A Guide to Holiday Shopping in NYC
Who needs Santa and his helpers when you’re in NYC, surrounded by some of the best shops and boutiques in the world? While we don’t quite have the manpower to match Santa Claus and the North Pole, this comprehensive guide to holiday shopping in NYC will help you check all the boxes on your gift list. Just be sure to reload your Metrocard and grab a hot latte — really, anything with a large amount of caffeine.
Walking Distance: Shops Near the Refinery Hotel
Our poor wallets! The Refinery Hotel is just a few steps away from some of the biggest shopping destinations in New York City. Visitors come from all over the world to explore iconic shops such as Macy’s in Herald Square and the flagship Lord & Taylor at 39th Street and 5th Avenue—which is sadly closing after the holidays. Both Macy’s and Lord & Taylor are known not only for amazing deals during the holiday season, but also for their stunning holiday window displays. You might even catch a New Yorker sneaking in a picture or two. Traversing the stretch of shops on 5th Avenue to the stores on 34th Street, you’ll find essential retailers such as The Gap, Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo.
Shopping for the Little Ones
Holiday shopping wouldn’t be complete without picking up a few things for the little ones in the family. Walk in the footsteps of Tom Hanks in Big by heading over to FAO Schwarz storefront at Rockefeller Plaza, which has reopened just in time for the holidays. Head over to American Girl Place, also at Rockefeller Plaza, where children can pick up their own historical doll, enjoy lunch at the café, and even schedule a photo shoot with their new friend. Both FAO Schwarz and American Girl Place are known for their holiday window displays. With tots in tow during your holiday shopping, head to the LEGO Flagship in Chelsea or the Build-a-Bear workshop in on 34th Street.
Hit the Meatpacking District: Boutiques and High-End Shops
Downtown darlings will declare that the best shopping in NYC can be found in the Meatpacking District. Home to many top designers and brands, such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Scoop NYC, Rebecca Taylor, Crow Philosophy, the Meatpacking District could be described as New York City’s version of Rodeo Drive. For those who managed to make it off of Santa’s naughty list this year, a pleasant reward awaits at one of these boutique shops.
Pop-up Holiday Shops
Holiday villages literally pop up all around New York City during the festive winter season. One of our favorites is the Winter Village at Bryant Park, just a few blocks from Refinery Hotel. More than 100 vendors are featured, along with the added bonus of an ice skating rink. We also love the Union Square Holiday Market, where we lose track of time exploring dozens of unique shop booths, only to be reminded when our fingers turn numb from the cold that we’re having way too much fun shopping during the holidays.
The Newest Shopping Hotspots
Even if you do your holiday shopping in New York City every year, there’s always something new and exciting to check out. Some of our favorites this year include the first-ever Casper brick and mortar on Greenwich Street which, even if pillows and mattresses aren’t on your shopping list, is a great place to stop if you need a nap. There’s also a new Amazon storefront, Amazon 4-Star, which brought its top-sellers to SoHo this fall. Also in SoHo, the new Kendra Scott shop is a lovely space filled with home décor, jewelry, and decorative stocking stuffers. Photo courtesy of Amazon.
