The 30 Best Gifts for New Yorkers, According to Someone Who Was Born & Raised There
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As a native New Yorker, I roll my eyes at the superficial gifts geared toward us. The ‘I Love New York’ T-shirts and yellow cab decor doesn't exactly get me giddy. See, we are notoriously hard to shop for because A) we have unreasonably high standards and B) we have zero space for superfluous stuff. And while cash sounds like the perfect gift for New Yorkers (have you seen the price for a monthly metro card?!), it's always the presents that were given a bit more thought that we cherish the most. So, whether you're shopping for your sister who has lived in one of the five boroughs her whole life or a coworker who just moved to the city, we found 30 gifts for New Yorkers that won't leave them unimpressed.
Best Gifts for New Yorkers at a Glance
How We Chose the Best Gifts for New Yorkers
I've been a New Yorker my entire life, and as someone who was born and bred here, I can safely say that New York natives value efficiency—even in our gifts. Whether it's stylish snow boots for weathering our notoriously harsh winters, an Uber gift card when the trains are delayed or a sweet treat from our favorite bakery, we hand-selected each gift for every type of New Yorker.
1. Homesick New York City Candle
Whether they're making the big move to NYC or haven't lived there in years, one whiff of this scented candle will be the perfect housewarming gift to keep the bustling city alive in any setting. This chic, hand-poured number boasts 60 to 80 hours of burn time and contains notes of “spring days in Central Park, fine department stores and concrete.” (And this is one time we’re thankful they didn’t get too realistic with the scent.)
2. New York Yankees JH Design Reversible Fleece Jacket
Win or lose, no one is as passionate about sports teams as New Yorkers. The Yankees (or Mets) hat is a staple in the city, but let's face it, your sports fanatic friend probably already has a whole collection. So, surprise them with their very own reversible faux leather jacket for those chilly days in the city. They'll definitely be rocking it with pride at the next home game.
3. Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment
Even though New York City's legendary bake shop just launched its first-ever vegan and gluten-free cookies, they'll love a delivery of the TikTok- and New Yorker-approved Signature Cookie Assortment, which includes the shop's original flavors: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip and oatmeal raisin. Not to mention, the cookies themselves are some of the gooiest and chunkiest around, so it's no wonder New Yorkers are obsessed.
4. Silver & Riley Classic New Yorker Bag
You can't walk the streets of New York without seeing many a statement bag in tow. And ICYMI, small handbags are in right now —which Silver & Riley has covered. Crafted in soft leather, it comes in a variety of shades that represent NYC neighborhoods including Cobble Hill, Tribeca and Astoria. Bonus: You'll be supporting a New York-based fashion brand with your gift.
5. Devour NYC: A Cookbook by Greg Remmey and Rebecca West-Remmey
From the cronut to the rainbow bagel, the culinary minds of the Big Apple are always whipping up new (and interesting) food combos. Some of them are so popular that they require hours of waiting in line to get a taste, which most of us don't have the time for. Enter this cookbook, filled with over 50 recipes that include the city's craziest creations. From a mac & cheese burger to funfetti cookie cakes, your giftee can enjoy NYC's finest right from the comforts of their own kitchen.
6. Seamless Gift Card
You know what? Forget everything else on the list. This is the perfect gift for the busy New Yorker. Truly, there is nothing better than having dinner from your favorite local restaurant delivered to your door after a long day at work. (FYI, there's no expiration date.)
7. A Broadway Ticket
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Surprise the whole family with tickets to a musical, play or off-Broadway performance. You might just find luck snagging prime seats to the biggest shows like Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical or Wicked, which will impress the theater fan in your life.
8. SarahGrandDesigns New York City Print Poster
We always have to display at least one art piece inspired by our city. Now, the regular old scenic pic of the Empire State Building or the Brooklyn Bridge is fine, but for a poster that is guaranteed to become a conversation starter in your bestie's apartment, opt for something a little more original. This Etsy find is an ode to the five boroughs with notable symbols like the Met, the Staten Island Ferry and yes, the caution sign to warn you about rats. All their guests will spend hours trying to point out their favorite spots and reminiscing about their craziest NYC stories.
