New York serves up unforgettable experiences on every corner, but few can match the feeling of strolling down Manhattan’s famous avenues with a coffee in hand, discovering local stores as you go. The city that never sleeps dictates global trends, and you get the rare chance to be right at the source. Whether you’re hunting for iconic fashion houses, hidden boutiques packed with independent designers, or gigantic outlets, shopping in New York lives up to the expectations of even the most demanding travellers. Glittering window displays, historic buildings, and endless options turn an ordinary spending spree into a full-blown cultural event.

On your first or second visit, the sheer scale of it all can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re travelling with family or a partner and want to make the most of your time. Distances on Manhattan are deceptive, and without a plan you can easily end up with an empty wallet and the nagging feeling that you missed the best spots. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to bring home original pieces, you just need to know which streets to head for and the rules the local stores play by.

This guide covers the most important shopping zones, from luxurious Fifth Avenue through the stylish lanes of SoHo to the flea markets of Brooklyn. You’ll find big department stores, outlets beyond the city limits, and a clear explanation of the American tax system so there are no nasty surprises at the till. Better to start packing your suitcase only after you land.

TL;DR

• The price on the tag isn’t final, the 8.875% sales tax is added at the till, so always budget for the increase
• Clothing and footwear under $110 per item are exempt from tax in New York, so you pay exactly the price on the label
• Tax-free shopping for tourists, like in Europe, doesn’t exist in the USA, you can’t claim the tax back
• Woodbury Common Premium Outlets: an hour by bus from Manhattan, over 250 brands, the best outlet in the area
• Don’t buy souvenirs on Times Square, a few blocks away or in Chinatown you’ll get the same things for half the price
• With electronics, watch the £390 customs limit for bringing goods into the UK and the American 120V sockets
• Fifth Avenue: luxury brands Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany, the Apple Store (the glass cube) and FAO Schwarz near Rockefeller Center

5th Avenue and luxury shopping

Famous Fifth Avenue acts as a shop window for global fashion, and a walk down it belongs on every New York itinerary. The most interesting stretch runs from 49th Street north towards Central Park, home to the most prestigious brands. Even if you have no plans to drop thousands of dollars on designer pieces, a visit to the flagship stores here delivers a visual experience on par with touring a modern art gallery. The building architecture, the meticulous window arrangements, and the first-class customer service create an atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.

The iconic department store Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Ave) dominates Midtown with its ten floors packed with luxury fashion, cosmetics, and accessories. Shoppers come not only for the huge selection of global designers but also for the legendary shoe department, which even has its own postal code. During the winter months the building’s facade transforms into a magical Christmas window show with light and music projections that reliably bring traffic to a halt for blocks around. Inside you’ll find helpful staff ready to assist, whether you’re after an exclusive perfume or an evening gown.

Right at the southeast corner of Central Park stands Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Ave), a byword for the absolute peak of New York luxury. This department store has a more intimate and elegant feel than its rivals, and the upper floors offer breathtaking views over the park’s trees. Private advisors help clients assemble entire wardrobes, and the home décor department feels more like a museum exhibit. The men’s section sits in a separate building directly across the street, giving both departments maximum comfort and space.

Jewellery lovers can’t skip a visit to Tiffany & Co (725 Fifth Ave), the legendary jeweller that recently underwent an extensive renovation and now carries the subtitle The Landmark. The dazzling interiors blend historic elements with modern art, displaying some of the world’s most brilliant diamonds across several floors. On the top floor you can visit the popular Blue Box Cafe, where you can enjoy a vegetarian breakfast in stylish turquoise surroundings, following in the footsteps of a certain famous film heroine. I’d recommend booking a table well in advance, because interest from tourists around the world never lets up.

Tech enthusiasts will automatically head for the Apple Store Fifth Avenue, easily recognised by the iconic glass cube on the plaza in front of the Plaza Hotel. This architectural gem operates 24/7, so you can try out a new phone or headphones at three in the morning if you fancy. The underground store itself offers a vast, light-filled space with living trees and hundreds of devices on display ready to test. A little further along towards Rockefeller Center, families with children will find the toy store FAO Schwarz (30 Rockefeller Plaza), famous for the giant floor piano from the film Big, where you can dance about and try to play your favourite tune.

