Top 10 Things To Do In SoHo, New York City

things to do in soho
Francesca
Francesca 
Published
| 5 min read

Fun fact: SoHo is the acronym for ‘South of Houston Street’, and the area is best known as the top shopping destination in New York City. Featuring streets filled with upscale fashion boutiques and big brands like Uniqlo and Nike, all your shopping needs will be fulfilled right in the heart of SoHo. The city is also known for being an artsy neighbourhood, so you can expect to stumble upon art galleries and museums as you tour around SoHo. When you need a break from all the walking, you’ll find some of the best food options along the streets of SoHo. There’s so much to discover in this ultra-trendy area so for starters, read on to find out the top 10 things to do in SoHo, New York City.

1. Shop 'til you drop at the different stores along Broadway Street

Broadway
Source: Unsplash

Shopping should be at the top of your list of things to do in SoHo. One of the best streets for shopping is Broadway Street. Give your wardrobe a revamp when shopping at Broadway Street as there are lots of high-end boutique shops. Some popular boutique stores to check out are Flying Solo, where you can find a collection of independent New York fashion designs, and Mystique Boutique for trendy and affordable women’s fashion. Big brands are also lined along the streets of Broadway such as Muji, Unqlo, Nike and Timberland.

Broadway Street

Address: Broadway, New York, USA

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2. Capture the best of Prince Street with a polaroid camera (from USD 125.0)

things to do in soho | capture the best of prince street with a polaroid camera
Source: www.airbnb.com

More shopping can be done at Prince Street, but it is recommended to take pictures of this photogenic street instead. When you exit from Prince St Station, you’ll be greeted with what seems like an endless street of red brick buildings. Within those buildings are fashion shops, an Apple store and restaurants to discover. Since Prince Street is the place to go to for street photography, go on a photography tour around Prince Street and get the perfect shot with a Polaroid camera.

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Polaroids on Prince

Duration: 1 hour

254 reviews

3. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a freshly baked pastry at Dominique Ansel Bakery

Dominique Ansel Bakery
Source: Photo by Flickr user Hotel Kaesong used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Visit the original Dominique Ansel Bakery at Spring Street. Pastry lovers all over the world crave to taste the pastries from this bakery at least once in their life, so you should definitely stop by when in SoHo. The top five must-try signature pastries at Dominique Ansel Bakery include Cronut Pastry, DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amann), Mini Madeleines, Frozen S’mores and Chocolate Chip Cookie Shot.

Dominique Ansel Bakery

Address: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Dominique Ansel Bakery

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 7pm; Sun: 9am - 7pm

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4. Sweat it out in a workout class at Equinox SoHo

Gym
Source: Unsplash

For those looking to get your daily grind, book a class at Equinox SoHo. There are 11 types of classes to suit your workout needs, focusing on cardio, cycling, yoga and boxing. Located along Prince Street, Equinox houses a yoga studio, pilates studio, cycling studio, and a spa. The staff at Equinox have garnered great reviews as friendly and professional, so you don’t have to feel intimidated. After your workout, refuel your energy at the juice bar and cafe. Plan your time when visiting Equinox as the free WiFi at the gym would make you want to stay longer than you have planned.

Equinox SoHo

Address: 69 Prince St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Equinox SoHo

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 6am - 9pm; Fri: 6am - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 7pm

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5. Customise your own Chucks at Converse Flagship Store

Converse
Source: Unsplash

Visit the world’s largest Converse store in SoHo. You can find almost every Converse shoe design at this flagship store — from the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star to limited edition collaborations. The Converse Flagship Store in SoHo is one of the two Converse stores in the world that allow customisation. Build your one of a kind Converse shoe from scratch in an hour-long session - choosing from the fabric to eyelet and Converse’s iconic rubber toe cap.

