New York shopping: Critics' picks

The best holiday markets are right here in NYC—full of both the holiday spirit and the most unique gifts out there. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, NYC's holiday markets often include ice skating, twinkling lights, great food vendors, and fun holiday activities. Shopping for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be stressful; make it fun at these holiday markets, from the Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market to the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park and more. We'll continue updating this guide throughout the holiday season, so stay tuned for new additions. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

After graduating from NYU in 2006, Milwaukee native Kate Goldwater opened this funky shop, featuring a curated selection of vintage and thrift clothing ($5–$25) and accessories ($3–$30) that are easy on the eyes and the wallet. Most pieces inside are $30 or less and her finds are perfectly on-trend, which means you’ll find plenty of ’80s and ’90s pieces right now.  

Russ & Daughters has been serving top lox, herring, fish eggs, sweets and, of course, bagels, since 1914. It has since expanded, adding, in more recent years, a sit-down cafe nearby, and a large retail factory in Brooklyn. 

The iconic open-air Chelsea flea, brought back from the dead by the team behind  Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea, showcases 40 veteran vendors selling mostly historic collectibles. If you love eclectic costume jewelry, quirky furniture, midcentury art and ceramics, records, antiques and art, and more, you’ll spend hours combing for treasure here. Plus, you'll now be able to grab a rewarding snack on the way out from various Smorgasburg food vendors that will soon be revealed. 

As big fans of this treasure trove of modern and vintage finds, we’re ecstatic that Brooklyn mainstay Beacon’s Closet (which has stores in Williamsburg and Park Slope) opened up shop in Manhattan. The simple space is adorned with three large chandeliers crafted from buttons by engineer Doug Newton and features one wall covered in dark, floral wallpaper. Although it’s half the size of the nearly 5,000-square-foot Williamsburg location, the Manhattan storefront boasts plentiful racks packed with retired closet duds consigned by locals, many of whom are trendy college kids from nearby schools. You’ll likely come across designer goods such as a Christian Dior cropped blazer ($25) or a Marc Jacobs men’s corduroy jacket ($30), although castaways from chains like H&M and Charlotte Russe are also in the mix. The store is abundant in one-of-a-kind accessories, including funky United Nude orange-and-red checkered booties ($50), but also stocks simpler shoes such as guys’ Gourmet red suede sneakers ($18). Drop by and exchange your own gently worn, in-season clothes for 35 percent of the resale value in cash, or 55 percent of store credit for your next purchase.

While the giant signs that adorn this department store with the label of “The World’s Largest Store” are not true anymore, there’s no doubt that the flagship Macy’s is massive (with a big history to boot). For over a century, New Yorkers and visitors from the world over have been visiting Macy’s at its iconic location at 34th Street and Broadway. Though originally founded as a dry goods emporium in the 19th century, today shoppers flock to the store's 2.2 million square feet—which takes up a whole city block—to buy clothes, accessories and home goods.As one of the few major brick-and-mortar shops specializing in mid-priced fashion left in New York in this age of online retail and luxury brand–palooza, Macy’s carries a large amount of designer names you recognize that won’t cost you premium prices—especially during the deeply discounted sales offered periodically throughout the year. The 63,000-square-foot shoe department is the biggest on the planet and carries everything from dress shoes and delicate stilettos to work boots and slippers. Last-minute gift shoppers might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options of perfumes, ties, scarves, watches and more, but great deals await those with patience.   Pro-tip: Look for the cool wooden escalators, which feel like stepping back in time.

Boasting 18 miles of books, the Strand has a mammoth collection of more than 2 million discount volumes, and the store is made all the more daunting by its chaotic, towering shelves and surly staff. Reviewer discounts are in the basement, while rare volumes lurk upstairs. If you spend enough time here you can find just about anything, from that out-of-print Victorian book on manners to the kitschiest of sci-fi pulp.

Set aside your Spotify playlists and scope out this homage to the once-lost art of vinyl. Academy Records’ Manhattan store in Chelsea carries a hearty supply of compact discs, but Greenpoint’s Annex focuses mostly on wax, offering everything from a self-titled Ginger Baker’s Air Force album from 1970 ($8) to newer sounds like Real Estate’s Days ($15). Shoppers lacking a record player can also pick up cheapie CDs from such bands as the Grateful Dead, while nostalgic audiophiles can take their time digging through discounted 45s (50¢–$2). The Annex also offers two listening stations for previewing older vinyl, and will buy your used records, provided they are in good condition (and not Broadway soundtracks).