SoHo and NoLita: boutiques and flagship stores

The SoHo neighbourhood (South of Houston Street) is the complete opposite of the skyscrapers and the bustle around Times Square. Its signature cast-iron architecture, historic buildings, and the cobblestoned Prince Street create a unique backdrop for one of the best open-air shopping districts in the world. Originally an industrial area full of artists’ studios, it gradually turned into a home for global brands while keeping its bohemian, visually striking character. Wandering the streets here is a pleasure even if you have no plans to buy anything, because the window displays look like modern art installations.

Sports fans should head to the five-storey Nike SoHo (529 Broadway), which pushes the boundaries of ordinary shopping. It isn’t just shelves full of trainers, inside you’ll find a basketball court, running treadmills, and zones for testing football boots. On the fifth floor there’s a special personalisation lab where experts customise your trainers or clothing exactly to your taste using patches, prints, and unique laces. The shopping experience is rounded off by professional staff who know the technology and materials of each product inside out.

Just a few blocks away sits Apple SoHo (103 Prince St), housed in a beautiful historic former post office building. Compared to the busy glass cube on Fifth Avenue, the pace here is far calmer, the interior features original brick walls, and a generous skylight lets soft daylight pour in. This branch often runs free educational workshops focused on photography, music-making, or coding. For buying electronics or getting a consultation with technical support, this location is a much more pleasant and less stressful option.

The neighbouring area of NoLita (North of Little Italy) flows seamlessly on from SoHo but offers a more intimate, cosier atmosphere. Streets like Mott Street and Elizabeth Street are lined with trees, brick houses, and dozens of independent boutiques from local designers, where you can pick up original jewellery, hand-sewn clothing, or unique homeware. The shops here focus on quality, sustainability, and limited editions, so the chance of bumping into someone wearing the same coat as you drops to near zero. The narrow pavements and the absence of big multinational chains give the neighbourhood the feel of a small European village in the middle of an enormous metropolis.

While exploring NoLita you’ll come across the premium cosmetics store Aesop, which lures you in with its signature herbal scent. The interior respects the neighbourhood’s history, combining raw materials with elegant brass basins where you can try out all the products firsthand. After a demanding session of trying on clothes and testing cosmetics, I’d recommend a stop at the French concept store La Mercerie. This charming space combines a designer furniture shop with an elegant café serving excellent vegetarian quiche, fresh pastries, and speciality coffee in gorgeous ceramic crockery.

The biggest shopping centres and department stores

American department stores have defined shopping culture for over a century, and a visit to New York wouldn’t be complete without them. Macy’s Herald Square (on 34th Street) takes up an entire city block and proudly holds the title of the largest department store in the world. The historic building hides ten floors packed with fashion, cosmetics, accessories, and homeware from hundreds of different brands. The original wooden escalators from the 1920s still run, carrying shoppers to the upper floors and lending the place a nostalgic touch you won’t find in any other shopping centre.

For foreign tourists, Macy’s has a very welcome bonus in the form of a discount card. Just take your passport to the visitor centre on the mezzanine or to the information desk, where you’ll get a pass giving you 10% off most of the range. This discount is valid for thirty days and can even be applied to goods already reduced in ongoing sales. 💡 Tip: If you download the store’s app or visit their website, you’ll often get an electronic discount code straight to your phone, which saves the time you’d otherwise spend queuing at the visitor centre.

Another icon of the New York retail scene is Bloomingdale’s (1000 Third Ave), occupying the prime corner of 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. This department store is best known for its iconic brown shopping bags marked Little Brown Bag, which have become a popular souvenir in their own right. The ground floor wows visitors with a huge cosmetics and perfume department, with floors of premium everyday and evening fashion above. The black-and-white chequerboard floor and luxurious lighting create an elegant setting that invites long shopping sessions and the discovery of new designer collections.

If you’re after the most modern approach to the customer, head to the flagship Nordstrom (225 W 57th St), built close to Central Park. The seven-storey building with its wavy glass facade lets in maximum daylight and offers an airy, uncluttered interior. Nordstrom is famous for the largest selection of shoes in all of New York, an extensive beauty treatments department, and top-notch customer service. There are several restaurants and bars inside the store, so between trying on coats and choosing handbags you can easily take a break with a glass of wine or a light vegetarian sandwich without leaving the building.

Sales and shopping outlets in New York City

Scoring designer clothing for a fraction of the original price is the main goal of a New York trip for many travellers. The legendary store Century 21 (22 Cortlandt St), in the Financial District opposite the World Trade Center memorial, has been making those dreams come true for decades. After a forced bankruptcy in 2020 the store thankfully reopened, and once again offers designer pieces at outlet prices right on Manhattan. The shopping system takes patience, you have to dig through densely packed rails and shelves, but the reward is luxury dresses, handbags, or men’s suits often discounted by sixty to eighty percent.

