Shopping near the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The Upper East Side actually has something cooler than a Botox membership: The Herbal Care. Opened in January 2024 as the Upper East Side’s first legal dispensary, The Herbal Care instantly upgraded the neighborhood’s offerings from “wine bar or blowout?” to something with a little more edge. This isn’t your average transactional cannabis stop. It’s a curated experience with rotating product drops, weekly deals and just enough insider cool to make you feel like you discovered something—without the gatekeeping. Bonus: they won’t judge you for asking what “solventless” means. Inside, you’ll find a sleek shop that doubles as an art gallery, because buying pre-rolls under bad lighting is over. They’ve hosted events with NYC legends like Havoc of Mobb Deep and Tony Yayo of G-Unit, so don’t be surprised if your weed run includes a live DJ set. The staff knows what they’re talking about, and they’re not trying to upsell you on a $90 eighth you’ll regret later. Whether you’re there for flower, edibles or just need to vibe out before a dinner you didn’t want to go to, they’ve got you covered. More than a dispensary, The Herbal Care has planted itself firmly in the culture—hosting art shows, performances and generally giving the UES a reason to loosen its collar a bit. It’s approachable, it’s elevated and yes, it smells amazing inside. In a city full of overpriced options and underwhelming vibes, The Herbal Care is local and legit. You don’t need a password or a plug—just a plan to...

This UES family-owned shop has been in the haute couture–recycling business since 1954 and is the place to go if you want to score Dior, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana dresses for 70 to 90 percent off retail price. While you shouldn’t schlep your bags of less-than-luxe stuff here expecting a trade (they only buy first-tier designer labels that are less than two years old and in great condition), come here if you want to treat yourself to something luxurious without breaking the bank.

Ranking among the city’s top tourist attractions, Bloomie’s is stocked with everything from bags to beauty products, homewares to designer duds. The cosmetics hall, complete with an outpost of globe-spanning apothecary Space NK and a Bumble and bumble dry-styling bar, recently got a glam makeover. The compact Soho outpost concentrates on young fashion and cosmetics.  

An initiative of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Albertine is devoted to works—both in its original version and in translation—and offers the largest selection of French literature in the United States, with more than 14,000 titles from 30 French-speaking countries. The two-floor space is truly an escapist's dream, with a designated reading room with lush sofas and armchairs, all housed in the French embassy.

For the past 40-odd years, father-and-son team Lal and Harry Bhambi have been making sure every single hand-sewn garment under their banner is made precisely to look attractive. When you pick up garbs from them, you have the advantage of their veteran touch.

For nearly half a century, Fred Kooby has been running this prim-and-proper stationery boutique, and though he’s watched as paper companies shrink their lines and e-cards replace formal invitations, his own business has grown from a single storefront to the better chunk of the block. Attribute this to his loyal clientele, who appreciate proper etiquette and classic taste—tenets that are best represented by the wall of Crane & Co. place cards (ten for $9–$100), and selection of Caspari greeting cards ($3–$9) and Charing Cross leather-bound calendars ($32–$49). Kooby’s daughter, Vanessa, oversees the custom-design department, whose shelves are jammed with sample books from lines as mid-range as William Arthur and as elaborate as C’est Papier. Aside from paper products, the store also stocks Kolo photo albums ($17–$50), Tizo picture frames ($17–$150) and fine writing instruments ($39–$495) from Waterman, Parker and Cross.

Credit cards feel right at home at this luxury Upper East Side boutique catering to avid shoppers. Gowns seen on runways worldwide are for sale along with more casual daytime dresses for the ladies-who-lunch crowd.

This Paris-based gourmet chocolate shop has multiple locations in New York.

This charming boutique is filled with preppy accessories, nearly all of which can be personalized. There are more than 50 monogram styles—from single letters to full names—and the work is complimentary with any purchase. Make your mark on seersucker duffles ($38), dopp kits ($58) and portable bar buckets ($45), or bring in your own towels, totes or apparel (the shop can embroider any item within a week, starting at $10 per piece).

This Brazilian footwear and accessories brand, which has a cult following thanks to designer Giovanni Bianco’s whimsical creations, opens its first store outside its mother country. The space is set up to resemble a high-fashion art gallery, with black-and-white geometric display tables in the middle of the shop and backlit cubes set within the walls displaying goods. Shoe fanatics will find an array of styles to covet, including ballerina flats with glitter heels ($160), suede peep-toe platforms ($190), colorful studded pumps ($260) and glitter-encrusted sandals ($190).