SoHo (the name stands for South of Houston; the district runs all the way south to Canal Street) still has the buildings and charm of Olde New York. If you love cast-iron architecture, you're in luck: the historic district here contains the biggest concentration of these buildings anywhere in the world. Built in the 19th Century to house manufacturing, they're now knockout lofts housing artists, fashion designers, and Wall Street types.

The district boasts outstanding shopping, with offerings from Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Prada. The Apple store, which imported glass and light into an old post office, has become a crowded hangout extraordinaire. If you need a new couch for your pad, you can go antique at Eileen Lane or sleek at Armani Casa.

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