When momma Urbanista first moved to the city years ago, she stepped into her first Manhattan grocery store, took one look, and went home and cried. Thankfully, times have changed. While some of those scary shops may still lurk in dark corners of your neighborhood, 21st-century NYC has more than a handful of excellent gourmet markets to choose from. Let’s go shopping.

Tragically closing its original location on 9th Street a few years ago, Balducci’s has thankfully reemerged with two new, beautiful stores. While their meat and fish counters are lovely, this NYC classic is a particularly excellent choice for fresh produce, cheeses and desserts. Their cheese guys are extremely knowledgeable and happy to let you sample the goods before you buy. The desserts are beautifully displayed, and are tempting enough for you to forget about your current crash diet. Prepared dishes are tasty and well presented; go ahead and pass them off as your own creations at your next dinner party. The West Village location is housed in a converted bank, its high ceilings making it a light and airy place to do your shopping. Locations: 81 8th Ave @ 14th St & 155 W 66th; 7am-9pm daily; and online atbalduccis.

Citarella is another local favorite–and a beautiful store to shop for specialty items. Their fish counter, in particular, is top notch; expect a terrific assortment, and lots of local, fresh options. Produce is always fresh, too, and their refrigerated pastas taste as good as they look. Packaged goods are a bit pricey, so pick them up elsewhere. Citarella also has the added bonus of online delivery: just a $25 purchase minimum and $5 delivery surcharge. Locations: 2135 Broadway @ 75th St; 1313 3rd Ave @ 75th St; 424 6th Ave @ 9th St; 461 West 125th Street; and online at citarella.com.


If you find yourself on the UES, check out the stunning Food Emporium Bridge Market. Located directly under the 59th Street Bridge, this clean white space features vaulted ceilings famously tiled by Rafael Guastavino. Products are beautifully displayed, and produce is the best any Food Emporium in NYC has to offer. This is definitely the place to shop in style. Location: 405 E. 59th St bet. 1st & York; 7am-11pm Mon-Fri, 8am-11pm Sat-Sun.


Chelsea Market is an amazing building–I like to think of it as a foodie mall. This is a perfect place to shop when planning a dinner party: you have the convenience of locating everything you need under one roof, and, as every store is privately owned, the uniqueness of product that makes it look like you scaled the island of Manhattan to find the perfect ingredients for your guests. Check out The Manhattan Fruit Exchange for gorgeous produce at amazing prices. Do note that it’s cash only. Then, head to The Lobster Place to pick up fresh fish and seafood, whole, cleaned, filleted, or pre-seasoned. Frank’s will take care of your prime cuts of meat, and Buon Italia will provide pastas, antipasti and other Italian specialties. Grab your dinner rolls and loaves at Amy’s Bread (try not to fill up on the samples), dessert at Fat Witch Bakery (brownies to die for) or Eleni’s, and once you’ve sampled the wares at a daily tasting, your wine at Chelsea Wine Vault. You can even grab last minute kitchen supplies at Bowery Kitchen Supply, and a bouquet for the table at Chelsea Wholesale Flowers. Need a break from your [food] shopping spree? Grab a bite or a drink at 202… but I dare you to walk out of the place without having bought something fabulous from the Nicole Farhi racks that surround the tables. 75 9th Ave. bet 15th and 16th Sts; 7am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat-Sun; and online at chelseamarket.com


Fresh Direct, in my humble opinion, is one of the best things to happen to NYC in a long time. This online grocery delivery service is not only an amazing 24-hour convenience, but it’s also a terrific resource for excellent quality and local products. For a $5 delivery fee and $50 order minimum, thoughtfully packed boxes arrive at your doorstep 7 days a week, within a 2-hour time slot of your choosing. Without the constraints of a storefront, Fresh Direct is able to stock an amazing variety of product, including specific inventories of local product, organic options, kosher foods, and bulk products. Their catering department has also expanded to include lots of terrific heat-and-eat options, some from notable NYC chefs. What’s best? You can shop in your pj’s from the comfort of your couch. online at freshdirect.com.

We’d be terribly remiss if we didn’t mention the Union Square Green Market. This neighborhood standby is a wonderful way to embrace the season’s best. For serious shopping, go early–right as the market opens–for the best selection and smallest crowds. And don’t be afraid to ask questions: not only are the vendors extremely knowledgeable, but that guy next to you grabbing the last crate of zucchini flowers is probably a chef from one of NY’s fine restaurants (the Danny Meyer and Tom Colicchio empires are especially known for utilizing the market). Union Square Park; Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat, 8am-6pm.

Last, but certainly not least, check out NY Mag’s fantastic Food Blog, Grubstreet, on Mondays, for their ‘At the Greenmarket’ feature.

Well, what are you waiting for? Grab your Anya Hindmarch tote and get shopping!

xoxo your f&d e, l.