An excellent alternative for bargain shopping right in the city is Nordstrom Rack, the off-price division of the famous department store, with several branches across New York. Here you’ll find older collections, surplus stock, or trial samples from the main Nordstrom at significantly lower prices. Unlike the neatly arranged parent store, the Rack has a touch of chaos, with shoes sorted by size into long aisles and clothing hanging by the hundreds on long rails. But anyone with a sharp eye and time to search will discover premium denim brands, quality leather accessories, and branded sportswear.

For the biggest outlet experience, though, you’ll need to head beyond the city limits to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. This vast complex in the Central Valley area resembles a tidy little village and gathers over 250 brands, from affordable sportswear makers to the most luxurious European fashion houses. The bus ride from the Port Authority terminal on Manhattan takes about an hour, and I’d recommend buying tickets online in advance. Once you arrive, make your way to the customer centre, where on presenting your passport you’ll get a VIP discount booklet that adds another ten to twenty percent off the already reduced prices at selected retailers.

Planning your day at Woodbury Common takes a strategic approach, because you can’t get round the place in a couple of hours. The key to success is arriving for opening time, when the stores are freshly tidied, sizes are available, and there are no long queues at the tills. Pick up a map of the complex at the entrance, circle your priority brands, and work through it systematically by colour-coded zone. In the middle of the complex there’s a spacious café park and food court where you can recharge for the next round of trying on clothes, and the on-site restaurants offer a generous selection of fully vegetarian dishes too.

If you don’t fancy an hour on the bus, there’s a newer and more accessible option in the form of Empire Outlets on Staten Island. You reach this complex on Richmond Terrace via the iconic orange Staten Island Ferry, which runs from Lower Manhattan for free and offers a lovely view of the Statue of Liberty. This outlet isn’t on the scale of Woodbury and focuses more on mainstream and sports brands, but the modern architecture, beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, and the lack of a long journey make it a perfect half-day trip for the whole family.

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Where to stay in New York

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Accommodation in Midtown

Strategic location for shopping within walking distance of Fifth Avenue and Macy’s. Close to Port Authority Bus Terminal for trips to Woodbury Common outlet.

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Accommodation in New York

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Vintage, markets and books

New York isn’t all about big brands and polished window displays, second-hand culture is hugely popular here too. Book lovers should head to Union Square, home to the legendary Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway). This independent shop is famous for its slogan about eighteen miles of books and hides over two and a half million new, used, and rare volumes within its walls. The iconic red sign above the entrance welcomes readers from all over the world, who can spend hours getting lost in the narrow aisles lined with shelves, browsing art publications, or hunting for rare first editions in the special collectors’ department.

Anyone after unique pieces and local culture will find their paradise at the weekend markets. Brooklyn Flea changes its location with the seasons, often coming alive in summer under the arch of the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO or in Williamsburg. Dozens of sellers lay out their tables full of antiques, retro clothing, old maps, jewellery, and boxes stuffed with vinyl records. The atmosphere is rounded off by stalls serving excellent vegetarian street food, live music, and a colourful mix of locals who come here to spend lazy weekend afternoons and haggle over rare finds.

A similar concept, but indoors and with a greater emphasis on independent makers, is offered by Artists & Fleas. Their permanent branches are in Chelsea Market and at 70 N 7th St in Williamsburg. Sellers here offer handmade soaps, original prints, upcycled fashion, and bespoke jewellery. The advantage of this market is direct contact with the makers, who are happy to explain how things are made and the story behind each product. It’s the ideal place to buy meaningful souvenirs and gifts that weren’t churned out in a factory on the other side of the world, but created right in the studios of New York artists.

For fans of second-hand fashion, Brooklyn is the promised land, and Beacon’s Closet (88 N 11th St in Williamsburg) is its main temple. This enormous warehouse works on a buy-and-sell model, so local trendsetters bring in their cast-off designer pieces and the shop offers them straight back on. The interior is defined by endless rows of clothing arranged by colour, from pastel shades to deep black, which makes searching surprisingly quick. You can stumble upon barely-worn shoes from famous designers or vintage leather jackets from the eighties for very reasonable sums.

