(Photo: Michelle Feffer/New York Magazine)

This town is crawling with retro barbershops, but West Coast import Rudy’s (14 W. 29th St., nr. Broadway; 212-532-7200) stands above the post-Freeman’s fray. The latest venture to join the Ace Hotel, the ten-chair spot employs oft-tattooed stylists who cater to both men and women ($40 for short, $60 for long, and $17 for a buzz). Consistently well-soundtracked with the likes of the Raveonettes and Rufus Wainwright, the vintage-y interior is the work of salvaging wizards WRK Design (of Brooklyn Winery fame), who used enamel-covered metal sheets from a Bowery demolition project to create the salon’s antiseptic look. Upstairs, starting on July 16, you’ll find Rudy’s retail arm selling RTH bags, Krochet Kids knits, and reading material curated by the Karma Bookstore. A second location is due to open in, of course, Williamsburg, in January.

Related:

• Archive: “The Storefront: Openings & Closings”
• Table of Contents: Jul 16, 2012 issue of New York | Subscribe!