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Fifth Avenue Outdoor Activity / Shopping Area

Fifth Avenue A whirlwind of designer fashion, celebrity sightings, and the festive aroma of roasted chestnuts, New York City's famous Fifth Avenue shopping district is a half-mile stretch of consumer heaven riddled with chichi shops. New York United States 40.757927 -73.976944

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Fifth Avenue - Outdoor Activity | Shopping Area in New York.

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11 User Reviews

User Reviews (11)

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Adriana

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Party Earth Review A whirlwind of designer fashion, celebrity sightings, and the festive aroma of roasted chestnuts, New York City’s famous Fifth Avenue shopping district is a half-mile stretch of consumer heaven riddled with chichi shops... ... read full review

Neighborhood:

Midtown
Address:

Fifth Avenue between 48th and 59th Streets
New York, NY 10022

Get Directions

Subway:

N, Q, R: Fifth Avenue-59th Street; E, M: Fifth Avenue-53rd Street; B, D, F, M: 46-50th Street-Rockefeller Center

Hours:

Hours vary by store; most shops close between 7 and 9pm
Recommended as:
- Day Spot

First to review Sara G.

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Party Earth Fifth Avenue Review

The Scene

A whirlwind of designer fashion, celebrity sightings, and the festive aroma of roasted chestnuts, New York City's famous Fifth Avenue shopping district is a half-mile stretch of consumer heaven riddled with chichi shops.

Midtown, New York –

A whirlwind of designer fashion, celebrity sightings, and the festive aroma of roasted chestnuts, New York City’s famous Fifth Avenue shopping district is a half-mile stretch of consumer heaven riddled with chichi shops.

On weekdays, the area – which stretches from 48th to 59th Street – attracts successful New Yorkers stocking up on pieces from the latest collections at flagship stores like Armani, Fendi, and Tiffany & Co, as well as ladies who lunch, flitting into exclusive hair salons like Frederic Fekkai and Warren Tricomi.

Weekends see wandering hordes of tourists gazing at skyscrapers, clustering around the whimsical window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue, or browsing for jewelry in the nearby 47th Street Diamond District.

Shallower-pocketed shoppers head to Rockefeller Center to check out mainstream shops like Kenneth Cole and Banana Republic, while models and trust-fund teens peruse the goods at Gucci in Trump Tower.

Those in need of a break can grab a bench in the wide outdoor plaza at the southeast corner of Central Park, where visitors can enjoy a snack by the fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel, or people-watch in the courtyard of the impressive cubed-glass Apple Store before entering the wonderland of toys at the celebrated FAO Schwarz.

From handbags to high-end frocks, Fifth Avenue offers an embarrassment of riches sure to please anyone who was born to shop.

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Tip from Adriana:

If your YSL mule happens to break from all the walking and credit card swiping, fear not – Leather Spa (10 West 55th Street) will take care of it pronto.

Crowd

Affluent New Yorkers, socialites, trust-fund kids, and international tourists, mostly women, mid-20s to 40s.
Entertainment / Music

Hundreds of clothing stores, from mid-range stores like Aldo (603 Fifth Avenue), Sephora (597 Fifth Avenue), Tommy Hilfiger (681 Fifth Avenue), and Diesel (685 Fifth Avenue #B) to high-end shops like Prada (611 Fifth Avenue) and Cartier (653 Fifth Avenue).

Cornerstone department stores include Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Avenue), Henri Bendel (712 Fifth Avenue), and Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Avenue).

Street vendors in the square at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Area accommodations include the Waldorf Astoria (301 Park Avenue) and The New York Palace (455 Madison Avenue).

Major route for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.
Food / Miscellaneous

Many street vendors serving hot dogs, pretzels, and roasted chestnuts. Pizza parlors and delis south of 48th Street. Cafés include Europa Café (717 Fifth Avenue) and Café SFA on the eighth floor of Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Avenue).

Upscale restaurants off Fifth Avenue include Aquavit (65 East 55th Street), Caviar Russe (538 Madison Avenue), and San Pietro (18 East 54th Street).
Prices

Prices vary by store/restaurant.

What to Wear / Dress Code

Casual to business casual: jeans, sneakers, suits, dresses, designer handbags.
Hot Nights / When to Go

Weekday afternoons for leisurely shopping, except during rush hour 4–6pm, or Saturdays and Sundays for a much more crowded and vibrant scene.
Close By

The Plaza Hotel offers an indulgent afternoon tea in the Palm Court, daily 2–6pm, with a selection of scones and mini-sandwiches.