If you’re after affordable retro pieces rather than luxury brands, visit one of the branches of the L Train Vintage chain, scattered mainly across Brooklyn. These shops specialise in importing huge quantities of used clothing, which they sell at very low prices, often close to buying by weight. The racks overflow with classic flannel shirts, worn-in jeans from American brands, retro sports jackets, and tees with old band prints. Digging through the piles takes time and energy, but the feeling of finding a perfectly fitting denim jacket for a few dollars makes it well worth it.

A chapter all of its own in New York shopping is the legendary store B&H Photo Video (420 9th Ave in Midtown). It’s one of the largest stores for cameras, electronics, and audio gear in the world. You can spot it from a distance by its green awnings, and inside you’ll be amazed by its unique logistics system. Baskets of goods travel overhead on an ingenious system of conveyor belts straight from the warehouses to the tills. The store is owned and run by a community of Hasidic Jews, so check the opening hours before you visit, during Jewish holidays and from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening the doors stay firmly shut.

Taxes, prices and how to save money

For a British tourist, the biggest shock is usually the American way of displaying prices. The amount you see on the tag in a shop or on a restaurant menu never includes sales tax. In New York the so-called sales tax of 8.875% is added at the till. This rate is made up of three parts: city tax (4.5%), state tax (4%), and a special transport surcharge MCTD (0.375%). So if you pick a perfume off the shelf for a round one hundred dollars, the cashier will ask you for $108.88 at the till. You need to factor this increase into every purchase you plan so you don’t blow your budget.

New York City does, however, offer one fantastic exception that will delight every fashion lover. Clothing and footwear under $110 per item are exempt from tax in New York. This works strictly per item, not per total purchase. If you put three pairs of trousers in your basket, each costing $95, you won’t pay a cent of tax even though the total bill exceeds one hundred and ten dollars. But the moment you add a winter coat for $115, the full 8.875% tax is charged on that specific item. This system massively favours shopping in the sales and at outlets, where most everyday clothing falls under the set limit.

Unlike many European or Asian countries, there is no tax-free system for tourists in the United States. You’d look in vain for tax refund forms at the airport, the sales tax you pay stays with the American authorities and there’s no legal way to get it back. This is offset by huge seasonal sales. The biggest price drops come during Black Friday at the end of November, after Christmas, or over long weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day. In the Garment District fashion area, so-called sample sales are also held regularly, where designers sell off trial samples from their shows at knockdown prices.

When paying by card in American shops you’ll run into one more small trap. Payment terminals often offer European cardholders so-called dynamic currency conversion (DCC) and ask whether you want the transaction charged in dollars or in pounds. Always, without exception, choose to pay in the local currency, that is, in US dollars. If you choose pounds, the terminal uses an extremely unfavourable exchange rate from the intermediary bank and the purchase costs you more than it should. Your home bank or modern travel cards like Revolut will convert dollars to pounds at a much better mid-market rate.

A final tip for thrifty travellers concerns the classic souvenirs. Avoid buying magnets, I Love NY T-shirts, and miniature Statues of Liberty right on Times Square or immediately next to the main attractions. Retailers in these areas pay astronomical rents and souvenir prices reflect that. Just walk three blocks away towards Eighth or Ninth Avenue, or head straight for Chinatown around Canal Street. In these areas you’ll find identical goods, but at half, and often a third, of the price, and in Chinatown you can even haggle successfully over the price of larger purchases.

Tips and travellers’ experiences

• The price on the tag isn’t final, budget for the 8.875% sales tax surcharge at the till
• The tax exemption on clothing under $110 per item saves money mainly in the sales
• Trainers and American brands work out significantly cheaper at Woodbury than in the UK
• Watch the UK customs limit of £390, especially with pricey electronics, and keep your receipts
• Buy souvenirs away from Times Square for half price in Chinatown or a few blocks over

For up-to-date information on temporary stores, pop-up boutiques, and seasonal sales, follow the official NYC tourism website. You’ll find an events calendar, maps of individual neighbourhoods, and practical advice for getting around the city easily, all of which will help you plan your shopping days as efficiently as possible.

Where to stay for shopping

Choosing the right location to stay saves you a heap of time and sore feet, because hauling full bags through a packed subway quickly loses its charm. The Midtown Manhattan area has an unbeatable advantage here. Staying around 34th to 50th Street means famous Fifth Avenue, the enormous Macy’s, and dozens of other popular stores are all within walking distance. When your hands are full of bags, you can easily nip back to the hotel, drop off your haul, rest for a bit, and head out for another round without traipsing across the whole city.

