As a lifelong New Yorker, I often become jaded from living in NYC and take the city’s great shopping, restaurants and sites for granted. Luckily, my BF and I have a lot of visitors, and get to see the city through their eyes from time to time. I’ve assembled my must-see, eat and shop list for fashion-focused visitors to NYC. Keep it handy for your next long weekend.
Shop:
Where to start? NYC is full of amazing flagship stores for big retailers as well as quirky one-off boutiques. My top shop list includes:
Barneys: The flagship store is super well curated with a selection of high-end and newcomer designers. It also often has interesting displays, especially around Christmas. Be prepared to drop a lot of dough. Added bonus: Fred’s, Barney’s café, is super delicious and has a high tech ordering system where the tables are made of giant electronic tablets.
260 Sample Sale: here is a New Yorker’s best secret. Want to look great and not spend a fortune? Check out the sample sales run by 260 fifth Ave. Each week, the designer changes. We have snagged some serious steals, with most products marked down between 70% to 80%. Our favorites so far have been for J. Crew, Elizabeth and James, Zadig & Voltaire and Equipment. Go here for a calendar of events.
Liquor Store by J. Crew: have your man in tow? You’ll want to be sure to visit J. Crew’s Liquor Store. It’s a men’s concept from J. Crew in a really cool setting. In addition to its own brand, they’ve done a great job curating men’s accessories and clothing from other designers. While you’re at it, take him to Suit Supply to check out their vast array of suits.
Century 21: another secret is Century 21.
Go to the Lincoln Square one for deals on designers like DVF, Equipment, Marc Jacobs and others.
Shopping by Area:
There are three major areas for shopping in NYC: Fifth Ave., Soho & Meatpacking District. You’ll want to spend a few hours on Fifth Ave. mostly for tourist purposes, to see Tiffany’s, the Apple store, Harry Winston, etc. But, this isn’t really the place to shop. My favorite area is Soho where you’ll find tons of cool boutiques and concept stores. You can walk a few block radius and hit up Top Shop, Bloomingdales, French Connection, Rag & Bone, Mackage etc. In Meatpacking, stroll down the cobblestone streets and check out Diane Von Furstenberg, Scoop, Christian Louboutin etc.
Eat:
We adore Mercer Kitchen in Soho for lunch & brunch. It’s a great ambience and full of celebrity sightings. The location is just perfect – in the heart of the shopping district of Soho, meaning you can hit up the surrounding stores such as French Connection, Bloomingdales’ All Saints & Top Shop (all walking distance) before and after brunch.
Smorgasburg: Want to venture to the trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood? If you’re visiting in the spring or summer, visiting Smorgasburg is a must do. This outdoor food festival every weekend features hundreds of local restaurateurs’ and food purveyors selling their signature dishes. You can find everything from tacos to ice cream sandwiches to gourmet macaroni and cheese and macaroons. Come with an empty stomach, because you’ll want to save as much real estate in your tummy as possible. Bring a camera, there are amazing views of Manhattan.
Buddakan: Great dinner spot in the Meatpacking district with Thai and Asian food. The décor is breathtaking. Make sure to make a reservation.
Bobo: If you’re heading to NYC with the girls, add Bobo to your list of dinner spots. Bobo is located in the West Village in an old brownstone building. Its multilevels and the décor is just amazing with elaborate candelabras, antique books and all the pieces you wish were in your apartment.
Café Cluny: Another great spot for a girls trip. Go for either brunch or Dinner. Quaint restaurant with smaller portions and frequent celebrity sightings.
Felix is a great spot to see, be seen and eat. One of our weekend brunch go-tos. If you can’t get in, Cipriani is just down the block and has a very similar feel.
Costata: New York has many wonderful steak houses, but many lack the intimate ambiance that Costata has. It is a restaurant from chef Michael White, one of the most esteemed chefs in town, and the food is phenominal. It’s in a cool part of town where you can go for drinks after. Going purely for the food? Then check out Del Frisco’s or Quality Meats, both in the midtown area.
More New York Travel Guides:
Travel Guide: The Best Brunch in NYC
Travel Guide: The Best Boutique Fitness Classes in NYC