Are you looking for the best shopping streets and districts in New York City? From Chinatown to the Upper East Side, there are plenty of unique and exciting places to explore. Whether you're looking for luxury items, vintage finds, or unique experiences, the Big Apple has something for everyone. If you're looking for a truly unique shopping experience, Mott, Mulberry and Elizabeth Streets in Manhattan are some of the most interesting places to explore. Here you'll find a bustling atmosphere and a variety of unique items.
Chinatown is one of the most unique neighborhoods in New York City, with dim sum restaurants, handmade noodle establishments, bakeries, product stands, and stores selling everything from crockery to skincare products to toys. Ting's Gift Shop on Doyers Street is a must-visit institution that dates back to the 1950s and is full of porcelain figurines, lucky cats, and more. Pear River Mart moved from Tribeca to SoHo after the pandemic, and it's worth walking a few blocks north to buy Pan-Asian clothing and accessories, kitchen items, paper products, snacks, and more. Chelsea is an artistic hub with numerous galleries located in old warehouses and factories full of light between 10th and 11th Avenues.
Harlem is home to a variety of black-owned businesses, from galleries to bookstores, gift shops, and boutiques. The Malcolm Shabazzz Harlem Market on 116th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard is a covered bazaar full of African products like drums, textiles, jewelry, and traditional masks. Calabar Imports on Frederick Douglass offers elegant interpretations of classic designs as well as clothing with African print, eye-catching necklaces, and fabric dolls from Senegal. Trunk Show Designer Consignment sells clothing from the current seasons in excellent condition while Harlem Merdashery offers contemporary clothing inspired by the Harlem Renaissance.
Flamekeepers Hat Club offers eye-catching felt hats and more. Revolution Books has shelves full of volumes on communism, slavery and apartheid, as well as current fiction and poetry books; it also hosts programs and events. The Upper East Side Museum Mile is one of the most iconic shopping areas in New York City. The Barnes & Noble on the north side of the square is located in a beautifully restored 1880s cast-iron building. For a true New York experience, visit the one-of-a-kind Strand Bookstore on Broadway and 12th Street. Herald Square is home to some of the biggest stores in New York City.
The Moma Design Store is one of my favorite stores in New York City, offering an incredible selection of luxury clothing plus gourmet products, books, technology equipment and more. Just west of Madison Square Park is Eataly which offers everything related to Italian food (grocery stores, restaurants and one of the best rooftop bars in the city). Nearby Marimekko's flagship store offers a dose of vibrant colors in a sea of neutral tones in New York. If you have a New York Sightseeing Pass you can also book a bus to the points of sale and take advantage of the included discount brochure valued at several hundred dollars. Fifth Avenue is known as the shopping capital of the world for good reason. Pilgrim New York sells formerly used items from luxury brands while Reformation chain offers sustainable clothing created from vintage fabrics and reused dead material. The Upper East Side is also home to Bloomingdale's department store.
For affordable prices head to Brooklyn's epic flea markets or visit one of New York's only outlets outside the city.
