If you ask anyone from New York City, they will say that the shopping and restaurants there are the best in the world. In a city known to be a melting pot of many cultures, you can find food from dozens of different ethnicities and shopping that fits any style and budget.
Below we will talk about some of the best shopping destinations to check out while visiting and the restaurants that can help you fuel up before a day of shopping or feed that appetite you built up after a busy shopping spree!
Shopping Destinations in New York City
If part of your plans for your trip to NYC is to do some serious shopping, you are in luck! The city has some of the best shopping in the country. Below are some of the top destinations and how to get to them. You may find yourself visiting them all on several trips to The Big Apple!
1. Fifth Avenue
One of the most famous streets in New York, Fifth Avenue is home to many luxury boutiques and big department stores alike. Tiffany & CoPrada, and Louis Vuitton all call the street home. The biggest and most famous of them all is Bergdorf Goodman, a must-stop in your shopping journey. You cannot pass up an opportunity to take a selfie on this famous shopping strip. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!
How to get there:
You can get to this shopping destination by bus, train, or taxi, but the subway is the quickest way. Take the 7, 7X, B, D, or F, and it will get you to the middle of the action.
2. SoHo
Though it has some chain retailers, this shopping hub is best known for its independent boutiques, including custom millinery, vintage designer clothing, and some of the most popular boutiques in the city like David Yurman and Olive & Bette’s. If you’re looking to see some beautiful cast-iron architecture and browse the original New York mecca of artists and galleries, you have to add SoHo to your shopping list.
How to get there:
Walkable from neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Little Italy, if you are coming from another borough or elsewhere in Manhattan, it’s best to take the subway. SoHo has nine stations, and almost all lines make stops in SoHo, including the A, B, C, D, R, and W.
3. Madison Avenue
Sometimes overlooked due to the popularity of Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue is actually the largest shopping district in the United States. It starts in the Flatiron District and extends to the Upper East Side. Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, and Lily Pulitzer are all on this strip. Check out some of the luxury stores in the Upper East Side to see why it is considered the fanciest neighborhood in NYC.
How to get there:
Because of the district’s length, you can start anywhere along the avenue. Subway 4,5, and 6 or the Port Washington train can all get you to stops on the street. You can also take several buses, including M1, M2, and BXM8.
4. West Village
Home to unique glassware and New York-centric stores, you can find some of the city’s finest cheese and gourmet food at shops like Murray’s Cheese. There is an old-school Italian market at Faicco’s and comic shops like Carmine Street Comics. It is a picturesque day of shopping with tree-lined streets and beautiful brownstones. The West Village is perfect for the quirky and eclectic in your bunch.
How to get there:
The West Village in Manhattan is a taxi ride or ride-share away, or you can take public transit. Subway lines 1, B, and M will easily get you to and from the West Village.
5. Nolita
This is the affectionate name for the shopping district that is called North of Little Italy. It features some of Manhattan’s trendiest shopping. Full of colorful streets with unique boutiques and great stores. You can find everything from chic French clothing stores, to flamboyant shoe stores, to vintage jewelry stores. When you pick up an item in this shopping district, it is sure to be eye-catching.
How to get there:
You can reach this little neighborhood by taking the PATH train or the subway via B or D. If you are traveling to Manhattan for sightseeing, you can also take a taxi or ride-share to the shops.
6. Hudson Yards
This shopping destination is not for the faint of heart. The Shops at Hudson Yards has more than 100 stores and spans 720,000 square feet. It has four floors, and a basement with a food hall called Little Spain with famous sangria. Whether looking for high-end stores like Cartier or more affordable stores like Uniqlo, this is the place. Hudson Yards is for the serious shopper in the bunch.
How to get there: Subway lines 1, F, and M or the PATH train are easy ways to get to this mega mall. You can also take the buses M20, M21 or M8.
When looking to add some shopping to your list of things to do in New York, make sure to add a few or all of the above fantastic shopping destinations to your itinerary. You may need to buy a few more suitcases to pack all your purchases for the trip back home!
Best Vegetarian Restaurants in NYC
It is estimated that eating at every New York City restaurant would take almost 23 years if you ate at a different location every day, once a day. There are tens of thousands of restaurants in the city. Many of them are vegetarian restaurants. Restaurants in the city that offer vegetarian cuisine continue to increase. Choosing the few to go to on your vacation can be hard. Below is a list of 14 of the most popular. Their location and website are included to help you add them to your itinerary for the day as you sightsee.
