Alessi

Saw this design shop on i-​Italy TV and had to stop in during their limited hours. On my visit, at least half of their inventory was marked ‘not for sale’, and the others were so abstract that they could more easily be broken than made functional.

This place has some really cool stuff to bring home. Great design, decent foreign quality. Typical of being Italian. What is nice is, it is affordable for what you get. Some of the more decorative stuff is slightly expensive, but it is ok to treat yourself from time to time.
They do jam a lot of product in the small space. Can be a little claustrophobic. Funny for being in design, they don’t have a better store.

The caliber of Alessi’s customer service is worse than what you would receive in McDonald’s. Word of advice: Don’t pay them to ship your purchase to yourself or as a gift to someone else. I’ll spare you the details, but they only care about making the sale — not about you or your buyer experience.

My father, an architect, somehow managed to instill a love of unique design within me despite my childhood reaction to turn glassy eyed when he started waxing poetic over things like the form of an Italian cheese grater (I kid you not). Little did I know back then that the funky, cute baubles he brought home originated from this designer until he finally brought me to the store itself.
Its like an adult’s version of a toy store; items for the household (useful) with a creative, cute twist (unique!) that’s sure to make anyone pause and exclaim over the clever design. It can be hard to not want to pick everything up and start playing with it, as my baby niece is now beginning to do. My personal favorite item of theirs is this cute little tea strainer guy that hangs off of the edge of my mug while my tea steeps — adorable! The staff is also friendly and helpful, which makes it even harder for me to «just look» at items without feeling guilty for not buying them (I already WANT them, I either just don’t NEED them or can’t AFFORD them). Definitely a great option for that unique gift either for family, friends or yourself.

I first noticed there stuff at a Pinkberry store. I tried to buy something but they were all out and so they directed me to the store.
They have the cutest things there! I left with the cutest wine opener for my mom. She loved it and it’s really one of a kind ;-)

The Soho store is about symmetrical depth and this one has more room to breathe horizontally, and asymmetrically.
No aromatic café (it’s midtown after all who cares about romance) but they have more stuff in stock and friendlier staff.
The new Aless is not more but still glitters.