Guide Overview:
- The inside scoop on the best specialty retail shops to visit in Soho, NYC
- Recommendations for your pre-shopping munchies
- A hit list of best stores on key Soho streets
The neighborhood Soho in downtown Manhattan is synonymous with shopping. Many retailers, from big chains to small boutiques, have a presence here in hopes of grabbing sales dollars from the hundreds of consumers that flock towards the area for some retail therapy. Whether you’re looking for high end, one-of-a-kind designer pieces or the latest shoe drop at the Adidas store, Soho will have you covered.
Plus it’s one of the prettiest neighborhoods to shop in. The historic cast-iron architecture and the cobblestone streets are charming and picturesque, a throwback to a time when Soho was largely inhabited by artist and others living la vie boheme. Don’t mind the wannabe Instagram stars trying to get their perfect street-style shot on Mercer or Greene St.
If you’re ready to explore the brick-and-mortar wonderland that is Soho, it’s best to get started early. Most of the stores open at 10 am, however, so grab a bite to eat beforehand and enjoy the morning calm before the throngs of shoppers rush through. A great place to have a very New York style breakfast is at Sadelle’s (463 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10012), which serves bagels and smoked fish in a retro, high-end bistro setting. Prices can be a little steep—breakfast items can range anywhere from $2 to a basic bagel to $100 for the over-the-top smoked fish “Tower” spread—but there’s no denying how tasty everything is.
If you want something more reasonable for breakfast, you can head to the famous Dominique Ansel Bakery (189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012) for some world class pastries and early AM bites. Obviously you’ve heard about the cronut, a hybrid mashup of a croissant and a donut that has gone viral, but the more traditional creations like the kouign amann are frankly much better. If the weather’s nice, take your food outside to the lovely garden patio.
With some proper fuel, it’s time for the shopping to commence. The official borders of Soho, which stands for “South of Houston”, are as follows: Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, Crosby Street to the east and W. Broadway to the west.
The more commercial brands like Uniqlo and Zara tend to be on Broadway, which you probably can skip since you can find them anywhere else. Interesting brands are tucked away a little more inland and south within Soho’s borders. Here’s a list of some of the shopping highlights on the key streets:
- On Mercer Street, French fashion brand APC (131 Mercer St) and offbeat, high-end Italian retailer Marni (160 Mercer St)
- On Crosby Street, avant garde boutique Totokaelo (54 Crosby St)
- On Broadway Street, the stunning flagship of Italian fashion house Prada (575 Broadway)
- On Lafayette Street, popular skate and streetwear brand Supreme (274 Lafayette)
- On Greene Street, trendy Swedish retailer Acne Studios (33 Greene St) and high-end French fashion house St. Laurent (80 Greene St)
- On Broome Street, carefully curated Japanese boutique Tomorrowland (476 Broome St)
- On Spring Street, COS (129 Spring St), the edgy sister brand of H&M
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By: Sherry Chen. Sherry lives in Soho, NYC and is the creator of Gab and Gobble, a lifestyle blog that publishes NYC-based restaurant recommendations and global travel itineraries. You can read more on her website (www.gabandgobble.com).
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