Canal St, Tribeca

Canal Street has been the subject of many negative stereotypes over the years - from cheap knockoff bags to unpleasant and blaring noise. While it is true that Canal Street can be uncomfortably crowded and chaotic - it's still a worthwhile destination for a visitor interested in seeing another side of New York City life. Designer bags and grey market goods, as well as counterfeit DVDs, are often on sale here, along with a number of novelty goods of varying quality. Often, shops in this area will have a hidden "back room" where you can be shown all manner of knockoffs kept surreptitiously off the street to avoid unwanted police surveillance. Note that knockoffs and the sale thereof are illegal, and conduct your acts accordingly. Yet this isn't Jack Nicholson or Faye Dunaway's Chinatown - it's relatively safe (normal caution should be applied - don't flash your cash everywhere you go). Remember - unlike the boutiques of Madison Avenue, sellers here are open to haggling, so go with a price in mind and be prepared to bargain down, down, down.

Canal Street is a major street downtown and marks the beginning of Tribeca and Chinatown further east. It is absolutely flooded with people on any given day. It's impossible to catch a cab anywhere on this street and if you actually do, you will be sitting in it for quite a while. Canal is famous for the bargain hunting and designer knock off shopping; but, I'm not a fan. There are people everywhere and you're rifling through bins of cheap purses that look like Balenciaga bags. If you're into that sort of thing, this is your street. But, I hyperventilate just thinking about it. It's really dirty on Canal and there are a ton of foreigners that have no personal space. It's loud and obnoxious. And, at night, it's really dangerous and seems remote.
There are a series of landmarked rowhouses on Canal and Washington that are really old and beautiful so those are worth a look if you're walking this street. Les Enfants Terrible is a really cool restaurant on Canal that is in the LES / Chinatown area. It has a hip, French vibe and it's lovely. They have the best lamb and good wine. But, it's the only restaurant that I would go to on Canal. It's worth the trek, but in my opinion, it's about the only reason to dine on Canal.

You can find everything on Canal Street! It is famous for its China Town where you can get good deals on clothing, bags, sunglasses, "I love NY" T-shirts...pretty much everything. It is good on shops, bars and restaurants, although it is a little bit unclean on the street and very busy.

My first experience in New York City was visiting a office in Canal Street. For the life of me I could not understand what the Big Deal about New York was. If the rest of the City was like this Street than it was charmless, Rude, dirty and out of control. Over the next year I made several trips to this same office and started to learn to appreciate the Uniqueness of this street, and for what really has to offer. Great Shopping experience (if your brave). If New York city is the Melting pot, than Canal Street is where it gets its most exotic ingridients. The Vendors on street, where I think you can do your best shopping, seem like they come from every corner of the world. This is also true in the restaurants it has that line Canal Street. The street is large and extremelly hectic, I would not want to live in it, but it is perfect for a day of shopping and just to see people and things you would not find on the other side of the river.

Canal Street is just all about the shopping. Sometimes the street can be too busy but this merely underlines the popularity of the street and means that everyone wants to go there and do the same thing. It may not be as recognisable to tourists and New York watchers as some of the high profile streets but you will definitely have a great day shopping in this location.

Ah, Chinatown. Canal Street is absolute madness. If you hate crowds, hanging out here is like the equivalent of heading over to Times Square for a random stroll. It’s not really a place where actual New Yorkers go. Chinatown isn’t the cleanest neighborhood, and during the summer months the smells can be overwhelming. Canal Street is ALWAYS packed with tourists who come to check out the designer imposter street markets. Don't get me wrong - there are some great places to go in Chinatown, it's just that none of them are on this street.

Canal Street is known for a lot of things and while some are good others are less savory. The underbelly of the counterfeit apparel market is found on Canal Street with fake designer bags being the top seller, although sneakers, cell phones and bootleg movies are not far behind. While there are good deals, great food and a rich atmosphere to Canal Street it can feel gritty and unsavory at moments. Shop keepers are rather pushy as well so you simply must know how to handle them to get out without buying something.