Midtown is a strategic spot if you’re planning trips beyond Manhattan too. Within walking distance is the enormous Port Authority bus terminal, where direct services leave for the Woodbury Common outlet, and Penn Station for journeys into New Jersey. This central part of the city is also brimming with hotels of every category, from luxurious five-star complexes to affordable boutique hotels, so there’s something for families with children and couples looking for a romantic base for their New York stay alike.

For comfortable shopping it pays to stay close to the stores. Take a look at hotels in Midtown near Fifth Avenue and Macy’s, or compare all accommodation in New York.

Where to next

• 44 things to see in New York
• Itinerary for 3, 5 or 7 days in New York
• New York in 3 days: what to fit in

Frequently asked questions

Times Square blazes into the night with three hundred giant billboards, crowds surge along the pavements with phones held overhead, and after twenty minutes in that chaos you start craving a quiet corner. Most tourists spend their entire trip squeezed between Fifth Avenue and Central Park. Yet the city has five enormous boroughs, and the best cafés and emptiest backstreets lie far from the neon glare. To really get under the skin of New York, you have to look beyond the obvious.

When you go hunting for the authentic side of New York, you’ll need to ride the subway under the East River or head north of 110th Street. Seasoned travellers spend two days in Manhattan at most. The rest of the time they explore places where born-and-bred New Yorkers grab their morning coffee and read the weekend papers.

The question of what to see in Brooklyn — or Queens — comes up daily in travel groups. So we’ve put together a guide to the neighbourhoods where you’ll find the best vegetarian dumplings, the perfect red-brick industrial contrasts, and quiet pockets with no tourists in sight.

TL;DR

• Williamsburg: Bedford Avenue, Domino Park with its Manhattan views, Smorgasburg and the Westlight rooftop bar.
• DUMBO: The best photo spot in NY — the corner of Washington Street & Water Street, Jane’s Carousel and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
• Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope: A promenade overlooking the Statue of Liberty, Prospect Park and the Grand Army Plaza farmers’ market.
• Greenwich Village: Washington Square Park, jazz at the Village Vanguard (since 1935), the Stonewall Inn and Bleecker Street.
• Queens: Greek Astoria with its Bohemian Hall beer garden, industrial views from Gantry Plaza and the Asian enclave of Flushing.
• Harlem: The Apollo Theater, Sunday gospel at the Abyssinian Baptist Church and the brownstones of Strivers’ Row.
• The Bronx: Arthur Avenue (the real, non-touristy Little Italy), plus the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden side by side.

Brooklyn: The Best Neighbourhoods and What to See

Cross the river and you land in a world of lower-rise houses, tree-lined avenues and community gardens. If you’re wondering what to see in Brooklyn, pack comfortable shoes and an empty stomach. This part of the city sets global food trends and calls the shots on street style.

Williamsburg

The main artery, Bedford Avenue, runs like a catwalk of independent boutiques and vintage shops stacked with vinyl records. Start your day right here and watch the locals stroll past, tote bags slung over their shoulders, on their way to grab a coffee. The walls around the junctions with Wythe Avenue are covered in massive street art that changes every few weeks. Local artists create legal murals across entire building facades.

The old industrial waterfront has been reborn as Domino Park. A former nineteenth-century sugar refinery forms the rusty backdrop to a bench-lined promenade. From the wooden loungers right above the water, you get sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. Families come here to spend their weekend afternoons reading books.

From spring to autumn, Saturday attention shifts to Smorgasburg. The largest open-air food market in America brings together dozens of local cooks. Foodies in the know come for giant crispy falafel, vegetable dumplings and freshly pressed fruit juices. Arrive at eleven sharp, before the biggest crowds roll in.

In the afternoon, duck into Brooklyn Brewery for a tour that dives into the history of beer-making in New York. Before sunset, take the lift up to the Westlight rooftop bar atop The William Vale hotel. Cocktails run around twenty dollars, but the view of the skyscrapers lighting up across the river more than makes up for the bill.

💡 Tip: Book a table at Westlight at least two weeks ahead through the Resy app. Without a reservation, security won’t even let you into the lift.

DUMBO

Short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, DUMBO hides the most photographed junction on the entire East Coast. The corner of Washington Street and Water Street is framed by red-brick buildings, with the blue steel pillar of the Manhattan Bridge rising precisely between them. At seven in the morning you’ll meet just a handful of photographers; by midday you’ll be weaving through the crowds.

The neighbourhood has kept its original cobblestone streets and the rails of old freight trains. Former factories have given way to luxury lofts and galleries at the Dumbo Arts Center. The space between the two bridges is filled by Brooklyn Bridge Park. Green lawns along the river make for perfect picnic spots with views of the Financial District.

