16 Best Shopping in Williamsburg, New York City

Hands down the best place to lay eyes on the latest cool creations from Brooklyn-based artists and designers, this huge warehouse lures canny connoisseurs seeking one-of-a-kind items. Every weekend, nearly 100 vendors sell everything from handmade jewelry and objets d'art to custom clocks made from old hardcover books and T-shirts with vintage cartoons.

A cheese lover's dream, this small fromagerie sells everything needed for a gourmet antipasto. The more than 200 artisanal cheeses are arranged by style—hard, soft, Bries, blues, etcetera. Dry goods include crackers, biscuits, premium olive oils, small-batch jams, and chocolates. Prosciutto di Parma and Serrano ham are among the cured meats; you'll also find foie gras, quail eggs, and other comestibles. Expert cheesemongers will help you navigate the offerings.

Known for its trademark stackable rings and other dainty jewelry, the tiny store also sells soft cashmere hats, candles, and gift items, all curated with an emphasis on area designers. Any gift you buy here—for a friend or for yourself—will be cherished.

Foodies have many reasons to stop at Dépanneur: artisanal products, cookbooks, food magazines, gourmet sandwiches, pastries, and coffee by Toby's Estate. The specialty store's shelves are lined with small-batch jams, pickles by Brooklyn Brine, flavored hot sauces, syrups, cordials, and bitters, not to mention a well-chosen selection of cheeses and salumi.

The elegantly wrapped bars of Brooklyn's artisanal bean-to-bar chocolatiers are ubiquitous in New York City, but to experience the magic as it transpires, head to the Mast flagship on North 3rd Street, where you can tour the factory and sample goodies ($10, register online). The all-natural, single-origin chocolate bars are earthy and barely sweet. Two doors down at Brew Bar, cocoa beans are brewed like coffee—the taste is like nothing you've tried before.

Stylish shoppers stop into this boutique for affordable dresses, tops, and skirts by the likes of Olivaceous, Everleigh, Lucy Paris, and Gracia, shoes by New York–based Chelsea Crew, as well as eclectic jewelry. The shop also carries yak-wool scarves and hats knitted in the Himalayas by the owner's family.

For vintage clothes, look no further. The store is enormous, with rack upon rack of secondhand clothes ranging from '40s cocktail dresses to '80s printed blouses. The back room has well-kept pieces from the 1940s to the 1960s, including an impressive array of fur coats. There's plenty for guys, too: T-shirts, varsity jackets, cowboy boots, and more. Head next door for antique textiles and rugs.

An amateur jewelry designer's paradise, this shop stocks more than a thousand charms and stones and sells everything needed to make necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings—wire, chain by the yard, beads, and tools. The New York state charms and vintage adornments make great gifts.

The sign above the storefront says Sparacino’s bakery, but the shop is actually home to a comic book utopia. Desert Island packs all kinds of illustrated media into the small shop, from kids' books to graphic novels and zines. You might find a rare vintage comic book or discover new work by a neighborhood graphic artist.

Argentinean GGrippo moved to Williamsburg 20 years ago and set up this very design-conscious shop focused on sustainable goods. At his studio in the back, he sews upcycled cashmere, creating beautiful patchwork sweaters, dresses, and coats. The shop is a sight in itself—the main floor has a balcony looking down on the showroom and workshop. Rotating installations might take the form of colorful flowers made of recycled bottles. It's closed Monday and Tuesday.

Williamsburg's dapper gents head to this small boutique for high-quality apparel and accessories. Scotch & Soda, Life After Denim, WeSC, and similar brands fill the shelves. Don't miss the colorful, patterned bow ties. There's also a shop at 107 North 5th Street (at Berry).

Taking the boutique–coffee shop combo to the next level, Jane Motorcycles sells—you guessed it—motorcycles and coffee. Owners Adam and Alex wanted to open a place where anyone could stop by to admire the bikes (which they work on at nearby garages) without feeling pressured to buy. Bikers shop for helmets, apparel, and accessories, while the café set sips Parlor coffee (roasted in Brooklyn), munches on baked goods, and accesses the free Wi-Fi.

This cavernous, London-based store sells LPs, CDs, and books, and doubles as a 250-seat concert venue and art gallery. The shop's cool, of-the-moment design incorporates recycled shipping containers.

Top-notch art and design monographs as well as harder-to-find magazines like Edible Brooklyn, Bomb, and Monocle share shelf space with used and new best sellers, essay collections, and philosophy titles at this indie bookshop. The back of the shop has Brooklyn-made cards and notebooks.

Recreational home cooks and advanced chefs adore this shop that stocks a dazzling array of kitchen tools and supplies, from cookbooks to hard-to-find ingredients. Informative and well-organized classes on everything from knife skills to home brewing to pasta making are held in the kitchen labs.