Best of New York: Flea Markets

With Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf’s, Saks and more, shopping in New York can be a full-time job, but is not so kind to your bank account. New York flea markets are a great way to get great buys at lower prices, while experiencing some of artifacts of the old New York. Try browsing through history at these five picks:

Brooklyn Flea

No doubt about it: the hot new flea market is definitely in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Flea recently got new digs, and its high-profile move into the Williamsburg Savings Bank on Sundays brought a new crowd of deal-seekers to the party. Find everything from costume jewelry to empty picture frames of any size. Plus, the bank’s vault plays host to some of Brooklyn’s finest food vendors.

Saturdays at 176 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn; Sundays at Williamsburg Savings Bank, 1 Hanson Place, Brooklyn

Chelsea Antiques Garage

Transformed from an old two-story parking garage into a cavernous warehouse of antiquity, the Chelsea Antiques Garage is your classic NYC flea market. With crotchety vendors hocking old copies of Esquire, political campaign buttons, antique botanical prints and old postcards, this is an NYC flea market staple you won’t want to miss.

Sat and Sun, 9am-5pm, 112 W 25th St, Manhattan

GreenFlea

Feel good about yourself when you’re shopping at GreenFlea, and not just because of the deals. Part of the proceeds of GreenFlea sales go to NYC schools, providing afterschool activities and other enrichment

Sundays at Columbus Ave between 76th and 77th Sts

P.S. 321 Flea Market

Need some unique statement pieces to furnish your new apartment? We recommend P.S. 321’s weekend flea market, which boasts the best secondhand furniture finds in New York. Be prepared to spend more than you would at your average yard sale, but you’ll be paying for quality; many vendors here scout internationally to find pieces you could never find in an IKEA.

Sat and Sun, 180 Seventh Ave Brooklyn. Call 718-421-6763 for hours.

Artists and Fleas

A mix of local designers and NYC secondhand dealers, Artists and Fleas began as a way to keep Brooklyn hip by showcasing local vendors and keeping shoppers from crossing the bridge into Manhattan. Support your neighbors by browsing the vintage duds as well as the DIY crafts for sale. As a bonus, the beginning of summer heralds the arrival of the Market in McCarren, an extension of Artists and Fleas in McCarren Park.

Sat and Sun, 12-8pm, 129 N. 6th St, Brooklyn