Right on the waterfront spins Jane’s Carousel. This lovingly restored historic carousel from 1922 is protected by a glass pavilion, so it runs even in winter. A ride costs just two dollars. Nearby stands the massive Empire Stores complex. These converted nineteenth-century warehouses now host design shops and exhibition spaces with a rooftop terrace.

When hunger strikes, head for Time Out Market. This modern food hall gathers the city’s top-rated restaurants under one roof. Locals come for vegan burgers or artisan ice cream and eat them on the outdoor steps overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.

💡 Tip: You can ride the lift up to the Empire Stores rooftop terrace for free — it gives you the best angle for photographing the carousel with the river behind it.

Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope

For a calmer face of the city, head to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. This pedestrian walkway, suspended above the motorway, offers an uninterrupted view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Behind you stand rows of grand Victorian-era townhouses with their classic brownstone stoops. Stop by Montague Street, where small local cafés and bookshops give the area a real neighbourhood feel.

Further inland lies Park Slope and the enormous Prospect Park. This 526-acre green island was designed by Olmsted and Vaux — the same architects behind Central Park — who considered it their masterpiece. Inside you’ll find deep woods, a vast lake and quiet, tourist-free meadows. On weekends, the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket sets up at the entrance.

A hidden gem for lovers of offbeat places is Smiling Hogshead Ranch. This community garden built on abandoned railway tracks works as a showcase of urban farming. Local residents grow vegetables here and host neighbourhood gatherings.

💡 Tip: At the Grand Army Plaza farmers’ market you can buy fresh cheeses and apple cider straight from upstate New York growers. The perfect kit for a picnic in the park.

Manhattan, Reimagined: Bohemian and Historic Neighbourhoods

Forget Midtown with its office towers. The real stories are written in the lower reaches of downtown Manhattan, where every street tells the history of immigrants, artists and rebels.

Greenwich Village and West Village

The heart of the neighbourhood beats at Washington Square Park. Around the main fountain beneath the marble Washington Arch, students from the nearby university strum guitars. Street pianists wheel their pianos in on castors and old-timers play chess. It’s the best spot in town for watching the city’s wonderfully mixed crowd.

This area wrote music history. The jazz clubs Village Vanguard (from 1935) and Blue Note still host some of the best musicians in the world. Tickets start at around forty dollars. History was made here too at the Stonewall Inn. This national monument commemorates the events of 1969 and remains a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community.

Wandering down Bleecker Street, you’ll pass dozens of tiny shops, bakeries and independent cafés. For luxe residential calm, head to the West Village. Its winding little streets lined with brick houses pointedly ignore the rigid grid of the rest of Manhattan. At 90 Grove Street you’ll spot the building whose facade played a starring role in Friends.

💡 Tip: For the jazz clubs you’ll need tickets bought online up to a month ahead. On the night, only standing tickets at the bar are sold.

East Village and Lower East Side

The city’s alternative heart beats on St. Marks Place. This street shaped punk culture — bands were born here and the first tattoo parlours sprang up. Today you’ll find vintage clothing shops and some of the best little Japanese restaurants. Seasoned travellers recommend a stop at Tompkins Square Park. On weekends it hosts community events and local markets, and its huge dog runs fill with barking pups.

The harsh history of immigrants is charted at the Tenement Museum on Orchard Street. Touring the meticulously reconstructed apartments, you’ll hear the stories of families who lived in these cramped conditions. You must book tickets in advance — tours run with a guide only. By night, the neighbourhood comes alive with hundreds of small bars on Avenue B and C.

The Lower East Side’s gastronomic legend is Katz’s Delicatessen. Open since 1888, it was made famous by that scene in When Harry Met Sally. The house specialty is enormous sandwiches piled with sliced pastrami, which draw hour-long queues. Every visitor gets a paper ticket at the door, on which your bill is recorded.

💡 Tip: Don’t lose your ticket at Katz’s Delicatessen, even if you order nothing. Leaving without it means a fifty-dollar fine.

SoHo, Nolita, Little Italy and Chinatown

The name SoHo comes from a shortening of South of Houston. The neighbourhood holds the world’s largest concentration of cast-iron architecture. These former textile factories, with their huge windows and ornate columns, now serve as luxury boutiques and art galleries. You’ll find the most around Spring Street and Prince Street.

