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Fri / Apr 20
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
Fifth Avenue between 48th and 59th Streets
New York, NY 10022
N, Q, R: Fifth Avenue-59th Street; E, M: Fifth Avenue-53rd Street; B, D, F, M: 46-50th Street-Rockefeller Center
Hours vary by store; most shops close between 7 and 9pm
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.
Affluent New Yorkers, socialites, trust-fund kids, and international tourists, mostly women, mid-20s to 40s.
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.
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 vary by store/restaurant.
Casual to business casual: jeans, sneakers, suits, dresses, designer handbags.
Weekday afternoons for leisurely shopping, except during rush hour 4–6pm, or Saturdays and Sundays for a much more crowded and vibrant scene.
The Plaza Hotel offers an indulgent afternoon tea in the Palm Court, daily 2–6pm, with a selection of scones and mini-sandwiches.
Fifth Avenue User Reviews