The best shops in Soho to visit right now

Maybe you've spent hours scrolling through The Real Real app or website but there’s nothing better than browsing second hand goodies IRL. The brick and mortar locations of The Real Real are spread across the country in stylish hotspots like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Chicago—but they have the most locations in one city in, you guessed it, NYC. You will find yourself indulging in Carrie Bradshaw-esque montages as you hold second hand Chanel and Prada purses to your side in the massive mirrors spread throughout the SoHo store. In true SoHo fashion, there may be a line at the door, but the wait is worth it for well-priced designer goods. Because why go to Prada around the corner when you can get a 2002 vintage straight off the runway purse for a steal at The Real Real?

Every time we step into this minimalist, white-walled shop, we find something new to lust after. Erica Kiang opened the globally minded boutique in November 2009, and specializes in clothing, accessories and tchotchkes sourced from more than two dozen countries: jumbo weekender bags from Ghana, floral frocks from Australia, wacky watches from Japan and so forth. The prices might trip up budget shoppers ($259 Art Deco heels or a $119 motorcycle coat from Japan, for example), but you’re unlikely to find this stuff anywhere else in the city.

Folks in the fashion crowd are obsessed with H&M's pricier sister brand. The first NYC location finally opened in December 2014, and it looks like it was worth the wait. The 4,950-square-foot modern retail space features four floors filled with sharp, minimalist separates for men and women. We have our eye on pieces like sweaters with leather details on the shoulders ($135) and textured wool trousers ($125) for men as well as flap-pocket tops ($99) and clean-edge wool coats ($225) for women.

The Instagram-obsessed brand that had us all scrolling through silk dresses we had no occasion for has opened a flagship NYC store in SoHo. Reformation offers vintage pieces that have been repurposed or recrafted for a more modern silhouette, as well as new garments made with eco-friendly fabrics. Whether or not you’re in need of Shop till you drop without the guilt of creating more waste in the world by contributing to the fast fashion pipeline. 

Since 1927, Strand has been independently buying and selling books to New Yorkers. The bookstore has become a New York institution for visitors and locals alike. You may even catch your favorite and most stylish celebrities parading around town with a Strand tote bag on their arm (Bella Hadid has been known to sport one). If you’re planning to have a SoHo day shopping around the neighborhood, check out the Strand website for an updated schedule of events and maybe you’ll find yourself front row at a book signing sitting next to Natalie Portman. 

A skeleton stands guard outside of this cavelike spot, suggesting that a jaunt here is not for the faint of heart. It’s true: The taxidermied animal heads and skeletal jaws lining the walls provide a frightening sight. Also check out the slightly creepy collectibles including replica skulls of wolves, hyenas and lions ($90–$395); bracelets crafted out of genuine beetles ($39); and man-eating piranha figurines ($35). But beyond freaky stuff, the natural selection can also include gorgeous curios, like displays of blue-morpho butterflies ($39), and eye-popping rock formations.

Explore floors and floors of designer clothes and streetwear staples at Dover Street Market. The store’s buyers are sourcing pieces from brands we all know and love, like Off-White, Mui Mui, Prada, JW Anderson and more. But what makes them so special isn’t just the cafe and test kitchen on the first floor or the super cool elevator that takes you all the way up to the third floor—it’s the way their team introduces unique pieces from global designers in an uber inspiring space. 

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is an extraordinarily unusual and endearing place. The two-level space—which stocks a range of literary fiction, nonfiction, rare books and collectibles—is a peaceful spot for solo relaxation or for meeting friends over coffee or wine. All proceeds from the café go to providing support services for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. The premises also host an interesting array of literary events.