8 Best Places to Go Shopping in New York

The Upper East Side is well-known for its wealthy residents and upscale high-rises. Following close behind are the strings of designer shops and high-end department stores on the world-famous Madison Avenue. Think Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co., Prada, Valentino and many more, they have it. Though it may be a shopping spot for those willing to splurge, a wander down Madison Avenue allows for a true New York window shopping experience.

With each turn of the season, department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s and Bergdorf Goodman will update their windows with lavish displays which attract thousands of people each year. A little tip: The further uptown you walk, the pricier the stores.

SoHo, abbreviated from South of Houston Street, is an energetic neighborhood filled with trendy shops and cafes, all worthy of an Instagram post. The area has a decent mixture of all types of shops: fast fashion brands like Zara, international brands like Taschen and mainstream finds like Levi’s.

SoHo is a neighborhood ideal for those who like to explore on foot, and certainly a lot less crowded than Madison Avenue. Here you can also find an amazing selection of vintage, second hand and thrift shops. The hotels located around SoHo are pretty cool too, ranging from affordable to luxury.

Nolita, short for North of Little Italy, is the charming, less-visited counterpart of SoHo. The neighbourhood exudes a cool, trendy atmosphere, which is fairly obvious by the mobs of stylish people who strut about the streets.

Composed of narrow streets and carefully curated window displays, Nolita boasts exciting boutiques selling unique selections of women’s and menswear, footwear, jewelry and accessories. You’ll also find a great selection home goods stores such as Bulletin and Diptyque. Nolita is known as a hot spot when it comes to awesome brunches, breakfasts and pizza places.

If you find pleasure in past trends and all things vintage, East Village, the shops in this fun area will delight you. East Village is often noted as one of the few places in Manhattan that still has quirky character; it’s full of strange little nooks where you can escape into different worlds.

You’ll be transported into retro-world when you visit Cloak & Dagger, a vintage shop offering below $100 pieces reminiscent of Wes Anderson characters. Other charismatic shops include Cobblestones and VideoGamesNewYork, a walk-in-closet-sized shop filled with games from across the years.

Canal Street is a popular place to go if you’re in the market for a designer-looking bag, wallet, watch or perfume, but can’t quite afford the real thing. The makeshift stalls are as much an attraction in itself. The vendors are eccentric and friendly, and you’ll often hear funny conversations between themselves. It’s a different side of New York to the glossy streets of Upper East Side. Choose a hotel located in Chinatown if you'd like to stay close by.

Not all the products here are genuine, but make sure you know the difference between counterfeit and knock-off pieces; counterfeit bags are the same in model, colour and logo whilst the knockoffs are imitations “inspired” by the originals.

West Village, home to the famous Bleecker Street and the historic Greenwich Village, holds a mixture of chic boutiques and well-known brands. Found among the meandering streets of this area are popular brands like Diptyque and C.O. Bigelow, to fulfill all your home décor and cosmetics needs.

Hidden treasures include Madame Matovu, which can be pretty expensive but when it’s vintage high-end discards, who cares. For trend-setting brands, check out Urban Zen (Donna Karan’s non-profit brand) and the quaint boutiques on and near Greenwich Street.

Williamsburg, found in the almost-too-cool Brooklyn, is sprawling with amazing vintage and thrift shops. This neighborhood is well worth trekking over the Brooklyn Bridge, not just for the great shopping but also for its ever-growing supply of delicious restaurants and cafes as well as upcoming art galleries.

A true mecca for vintage-lovers, you can find two sources of vintage goods: stores and markets. Check out Beacon’s Closet, a staple vintage stores, the much-loved Artist & Fleas marketplace and Little Brooklyn Market. You'll find a good variety of hotels dotted around Williamsburg, perfect for your stay.

Park Slope is that shy but trendy friend who’s far too modest but has all the coolest and newest clothes. When you think Fifth Avenue, the doors of Tiffany and Co. probably spring to mind, but in Park Slope’s case, Fifth Avenue marks a flurry of independent fashion shops selling one-of-a-kind items.

Shopping in this area sees you among vintage troves in the form of brownstone buildings; make sure you snap a picture of this Brooklyn aesthetic. Pay a visit to the hip corner digs of Beacon’s Closet and the romantic bookstore The Ripped Bodice.