Shopping · New York City · United States
Shopping in New York City
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
New York shopping ranges from Fifth Avenue flagships and Madison Avenue luxury to SoHo boutiques, Brooklyn vintage stores and Macy's flagship at Herald Square. Sales tax is generally waived on clothing and shoes priced under $110 per item. Best souvenirs: Books from The Strand, MoMA Design Store finds and Baseball caps.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 5
- Markets
- 4
- Top souvenir
- Books from The Strand
Where to shop
Fifth Avenue
Flagship stores and department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman between Rockefeller Center and Central Park.
SoHo
Designer boutiques, flagship stores and independent labels on cobbled streets with cast-iron façades.
Herald Square
Macy's flagship department store and big chains around 34th Street.
Madison Avenue
Luxury fashion houses and jewellers on the Upper East Side.
Williamsburg
Vintage clothing, record stores and independent design shops around Bedford Avenue.
Markets
Union Square Greenmarket
The city's best-known farmers' market, held several days a week, with New York State produce, cider and baked goods.
Chelsea Flea
A weekend flea market for antiques, vintage clothing and collectables.
Smorgasburg
A weekend outdoor food market in Brooklyn from spring to autumn.
Holiday markets
Seasonal gift markets in Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbus Circle from November to December.
What to buy
Books from The Strand
The landmark bookshop at Broadway and 12th Street sells new, used and rare books plus its own tote bags.
MoMA Design Store finds
Well-designed homeware and gifts from the museum's shops in Midtown and SoHo.
Baseball caps
Yankees and Mets caps and shirts from the official team stores.
Deli and bakery treats
Bagels, babka and black-and-white cookies from delis and bakeries, best eaten fresh.
Broadway merchandise
Show posters, programmes and T-shirts from theatres and Times Square shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · Chelsea
Chelsea Market
Inside the former Nabisco factory, where the Oreo cookie was developed, Chelsea Market's brick-walled corridor is lined with food stalls, bakeries and shops selling tacos, lobster rolls, dumplings and doughnuts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider New York cheesecake, Black-and-white cookie, Egg cream and Dumplings. Diners and bakeries across the city; Junior's, founded in Brooklyn, is a long-standing favourite. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Midtown | $$$$ | Times Square, Broadway theatres and the classic skyscrapers |
| Upper East Side | $$$$ | Museum Mile, Madison Avenue boutiques and grand townhouses |
| Chelsea and the Meatpacking District | $$$$ | The High Line, art galleries and Chelsea Market |
| Greenwich Village and West Village | $$$$ | Leafy streets, Washington Square and jazz clubs |
| SoHo and Nolita | $$$$ | Cast-iron buildings and boutique shopping |
| Lower East Side and East Village | $$$ | Old tenements, dive bars and some of the city's best cheap eats |
| Financial District | $$$ | Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial and harbour views |
| Williamsburg | $$$ | Waterfront parks, vintage shops and Brooklyn nightlife |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected and makes up much of service workers' pay: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars a night for hotel housekeeping.
- Use OMNY's fare cap by tapping the same card or phone for every ride.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are June and December.
- April: Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival on Fifth Avenue (Easter Sunday)
- June: Tribeca Festival (usually June)
- June: Museum Mile Festival (usually early June)
- November: Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting (usually late November or early December)
- December: Holiday markets in Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbus Circle (usually November to December)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Midtown
Times Square, Broadway theatres and the classic skyscrapers
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in New York City?
Books from The Strand, MoMA Design Store finds, Baseball caps and Deli and bakery treats.
+Where is the best shopping in New York City?
Fifth Avenue: Flagship stores and department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman between Rockefeller Center and Central Park.
+What are the best markets in New York City?
Union Square Greenmarket, Chelsea Flea, Smorgasburg and Holiday markets.