Neighbouring Nolita has a more intimate vibe. Locals head to Nolita House or relax in the Elizabeth Street Garden. This small garden, full of old statues and benches, offers a quiet refuge from the concrete. Over on Mulberry Street you’ll find the last remnants of Little Italy. Red-white-and-green decorations and the smell of garlic lure tourists into the Italian restaurants.

Right next door begins bustling Chinatown. Its original heart is the curved alley of Doyers Street. Once nicknamed the “bloody angle” because of the gang wars, today it bursts with colour. Here you’ll find Nom Wah Tea Parlor. This oldest dim sum spot in Chinatown has been running since 1920. In the afternoon, drop by Columbus Park, where local seniors play mahjong and practise tai chi.

💡 Tip: At Nom Wah Tea Parlor, try the rice rolls and vegetarian dumplings. On weekends, arrive before noon or you’ll be waiting for a table out on the street.

Queens: The Most Diverse Part of New York

This part of the city holds the title of the most ethnically diverse place on the planet. Hundreds of languages are spoken here and the streets carry the scent of spices from every corner of the world. Anyone after authentic food at normal prices heads straight here.

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Where to stay in New York

3 accommodations — hotels, wellness hotels and other accommodation options

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Williamsburg, Brooklyn – accommodation

Hipster atmosphere full of independent cafes in Williamsburg. Quieter nights than in Midtown and you’re in Manhattan in just ten minutes via the L train. Prices are somewhat better than hotels with views of Times Square.

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New York – all accommodations

Comparison of all accommodations in New York. For an authentic stay we recommend Williamsburg in Brooklyn, for proximity to the center of action Midtown or Lower East Side.

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The William Vale

Hotel in Williamsburg with rooftop bar Westlight, which offers spectacular views of Manhattan’s illuminated skyscrapers. Cocktails cost around twenty dollars and reservations are required at least two weeks in advance.

★★★★ from 20 USD cocktails

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Astoria

This traditional neighbourhood north of the Queensboro Bridge boasts the largest Greek community in the USA outside Greece itself. Around Steinway Street and Broadway, the air fills with the smells of family-run Greek tavernas, baklava bakeries and little cafés. Locals shop for olives and feta at the enormous Greek supermarket Titan Foods.

For a breather, head to Astoria Park. Grassy slopes roll down to the river, offering a direct view of the massive steel arch of the Hell Gate Bridge with Manhattan beyond. The park is also home to the city’s largest public pool. Film buffs will love the neighbourhood’s excellent Museum of the Moving Image with its interactive exhibits on filmmaking.

Czech immigrants left their mark at Bohemian Hall. This oldest still-running beer garden in all of New York has Czech and Slovak roots dating back to 1910. Under the mature trees, locals lounge on wooden benches sipping beer, and the menu even features classic potato pancakes and fried cheese.

💡 Tip: Entry to the film museum is free every Thursday afternoon. Spend the dollars you save on a Greek frappé in a nearby café.

Long Island City

Old docks and warehouses have transformed into a modern residential zone with fantastic public space. Gantry Plaza State Park has preserved the huge industrial gantry cranes from the 1930s, once used to transfer rail cars onto ships. Today they form a photogenic backdrop to wooden piers and loungers with a direct view of the UN building and Midtown Manhattan.

Art lovers head to MoMA PS1. This contemporary art gallery is housed in a former public school. It exhibits provocative installations and, in summer, hosts the legendary Warm Up music parties in its courtyard. Admission is free for New York State residents, while tourists pay a reduced price.

💡 Tip: Sit on the benches at Gantry Plaza State Park with a coffee at sunset. The glass of Manhattan’s skyscrapers reflects the orange light straight back at you.

Flushing and Jackson Heights

The final stop on the purple 7 line spits you out into another world. Flushing is the largest Asian neighbourhood in the USA — far bigger than the one in Manhattan. Chinese and Korean signs glow along Main Street. In the basement of the New World Mall you’ll find a huge food court with dozens of stalls serving the best authentic noodles and dumplings at a fraction of Manhattan prices.

A little further on lies Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The former site of the 1964 NY World’s Fair is easy to recognise by the giant steel globe of the Unisphere. The park is also home to the Citi Field baseball stadium.

The neighbouring district of Jackson Heights transports you to South Asia. Around Roosevelt Avenue, Indian fabric shops and Bangladeshi restaurants fill the air with scent. Local home cooks shop for exotic ingredients at the enormous supermarket Patel Brothers. For food, seasoned travellers recommend Jackson Diner. This unassuming but legendary restaurant serves excellent vegetarian curries, lentil dal and fresh naan.

