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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.
Stock up on wine, spirits, and everything else alcohol-related at this sprawling, below-sidewalk-level shop; it often has the bottle you can't find anywhere else. Among Astor's other assets are a wine library, a kitchen for cooking classes, and a tasting most evenings.
The ethos at Bond No. 9 is unique, with scents intended to evoke places and social values. Hence "The Scent of Peace" as well as a line that matches key NYC neighborhoods: "Central Park," traditionally a men's fragrance, is woodsy and "green," while "Park Avenue" is discreet but not too sweet. There's "Greenwich Village" and "Off-Broadway," just to name a few others. This flagship also carries candles and body creams.
The racks of this pint-size shop are hung with trendy pieces from cult-favorite women's wear designers like Samantha Pleet and Sessùn, as well as accessories from the likes of A Peace Treaty and Illesteva, all hand-picked by owner and designer Brookelynn Starnes.
This small wine and spirits shop specializes in small-batch bottles, particularly from lesser-known and up-and-coming wineries that focus on natural and low-intervention wines. Pick up a bottle of pét-nat from the Czech Republic or some amber wine from the Republic of Georgia that had been aged in underground amphoras.
The colorful, eclectic collection of candelabras, painted ceramics, silk scarves, and overstuffed pillows can make this shop feel a bit overstimulating, but it's the perfect place to pick up a unique gift or statement accent for your living room.
This menswear designer has long been inspired by rock and roll. His ad campaigns have starred the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Green Day, so it's fitting that he transformed the former CBGB club into his New York flagship. The space is dotted with vintage pianos, guitars, and vinyl records. And the clothes? The jeans, leather pants, and suede shoes give you rock-star cred, but there are also classic, understated styles for the corporate set.
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.
Filled with art, plants, and decorative pieces picked up around the world, this airy boutique on the fourth floor of a low-rise building specializes in one thing: handmade leather shoes based on a traditional Turkish style. Updated for modern sensibilities and made by Turkish artisans using centuries-old shoemaking methods, Sabahs are renowned for their soft, supple leather and suede, and come in a wide range of colors and a few fun prints. They're famously comfortable and known to last for years. Colors change seasonally, and children's sizes are available, too.
The shelves of this small shop are stacked with elegant vases, dishware, and home accessories, mostly in glass and ceramic, by designers from around the United States. The dainty jewelry in gold and other precious metals tends to suit everyday wear rather than statement pieces.
Even fashion designers like Alexander Wang have been known to pop in to browse at this high-end consignment store. Racks are loaded with goodies from A-list designers such as Gucci, Stella McCartney, Diane von Furstenberg, and Phillip Lim, and the inventory changes all the time.
This punk mecca is famous for dressing stars like Debbie Harry and the Ramones back in the '70s, and its rock-and-roll vibe lives on, albeit two blocks from its original location on St. Marks Place. Goths, punks, and pro wrestlers shop here for bondage-inspired pants and skirts, as well as vinyl corsets and minikilts.
All the jewelry here is handmade in New York City, and none of it is typical. Design motifs include wrenches, Big Macs, and seahorses. Tilda Swinton is a fan.
Looking for a mid-century modern Danish desk or a funky knickknack for your home or as a gift? This is your place. Owner Stuart Zamsky crams his store with surprisingly affordable pieces that are mostly from the 1940s through '70s, including tables, lamps, and chairs. Quirkier pieces include vintage paper mobiles, old fondue sets, and antique medical-office cabinets.
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