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Tours in New York |
A city famous for its sartorial elegance and Bohemian chic, New York is a shopper’s paradise, hawking everything from the very latest designer fashions to flea market bargains in addition to foods and goods from every corner of the globe. Clothing and shoes costing less than US$110 are not taxed in New York. With a little bargain hunting, widespread discounting on everything from electrical goods to designer fashion is available.
The smartest shops are located on Madison Avenue, where most top designers have flagship stores. Nearby, Fifth Avenue is a magnet for the label conscious and well heeled. Standing at one of the most famous corners in Manhattan, Tiffany & Co, 727 Fifth Avenue, is an icon of the American Dream. The multi-level mall at the new Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle houses a variety of upscale shops including Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Cole Hahn and Bose.
Famous department stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Herald Square, Bloomingdales, 1000 Third Avenue, at 59th Street, and Barney’s New York, 660 Madison Avenue, at 61st Street, which is the trendiest of this retail crop. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdales now offer free ‘personal shoppers’ on request, to help navigate their huge ranges.
The famous Ladies’ Mile, which, a century ago, was the epicentre of uptown fashion, with department stores stretching from 14th Street for a mile along Sixth Avenue, is now a major discount centre. However, the spectacular Victorian buildings have been restored and stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy Clothing Co, Barnes & Noble and Filene’s Basement have spearheaded a revival of the historic shopping strip.
SoHo is the most European of New York’s neighbourhoods, with high-end clothing outlets and shoe stores, make-up and beauty salons, art galleries and antiques shops, as well as modern furniture showrooms. The East Village and the Lower East Side harbour street fashion and cutting-edge young designers, with vintage shops, music stores intermingling with designer boutiques and eclectic outlets. Discount shops selling authentic American goods, such as Levi’s, are located throughout the city, particularly along Broadway, between Houston Street and 14th Street.
The city’s largest and best antique centre is Manhattan Art & Antiques, 1050 Second Avenue. It has over 100 galleries. Don’t expect to pay retail for bling at the Diamond District, 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, where anything can be custom made.
There are numerous markets to appeal to bargain hunters. The Annex Flea Market, known as the 26th Street Flea Market, on Sixth Avenue, made famous by Andy Warhol, is open on Saturday and Sunday from dawn to dusk. The best bargains are vintage clothing and fine linens.
Along Broadway and around Soho, there are also street vendors that hawk anything from artwork to clothing and knockoffs of famous purse designers such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade.
Many ‘green markets’, selling locally grown produce, freshly caught fish, home-made desserts and breads, are located around the city, the most central of which is at Union Square, opening on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 0800-1800.
Shopping hours depend on the neighbourhood. Business areas, such as Wall Street, open as early as 0800, while shops in areas such as SoHo and East Village open late at 1100. Many stay open until at least 1900. Department stores are open Monday to Saturday 1000-1800 and Sunday 1200-1700.
In New York, everything but life’s most basic necessities is taxable and this includes the sales tax of 8.375% on all consumer goods (apart from clothes and shoes under US$110). Visitors to New York are unable to claim a tax refund for goods purchased.
The smartest shops are located on Madison Avenue, where most top designers have flagship stores. Nearby, Fifth Avenue is a magnet for the label conscious and well heeled. Standing at one of the most famous corners in Manhattan, Tiffany & Co, 727 Fifth Avenue, is an icon of the American Dream. The multi-level mall at the new Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle houses a variety of upscale shops including Hugo Boss, Armani, Coach, Cole Hahn and Bose.
Famous department stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Herald Square, Bloomingdales, 1000 Third Avenue, at 59th Street, and Barney’s New York, 660 Madison Avenue, at 61st Street, which is the trendiest of this retail crop. Both Macy’s and Bloomingdales now offer free ‘personal shoppers’ on request, to help navigate their huge ranges.
The famous Ladies’ Mile, which, a century ago, was the epicentre of uptown fashion, with department stores stretching from 14th Street for a mile along Sixth Avenue, is now a major discount centre. However, the spectacular Victorian buildings have been restored and stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy Clothing Co, Barnes & Noble and Filene’s Basement have spearheaded a revival of the historic shopping strip.
SoHo is the most European of New York’s neighbourhoods, with high-end clothing outlets and shoe stores, make-up and beauty salons, art galleries and antiques shops, as well as modern furniture showrooms. The East Village and the Lower East Side harbour street fashion and cutting-edge young designers, with vintage shops, music stores intermingling with designer boutiques and eclectic outlets. Discount shops selling authentic American goods, such as Levi’s, are located throughout the city, particularly along Broadway, between Houston Street and 14th Street.
The city’s largest and best antique centre is Manhattan Art & Antiques, 1050 Second Avenue. It has over 100 galleries. Don’t expect to pay retail for bling at the Diamond District, 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, where anything can be custom made.
There are numerous markets to appeal to bargain hunters. The Annex Flea Market, known as the 26th Street Flea Market, on Sixth Avenue, made famous by Andy Warhol, is open on Saturday and Sunday from dawn to dusk. The best bargains are vintage clothing and fine linens.
Along Broadway and around Soho, there are also street vendors that hawk anything from artwork to clothing and knockoffs of famous purse designers such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade.
Many ‘green markets’, selling locally grown produce, freshly caught fish, home-made desserts and breads, are located around the city, the most central of which is at Union Square, opening on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 0800-1800.
Shopping hours depend on the neighbourhood. Business areas, such as Wall Street, open as early as 0800, while shops in areas such as SoHo and East Village open late at 1100. Many stay open until at least 1900. Department stores are open Monday to Saturday 1000-1800 and Sunday 1200-1700.
In New York, everything but life’s most basic necessities is taxable and this includes the sales tax of 8.375% on all consumer goods (apart from clothes and shoes under US$110). Visitors to New York are unable to claim a tax refund for goods purchased.
View Our Airport Guides for New York:
(New York) John F. Kennedy International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
(New York) La Guardia Airport