💡 Tip: Bring cash to the New World Mall food court. Many of the small Asian food stalls don’t take cards.

Harlem and the Bronx

The northern reaches of Manhattan and the mainland Bronx shaped the music, sport and culture of the entire United States. Strong communities with deep roots and incredible warmth live here.

Harlem

The neighbourhood’s main artery is 125th Street. This is where the careers of many famous musicians began. On this busy commercial boulevard stands the legendary Apollo Theater. During the Harlem Renaissance, music history was made here, and the traditional Wednesday Amateur Night has been giving new talent a shot since 1934.

On Sunday mornings the streets fill with people in their finest, heading to services. The most famous, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, is home to the oldest African American congregation in the state. To hear authentic gospel choirs, tourists need to book in advance. An architectural gem is the row of brownstones on Strivers’ Row between 138th and 139th Streets, once home to the prosperous African American middle class.

For a rest under the trees, head to Marcus Garvey Park with its original cast-iron fire watchtower. For something sweet, guides recommend a stop at Levain Bakery for its giant warm cookies. The restaurant Red Rooster Harlem, by chef Marcus Samuelsson, blends traditional African American cooking with Ethiopian influences, and locals love it for the live music and atmosphere.

💡 Tip: Churches are not concert halls. When attending gospel, observe a strict dress code, switch off your phone and behave with the utmost respect for the worshippers.

The Bronx

The only part of the city connected to the American mainland draws sports fans to the iconic Yankee Stadium. This vast baseball cathedral offers guided tours even on days with no game. The Bronx’s real culinary treasure, though, is Arthur Avenue. This area is the real, non-touristy Little Italy. At shops like Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles they’ve been making fresh pasta since the 1930s, and at Teitel Brothers you’ll find the best Italian cheeses.

The northern part of the Bronx hides green treasures. The Bronx Zoo holds the title of the largest urban zoo in the United States. More than seven hundred animal species live across its vast grounds. An all-day ticket comes to around thirty dollars.

Right next door lies the New York Botanical Garden. Across 250 acres spread 39 different gardens and patches of original forest. The heart of the grounds is the gorgeous Victorian-style Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The gardens sit right beside the Belmont Area, so after a stroll among the orchids you can head straight out for Italian pizza.

💡 Tip: On Wednesdays, both the botanical garden and the zoo offer free or pay-what-you-wish admission. You have to reserve tickets online on Monday morning.

Tips and Traveller Experiences

Before your trip, it pays to know a few small rules that’ll save you time and dollars. Seasoned travellers share these tried-and-tested tactics.

• Give at least half a day to Brooklyn, especially Williamsburg and DUMBO. It’s a different world from busy Manhattan and worth every extra minute.
• You’ll get that famous photo of the Manhattan Bridge right on the corner of Washington Street and Water Street in DUMBO. Come before eight in the morning — in the afternoon the crowds are huge.
• For authentic food at a fraction of Manhattan prices, head to Queens: Flushing, Astoria and Jackson Heights are a foodie’s paradise for every budget.
• Harlem is worth visiting for its Sunday gospel and beautiful brownstone architecture. Stick to the blocks around 125th Street and the Apollo Theater, and show respect for the local culture.

The city is constantly changing. New cafés open, interesting markets appear and old factories turn into cultural hubs. You’ll find more tips on Time Out New York, which keeps its neighbourhood guides regularly updated.

Where to Stay

Your choice of location will fundamentally shape your whole experience of the city. For an authentic stay we recommend Williamsburg. A hipster atmosphere full of independent cafés, quieter nights than Midtown, and the L line gets you into Manhattan in just ten minutes. Price-wise it works out a touch better than hotels with a Times Square view.

For those who want to be closer to the action, I’d suggest Midtown or the Lower East Side. In Midtown you’re within walking distance of Broadway theatres and the train stations. The Lower East Side, meanwhile, scores with dozens of nightspots and great access to Brooklyn across the Williamsburg Bridge.

For a genuinely local feel, it’s worth staying in Brooklyn. Take a look at Williamsburg or compare all accommodation in New York.

Where to Go Next

The city has so many layers that one trip is never enough. You’ll find more plans for long weekends and two-week stays in these articles.

• What to See in New York: 44 Tips for the Best of the City
• New York Itinerary: How to Plan 3, 5 or 7 Days
• New York in 3 Days: What to Fit In and What to Skip

Frequently Asked Questions