Make sure to check which require reservations or list their current wait times. Many of these also offer takeout and delivery.
Create-your-own-plate options with tofu, beet falafel, barbecued jackfruit, and grilled sesame avocado. If you have picky eaters that like to be able to choose everything on their plate, this is a great choice. All side dishes are meat-free, which makes them perfect for vegetarians.
Address: 135 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10020
Specializing in vegan sushi. Butternut squash and smoked jackfruit replace traditional ingredients. Even non-vegetarians will fall in love with this restaurant’s take on regular sushi. They also serve dumplings, noodle salads, and soups, perfect for a fall or winter day in the city.
Address: 134 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018
An Israeli restaurant specializing in some of the city’s best falafel has five locations: FiDi, Midtown East, Flatiron, Nolita, and the West Village. Its multiple locations make it an easy-to-find restaurant when hunger strikes and you need a quick bite. This place is a great choice for those looking for a healthier option.
Address: Taim Kitchen – West Village, 222 Waverly Place, New York, NY 1001
Loved by diners and critics alike, this vegan restaurant is a hit with its toast menu. It includes everything from spinach artichoke puree with black truffles to mushrooms with onion marmalade. While toasts are still popular, don’t be fooled, these are hearty and filling.
Address: Avant Garden, 130 E 7th St., New York, NY 10009
Craving comfort food while in NYC? Champs has it. Everything from tater tot nachos, vegan wings, and a wide assortment of delectable pancakes like cookie dough and s’mores. If you have a long day of tourist attractions to hit, this is the place to fuel up in the morning. Anyone with a sweet tooth will love their bakery section.
Address: 197 Meserole St., Brooklyn
A vegan restaurant with a charming atmosphere, you can find the most expensive dish here to be $24. One of the favorites is maitake mushroom piccata with lima beans and whipped potatoes. If you are looking for a more elevated dining experience, this is the perfect venue.
Address: 317 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Idlis, masala dosas, thalis, spicy lentil rasam, sambars, and a handful of Punjabi and Gujarati offerings such as matar paneer or potato and eggplant curry are all hits here. The South Indian restaurant has an extensive menu that is sure to please everyone’s palette.
Address: Chennai Garden by Tiffin Wallah, 127 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016
This restaurant was named one of the best new restaurants of 2021 and is the chef’s take on vegetarian soul food. There is southern fried lasagna, hearts of palm cakes with chickpeas, and smoked grits that are out of this world good. If Southern food without a trip to the South is the goal, you are in luck! They are a great stop when in the East Village.
Address: Cadence, 111 E 7th St., New York, NY 10009
Those who like it hot will love this restaurant. Located in what is known as the Ukrainian Village of NYC, this vegan Szechuan restaurant is so popular it sells its own line of merchandise and products like mayos and sauces. If you are looking for casual and trendy, this is the place. They are tiny, so checking the wait times before heading in is best.
Address: 328 E 6th St New York
New York is well-established as the pizza capital of the United States, and this vegan pizzeria fits right in! With vegan pies that offer seitan sausage, vegan cheese, and a design-your-own pizza option, you can chow down on pizza to your heart’s content!
Address: Crown Heights, 685 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn NY 11238
There is nothing quite like this restaurant in Harlem. Run by a team of mother and son, they are cooking up Cajun and BBQ dishes made of lotus root, burdock root, and all sorts of creative vegan substitutes. They also offer many gluten-free options.
Address: 55 ST. Nicholas Avenue, Harlem, NY 10026
This place has you covered when looking for an all-vegetarian Chinese restaurant. There is something for everyone with traditional dishes like Korean-style bean curd and Szechuan-style hot pots. Be advised, though! This place serves some spicy dishes!
Address: 5101 8th ave, Brooklyn Basement, NY 11220
There is nowhere quite like New York City for shopping and dining. Whether you are in the mood for ethnic cuisine, pizza, or a burger, there is a vegetarian or vegan restaurant happy to serve you.
Whether vintage or high-end design is your style, you will find exactly what you are looking for when it comes to retail therapy.
The shopping destinations above and these vegetarian restaurants are sure to ensure your bellies and shopping bags are full and happy. There is nowhere quite like NYC for a food lover or shopaholic!
You may visit my other blogs on New York city given below:
