Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
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.
This narrow space is just the right size for showing off a beautifully curated selection of mid-century modern furnishings, smooth, color-forward ceramics, locally crafted goods, and rotating selection of antique curios, including the odd globe, cassette tape, or radio. Expect to find local artist prints and state park maps, textiles, and a mix of new and vintage items. There’s also a solid collection of vinyl records in the back, including jazz, soul, reggae, funk, and more.
The broad range of (mostly women's) shoe styles, from pumps to tall boots to strappy sandals, is enhanced by an even wider range of sizes and widths. Bridal shoes are hugely popular, even if pricey. The label also produces a line of chic handbags.
Set a few blocks away from the mecca of high-roller fashion shops that is Bleecker Street, Téchin designs high-quality menswear with sharp, clean lines that is sourced first from Italy and then finished in their atelier in the Garment District, just up the avenue from the shop.
When Telfar's first brick-and-mortar shop opened up in autumn 2024, it created quite a stir—and a frenzied line down the block. You can thank Beyoncé for that, as the singer is a massive fan of the brand's vegan leather bags that some jokingly call "Bushwick Birkins." The 10,000-square-foot-space has everything the Telfar fangirl could ask for, including some "off menu" items—that is, newly designed bags that have yet to be released to the public.
You might find yourself wishing for 10,000 things from the showcases in this elegant boutique, which moved to the West Village from its old TriBeCa haunt. Designs run from delicate gold and silver chains to long Peruvian opal earrings. Many shapes are abstract reflections of natural forms, like twigs or seedpods. Prices start around $200 but quickly rise.
Embracing the neighborhood's maritime history is this little shop where kitsch meets nautical-theme merchandise. Self-described as the Red Hook vintage store/souvenir store/general store/five-and-dime, the items in here are constantly changing, may they be funny socks, aloha shirts, vintage dresses, trucker hats, jewelry, Stormtrooper mugs, greeting cards, or other random things that you may not necessarily need—but, as they say, "you just gotta have."
It's hard to think of a more quintessentially New York jewelry store than Tiffany, along with its unmistakable robin's-egg blue box. Daydream among the displays of platinum-and-diamond bracelets and massive engagement rings, or head to the sterling-silver floor for more affordable baubles. The first level's "Diamond Sky," a marvelous 22-foot-art installation, glistens among displays of gold- and platinum-crafted pieces and assorted gemstones. This flagship is among the world's most famous stores, thanks in part to Truman Capote's 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the 1961 classic film starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. It's now possible to have breakfast or some high tea within the store's Blue Box Café by Daniel Boulud.
These coveted driving moccasins, loafers, and boots are the top choice for jet-setters who prefer low-key, logo-free luxury goods. Though most of the women's selection is made up of low-heel or flat styles, an increasing number of high heels have been driving up sales. The leather handbags feature the same fine craftsmanship.
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.
Famous for revamping Gucci, among other accomplishments, Ford does not disappoint with either his eponymous line or his Madison Avenue flagship, a sleek, grandiose temple to glamorous fashion. While sipping complimentary liquor, shoppers will find that women's stilettos and clutches are unabashedly sexy; men's selections encompass made-to-measure items along with traditional and impeccably tailored garments. Shirts come in over 300 hues, and off-the-rack suits start at around $5,300. His Black Orchid unisex fragrance is a cult favorite.
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.
Make a beeline to this boutique if you like glowing, happy colors and 1970's-influenced clothing. The shop, designed by Jonathan Adler, showcases Turk's ready-to-wear clothing in a bright, airy setting. Swimwear is a standout, and menswear is also sold here.
Take trendy and vintage, and you get Trintage. How the name of this colorful shop came to be will not take long to figure out. There are hand-selected stylish pieces from all over the globe in every shade under the sun, from bright orange patent leather jackets to pink fringe dresses to green furry coats. Founder Byrd is a celebrity stylist and travels around the globe to curate solely international vintage pieces. The store might be small in space, but its grandeur is in its selection, and there are sizes and styles for every type of woman.
Theatrical posters both large and small, new and vintage are available here, and the selection is tremendous, with everything from Marlene Dietrich's Blue Angel to recent Broadway shows like Hamilton in stock. You'll need to be buzzed in, then head up to floor six to behold this compact, visual archive. (Call ahead for the store's current hours.)
The name of this independently owned shop, in business since 1973, refers to the indulgent practice of adding two extra scoops of coffee grounds to every pot you brew. While its space is small, it's a must stop for coffee and tea aficionados. The wide selection of beans and leaves is complemented by brewing paraphernalia, a wide selection of spices, and hard-to-find brands of U.K. sweets and other comestibles.
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.
Allow St-Tropez to influence your summer style. This iconic French swimwear designer began by making classic striped, floral, and solid-color trunks in sunny hues, first for men and then later on for boys. Nowadays, it has expanded to include girls' and women's lines, resort wear, and summer accessories. The brand also has a Hudson Yards location.
If you want to feel the love, come to this little boutique owned by lifelong surfers Winnie Beattie and her husband Rob Magnotta. Everything has a sunny, beachy vibe, from leather sandals, bikinis, and bleached sweaters to handblown glass vases. There's also a collection of children's books, indie magazines, housewares, and menswear.
When the French stylist behind this beloved luxury concept store from Miami decided to open an outpost in New York, she renovated a six-floor, landmarked building and injected some of the original store's signature art deco sensibilities. The result is a narrow, extremely styled space filled with artful displays of luxury-brand clothes and accessories. Make sure to explore beyond the first floor to find men's and women's clothes and home furnishings.
New Yorkers typically talk about the Oculus as the sprawling transportation hall housed under a soaring atrium that resembles a prehistoric skeleton. In truth, the interconnecting subway and commuter rail lines lie only at the periphery. What's actually under those ribs is the Westfield World Trade Center luxury shopping mall that houses stores like Apple, Breitling, COS, Sephora, Tumi, and many more. Seasonal exhibits, art installations, and occasional events are hosted on the giant atrium floor. Dining options include Epicerie Boulud and Eataly at the base of 4 WTC (on the site's southeast corner). You'll find Devon & Blakely café and the British sandwich chain Pret a Manger in the West Concourse, which leads to the PATH station and trains to New Jersey. The Oculus is connected by an underground passage to the Fulton Center, which has a mezzanine-level food court with one of Lower Manhattan's two Shake Shacks.
Wonderfully crammed to the rafters, this store offers both new and used books, including a rare book collection. Squeeze in among the stacks of art books and fiction titles, or pop outside for the $1 bargains. A short walk away, at 233 West 72nd Street, the sister record shop has an equally impressive collection of vinyl and CDs.
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.
Selling homemade candy apples, marshmallow sticks, popcorn, nuts, and giant lollipops for more than 75 years, this old-school corner candy shop with the yellow awning is a Coney Island mainstay. Owner Peter Agrapides used to visit the store with his mother when he was a kid; he's been the proud owner for over 30 years.