Tags:: 30s40sAffluentBurgersBusiness CasualBusiness TypesCasualDesigner DressesDesigner JeansExclusiveFashion ForwardFashion TypesFreeFrench FoodHigh EndHigh FashionHot DogsItalian FoodJapanese FoodMid 20sModelsPeople WatchingPizzaShoppingSocialitesSuitsSushiTouristsUpscale

Fifth Avenue User Reviews

Amaryllis Rose Mar 12, 2013 2.0 stars It's Ok I mean I am an artist. I look at the clothes in the stores and I think, " what a waste of money " seriously I do because the designs are so blah, people need to get over wearing so much black, I know it's slimming and what not but I am sure you could find a next better color, I mean your life is not a funeral, wear something that pops and gives spark to your life! Especially people who have money, they have such bad taste because they have money and they do not waste any time thinking. All I am saying is stop wearing things that bring you down and start wearing things that make you feel joyful and happy, it is not a big deal to look a little full, in fact it is reality! So get a grip, put some red shoes on, a white dress, a blue scarf, a red bag, a blue/red hat, now that is creativity! Enjoy your life, make it pop!

Kathleen Gruffi Dec 12, 2012 4.0 stars Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Oh to be a millionaire! But Fifth Avenue is still a sight to see, even if I can't go into the shops to look around and buy! The stores are gorgeous on the outside and you really feel like you're famous walking down the street. The beauty of the area is to die for! I never walked into a store, thinking that I'd get looks that my clothes aren't designer, but if you do go, I'd love to hear about it! We also drove down Fifth Avenue for a Sex and the City tour bus and even on a bus it's beautiful! I would love to go back and sight see, maybe even catch a celebrity!

egham Dec 11, 2012 4.0 stars amazing shopping street! Fifth Avenue is amazing!! It has every store I have ever wanted or needed all in one block!! Obviously it needs to be visited because its Fifth Ave and everyone’s heard of it but go for the shopping too! I love starting from Washington Square Park and the arch and going all the way up. You can stop and get a Jamba Juice, take a breath at the Barnes and Nobels, and continue on to the department stores to take a peek at the window displays and inside and buy something if you’re lucky enough to afford it!

tartars Dec 8, 2012 1.0 stars OVERRATED I love my shopping as much as the next girl, but Fifth Avenue is worth visiting only at Christmastime for the window displays. And maybe walking up to Central Park. But that’s it. The department stores are famous—you’ve got Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, etc—but they’re really not all that compelling architecturally or for what they have to offer, either in selection or price catering to mere mortals. Besides, you’ll be among a stream of other slow-moving tourists moving down a polluted, busy one-way street. There are better places to spend your time in New York.

Africa Walsh Dec 4, 2012 2.0 stars eh. This isn't like the 5th Ave. in Breakfast at Tiffany's where they walk around a tasteful block or two featuring fancy stores and a small, appropriate crowd of people dotted along the sidewalks... this place is a zoo. The stores there aren't all fancy either (Juicy Couture?? Sweatpants in window displays?? rly???), but they sure are gigantic. Unless you actually want to be a part of the shopping masses--which can be fun--you will be frustrated trying to get where your going in the middle of lost, lazy-eyed tourists. Christmas time is similarly bittersweet, as all the decor and holiday cheer is sometimes negated by the even crazier swarms of people. I can't recommend it if you're like me and broke as hell, a little cynical of the whole capitalism thing, and like to get where you're going quickly and efficiently lol. If you're visiting from out of town and want to play coy with your allowance, I could see you having a blast, all things considered!

Rachel Schwartz Dec 1, 2012 3.0 stars Very flashy Fifth Avenue is one of the best places to go shopping in New York City if you are looking to spend a lot of money. All the designer and couture shops are located here. Everyone is dressed nice on this street and you will probably run into a celebrity or two. A fun place to stop by is FAO Schwartz. It is a huge toy store and it makes you feel like a kid again! It is alway fairly crowded but a lot of fun. You also need to go into Bergdorfs, it is an amazing store and you wont find a lot of "department stores" like it anywhere else. To recap: spend a lot of money here, see celebs and be a tourist.

cmchalmers Dec 1, 2012 3.0 stars For Fashion Lovers Fifth Avenue is one of the most expensive places to shop in New York City. If you can afford to shop there, it is definitely worth a visit. Even if you cannot shop there, it is still a fun area to walk through and window shop. Some of the most well known stores there are Tiffany and Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other must see places are FAO Scwartz and The Plaza Hotel. There are also many pricey restaurants and coffee shops in the area. It is very crowded, especially during the holidays, and there are a lot of tourists here.