9. The Sill Plant Parent Set
You know at least one person who’s turned their apartment into a makeshift greenhouse, so why not give them what they want? Support their green thumb with a set entirely dedicated to plant parents from The Sill. You can choose between three and five houseplants (depending how many green friends they really need). Regardless, they can expect a variety of sizes and types of low-maintenance plants in their box. Plus, they all include their own nursery pot to get your giftee started.
10. BX Writers Anthology Vol. 1 by Josue Caceres
If your partner is always nose-deep into a great read on the subway, they'll love immersing themselves in this collection of poems written by local writers. The 334-page book features various NYC poets detailing their experiences of living in New York City, especially the Bronx. As the anthology's editor writes, "We write from the fire, flames, and fumes we inherited from the Bronx, that instead of destroying us, built and raised us."
11. Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle
We all know “the city that never sleeps” is a myth. Give your favorite in-need-of-a-nap Gothamite some new bedding from the cult-fave local brand. The Luxe Hardcore sheet bundle includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, one duvet cover and four pillowcases. The 480 thread count will have them snuggling into their sheets and forgetting about all the noise outside of their window.
12. Uber Gift Card
Look, a subway ride is way cheaper than a cab ride. But if the trains are delayed (again) and they're running late, give a commuter a backup option they'll definitely appreciate. An Uber gift card can assure that they'll get to their destination quicker. (Now, when it comes to New York traffic, we can't help you on that front.)
13. The New York Times Mini Crossword Books Set
You always catch them completing the crossword in The Times, so it only makes sense to occupy their morning activity with two New York Times mini crossword books (that each holds 150 puzzles to last them until the next holiday). The set also comes with a crossword-inspired canvas bag and seven pencils (marked with each day of the week) so they'll always be prepared to tackle the clues of the day.
14. The Milk Bar Sampler
New York has the best pizza, bagels and you guessed it, dessert. Milk Bar is one of our favorite spots to grab a cookie (or two) in the city. Satisfy their sweet tooth with a sampler featuring the dessert company's top sellers. The pack includes a three-pack of birthday truffles, a three-pack of chocolate truffles, a Milk Bar pie slice and six assorted cookies. We can't promise they'll share with you, but it'll definitely put a smile on their face.
15. Coffee Shop Gift Card
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While we'll roll our eyes when out-of-towners ask us to pronounce "coffee," we can't deny how much we love the stuff. A nice gift card to their favorite coffeeshop (that's right around the corner from their apartment) will make commuting anywhere easier to manage. A few of our favorites include Culture Espresso, Kinship Coffee and Sweetleaf.
16. The Adventures Challenge Couples Edition
Their date nights just got an upgrade, because this adventure book has 50 ways for them to make even more memories with their significant other. All they have to do is scratch off a challenge and reveal fun activities like recreating their grandparents' first date, baking an apple pie blindfolded or making a memory box together. The book also encourages them to take a picture and write down a few sentences to mark the memory, so that they can look back on it for years to come.
17. Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Headphones
It turns out working from home with a roommate/partner/cat can be damn near impossible, but a pair of wireless, Bluetooth-enabled headphones can really help. This Bose set comes with two modes: 'quiet' mode for a full noise-cancelling experience and 'aware' mode to still hear a bit of the outside world while listening to a Spotify playlist. Psst, the headphones have 22 hours of battery life.
18. The New Yorker Cari Vander Yacht's Dept. of Hydration Water Bottle
Remind the friend who loves to run by the Hudson to stay hydrated with this chic water bottle. It has a leak-proof screw-on cap, plus a striking design of The New Yorker illustration done by Cari Vander Yacht that represents our diverse city. While the runner is keeping track of their PR, this bottle can keep 32 ounces of some good 'ol H20.
