41 Best NYC Gifts That Arent an “I Heart NY” T-Shirt

For over a decade, Rubirosa has been slinging delicious pies and pastas that have earned it fans like Meghan Markle, who referred to it as the “holy grail” of pizza, and Michelin reviewers, who deemed it worthy of a Bib Gourmand in 2012. If you miss the chance to visit the cozy Nolita space, buy its pasta sampler, or a box of its sauces and olive oil, to make at home.

You have to actually visit Cobble Hill staple Frankies 457 in order to try its best dishes, like the cavatelli that’s paired with hot sausage, sage, and brown butter. But you can get the absolutely luscious, spiced olive oil they often drizzle on the pies at their pizza place next door. It’s a very delicious consolation prize.

There is a cheaper way to get bagels back home—namely, just buying a dozen from whatever great shop is closest to your hotel the morning of your flight and putting it in a plastic bag. If you forget though, these H&H bagels will save you a lot of grief from whoever is waiting for you at home.

Di Fara is located so deep into Brooklyn that even most New Yorkers haven’t been. Make sure whoever is lucky enough to be with you when you pull these out of the oven knows they’re being treated.

Fans of “Hot Ones,” the show with hot questions and even hotter wings, should know the team sources its hot sauces with the help of Heatonist, a hot sauce emporium in Brooklyn. To get someone to try the 10 sauces celebrity guests are subjected to, just tell them it’s a condition of New York City citizenship.

Even though it’s been open since the 19th century, Peter Luger can still be a tough reservation to claim. Not to worry, if you’re at all competent behind the stove, the extremely high-quality products you can buy from the restaurant’s butcher shop are tough to ruin.

A monthly subscription to coffee roasted at Sey, an excellent coffee roaster based in Bushwick, will ensure you’ll always have the taste of New York within arm’s reach.

If you got to spend any time talking to New Yorkers during your trip, especially at bars, you know we love to argue. Bring these bottled Negronis, a divisive cocktail, to any party you worry will be a snooze fest—they’re sure to get the people talking.

A love letter to the many wonderful watering holes New York currently has on offer and the many movements, relationships, and memories that began in them.

Ricky Flores is a photojournalist based in the South Bronx. He’s won awards for his work covering 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, but don’t sleep on his more intimate portraits of life in his home borough.

Just because you’re already back home, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drink your coffee like it came from a cart on the street.

For the many New Yorkers without cars, the Staten Island Ferry is the only way to get to our city’s most forgotten borough. Luckily, the apricot-hued ferry is a true looker.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not actually have to put sunflowers in this vase.

Having fun isn’t hard—when you’ve got a library-card-shaped-Christmas ornament.

Depending on how much you like your giftee, you can either get them an “A” or a “Grade Pending” mug.

Designed for the 1964 World’s Fair, the Unisphere has stood tall in Flushing Meadows, Queens, ever since. If you didn’t get a photo in front of it, at least you were able to bring one of these home.

The bacon, egg, and cheese (pronounced: “baconeggncheese”) is elegant in its simplicity. Hot tip: It’s better if you ask for extra black pepper.

Let’s go [checks notes] Meats!

A Yankees cap you can pull off even if you have no idea what a “walk-off” home run is.

Brand new merch from the mind of Emilia Petrarca, whose newsletter celebrates the best shopping the city has on offer. Plus, the rat is so cute!

Hopefully, you actually made the trip out to the Ice Cream factory and tried the matcha Oreo. If you didn’t, this necklace will certainly serve as a reminder never to make the same mistake again.

We heard you like the “I Heart NY” shirt, so we put it on another shirt.

Why shouldn’t your next new umbrella also signal your love for frankfurters?

A capacious tote bag from one of New York’s best coffee chains that can still probably serve as a “personal item,” especially if there’s a treat in it for your gate agent.

A mecca for print magazine fanatics, carrying over 2,000 titles. That includes a bunch you’ve heard of (like this one) and plenty you’ll likely never see again.

In case you think all the apparel makers in New York only care about high fashion, let Allmansright correct the record. The Bronx-based label produces sturdy, ultralight stash bags and packs that’ll keep all your stuff protected during your next camping trip.

Slightly cartoonish, but extremely adorable recreations of the Crystler Building and One World Trade Center, the latter of which is where this magazine is made!

A big yellow taxi you can be sure won’t take away your old man. Unless, of course, he happens to be much smaller than your average city rat.

Minus the depressingly long line of people who are waiting to cradle its reproductive bits.

No one needs to know that you Ubered the whole time you were here. This set will eliminate any questions.

Tell me you’re a film buff without telling me you’re a film buff.

Were you disappointed it didn’t snow during your last visit to New York? It’s always snowing in the globe version.

The friendly bookstore’s least-friendly keychain.

Reminder: New York has beaches!

Proof that even our trash cans can be weirdly chic.

Just don’t call them sky rats!