Chris Krovatin Nov 26, 2012 2.0 stars Come on, it's Fifth Avenue If you have a fat wallet and an eye for fashion, then Fifth Avenue is the place to be. Between the massive famous stores like Tiffany's and Saks and the adorable boutiquey small places where one can buy luxury coffee and specialty pet outfits, Fifth Avenue is the ultimate New York shopping district for the rich, and the perfect window-shopping area for tourists. Which leads me to my point: Fifth Avenue is full of rich people and tourists. It's infuriatingly crowded by people who a) often see you as some sort of pleb who shouldn't be standing so close to their Coach bag, or b) have no idea how to navigate a city as insane as New York. Come here with a point, but not with an urge to just walk around. Simply too frustrating.

Jaclyn Wishnia Nov 26, 2012 3.0 stars Just Like The Movies Hail a cab and make sure you have your beau's black card on you. Fifth Avenue is just one of the many shopping meccas in Manhattan, but the store displays are far more grand. The buildings are made of white stone and more upscale places such as Tiffany's and Bergdorf's adorn the streets. Even though I am a true New Yorker, I still get giddy seeing the Christmas displays and walking down Fifth when it gets cold out. It just never gets old. Try to go either after or before Christmas though. Fifth Ave is typically a mob scene of upper crust Manhattanites and slow-walking Euro tourists. If you are a Tiffany's person, you must visit this location! It is absolutely beautiful and the amount of floors is insane. The staff is beyond ridiculously gracious to the point where it is almost comical. Also, though mostly I did it for browsing not buying, check out Henry Bendel's. The store set-up is crazy with it's different flights of stairs and little enclaves that lead you to adjacent joined stores. I've been coming here for years and it always amazes me to see the collections of clothing they have in stock. Saks is a given. Not personally my favorite place to shop, but the display walking there and inside for the holidays is beautiful. There's also your classic FAO Scwartz featured in plenty of films, The Plaza Hotel and newly added (within this generation) a 24-hour Apple Store for your convenience.

Peg Rogers Sep 27, 2012 4.0 stars Walk 5th Avenue over the Holidays 5th Avenue is an extraordinary place around the holidays. Terribly crowded, but exciting, festive and beautiful for every age. The department stores have perfected an art form of holiday displays and unveil them mid November. The exact dates are noted on the protective coverings while they are being built, and their websites. Plan your walk. (The die hard viewers may start at Bloomingdales three blocks east on 59th and walk by Barney's ) I start with lunch at the Plaza. Watching the people there is worth the (hefty) price of lunch. Young and old must visit FAO Schwartz and the Apple's Flagship store directly across from the Plaza. Burgdorffs Saks, and Lord and Taylors are the 3 classic department stores to view. You will need to stand in the roped lines for the most popular this year. Burgdorf's frequently features extradordinary antiques or other rare items in their windows. ( They list previous year's themes on their website) Harry Winston, Cartier, and TIffany's have outrageous "bling" light displays which dominate the night view. You don't need to visit the American Girl store to feel like a lucky kid just viewing 5th Ave.

sgunther Sep 6, 2012 2.0 stars Exactly What You Would Expect If you have any experience in any mid-to-large city, Fifth Avenue isn't exactly going to change your life. But, when is it not fun to window shop? There are flagship stores of major name brand chains on this Avenue - some of which you can probably afford, some of which you may not be able to. Of course there are tons of tourists, but there are also many New York savvy shoppers and personal assistants of the very wealthy that can be found shopping here, too....which makes for very fun people watching. I'd recommend steering clear of any food/drink establishment actually ON Fifth, they will be insanely overpriced. However, it is worth the splurge of getting tea, a drink, or something at The Plaza - it's a very special and quintessentially New York hotel. If you do go shopping and are too tired to make it to the other end of Central Park, skip out on the cab and get a horse-drawn carriage. You can find them right by The Plaza. Just don't expect them to leave the park, they won't do it because they get heavily fined.

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Fifth Avenue Outdoor Activity / Shopping Area

See all 25 photos

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Ratings:

Neighborhood:

Address:

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Subway:

Hours:

Recommended as:

Party Earth Fifth Avenue Review

The Scene

Tip from Adriana:

Crowd

Entertainment / Music

Food / Miscellaneous

Prices

What to Wear / Dress Code

Hot Nights / When to Go

Close By

Fifth Avenue User Reviews

Similar Venues

Upcoming Events in New York

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