19. Levoit Air Purifer
We love our city, but she’s not exactly known for her cleaniless. Enter this high-tech air purifier. You can take our word for it, or you can read through the more than 34,000 five-star reviews. Either way, this clever device is highly praised for its quiet air technology, which means it can run all night without interrupting anyone’s sleep. It’s also super effective at filtering out pet dander for those with allergies.
20. Museum Membership
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Help your friends stay acquainted with the cultural world with a membership to the Whitney, the New Museum, MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, the Met, the Museum of the Moving Image—you get the idea.
21. 718 Heat Factory Sweet and Savory Hot Sauce Duo
Got a friend who puts hot sauce on everything and doesn't fear anything that's spicy? Well, keep their pantry (or bag) stocked with a bottle from this homegrown brand, available in two varieties: the green Herbal Alchemy (punched up with cilantro, parsley and turmeric) and the red Sweet Heat (subtly tropical with mango and pineapple).
22. Russ & Daughters New York Brunch Care Package
This gift goes to the friend who *loves* brunch. Whether they still live in NY or your schedules don't align to hang out regularly, you can ship them this quintessential NYC treat to show that you're thinking about them. This Russ & Daughters brunch box set includes a pound of Nova smoked salmon, a pound of plain cream cheese, six bagels (made fresh before shipping), one chocolate babka, a pound of Private Blend coffee and a ceramic mug.
23. Montserrat New York Late Night Tote
FYI, tote bags are essential for a New Yorker. You never know when you’ll pop into the supermarket after work, bump into a farmer's market or need somewhere to store your extra pair of shoes in case it rains. And the words written on the bag ("Late Nights & Bodegas & Drunk Texts") perfectly encapsulate city life.
24. Diner Cup
If you were born and raised in NYC, you'll feel a wave of nostalgia for this coffee cup. While it's become a symbol of the past, you can cherish it forever. Now any cup of coffee you drink can be the world’s best cup of coffee. You're welcome.
25. MTA “Might Take Awhile” T-Shirt
As New Yorkers, we’re allowed to poke fun at our unpredictable public transport system (so non-city folks don’t even try it). Exhibit A: this T-shirt about the MTA that reads “MTA: Might Take Awhile.” Any commuter will laugh because this hits too close to home.
26. Baked by Melissa Zodiac Cupcakes
Your bestie spews out your daily horoscope before you’ve even said good morning, so you know they’ll appreciate this sweet gesture. Baked by Melissa, the NYC-based cupcake company, has a 25-pack dedicated to each zodiac sign. The flavors are hand-selected by astrologer Aliza Kelly, so you can celebrate your BFFs sun, moon or rising sign with these adorable—and delicious—bites.
27. New York or Nowhere Crosby Dad Hat
Look, we’ll be the first to scoff at wearing anything that’s flashy and says 'New York' all over. However, this dad hat just might change our mind. This lifestyle brand is all about offering stylish picks and taking pride in living in one of the most fashionable cities in the world (sorry, we don’t make the rules). Regardless of which color you choose, the cursive “New York or Nowhere” is a nice touch for any New Yorker in your life.
28. A Fun Interactive Event Ticket
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There are so many fun and interactive activities to try out with tiny humans in every borough, but you’ll definitely win brownie points for taking them to The Color Factory, Museum of Ice Cream, The Harry Potter Exhibition or the popular Sloomoo Institute. The latter offers the chance for kids to get slimed all over—so yeah, you should snag a ticket or gift card ASAP.
29. NYC Skyline Chess
If you always catch them starting a friendly game down in Union Square, they’ll be excited to have a new set to practice with at home. The chess pieces mimic iconic buildings around the Big Apple like the Freedom Tower, Empire State Building and the Guggenheim.
30. The North Face Thermoball Boots
As every New Yorker knows, the winters are brutal, so gift your city dweller a pair of these puffer boots to make the months ahead a little better. They're crafted with ThermoBall eco insulation, which helps keep their toes warm and comfy. The fabric is also water-repellent (in case they step into one of those dreadful puddles on the streets) and stylish enough to complement any coat.
The 63 Best Gifts Under $50 for Everyone in Your Life
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