The best time to walk through Canal Street if your goal is to actually just walk through it is at 6am, before all of the stores open. Once the merchants open up to their masses, the streets are teeming with people trying to score a bargain bag or perfume. This street is fantastic for finding great shopping and bargains. Anything from "Prada" bags to I love New York T shirts to various perfumes and other accessories. There are also some great restaurants in the area, which are especially enjoyable if your palate is brave. Don't hesitate to go into the various shopping malls that catacomb the buildings throughout Canal Street. In here, you might find some of the greatest bargains on attractive jewelry and other gifts. Further down by the Manhattan bridge, Canal street turns into a haven for various bank branches, as well as several other offices. This is definitely a place to stop by, and really enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of Chinatown!

During the fall I usually go to Canal Street a lot. I do a lot of fabrication for work, so it's the best place to go in Manhattan to get discounted plastic, rubber, and art materials. It's pretty much one-stop shopping if you're looking to buy those kinds of supplies. If you want DVD deals and knock-off bags, clothing, and jewelry, it's also a really great place to go. But just for strolling around or living, I really wouldn't suggest it too much. I try my best to avoid Canal Street during the summer! It's jam-packed with tourists looking for deals on cheap bags and clothing, and to be honest, it can smell pretty bad too. I would only suggest going to Canal Street if you're up for adventure- dodging dvd-ladies, heckling with jewelry salesmen, and avoiding being pick-pocketed. It's an incredibly busy street and very very loud. For all the commotion, I don't think the rent prices in the area are as low as they should be.

The heart of Chinatown, this is a great place to buy a cheap handbag, a good knock-off, sunglasses, watches, and anything your heart desires, for under 20 dollars. A friend of mine was recently coerced into the backseat of a woman’s car after being bidden by the words, “Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton.” She got in the car and was quickly pushed out after the saleswoman told her the cops were coming. Good sign that the bags were REAL! This street has a wonderful restaurant called Fu Kee, with delicious egg drop soup, and other cuisine, all generally under 5 dollars. After a long day of shopping, It is a good place to have a cup of tea and look over the days purchases.

Manhattan is a big shopping mall. You can buy anything if you know the right place. Fortunately most of it doesn't feel super commercial so I can deal with it. While you're on Canal (undoubtedly shopping) if you get as far over as Broadway avoid the far too common Starbucks and stop by the Lafayette coffee shop, which is just a little ways up, surprise, Lafayette st.

So this is definitely the street to avoid if you are a claustrophobic and/or germaphobic. I won't kid you, the streets are filthy and smelly. Walking is only a little more difficult here than Time Square. However, eating here is fun if you know where to go. My recommendation is Happy Shabu where you can make your own soup. It's much more flavorful than the Japanese version of Shabu. While you are in the neighborhood, stop by one of the little bakeries for a bubble tea and cheesecake bun. This area is also great for difficult to find ingredients and spices.

At the heart of what China Town, New york city is, Canal St is a must visit. You can get anything here from designer bags, clothes, jewelry and perfumes. Always crowded, especially in the summer, so be ready.

Talk about busy. It's always crowded, but that comes with the territory of having cheap items on every street corner. China Town is a great place to pick up some cheap knock-offs, and are always available. There are great places left and right to spend some time (and of course money). Always a great time here.

Anytime an outoftowner talks to me about Canal Street, they're talking about handbags, and apparently it's great for them. Though a bit secretive, they're cheap and plentiful. Also fake, minor detail. Many of the Chinatown to Chinatown buses leave from Canal Street or close by. By far the best cheap way to travel along the Eastern Seaboard. All in all, a crazy crazy hodgepodge of...well...hodgepodge.

Canal Street actually was a canal before--or at least a channel to drain the heavily polluted ponds. It was dug in 1805 and paved over as a stagnant health hazard in 1815, but an underground stream apparently still flows beneath the roadway. It's one of the most famous New York streets, also called "Little Italy."

I've been a loyal shopper on Canal Street. The first time I went it was a little overwhelming because all the tourist and local shopping but after a few times I've enjoyed nothing more than to shop the vendors and just having a great time. Also the different carts outdoors and experiencing some different cuisines. I didn't care much of the vendors wanting to get you to go to the underground but ignoring them was all the more fun. I would do it over and over again until I can't do it any longer.