My Top Shops to Bop
If you're looking to bop around the city, eat some good food, find cute gifts... you're in the right place.
One of my favorite things about New York City is its “boppability” (yes, I made that word up). You can make an entire day bopping around the city - run an errand in the morning, meet up for coffee, shop for a few fun things, pick up some overpriced groceries, run into a friend enjoying a sidewalk glass of wine… it’s endless. And I love it. It’s common for me to leave my apartment in the morning and not get back until after dinner time. In all of my bopping, I have collected my fair share of cute stores, cafes and destinations. None of these places are super ground breaking on their own. But, combining them together creates a nice little itinerary. Sharing a few of my favorite bopping combinations below…
BOWERY - Cote A Coast & Kettl Tea
These two places are really special… and right next to each other! Stop by the window at Kettl Tea for the best matcha straight from Japan and then head next door to Cote A Coast to shop beautiful ceramics, textiles, home goods, etc. From there, you can hop down to Bond Street and the rest of NoHo.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS - Porta & Salter House
Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn has a lot of amazing little stores - I appreciate their commitment to avoiding the chains to prioritize smaller, more interesting brick and mortor. Porta has the most beautiful european tableware. From there, walk down Atlantic all the way to Salter House for a coffee, pastery and more home shopping. The Brooklyn Promenade and piers are only a few blocks from there, so I would reccomend walking a bit further to sit by the water.
NOLITA - Gem Home & Clic Gallery
Nolita is the ultimate bopping neighborhood. It was hard to pick just a couple of places to highlight - you really can’t go wrong around there. Start at Gem Home for the Copenhagen cafe / store of your dreams. The food here is delish so sit a while and enjoy it. Then, bop down to Clic Gallery for cool books, posters, pillows, etc etc etc.
GREENWICH VILLAGE - Goods for the Study & Culture Yogurt
These two places really have my heart… I live nearby and often find myself in a 1-2 punch bop. They are a couple of doors apart and, together, create the best wholsome outing. Stop by Goods for the Study for cute stationary, pens and a bunch of notebooks you probably don’t need. Then, head west on 8th Street and go to Culture for delicious real frozen yogurt.
LES - Happy Medium & Casetta
I’m not cool enough to live in the Lower East Side, but I do often find myself there… bopping, of course. Book a class at Happy Medium for a creative outlet - I have done the water color one and loved it. Then, head to Casetta and sit outside at a little bistro table for snacks and wine. You will feel like you’re in Europe (which is usually my barometer for a chic place).
WEST VILLAGE - Three Lives Co & St. Jardim
Again, hard to pick just a couple of places here. But that’s the point of bopping! You set out to do a couple of things and let the wind take you, hopefully discovering new places along the way. Three Lives & Co is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, bookstore. The owners are adorable and it smells amazing. St. Jardim is around the corner and my top place for either a simple brunch or a nice glass of wine and bite. Choose your own path!
GOWANUS - LES Collection & Public Records
If you want to venture a bit out of bounds, a couple of my favorite places happen to be in Gowanus. LES Collection is a beautiful showroom with super unique ceramics, art and tableware. If you want to go, just make sure to book an appointment ahead of time. Nearby is Public Records - a very cool combination of a bar, restaurant and what they call a “sound room”. They often have fun DJs so look ahead of time for tickets if you want to stay late, after drinks.
TRIBECA - Quarters & Rigor Hill Market
If you made it this far, congratulations, because this Tribeca combination is probably my favorite. Start at Rigor Hill for the best hot coco, turkey sandwich and quiche. Sit on the side walk and enjoy the people watching. Then, head over to Quarters - technically it is a lighting showroom for the brand In Common With… but, it is so much more. Admire the design, sit and chat, buy some pantry items, have a glass of wine at the bar. It is not on street level, so look for the green stair case and head up!
GREENPOINT - Forom Shop & Rhythm Zero
Last but not least, a couple of very cute Greenpoint spots. Forom shop is a cool furniture and home decor showroom. Make an appointment in advance to poke around. Around the corner from there is Rhythm Zero - a chic modern coffee shop that will definitely make you want to stay and hang out. Walking around Greenpoint and McCarren park from there is the perfect way to round out the day.
That’s it for now! Come back for more bopping combinations please :)