Top Hat

This was one of my destination stores in NYC and it didn't disappoint. Jessica was a delight to talk to and the store had so many unique and interesting items. I left with presents for several people. If you're looking for a unique gift, this is a great place to find it. Be sure to ask questions. There are interesting stories behind nearly all of the pieces.

Great spot! So many cool and unique things! Found the Parco 1923 that I needed for Christmas! A bit pricier than online, but hey, it's NY... and I needed it immediately lol. Thanks guys!

I love a knick knack store and this place satisfied that need. Bought some cute cards here, they have a great selection of clocks and other home goods.

Best gift shop ever! Japanese hankies, cards, unique pens. Great customer service.

If you want a glowing bread lamp, they have it! Nice mix of japanese, italian ++ stationary goods and home accessories available :) Their washi tape selection was awesome !

Bought Cedar Parfum two days ago with the help of the new employee that works there. He was very knowledgable and helpful. May come back soon for those hollowed loaves of bread with lighting. He also wrapped and bagged my gift for me :).

A happy place, where you can find amazing often unique gifts that are thoughtful and wont break your bank. The stationary section, I find to be one of the best in the city, especially if you like writing instruments such as pencils, markers and crayons. great selection of Japanese rice tape but the notebooks tend to be quite pricey. Overall, it is a great quiet place in the middle of one of the busiest neighborhoods in New York.

Top Hat is one of my very favorite shops, and represents the level of unique and sophisticated boutiques that one thinks of as existing only in great cities, like New York City. The shop's incredible selection mostly comes from Europe and Japan, and they stock special items that you cannot find online. The manager Ella is lovely and knowledgeable, and is the muse of the shop! Top Hat is a true treasure!

Perhaps it was just an off day, but just had a really bad experience at this store. The sales girl was very unfriendly and didn't make an effort to help at all. When I said thanks anyway and started to leave, she asked why the item wouldn't work, so I told her it was too big for what I was looking for. She got all annoyed, like I insulted her and super inconvenienced her. Really lame customer service.

I was heading to work earlier this afternoon and made a last-minute decision to stop into Top Hat. My nieces birthday is today and I wanted to pick her up some stationery for school as she's an aspiring artist who just moved to the city. I can't even begin to express how lucky I feel to have stopped by. The saleswoman was warm, beautiful with a hint of NYC flavor. She knew the store like the back of her hand and provided me with the best possible options for my niece. Will DEFINITELY be back here every week for the foreseeable future. That being said,

Don't have your employees put up a sign that says "Back in 10!" when it clearly isn't true. I waited for about a good 40 minutes on a Saturday afternoon from about 3:15- no clocking 4pm. I've counted 12 other potential customers came by during that time frame as well but you know ... You'll be back in 10 minutes, right? Right.

I love this store. I lived on the les when it first opened-- so glad they are still there. Very special and unique gifts that you don't find anywhere else. I always go around the holidays and then have some wine at Ten Bells :)

Simply amazing. Steve and Gerry are a match made in heaven. This will be the most successful location yet!

Fall in love with merchants! If you are a tourist, this store in an essential NYC visit. As a local, Top Hat makes me glad to live in Manhattan. I am a recent transplant, shopped around the world and this shop inspires me about the beauty of small merchants. I was in the store for an hour and found things for everyone. The buyer Nina(spell?) gets the magic of artisans creating timeless goods that they clearly love. What you will find: - unique items for the home or desk ranging from Japanese patterned translucent tape for journaling or scrapping to handmade toys. And from simple hanging lamps and floor pillows to rolls of paper with designs for hanging or wrapping. - this is not walmart! There are only 100 different items in the small store, yet each one is selected with intention and make the perfect thoughtful gift. - I have a favorite friend who loves birds... Top Hat has a collection of bird calls to make the most avid bird enthusiast drool. They are hand made in France by a man who usually spends two years perfecting the sound. For example a Merle sound is produced by twisting a metal bar inside a wooden pipe with a porcelain washer. The sound is right on and fun to make. So many bird calls including a few boxes with 6 different calls inside. Great for lifetime students. - hand embroidered patches including a cool Beatles set. - journals - bags made from a special rip stop paper, just right for the cool recycler in your family. - special pens, pastels and pencils - artwork in everything. - I found a pair of horse shoes for kids that make a great horse walking sound when they clomp around in them. Any parents limiting plastic exposure for kids will love this place. - want to send a beautiful letter via traditional post? I picked up a letter that the receiver will blow open to read and enjoy as an opaque cube. - too many things to list... - OK one more. A card with a map printed of various regions and a needle with red thread to push through locations for a sewn track showing where you've been or where you want to go. Romantic travel invitation from an admirer? Finally, the people. The owners and the staff are present and happy to be there. (thanks Jen) They work at Top Hat for the same reason I loved shopping there it seems.

Amazingly charming little shop. I love finding well curated shops like this. Everything if unique and fun, things you won't find anywhere else. Perfect for unique gifts.

Yes, indeed it was very interesting place to buy unique gift for your friends. Love the way they arranged the space as well. Friendly staff also.

Absolutely love this hole in the wall. Couldn't find it after the first time I randomly walked in and looked for it for almost ten months. You'll find so many random and unique items for your home or for gifts. It's a bit pricey but you really won't find this stuff anywhere else. Found this awesome desk organizer made out of wood from a Japanese artist and a wooden desk calendar that has a gear as the day of the week as it rolls along the dates. So cool.

Very cool design oriented stuff from around the world. My boyfriend and I dropped into this store after hearing about it from several of our friends. There are various different nick-knacks from around the world. There were cute shoes from Spain to Mugs from Japan. If you are looking for a small gift or a design piece for your house this is the place to visit.

Very unique shop with curio items. Small selection of paper and pen items. Many products from Europe especially the quirky Netherlands. Items are what you may find at the MoMA store. Prices are similar too which means it's more window shopping than actually packing items and taking them home. Always fun to pop into Top Hat to check out cool stuff (you won't really need).

This shop is full of note books, home decor, and other random things that are beautifully designed.

Maybe I hit the store at an off time but I don't get it. There's some different merchandise but it's a bit pricey. Only browsing around for me. They day I was there, the store had a limited selection. It's a small store, and I spent less than 10 min at the store. Stop in if you happen to be near by.