only independent bookstore in the Bronx, The Lit. Bar opened in April 2019—on National Indie Bookstore Day by no coincidence—as the realized dream of Noëlle Santos, a Black/Puerto Rican venture activist, and proud Bronx native. Venue for the occasional author talk or book signing, The Lit. Bar is a place with a self-proclaimed "bookstore and chill" vibe—the chill component coming in the form of an on-site wine bar that also serves charcuterie boards, boozy pudding pops, and gourmet popcorn.
In early 2023, this 70-year-old Spanish brand, famed for its porcelain lamps, chandeliers, figurines, jewelry, and candleholders, opened this shop—its first high-concept, immersive store in the United States. Shoppers might wonder if they're in an actual store or a museum/gallery as the avant-garde design is as easy on the eyes as the products for sale.
Bring home a truly local souvenir by heading to this diminutive space where owner Caroline Weaver has curated hundreds of fun, high-quality products made within 100 miles of NYC. All your favorite buzzwords are here: small batch, sustainable, organic, artisanal, etc. Pick up sunscreen made in Rockaway Beach, Queens; fettuccine from the Bronx's "Little Italy"; candles from Brooklyn; and even eat-on-the-spot pickles from the city's oldest pickle purveyor.
Its Le Pliage foldable nylon bags may have become a preppy staple, but don't think this label is stuffy—or all about nylon. There's a wide selection of leather handbags as well as wallets, belts, and shoes, and the brand often collaborates with renowned artists. The distinctive store with its eye-catching staircase was designed by celebrity architect Thomas Heatherwick: the first floor is minimal; ascend the stairs for the giant showroom.
In winter 2024, Louis Vuitton wrapped its corner flagship store in the iconic LV pattern—in the form of six suitcases stacked upon one another—and temporarily moved right across 57th Street while the original is under a multiyear renovation. But have no fear, the (new) five-floor shop still has a treasure trove of legendary products from the iconic French design company, including women's and men's goods, LV-emblazoned handbags and accessories, and perfumes.
\nWith more than 1 million square feet of retail space to explore, it's easy to spend an entire day shopping at Macy's vast, iconic Herald Square flagship store, which stocks everything from fragrances and beauty products to shoes and handbags to furniture and appliances. The brand itself is legendary, having launched in 1858 and opened these Midtown doors in 1902. On the Broadway side, check out the painted streetscape (refreshed every year) for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Housed in a historic town house, this boutique peddles European-style housewares and home accessories. Whether you might like some lavender soap from Provence, a set of gourmet cheese knives, or a couple of plush decorative pillows, this boho-chic spot is worth a browse.
This decades-old French fashion and music label made its stateside debut in this airy, sun-washed boutique selling women's and menswear classics with a stylish Japanese–Gallic twist. Fun, colorful prints with a kitsuné (Japanese for "fox") logo are the signature.
Messenger bags are now ubiquitous, but this is the store that started it all. Super durable, the bags come in waxed canvas as well as nylon, and the line has expanded to include totes, duffels, and travel bags, all in unadorned, simple styles.
With a focus on antique furniture, vintage knickknacks, and 20th-century art, this two-level shop is fun to visit, even if you don't plan on buying anything. Then again, one sight of those Christian Dior candlesticks, that 1940s French cocktail shaker with an engraved pinup girl on it, or the chic Italian-made pepper mill in the form of a vintage rocket, and you may be pulling out that credit card anyway.
One of the two Mark Jacobs NYC boutiques, this sleek, high-ceilinged shop showcases the brand's bright and fun shoes, accessories, and lovingly tailored clothing for men and women in luxurious fabrics: silk, cashmere, wool bouclé, and tweeds ranging from the demure to the flamboyant. The details, though—oversize buttons, circular patch pockets, and military-style grommet belts—add a sartorial wink.
The handmade chocolates here are nothing less than works of art. Square truffles and bonbons—in flavors like Earl Grey, cappuccino, passion fruit, and saffron—are painted with edible dyes (cocoa butter dyed with natural coloring) so each resembles a miniature painting. The small café in back serves decadent hot chocolate, made from rich cacao, as well other desserts, sandwiches, and salads.
If you love bright, cheerful patterns, make a beeline to the Marimekko flagship. This 4,000-square-foot store is primarily white, so the colorful merchandise pops. Everything from pot holders and shower curtains to coats and dresses is available here in the Finnish brand's bold signature prints. If you're feeling crafty, pick up a few yards of fabric to create something of your own.
If you're a fan of the creative boho-chic look, you'll want to check out designer Francesco Risso's brightly colored clothes at the Italian designer's SoHo outpost. The collection features dresses and jackets in bright colors and quirky prints, and many of the silhouettes are vintage inspired. Accessories are also eye-catching.
Beautifully curated, this store appeals to fans of sleek, modern furniture—if money is no object. How about the iconic Tank armchair by Alvar Aalto for a cool $5,900? Or a brass-and-marble pendant lamp by Fort Standard for $5,200? Even if your budget is limited, Matter is worth a visit for inspiration.
Think subtle colors and classics in plush fabrics—pencil skirts in heathered wool, tuxedo-style evening jackets, and wool and cashmere overcoats. The suits are exquisitely tailored.
A refreshingly analog shop, McNally Jackson Seaport is a welcome haven for browsing books, magazines, a great children’s section, cards and souvenirs, and more. This beloved independent bookstore stocks many thousands of titles on two floors in the historic 1811 Schermerhorn Row building, with a café at street level and a few outdoor tables. This is one of five locations around NYC, all of them well worth a visit. Check the website for upcoming in-store events.
Since 1895, long before the world coffee craze for high-quality, single-origin, fair trade coffee beans, this atmospheric family-run shop has been offering whole coffee beans from the world's best coffee regions (such as Yemen, Ethiopia, and Colombia), as well as up-and-coming places like Vietnam. On the tea side, there are loose-leaf teas from all over the tea-producing world, including Darjeeling.
Classic lines and mostly solid colors make the dresses, jumpsuits, pants, and tops designed by Meg Kinney effortlessly fashionable, not to mention comfortable and elegant. What began as a single East Village shop in the 1990s has expanded to include stores in Brooklyn and Toronto but the aesthetic remains timeless.
The Japanese originator of the cultured pearl, Mikimoto presents a glowing display of high-luster pearls. In addition to viewing creamy strands from their own pearl farms, check out the diamond-and-pearl earrings, bracelets, and rings.
If you're looking for a scent for yourself or your home, you can't do much better than this sleek, black-and-gray toned boutique, where the signature line of fragrances and candles have evocative names like "Dune Road," "Long Board," and "Magic Circus." The stock includes body lotion and hair care products, and the staff does a wonderful job of selecting options that are compatible with your preferences.
Don’t let the word "mall" conjure up images of suburban shopping centers; you won’t find a chain store at this small, long-standing galleria of hip, Brooklyn-minded boutiques that share an indoor concourse. Here you might find souvenirs from fashionable vintage clothing stores, an independent bookstore, a Tibetan paraphernalia vendor, shops selling handmade accessories, jewelry, and bath products, or, for that keepsake that lasts forever, the tattoo parlor.
Prada front woman Miuccia Prada established a secondary line (bearing her childhood nickname, Miu Miu) to showcase her more experimental ideas. Look for Prada-esque styles in more daring colors and cuts, such as high-waist skirts with scalloped edges, Peter Pan–collar dresses in bold patterns, and pastel-hued pumps.
