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 hubs, 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. 

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.

This vintage mecca has been peddling men’s and women’s clothing and accessories since 1978, serving clientele as diverse as Alexa Chung, Marc Jacobs and Cyndi Lauper. Owner Laura Wills travels the world, scouting eclectic finds that span the 1950s to the 1990s, and organizes clothing racks by decade. Do you need sunglasses from the ’70s? How about a royal-wedding T-shirt from the 1980s? Head upstairs to check out higher-end specialty garments like men’s Moschino printed suit jackets ($595) and Hattie Carnegie satin cap-sleeve dresses with beading ($895). The boutique is transformed into a Halloween showcase for the month of October, and since the staff is made up almost entirely of stylists, it's a great place to put together a complete period look, including the era-appropriate wigs and accessories.

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.  

The former home of the National Biscuit Company is a hot spot for foodies and shopping addicts alike. Primarily known for its wide-range of eateries, Chelsea Market is hands-down one of New York’s most notable food halls boasting more than 55 vendors (including Los Tacos No 1, Amy's Bread, and Miznon).  Whether you’ve got a hankering for a steaming-hot cup of seafood bisque, perfectly aged cheese or a strong and smooth shot of espresso, Chelsea Market has you covered. Aside from finger-lickin’ fare and sweet merchandise, the attraction offers historical charms such as the market’s iconic fountain, which was crafted using discarded drill bits and exposed pipe from the former Nabisco factory.

This sprawling culinary destination celebrates the food and wine of Italy’s 20 regions, with its market full of fresh pasta handmade while you watch a “pasta show,” hard-to-find specialties of salumi and formaggi, sustainable meat and seafood and bread made with a lievito madre sourced from Piemonte. If you’re looking for the perfect wine to pair with your meal, Eataly Vino’s two floors of Italian wine are just steps from the market. For those who want to learn even more, Eataly offers cooking classes that teach you how to make specialties like lasagna alla bolognese and limoncello tiramisu, as well as wine dinners with experts who will guide you through the history and traditions of the regions.  If shopping tends to work up your appetite, head to one of the 13 restaurants, bars, cafés, and counters throughout the 48,000-square-foot space. Sit down for a meal of Neapolitan pizza and a bottle of bold Chianti at La Pizza & La Pasta, or the catch of the day paired with a Grillo sourced from microclimates along the Italian coast at Il Pesce. For dessert, get a scoop of housemade gelato and babà al rum or bignès at La Pasticceria.

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.

We all know and love the High Line for its great views and perfect opportunity to sport some shades and sunbathe above Tenth Avenue. But below this elevated park are shops that offer everything from vegan skincare to trendy seasonal duds. Whether you’re searching for what to wear to the next festival, or looking for your next beach read, this shopping destination has some of the coolest boutiques around.RECOMMENDED: Full High Line in NYC guide

Lori Leven, owner of sister tattoo parlors New York Adorned (one located in the LES and the other in Williamsburg), has expanded her brand to include a new jewelry haven: Love, Adorned. The third spin-off chainlet houses a treasure trove of baubles, home goods and trinkets. Stark white walls, glass and wood display cases, and a warehouselike lofted ceiling play backdrop to the store’s offbeat mix of goods. Tunes from the likes of Ray Charles bellow through the speakers as you peruse offerings such as Collina Strada tough-girl leather harnesses that resemble chic shrunken vests ($400) and Lou Zeldis sterling-silver mountain rings with Afghan lapis stones ($140). A kitschy selection of Santa Fe Stoneworks patterned pocketknives ($90) and rainbow vintage ashtrays ($40–$80) spruce up a bulky wooden table, while super-pricey Lindsay Thornburg billowy, handmade cloaks ($960–$1,300) hang from the walls. Though splurges such as Jeeyun Ha dainty gold-chain necklaces accented with feathers ($380) are scene-stealers, cheap thrills like Alyssa Ettinger porcelain milk bottles ($40–$70) make us equally giddy.

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).

You’d never guess the owner of this totally Asian toys and tchotchkes mecca is actually a Jewish dude named Israel Levarek. He sold his 20-year-old Batman figurine collection in 1999 to one year later open this store, which houses dizzying displays of memorabilia—half of which is from Japan. The shop was designed to mimic similar stores in the Land of the Rising Sun, with bright lights, crammed arrangements and goods displayed in plastic bins. Jazz up your pad with three-foot-tall collectible plastic bears modeled after pop-culture icons like Mickey Mouse, Iron Man and SpongeBob ($300–$400), or a smaller version for as little as $50. Snuggle up with quirky bubblegum-pink Gloomy Bear stuffed animals ($8–$35), squishable versions of graphic artist Mori Chack’s iconic Japanese character, whose bloody paws are a result of attacking its owner in the name of animal rights. Nostalgic dudes will flip when they see the wall of clear cases housing hundreds of Godzilla figurines ($15–$200), as well as kaiju models of various Japanese monsters ($30–$120). And yes, there’s something for girly girls, too: Pretty Blythe dolls with oversize heads (picture Barbie with a tennis-ball-size face) were taken off the market in the ’50s for scaring children, but the toys were brought back in the ’90s ($150–$250) and are sold with voguish outfit separates, such as Jackie O–like colorful sunglasses ($20) and belted tube dresses ($20–$30).

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, with general apparel priced between $30 and $50 and vintage numbers from $150 to $800; 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.  

Here’s where the magic happens: At Jacques Torres’s Hudson Street retail location, kids can peer through the glass wall to the chocolate factory’s floor, where cocoa and sugar are processed into chocolate. (Of course, you can buy it here, too.)

Before St. Marks Place became synonymous with cheap sunglasses and offensive T-shirts, it was the epicenter of NYC punk. Trash and Vaudeville is the real deal—it's outfitted Debbie Harry, the Ramones and much of the CBGB crowd—and, though it’s now filled with more tourists than anyone would like, the service remains amiable and attentive. Browse rows of Dr. Martens boots, skinny jeans by Tripp NYC (a steal at $52), studded collars, bondage pants, Manic Panic hair dye and plenty of other things that would surely anger your mom.

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.

A former marketing consultant to TOMS Shoes, Rachel Shechtman taps her shopping savvy as the purveyor behind this spacious boutique. The store houses a rotating collection of unique wares from a balance of local companies and well-known brands. Designed to mirror the editorial style of a magazine, Story will have Shechtman collaborating with guest curators and architects every four to six weeks to reinvent the merchandise and decor with a fresh theme (February’s is, aptly, love). Bestow your Valentine with this month’s picks, including JAMBOX wireless speakers ($179), Vosges gourmet chocolates ($4) and Simon Alcantara gold hoop earrings ($460). Shechtman also plans to host a series of free and paid lectures, film screenings, concerts and special events each month, turning Story into a cultural center for neighborhood locals.

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.

This Park Slope bookstore has been around since 1971, and it just rocks. It's fun to peruse, it has a good selection, and the staff is great. It occasionally hosts readings, which are always worthy of attention, and even organizes book groups, in which you'll read authors like Georges Simenon. Only in Brooklyn, people!

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.

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.

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 sprawling vintage emporium shills just about anything you’d want in your closet: ultrasoft ’80s logo tees, flannel shirts, Chucks in every color, deadstock denim, vests, ties and special-occasion dresses. Slip into the back room for rarer (and pricier) vintage, including va-va-voom lingerie, frilly 1940s–1960s prom dresses and handsome letterman jackets. Across the street, the recently opened Stella Dallas Living offers vintage fabrics and textiles, including curtains ($20–$100), blankets ($80–$300) and 1980s bedsheets adorned with Star Wars and Peanuts characters.

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.