Converse Flagship Store

Address: 560 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Converse Flagship Store

Opening hours: 11am - 7pm (daily)

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6. Get fit with Chinese martial arts at Nabi Su Tai Chi, Kung Fu & Energy

Kung Fu
Source: Unsplash

One of the best things to do in SoHo when you want to take a break from busy New York is to book a class at Nabi Su Tai Chi, Kung Fu & Energy. Nabi Su conducts Tai Chi and Kung Fu classes, two forms of Chinese martial arts, and also focuses on self development through Zen meditation, Reiki and astrology reading. Nabi Su welcomes everyone regardless of experience in Tai Chi, Kung Fu or meditation. If you want to improve your personal well-being or learn something new, sign up for your first free class at Nabi Su!

Nabi Su Tai Chi, Kung Fu & Energy

Address: 365 Canal St, New York, NY 10013, United States

Website: Nabi Su Tai Chi, Kung Fu & Energy

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7. Create a mix of your own ice cream flavor from scratch at Museum of Ice Cream

Museum of Ice Cream 558 Broadway
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Beyond My Ken used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Along the streets of Broadway, the Museum of Ice Cream in SoHo is hard to miss because of its bright pink exterior. Offering a multi-sensory experience, the museum has 13 exhibitions filled with fun and pink aesthetics. Some highlights of the museum include a sprinkle room and a re-imagined New York pink subway. You can also create your own ice cream flavour from scratch during a one hour “Sundae School” session at the museum. You’ll even get a certificate for completing the class!

Museum of Ice Cream

Address: 558 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Museum of Ice Cream

Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 12pm - 8pm (closed on Mon - Wed)

Price: 39 USD

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8. Support the LGBTQ+ movement by visiting the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art - NYC
Source: Photo by Flickr user ajay_suresh used under CC BY 2.0

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art is home to LGBTQ+ artists, with a collection of 30,000 artworks from the 1970s till today. A tour around this museum will help you understand the feelings and experiences of the LGBTQ+ through the LGBTQ+ artists’ art pieces. The exhibitions are ever changing at the museum, so you’ll always get to learn and admire new artworks each time you visit. Although admission is free, there is a suggested donation fee of 10 USD to help support the museum.

Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

Address: 26 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013, United States

Website: Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art

Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 6pm; Thu: 12pm - 8pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

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9. Mix your own cocktail drink at Liquor Lab

Bartender
Source: Unsplash

Do you love alcohol? Try making some cocktails! Liquor Lab is an event space that hosts interactive cocktail experiences, led by world-class bartenders. Each session is about two hours long, and the expert bartenders will teach you step by step on how to make your very own cocktail. The experience also includes a social element as it allows attendees to mingle with each other, with light music in the background, and there’s a photo station to capture the memories of your cocktail experience.

Liquor Lab

Address: 138 Wooster St floor 2, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Liquor Lab

Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 2pm - 6.30pm (closed on Sun - Wed)

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10. Make the best of your SoHo trip with a brunch at Balthazar

Balthazar on Spring Street
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ralph Daily used under CC BY 2.0

For a taste of the best of French cuisine in SoHo, reserve a table at Balthazar. Nestled in SoHo, Balthazar has been serving locals since 1997. Besides the main menu, order some dishes from their Raw Bar menu as they serve a variety of fresh succulent seafood. Other than the restaurant, Balthazar also has a bakery serving fresh bakes everyday from breads to savoury pies and tarts. Balthazar is also Michelin Guide recommended, that’s enough to know that their food is going to keep you wanting for more.

Balthazar

Address: 80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Balthazar

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7.30am - 11.30am, 12pm - 11pm; Fri: 7.30am - 11.30am, 12pm - 12am; Sat: 8.30am - 4pm, 5.30pm - 12am; Sun: 8.30am - 4pm, 5.30pm - 11pm

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One visit to SoHo and you'll never want to leave

Exploring SoHo is one of the must-dos in New York because of the endless surprises at every street corner. SoHo will always be a great place for retail therapy. But when you explore deeper, you’ll find that there’s world famous food to taste and many other one-of-a-kind experiences and attractions to visit. A short visit may not enough to complete this list of things to do in SoHo, but visiting this neighbourhood will make you never want to leave.

Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of the attractions / restaurants may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from the websites. 

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