New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [168]
Department Stores
Barneys New York.
Barneys continues to provide fashion-conscious and big-budget shoppers with irresistible, must-have items at its uptown flagship store. The extensive menswear selection has a handful of edgier designers, though made-to-measure is always available. The women’s department showcases posh designers of all stripes, from the subdued lines of Armani and Nina Ricci to the irrepressible Alaïa and Zac Posen. The shoe selection trots out Prada boots and strappy Blahniks; the cosmetics department will keep you in Kiehl’s, Sue Devitt, and Chantecaille; jewelry runs from the whimsical (Mark Davis) to the classic (Ileana Makri). | 660 Madison Ave., between E. 60th and E. 61st Sts., Upper East Side | 10065 | 212/826–8900 | Subway: N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 59th St./Lexington Ave.
Food and Treats
François Chocolate Bar.
On the fourth floor of the ultraglam jewelry store Mauboussin, you’ll find a chocolate shop owned by famed patissier François Payard. Here, amid exposed brick and “chocolat”-painted walls, pastries are displayed like jewels in glass cases. Choose from pound cakes and parfaits, or verrines, boasting layers like dark chocolate and fleur de sel (hand-harvested sea salt). Macaroons go for only $2.25 a pop. | 714 Madison Ave., between E. 63rd and E. 64th Sts., Upper East Side | 10065 | 212/759–1600 | Subway: F to Lexington Ave./63rd St.
La Maison du Chocolat.
Stop in at this chocolatier’s small tea salon to dive into a cup of thick, heavenly hot chocolate. The Paris-based outfit sells handmade truffles, chocolates, and pastries that could lull you into a chocolate stupor. | 1018 Madison Ave., between E. 78th and 79th Sts., Upper East Side | 10075 | 212/744–7117 | Subway: 6 to 77th St.
Household Items/Furniture
Jonathan Adler.
Everything at this newly expanded flagship is fun, groovy, and happy. Adler funks up midcentury modern designs with his striped, striated, or curvy handmade pottery (ranging from a $30 vase to a chunky $400 lamp) as well as the hand-loomed wool pillow covers, rugs, and throws with blunt graphics (stripes, crosses, circles). There’s also a new children’s line. | 1097 Madison Ave., at 83rd St., Upper East Side | 10028 | 212/772–2410 | Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.
Jewelry and Accessories
Asprey.
Its net spreads to cater to all kinds of luxury tastes, from leather goods and rare books to polo equipment and cashmere sweaters. Asprey’s claim to fame, though, is jewelry; its own eponymous diamond cut has A-shape facets. | 853 Madison Ave., between 70th and 71st Sts., Upper East Side | 10021 | 212/688–1811 | Subway: 6 to 68th St./Hunter College.
Fred Leighton.
If you’re in the market for vintage diamonds, this is the place, whether your taste is for tiaras, Art Deco settings, or sparklers once worn by a Vanderbilt. The skinny, stackable diamond eternity bands are hugely popular. | 773 Madison Ave., at E. 66th St., Upper East Side | 10065 | 212/288–1872 | Subway: 6 to 68th St./Hunter College.
OC Concept Store.
This boutique, founded by jeweler Orianne Collins (ex-wife of singer Phil), sells high-end jewelry from Chopard, Jacob & Co., and Audemars Piguet as well as her own designs. Shoppers can browse for one-of-a-kind art, but many of the gifts are aimed at the person who has everything and might enjoy a Lucite foosball table or crocodile-embossed dumbbells. There are also interactive screens so customers can build their own yacht. To make shopping even more enjoyable, there’s also a fully stocked champagne and caviar bar. | 655 Madison Ave., between E. 60th and E. 61st Sts., Upper East Side | 10075 | 212/759–9220 | Subway: N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 59th St./Lexington Ave.
Museum Stores
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
Prowl the shelves here for intriguing urban oddments and ornaments, like sculptural tableware, rare design books, colorful Band-Aids from Cynthia Rowley, and ceramic versions of iconic New York deli coffee cups. | 2 E. 91st St., at 5th Ave., Upper East Side | 10128 | 212/849–8355 | Subway: