Zabar's

2245 Broadway/80th St., Upper West Side, (800) 697-6301, (212) 496-1234.

This famous market is filled to the rafters with good stuff. Aisles are narrow, and rubbing shoulders with the other Zabar's customers is de rigueur. Special counters are devoted to cheese, fish, and meat, plus there are deli items galore. The bagels are great, as is most everything.

Don’t miss going upstairs to peruse the vast selection of kitchen items. I always wind up buying some small items I didn’t realize I needed—most recently a multi-colored set of measuring spoons and a tiny garlic grater—and this is where I bought my Bagel Biter, a much-loved and -used souvenir. Speaking of which, you will also find well-priced souvenirs with the Zabar logo—coffee mugs, pot holders, kitchen towels—as well as a 3-D New York cutting board.