A Guide to New York City’s Best Museum Shops
Our favorite museum shops in New York for artsy and historic gifts, design objects, and souvenirs worth keeping.
MoMA Design Store (Soho) | Source: MoMA Design Store
Museum shops in New York aren’t just places to grab a postcard on the way out. Many have become destinations in their own right, with carefully chosen selections of design objects, books, and keepsakes that reflect the character of the institution. From modern icons to cultural histories, these eight are worth a visit whether or not you make it into the galleries.
MoMA Design Store (Midtown & SoHo)
MoMA Design Store (Midtown) | Source: MoMA Design Store
Address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019; 81 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Hours: Daily 10am–6:30pm
The MoMA Design Store is the blueprint for what a museum shop can be. Iconic design pieces sit next to clever everyday objects, with shelves that run from Alvar Aalto vases and Eames chairs to colorful stationery and art books. The Midtown shop connects directly to the museum, while the SoHo location stands on its own as one of the city’s best design stores.
The Noguchi Museum Shop (Queens)
The Noguchi Museum Shop | Source: Noguchi Museum
Address: 9-01 33rd Rd, Queens, NY 11106
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 11am–6pm
At the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, the shop mirrors the artist’s vision of form and function. The Akari light sculptures are the highlight, ranging from small tabletop lamps to striking ceiling pieces. Furniture reissues, ceramics, and books on Noguchi’s practice round out the selection. It’s a space where nearly every object feels timeless.
The Shop at the Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side)
The Shop at the Museum of Natural History | Source: American Museum of Natural History
Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Hours: Daily 10am–5:30pm
The museum is a favorite for families, and its shop delivers the same sense of fun and discovery. Younger kids will find plush T-rexes, seahorses with babies tucked in their pouch, and storybooks inspired by nature. Older ones can dive into S.T.E.M. kits, science experiments, NASA tees, and backpacks patterned with glowing constellations. Adults who linger in the gems and minerals hall will appreciate the polished onyx vases and stone paperweights. There is even a dedicated Dino Store, filled with fossils, toys, and puzzles that make the visit last a little longer.
The Whitney Museum Shop (Meatpacking District)
The Whitney Museum Shop | Source: Whitney Museum
Address: 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 10:30am–6pm; Fri–Sat 10:30am–10pm; Closed Tue
The Whitney’s shop reflects its focus on American art, with a strong mix of exhibition catalogues, monographs, and artist editions. Small-batch design objects and prints by independent makers add to the appeal. It feels more like a curated design store than a souvenir counter, perfectly in step with the museum’s program.
Tenement Museum Shop (Lower East Side)
Tenement Museum | Source: Tenement Museum
Address: 103 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Hours: Daily 10am–6pm
The Tenement Museum Shop tells the story of New York through books, prints, and objects tied to the city’s immigrant history. Cookbooks on immigrant cuisines sit next to posters of old neighborhoods, while everyday items like mugs and tote bags reference the lives of those who passed through the tenements. It’s one of the most characterful museum shops in the city, grounded in a sense of place.
The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design (Columbus Circle)
The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design | Photo by Laszlo Regos Photography
Address: 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
Hours: Tue–Sun 10am–6pm; Thu open until 9pm; Closed Mon
The shop at MAD is dedicated to contemporary craft. Jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and glass from emerging and established makers fill the shelves, making it a favorite for those looking to discover new design talent. It feels like an extension of the exhibitions upstairs, but with pieces you can actually take home.
Cooper Hewitt Design Store (Upper East Side)
Cooper Hewitt Design Store | Source: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Address: 2 E 91st St, New York, NY 10128
Hours: Sun–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat 10am–9pm
Located inside the historic Andrew Carnegie Mansion, the Cooper Hewitt Design Store brings the museum’s design legacy into every detail. The shop feels like a miniature design gallery, with modular shelving built to display bold prints, artful homeware, and design books that range from modern classics to surprising new voices. Whether you’re searching for a showpiece or a thoughtful read, it stands out as one of the city’s most considered museum shops.
Guggenheim Store (Upper East Side)
Guggenheim Store | Source: Guggenheim Museum
Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128
Hours: Sun–Fri 11am–6pm; Sat 11am–8pm; Closed Thu
The Guggenheim Store echoes the museum’s architecture with its circular layout and curated shelves. Books and catalogues tied to current exhibitions anchor the selection, while prints and art-inspired objects round it out. The space itself is striking, making browsing feel like part of the visit.
From design icons to cultural history, these museum shops extend the spirit of the institutions they represent. Each one is worth a stop, whether you’re leaving an exhibition or making a trip just for the shop itself.