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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.
Antiques dealers since 1851, this shop specializes in European and Russian decorative arts, jewelry, and paintings. Behold bibelots by Fabergé and others, enameled or encrusted with jewels. If money is no object, there are also antique diamond necklaces and pieces of china once owned by Russian nobility. The shop is closed on weekends.
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 pin-up 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.
The huge collection here spans the Renaissance through the 20th century and includes nonfurniture finds, from figureheads to bell jars, that make for prime conversation pieces. Newel is a major supplier of antiques for Broadway shows and luxury department store windows. It's closed on weekends.
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 starting at $25 each, 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 internationally renowned auction company Sotheby’s has opened a retail store on the ground floor of its UES headquarters building. It offers an eclectic and exclusive selection of items ranging from jewelry and art prints to a rare VW Beetle. Everything is vetted for authenticity by Sotheby’s in-house experts.
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