With a client list that includes stars such as Rihanna, Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne, 27-year-old tattoo artist Keith McCurdy—a.k.a. Bang Bang—opens his first parlor. The brightly lit space features five workstations, a private room, a backyard with black canvas seating and a painted plaid-wall art installation by David Pappaceno (davidpappaceno.com) and Darkcloud. Get inked (minimum $200; with Bang Bang $1,000) by top artists including Jon Mesa, El-E Mags, Liz Markov, Tye Harris, Shey Haf-Ded and Little Dragon.

This pair of vintage shops hawks affordable furniture, dishes, books, art, clothing and accessories—if you have the time to look. Sift through more than 5,000 square feet of merch to uncover treasures.

Shop owners Veronica Cano and Emily Conley (a.k.a. the women you’d want to recruit for your all-girl punk band) run one hell of a store, carrying edgy clothing like All the Best Boys muscle tees ($25), goth-glam home goods such as Anatomical Heart pillows ($45), and macabre loot like Ouija planchettes ($24). But the coolest part? There’s a tattoo parlor in the back. Megan Massacre, the star of TLC’s NY Ink, controls the inking operation (her expertise ranges from portraits to thorn-covered roses and incredibly detailed outdoor sceneries) and brings in new artists every week. Tattoos ($250–$400 per hour) are usually by appointment, but the flame-haired beauty does take walk-ins, so at least you can shop while you wait to get inked.

Back in 1934, Louis Zabar, a Ukrainian immigrant, opened a smoked-fish shop with his wife, Lillian. Four generations later, and the Zabar's name is still going strong in the Upper West Side—so much so that the shop's marquee nearly overtakes the area of Broadway between 80th and 81st Streets. The two-story, 20,000 square-foot Zabar's of today functions as part deli, part cafe and part gourmet grocery store, all of it a mecca of prepared kosher foods. Inside, crowds gather around counters dedicated solely to smoked fish while lines form in the back, drawn by the fragrant smell of coffee beans roasted and packaged to order. The second floor is home to all manner of kitchenware, plus all the Zabar's gear that's sure to give some clout to your closet. But for the on-the-go New Yorker, the cafe on the corner still draws a crowd for its trademark bagels, made with malt barley flour according to a signature house recipe, as well as jammy hamantaschen, raisin and chocolate-stuffed rugelach and hefty potato knishes.  As you wait in the queue—there always is one—you can take a look back at Zabar's over the years as old-timey signage hangs above the counter and mismatched and slightly slanted frames on the walls bear reviews from long past. In the back corner, you can find pictures of Saul Zabar, who recently passed in 2025, doing what he loved: personally tasting and cupping each coffee bean that walked through the door.

Want cash back without having to charge up a storm on your credit card? Bring your unwanted garb to the East Village outpost of this popular buy-sell-trade clothing shop and leave with padded pockets. The best part is that they won’t turn up their noses at Forever 21—all brands are welcome. Score a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans for $25, current-season Manolo Blahniks for $250 or unload some designer goods for major dough.

The first floor of this respected thrift shop is devoted to jewelry cases, vintage furniture, and such curios as an old cash register and used sewing machine (both in working order). Head to the clean basement room to scour the racks for coats, skirts and jeans, priced to move at $35; or plop down on a cushioned bench to try on the shoes, organized on red bookshelves. The well-edited stock is in impeccable condition and sourced solely by donation—Cure donates all its proceeds to the Diabetes Research Institute. Check back twice a year for the shop’s whatever-you-can-fit-in-this-bag-that-costs-just-$15 sales.  

If the party frocks ($50–$150), printed tees ($32) and handmade accessories ($20–$850) stocked at this popular Greenpoint boutique represent the Hollywood of yore, we’re ready to travel back in time. The small shop packs a lot of charm with antique kitsch such as an old typewriter and vintage suitcases decorating the exposed-brick space. Clothes and accessories made by local designers account for the majority of the merchandise, including Chaser men’s crew-neck T-shirts ($32) emblazoned with phrases like "American Rebel," Jenny Han geometric-print skirts ($38) and Fancy Sexy Me chunky brass ram’s-head rings ($85). Equally cool are house-line silver charms shaped like states ($68) crafted by store owner Tiffany Porter. In keeping with the shop’s moniker, however, the West Coast does get some love by way of West Third body tonics ($28), a California brand that combines delicious scents like lavender and vanilla in two-ounce bottles.

