"Since 1986, this kitchen supply store has been selling whimsical, New York-centric plates, bowls, barware, dish towels, and other entertaining doo-dads you'll suddenly feel you can't live without. Want a set of glasses frosted with an image of the Brooklyn Bridge to commemorate your NYC visit? Placemats edged with a print of Manhattan’s skyline? Fishs Eddy has them both, and a whole lot more. Just take care as you navigate through the towering stacks."

"For more than a decade, Catbird has been the go-to Brooklyn jeweler for those interested in personalized rings, necklaces, and other accessories. The atelier claims to use gold that is either recycled or fair trade, as well as stones that are conflict-free. In addition to jewelry, Catbird sells a small selection of home decor and beauty products: candles, perfumes and colognes, and pouches and tote bags."

"New York has no shortage of places where you can spend your money, but one of the most famous strips of retail fantasies runs along Fifth Avenue, starting at Saks Fifth Avenue at 48th Street (across the street is the southern end of Rockefeller Center) and continuing up to 59th Street (and the lower end of Central Park). Along the way you'll pass a number of high-end boutiques and department stores—Michael Kors, Henri Bendel, and Bergdorf Goodman. If you want to stop at Tiffany's, whether for a breakfast gazing at its display windows à la Audrey Hepburn or to pick up a pricey souvenir of your New York trip, it is at 57th and Fifth. There are also budget-friendlier emporiums along the way: Uniqlo, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle all have outposts here. It is perhaps fitting that one of the most prominent sites—at the northern end of this section of Fifth Avenue, facing the Plaza Hotel—is now occupied by a flagship Apple store."

"The Apartment by The Line Art, home decor, clothing, and beauty items are the varied wares on sale in this apartment-like boutique, where the placement of each object in the setting helps shoppers imagine it in their own home. In the parlance of the owners, it's "contextual layout." There's even a clawfoot bathtub in the bathroom, and a Christmas tree decorated in the living room during the holidays. Drop by or call ahead to book a personal shopping appointment."

"The Strand Bookstore If you are a fan of the old-fashioned brick-and-mortar bookstore, then you'll be in heaven at the Strand, on Broadway at 12th Street. The store boasts that it has 2.5 million books, or 18 miles of them. While we aren't sure how they measured books in miles, if you are looking for something to read, you are sure to find it here on one of the emporium's two levels. Most of the goods here are used, though the Strand also has new copies of all the latest popular releases. There is also a separate rare-book room for serious collectors in the building next door (ask at the information desk for directions). The Strand also hosts regular signings and readings."

"Goorin Bros. Hat Shop Many of New York’s original haberdasheries have vanished over the years, victims of high rents and changing customer tastes. But classic hats have been making a comeback among New Yorkers lately, and Goorin Bros. is one of the popular places to buy a quality hat. Styles here vary by season, but whatever the time of year and whatever the type of style you buy, there will always be feathers, hat pins, and other adornments you can purchase as add-ons to make your hat one-of-a-kind."

"New York City has some stellar thrift stores, most of which benefit charities. The finest are run by the social service organization Housing Works, which provides assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. Celebrities have been spotted dropping off their lightly-used clothes, accessories, and home goods, which are then put out for sale. Of the dozen or so locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Crosby Street shop stands out for its selection as well as the added perk of the adjacent Housing Works Bookstore Cafe."

"Did you fall in love with a Picasso or Pollock during your meander through MoMA? Stop by the MoMA Store for a print or postcard. The large shop also has art books, toys, home goods, and gifts, most of which reflect the pieces and themes in the museum’s own permanent collection. A decent portion of the items available are New York-themed, too. Looking for larger objects? The MoMA Design Store is directly across the street. If your purchase is too big to lug around city streets, have the staff package it for shipping."

"1970s and '80s rock t-shirts, cowboy boots, jean jackets, and flannels that will transport you back to the dawn of Nirvana and Pearl Jam are the specialties at this vintage shop in Williamsburg . Most of the goods on sale are color-coded making shopping fun and easy. Looking for designer labels? Ask to slip into the back room, where dresses and other duds from even earlier eras (and at slightly higher prices) await. The shop also has some vintage home goods, including blankets and furniture."

"Brooklyn Flea Market Brooklyn Flea has enriched the city landscape with a contemporary spin to the traditional concept of a flea market. Find beauty in unexpected places at the Flea. With a range of vendors of antiques and vintage clothing, a selection of jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans, as well as food, there’s something for everyone. It is open to the public outdoors from April through November, on Saturdays in Fort Greene and on Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and indoors from Thanksgiving to March. By Stephanie Roach"

"If Fifth Avenue in Midtown is New York's primary higher-end retail strip, with Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, and Bergdorf Goodman as its anchors, the SoHo section of Broadway (between Houston and Canal) is its less glamorous sister, crowded with young shoppers pretty much every day of the year. Established chain brands have largely taken over, with Uniqlo, Banana Republic, and CB2 among those represented. In addition to them, there's a downtown branch of Bloomingdale's that tries to follow a more fashion-forward path than the Upper East Side mother ship. Also tucked between the familiar brands are a few bargain holdouts from the days when the neighborhood attracted students on budgets, selling T-shirts and jeans in no-frills, fluorescent-lit spaces. The shopping continues in both directions off of Broadway: Nolita, to the east, has more small, unique boutiques; head west, into SoHo, and you'll find more-upscale brands than those represented on Broadway."

