Shopping near the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Ranking among the city’s top tourist attractions, Bloomie’s is stocked with everything from bags to beauty products, homewares to designer duds. The cosmetics hall, complete with an outpost of globe-spanning apothecary Space NK and a Bumble and bumble dry-styling bar, recently got a glam makeover. The compact Soho outpost concentrates on young fashion and cosmetics.  

This Paris-based gourmet chocolate shop has multiple locations in New York.

For the past 40-odd years, father-and-son team Lal and Harry Bhambi have been making sure every single hand-sewn garment under their banner is made precisely to look attractive. When you pick up garbs from them, you have the advantage of their veteran touch.

This UES family-owned shop has been in the haute couture–recycling business since 1954 and is the place to go if you want to score Dior, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana dresses for 70 to 90 percent off retail price. While you shouldn’t schlep your bags of less-than-luxe stuff here expecting a trade (they only buy first-tier designer labels that are less than two years old and in great condition), come here if you want to treat yourself to something luxurious without breaking the bank.

Jaclyn Edelstein was born to work in the glasses trade—her great-grandparents founded Cohen’s Fashion Optical. And while she loved the family business, she saw a hole in the market for a more fashion-forward approach to eyewear. Her first shop is adorned with white tiled floors and glossy back-lit shelves containing frames from designers such as the Row, Oliver Peoples and Linda Farrow. After taking an eye exam ($49), perch on one of the barstools along the counter to try on styles such as Miu Miu glitter specs ($270) and Romeo Gigli tortoiseshell frames ($200). There are also sunglasses, including Karen Walker fluorescent shades ($280) and RetroSuperFuture half-frame cat-eyes ($170). Those in a time crunch can take advantage of the shop’s concierge service, for which staffers will make house calls for general appointments and for previewing new lines ($250 per hour, but the charge is waived when you spend $1,000 or more).

This resort and swimwear chain’s first NYC shop aims to make bathing-suit hunting less intimidating. Besides housing an enormous selection of poolside duds ($45–$535) from brands such as Mara Hoffman and Vix, the boutique offers free appointments with its trained fit specialists. There are even curtained-off companion dressing rooms, allowing you to model for friends without parading around half-naked in front of the entire store. Try on Roberto Cavalli printed string bikinis ($330), Jets cutout one-pieces ($247) and Shoshanna beaded bandeau sets ($266). Take your look from the beach to the bar with Theodora & Callum bohemian caftans ($175–$195), Mar Y Sol striped totes ($120) and Nicole Schumann beaded necklaces ($280–$600).

An initiative of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Albertine is devoted to works—both in its original version and in translation—and offers the largest selection of French literature in the United States, with more than 14,000 titles from 30 French-speaking countries. The two-floor space is truly an escapist's dream, with a designated reading room with lush sofas and armchairs, all housed in the French embassy.

Food shoppers flock from all over town to stock up at this beloved local supermarket chain. The five NYC locations—Harlem, UWS, UES, Red Hook and Douglaston—offer the type of everyman prices you won't find at Whole Foods, but the quality is still top-notch. You'll find all the basics, plus excellent speciality departments with international cheeses, imported foods, kosher items and more. A walk-in cold room (jackets provided!) at the Harlem market is packed with meats and a decent beer selection, and there is a popular café and steakhouse on the second floor of the UWS store.

Now you don’t have to make a trip to Saks Fifth Avenue or Bergdorf Goodman to purchase Brian Atwood’s luxurious shoes, thanks to the model-turned-designer’s first stand-alone store. The 1,500-square-foot space is a shoe lover’s paradise, with multicolored strappy sandals ($1,335), thigh-high boots ($1,790) and geometric clutches ($1,795) lining the walls and tables. The store itself is as fancy as the pieces it offers, featuring Italian marble floors and mohair-velvet couches. If you can’t afford to drop a month’s rent on stilettos, the B Brian Atwood line offers budget-friendlier pieces, such as suede booties with snakeskin-print soles ($425) and studded metallic platform pumps ($395).

Barneys sets the prodigious record for housing the most progressive, conceptual and hard-to-find labels in the city. You'll find Balenciaga and Commes des Garcons; Lanvin, Azzedine Alaia and Dries van Noten. The ground floor offers an excellent selection of accessories such as Hermes watches, Pucci scarves and an in-store shop from Parisian luggage company Goyard, while the shoe department hosts almost every Manolo Blahnik on over (as well as a range of pairs from Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin and Lanvin).