This ever-changing marketplace in Soho offers a constantly evolving lineup of wares from artists and merchants. It's a great place to find a one-of-a-kind gift and to experience some amazing creativity. The marketplace has recently reopened for a series of weekend holiday pop-ups. Current seasonal merchants include Aliens of Brooklyn, Eat Records and Roots by Bella.

Walking into this Flatiron spot feels as if you’ve just stumbled upon the best stall at the flea market. Worn-wood shelves support stack upon stack of assorted rainbow-colored dishes ($1–$17), mismatched vintage china ($5–$23), toile teapots ($15–$39) and other kitschy kitchenwares. The amazingly cheap price tags make it worth battling the often-pressing crowds to stock up on assorted flatware ($1–$6 each) and glassware, including oversize stemless martini glasses ($6), elegant champagne flutes ($8) and Italian-style painted wineglasses ($5). If you’re in need of a serious discount, plunder the sale section in the back for never-before-used castoffs from restaurant and hotel suppliers. But there are plenty of affordable, freshly minted kitchen goods too. Local-specific buys include platters printed with the Brooklyn skyline ($17–$25) and Floor Plan dinnerware (from $8 for a five-square-inch “studio” to $33 for a 12-by-16-inch “penthouse”).

This flower shop in the heart of the Flower District has many blooms to choose from at affordable prices. Some of the best sellers start at just $50, while some of the more expensive bouquets are still on the cheaper side at $70. This shop has different kinds of flowers for all different types of occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and dates in NYC.

You’ll be transported to Paris once you step inside this opulent bath-and-body shop. Rich burgundy carpets, gilded wallpaper, a gloriously huge chandelier and a mahogany desk that serves as the checkout area set the stage for the luxurious fragrances ($50–$300), candles ($20–$400), lotions, and soaps from brands like Diptyque and Annick Goutal. Curiosity cabinets house many of the store’s exclusives—the West Village outpost is the only location in the country to sell several items, including candles by Les Secrets Ladurée Paris.  

Right by Rockefeller Center, this posh Fifth Avenue department store is the place to go to for high-end retail and international luxury brands. Along with browsing through houseware, clothes and accessories, linger at in-store designer boutiques like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, its mecca shoe department or the beauty counter.

Dig and ye shall find: The booty at this crazy-packed vintage store includes 1960s–1990s options for both guys and girls, plus a considerable costume jewelry and funky housewares selection. Not only is it chock full of great finds but it's really fun to look at. We went on a recent Saturday and found so much amid its racks, including a barely used sleek Michael Kors purse for $50 and a pair of never-worn, black velvet combat boots for $25. Even cooler, I found out that they take donations and you get 25% off your next purchase. Time Out Tip: The store spans two floors at 496 Driggs Avenue and 197 North 9th Street, so plan accordingly and bring some friends (and reusable bags) for a hunt to remember.

A must for design fans, the museum's stand-alone retail arm assembles an impressive array of contemporary furnishings and gifts, including sculptural vases, clocks, kitchenware and gadgets.

In the heart of Flower District, this store offers a wide range of styles, from traditional to modern. The florists specialize in classy bouquets ($55–$75) like a fuchsia-hued arrangement of pink spray roses, Peruvian and Asiatic lilies, and mini carnations displayed in a crystal vase. Best part? This shop features same-day to all five boroughs (delivery prices may vary).

Inspired by her great-grandfather Boris Dreiding, who founded Zurich’s Osswald Parfumerie in 1921, owner Tanja Dreiding Wallace decided to open a stateside location of the family-run business in August 2012. The massive all-white space looks like the inside of a luxury spaceship, with recessed-wood shelves and brushed-copper tables displaying Swiss skin-care products from Valmont ($76–$510) and Alpeor ($45–$245), as well as vanguard scents from luxury perfume brands such as Huitième Art and MDCI—many exclusive to the NYC boutique. The friendly and knowledgeable staff gives you wide berth to wander the spacious store, allowing you to spritz to your heart’s content. But when you’re ready, they’re happy to walk you through distinct fragrances such Parfumerie Générale’s swoonworthy Tubéreuse Couture scent (100ml $179), featuring a rich white floral base, and Carner Barcelona’s Tardes (50ml $130), a serene blend of Egyptian geranium, Bulgarian rose and cedarwood.

There’s a rotating mix of astoundingly well-preserved designer and nonvintage clothing here, as well as one-of-a-kind housewares, shoes and accessories. We’ve found vintage Yves Saint Laurent blouses for $12, striped skinny ties for $6 and a pair of classic Salvatore Ferragamo pumps with bows on them for $10. Pretty much everything is a find, but you still get that thrill-of-the-hunt feeling.