Astoria Shopping Guide
Published 11/07/2017
Long known for its Greek population and restaurants, Queens’ Astoria neighborhood is home to an increasingly young, diverse professional crowd that supports the kind of cool establishments you might expect to find in Brooklyn. It’s just a 15-minute train ride from Midtown Manhattan; upon arrival, discover locally made goods, modern art spaces and a wide range of international foods. Our shopping guide will help you make your way through Astoria like a local.
1
Astoria Bier & Cheese
1
34-14 Broadway
You’ll forget about the traditional pairing of wine and cheese at this resource for artisanal fromage, charcuterie and craft beer. Find brews like locally made SingleCut white lager, various ciders and meads (fermented honey with water and spices) and a selection of imported and local cheeses. The café menu offers a chance to try something on the spot—like the Truffle Shuffle, a sophisticated grilled cheese with truffled gouda, fresh mozzarella and raw honey, to be accompanied by a glass of what’s on tap. There’s another location on Ditmars Boulevard.
2
The Brass Owl
2
36-19 Ditmars Blvd
Go on a shopping spree at this funky Astoria women’s boutique. Former Macy’s buyer and shop owner Nicole Panettieri tends to an assortment of quirky jewelry, adorable clothes and shoes from local designers as well as some bigger brands. It’s no surprise, as shoes are in Panettieri’s family tree; her great-grandfather sold and repaired shoes in New Jersey, and her parents run a flip-flop and sandals store in Florida.
3
La Guli Bakery
3
29-15 Ditmars Blvd
La Guli Pastry Shop has been baking fresh Italian pastries daily in Astoria since 1937. It was started by Paolo Notaro, who had arrived from Palermo, Sicily, with his family’s pastry recipes a few years earlier, and is currently run by his granddaughter, Maria Notaro, who helps make the beloved cannolis, napoleons and sfogliatella (lobster tails). It is also known for its special-occasion cakes. The interior and woodwork of La Guli’s is a throwback too, unchanged for decades.
4
Lockwood Shop
4
32-15 33rd St.
Lockwood Shop is an Instagrammable lifestyle destination for home goods, clothes and charming gifts like totes, candles and chocolates. A community-driven establishment owned by Astoria resident Mackenzi Farquer, Lockwood hosts events on its backyard patio as well as in its indoor workshop. The store gets its name from the former Lockwood Street, a rural road in Astoria before it became 30th Street when the subway arrived.
5
Morning Glory
5
40-15 Broadway
A fun shop that emphasizes Japanese pop culture, Morning Glory makes a good destination for browsing unusual and inventive presents and keepsakes. This ultra kawaii (“cute” in Japanese) stationery and gift store is chock full of adorable Sanrio toys like Hello Kitty, Totoro memorabilia and even some charming tissue paper.
6
The Noguchi Museum
6
9-01 33rd Rd. @ Vernon Blvd.
A tranquil indoor-outdoor industrial space, this cultural gem houses giant sculptures and thoughtfully designed furniture by the renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, who had moved to the neighborhood back in the 1960s and set up shop. The museum, founded in 1985, has a serene sculpture garden and a museum store that offers reproductions of Noguchi’s works (like his popular Akari lights), along with other pieces by modern artists (including furniture by Herman Miller).
7
The Yoga Room
7
38-01 35th Ave
This popular yoga studio is a neighborhood favorite, offering a variety of hot yoga and Pilates classes alongside specialties like prenatal yoga and Pilates, mother and toddler baby yoga, traditional flows, barre and even aerial yoga (a hammock-supported practice). However, beginners need not fear—this welcoming studio embraces all levels, offering specials for new students while still presenting challenges for the most advanced yogis. In warmer months, a few classes are held in scenic Astoria Park along the East River.