Shopping near the Empire State Building

The iconic open-air Chelsea flea, brought back from the dead by the team behind  Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea, showcases 40 veteran vendors selling mostly historic collectibles. If you love eclectic costume jewelry, quirky furniture, midcentury art and ceramics, records, antiques and art, and more, you’ll spend hours combing for treasure here. Plus, you'll now be able to grab a rewarding snack on the way out from various Smorgasburg food vendors that will soon be revealed. 

The former home of the National Biscuit Company is a hot spot for foodies and shopping addicts alike. Primarily known for its wide-range of eateries, Chelsea Market is hands-down one of New York’s most notable food halls boasting more than 55 vendors (including Los Tacos No 1, Amy's Bread, and Miznon). Whether you’ve got a hankering for a steaming-hot cup of seafood bisque, perfectly aged cheese or a strong and smooth shot of espresso, Chelsea Market has you covered. Aside from finger-lickin’ fare and sweet merchandise, the attraction offers historical charms such as the market’s iconic fountain, which was crafted using discarded drill bits and exposed pipe from the former Nabisco factory.   

In 2003, Artists & Fleas first opened in Williamsburg, but thanks to owners Amy Abrams and Ronen Glimer, you can shop awesome vendors in Manhattan's Chelsea Market. Just like the original location, this version of Artists & Fleas features goods that run the gamut from art and design to fashion and vintage. There are more than 30 independent designers hawking their goods everyday, so stop by to check out our personal favorites such as menswear brand Curated Basics, baubles from Brooklyn Charm and ready-to-wear designs by Avalove.  

MoSex’s recently overhauled gift shop is now twice the size (2,000 square feet) and double the pleasure. “We wanted the store to be a destination shop,” says creative director Mark Snyder. “We’re looking at products for their art, their design and their technology.” Such lofty merch includes the Dirty Flirty Novelty Company’s festive glass “pornaments” and Matteo Cibic’s functional fishbowl dildo.

This massive food and drink complex from Oscar Farinetti is the largest Italian market in the world. The New York flagship takes inspiration from the first Eataly location, which opened in Torino, Italy, in 2007. The Eataly NYC Flatiron location sprawls 48,000-square-feet and is a maze of awe-inspiring aisle after aisle filled with hard-to-find, high-quality Italian produce and products, fresh counters, cafés and restaurants. It's a chance for New Yorkers to educate their tastebuds on the nuances of Italy's 20 regions.

This flower shop in the heart of the Flower District has many blooms to choose from at affordable prices. Some of the best sellers start at just $50, while some of the more expensive bouquets are still on the cheaper side at $70. This shop has different kinds of flowers for all different types of occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and dates in NYC.

Since opening in Soho in 1993, Ina Bernstein’s minichain of designer consignment shops has expanded to six locations throughout NYC, including spots on the Upper East Side, in Nolita, Noho and now Chelsea. The spacious store is painted stark white to let the covetable preworn pieces—including Prada wool coats ($375–$625), a pair of Miu Miu leather boots ($250) and a Louis Vuitton leather mini logo purse ($595)—stand out on its well-edited racks and organized shelves. If you’re saddled with name-brand threads, make an appointment to unload your gently worn castoffs for up to 40 percent of the overall resale value. Keep an eye out for INA’s own eponymous house label of unisex basics that complement the higher-end merchandise, such as comfy cashmere beanies ($90), arm socks ($85) and fingerless gloves ($75).

Purple Passion has vibes, floggers and so much more in its 4,000-square-foot Chelsea store. Catering to couples, single women, pro dommes and men, it carries a huge selection of leather and BDSM gear, including halters, gags, corsets and strap-ons. Hot sellers include the Jack Rabbit buzzer, leather suspension cuffs and bondage rope. You can also peruse clothes, boots (up to size 15!), shoes, wigs and books—or sign up for any number of workshops. Most customers spend at least $10 on a single trip; the more adventurous will drop a few hundred.

There’s a rotating mix of astoundingly well-preserved designer and nonvintage clothing here, as well as one-of-a-kind housewares, shoes and accessories. We’ve found vintage Yves Saint Laurent blouses for $12, striped skinny ties for $6 and a pair of classic Salvatore Ferragamo pumps with bows on them for $10. Pretty much everything is a find, but you still get that thrill-of-the-hunt feeling.

Right by Rockefeller Center, this posh Fifth Avenue department store is the place to go to for high-end retail and international luxury brands. Along with browsing through houseware, clothes and accessories, linger at in-store designer boutiques like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, its mecca shoe department or the beauty counter.