"Seek, and antiquers shall find that New York is a paradise of flea markets, vintage shops, and emporia like this one offering up all kinds of goods. The Manhattan Art and Antique Center is in Midtown East, near the tony Sutton Place enclave. Its individual shops and galleries feature everything from Egyptian antiquities to classic toys from the golden age of American manufacturing."

"Honduran-American entrepreneur Maribel Lieberman opened this chocolate emporium in 2002 and it’s been a hit ever since, not the least reason being that it evokes the joy, beauty, and attention to detail that characterized the movie, “Chocolat.” Here, you can buy individual pieces of chocolate that are hand-painted with charming, colorful scenes designed by Lieberman’s artist husband, Jacques, as well as nicely packaged sweet treats. You’re also welcome to linger in the on-site café, which serves tea, several types of hot chocolate, lunch, and desserts."

"For the most part, New York City is not a fragrant place. True: there are lots of odors. Few of them, however, are truly appealing. If the city's unique aroma starts to overwhelm, head to Greenwich Village for a literal breather at Frederic Malle, a perfume and cologne shop where you can develop your own signature fragrance. The boutique, located in a brownstone, is chic and calming, and will give you the courage to return to the city streets refreshed."

"Between 15th and 16th streets on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea, the Chelsea Market is a food court with New York attitude. Its restaurants and shops sell Australian meat pies, banh mi, and lobster rolls. These are no fast-food chains—this is a place to find cheese from upstate or that spice you can't find at your supermarket. There is now a Posman Books and an Anthropologie outpost, but most of the places here stay true to the market's culinary roots with Sarabeth's, Ronnybrook Dairy, and Berlin Currywurst as good places to pick up food to eat on the spot or to take home. If you are looking for a hard-to-find kitchen gadget, the Bowery Kitchens store is almost sure to have it. The market is also ideally located if you want to purchase picnic supplies before ascending to the High Line if the weather is good."

"Brimming with unique gifts, Kidding Around is not to be missed when traveling with your family through Grand Central station. Unlike kitschy tourist shops, most toys here are made to last a childhood. Their towering window display even lured me in..."

"Just north of Union Square, ABC’s Manhattan flagship spreads across several floors of a warehouse-like corner building. It’s long championed craftsmanship and sustainability, with covetable home goods—vintage textiles, lighting, furniture—sourced globally, from India to Denmark. Pop-ups within the store sometimes showcase avant-garde designs. Artisanal jewelry, clothes, decorative objects and other items more likely to fit in a suitcase can be found on the ground floor. Nearby, you can take your pick among three acclaimed restaurants launched in partnership with Chef Jean-Georges: ABC Kitchen, ABC Cocina, and ABCV."

"Located in Manhattan's "Curry Hill" (a play on the neighborhood's formal name, Murray Hill) and surrounded by Indian restaurants frequented by taxi drivers for quick to-go plates, Kalustyan's is a must-stop for nuts, spices, and other specialty foods sourced from around the globe. It's easy to lose yourself among the bins, boxes, and bags, and you may end up bringing home new finds—say, French de Puy lentils or hibiscus flowers in their own syrup (great for DIY cocktails). Head upstairs for a bite at the modest in-store restaurant."

"Famous Fabric in New York If you have a sewing or quilting project, Mood Fabric in Manhattan should be your first stop. It’s one of the last big names in the city's Garment District. Project Runway fans will recognize the store because the contestants gather their supplies for each challenge here. You'll find a vast selection of stylish options and up-to-the-minute trends."

"Morris “Moishe” Cohen began selling sweets out of a pushcart in 1937. Today, the family-run business is a beloved Lower East Side institution, stocked from floor to ceiling with more than 2,000 items: dried fruit and nuts, imported chocolates, old-time candies to satisfy nostalgic cravings, and even sugar-free treats."

"The New York-themed souvenirs sold around Times Square or along Fifth Avenue tend to be terribly kitschy, cheaply made, and overpriced. For a more lasting, sophisticated reminder of your time in New York, browse the selection at the gift shop of The New York Public Library. Located inside the Schwarzman Building (the one that sits on the east side of Bryant Park, flanked by two lions), the shop has a range of gifts for people of all ages, many of which are a nod to New York’s literary history. You can buy library lion bookends, vintage NYPL-stamped handbags, NYC-themed children’s books, postcards, and much more."

"Essex Market Essex Street Market has existed in various iterations since the 1940s, when it was established in an effort to control crowding of vendors on city streets. It's become a prime place for food shopping on the Lower East Side, with most of the shops operated by owners and producers who have made the goods you’re buying; cheese, charcuterie, chocolate, jams, and bread are among the grab-and-go items. This most recent airy and modern iteration opened in summer 2019, replacing the old market opened during the 1940s by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia with a new 150,000-square-foot light-filled destination for food, fashion, and art."