It's no wonder people call Phoenix Knife House the barbershop for chefs. This inconspicuous little shop is not only a treasure trove for folks who need serious gear for the kitchen, it's a place for chefs to hang out and talk knives, food, and life with owner Eytan Zias, himself a former chef whose résumé includes stints at Kai, Circa 1900, and Fiamma, as well as New York culinary hot spots like Aureole, La Côte Basque, and Craft.

As the shop's name implies, Zias is serious about knives, carrying 12 different lines of high-end cutlery, mostly Japanese. In fact, he claims to be the only person in the U.S. to carry prestigious Sugimoto cutlery, whose roots are in swordmaking. You can have Zias hand-sharpen your blades, or he'll give you a free sharpening lesson so you can do it yourself at home. Along with knife rolls and sharpening stones, Phoenix Knife House is also the place to stock up on chef jackets, houndstooth pants, and clogs, books on culinary topics, and an assortment of utensils, from spatulas to rolling pins. Yep, there really is everything but the kitchen sink.