The 17 Best Bagel Shops, Pop-Ups & Restaurants In NYC
New York City is known for its bagels, and its bagel snobs, who will tell you their ring-shaped bread rolls are the best in the world—despite the long-running debate over who makes the #1 bagel.
Everyone has their favorites, similar to NYC-style slices, but the one thing most people can agree on is that New York makes a superior bagel thanks to its famous NYC water (but more on that later).
Whether you like your bagels with lox and a schmear, or a BEC sandwich piled high with eggs, bacon and cheese, there’s a special bagel waiting for you in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the outer boroughs.
In consideration of that, we rounded up 17 of the best bagels in NYC—and also asked bagel enthusiasts to weigh in on their own favorites—but first, a background on what makes a better bagel.
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What is the most popular bagel in NYC?
While the best way to enjoy a bagel can be pretty controversial— some prefer it toasted with butter and others are bagels with cream cheese purists—the best kind of NYC bagel is more definitive. “The everything bagel is the most popular," explains Sam Silverman, founder of BagelUp, an organization dedicated to promoting and advancing bagel culture worldwide. "This isn't just my opinion, this is backed by GrubHub's order data and if you're talking about a bagel sandwich, it's the everything bagel with scallion cream cheese.”
Who makes the best New York bagels?
"Tompkins Square Bagels is the personal favorite and might be the most popular amongst people I know,” says Justin Shugrue, the founder of Dallas-based Shug’s Bagels. "PopUp Bagels is new and making a big splash in the bagel scene. “I see a lot of people on social media pointing to it as the new best bagel in NYC but they are not really a traditional bagel shop in my opinion. They are bagel purists, only hot fresh bagels as-is. No sandwiches. To me, sandwiches are a very important part of a bagel shop,” adds Shugrue.
This is like asking someone who their favorite child is, and chefs and experts will debate the question until the last poppy seed falls off. Of course, there are the top contenders. “Utopia Bagels in Whitestone, Queens makes the best New York bagels," says Silverman. "However, newcomers to the scene, PopUp Bagels, are the 2x winners of the 'Best Bagel' competition at BagelFest, and although their bagels are decidedly not New York style, many people think they make the best bagel in NYC."
What makes a great bagel?
The number one characteristic of a great bagel is the texture— specifically the contrast of textures. “The perfect bagel should have a crunchy exterior crust, with a doughy, chewy inside,” says Silverman.
This texture is born out of the boiling process. “A great bagel must be boiled, as this step is what differentiates bagels from other types of bread,” Silverman continues.
An equally important factor is the taste. “A bagel should have a beautiful sweetness build up from the cold fermentation process, and if it's seeded, it should be generously seasoned with double-sided toppings (i.e. toppings on both sides of the bagel),” he adds.
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What is the oldest bagel bakery in New York?
Bagels have been around for a long time—and so have some of New York's most beloved spots. “As far as I know, Kossar's Bagels & Bialy's is the oldest operating bagel bakery in New York," says Silverman. "Ownership has changed hands a few times, but the shop has been operating in the Lower East Side since 1936."
Get the recipe: Best Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Breakfast Bagel Sandwich
Why are Brooklyn bagels so good?
Many people attribute it to "the water" but in reality, it's the people! “Any bagel worth its salt is rolled by hand by a skilled artisan commonly known as a bagel roller,” explains Silverman.
The bagel rollers are the unsung heroes of NYC's bagel industry—they are the craftsmen who make and shape the dough with a deftness honed during decades of practice. “Many of them are continuing a legacy passed down from their fathers before them," shares Silverman. "It's their unparalleled knowledge and unwavering dedication to their craft that sets Brooklyn bagels apart."
But as much as many of us are sure Brooklyn bagels are where it's at, don't discount the other boroughs—there are some seriously great bagels to be found there as well. “Each borough brings a tremendous amount to the NYC bagel culture and I can’t say Brooklyn stands out definitively above the rest,” says Shugrue. “Some of the oldest bagel shops are in Brooklyn because of a large community of Polish and Jewish families but that's just speculation. I am not certain of the history or specifically where in NYC the first bagel bakers moved to." Shugrue also points out that even though some of today's most popular bagel shops in NYC are not super old, they have procedures and recipes that have been fine-tuned for many decades.
Now, without further ado, here's our vetted list of the best bagels in NYC.
The Best Bagels in NYC
1. Bagel Pub (Multiple Brooklyn Locations)
My personal favorite! I work from home in Park Slope, Brooklyn and there’s a Bagel Pub on my corner. This small chain actually has several locations and makes giant delicious, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled-fresh bagels that are chewy on the inside with just enough crisp on the outside.
2. Zucker’s Bagels (Multiple Locations in NYC)
Zucker's Bagels opened in Tribeca in the '90s and has had a strong following ever since. This spot is also very much known for its smoked fish, so it’s a good Sunday morning lox and bagels option. “I’m a fan of Zucker's classic method of hand-rolled and kettle-boiled bagel making," says celebrity chef Jonathan Scinto. "I either get a veggie tuna on a plain bagel or a bacon and egg on an everything bagel and when I get one of their hot bagels, it gives me that old-world NYC vibe."
3. Ess-a-Bagel (Multiple NYC Locations)
Ess-A-Bagel started as one bagel shop in 1976 but now boasts a ton of franchises that include multiple locations across NYC and the tri-state area, as well as a nationwide delivery service through Goldbelly. Done in the familiar technique of rolled, boiled and baked, they have a wide variety of options to choose from, from traditional poppyseed bagels to some left-field varieties and toppings.
4. Tompkins Square Bagels (Multiple NYC Locations)
This East Village landmark tops a lot of must-try bagel lists and for good reason: They feature both traditional and not-so-traditional menu items (birthday cake cream cheese!) that are sure to please bagel devotees and those in search of something...else. Tomkins Square Bagels are doughy and chewy on the inside with a perfectly resilient outer shell.
5. Absolute Bagels (Upper West Side)
The Upper West Side's Absolute Bagels is known for its standout options, like their bright orange egg bagel which happens to be a favorite of Chopped Chef Marc Murphy's. Absolute Bagels has "a slightly glossy bagel with the perfect chewy texture—no need for anything but butter or cream cheese because they always are served fresh,” he says.
6. Russ & Daughters (Multiple Locations)
Russ & Daughters may be known for their smoked fish, but don't sleep on their quality array of bagels and cream cheese—perfect for building that lox sandwich. They've also been one of the biggest tourist destinations in Manhattan for over a century.
7. Broadway Bagels (Multiple Locations)
The motto at Broadway Bagel Cafe is "It all starts with a bagel and a schmear!" and we have to agree. Especially if said bagel is a warm cinnamon raisin one.
8. Black Seed Bagels (Multiple NYC Locations)
Black Seed Bagels has developed a cult following in NYC but is a unique pick as they do not offer a traditional NYC bagel but rather a hand-rolled and poached Montreal-style bagel, which is thinner, denser and sometimes sweeter than a traditional bagel, with tons of inventive sandwich-building options.
9. H&H Bagels (Multiple NYC Locations)
As a food and travel writer, I’m always looking for quality airport eats, so I was excited to see H&H Bagels open up at my local airport last year. In addition to their LGA outpost, there are also a few locations in NYC, where this decades-old bagel company continues to shine with its kettle-boiled and baked legendary bagel.
10. Kossar’s Bialys (Lower East Side)
People travel from hours away for the bialys at Kossar's Bagels & Bialys, but their bagels are actually pretty stellar as well. This Lower East Side bakery has been around for nearly a century, and has a loyal following that just continues to grow with the generations.
11. Murray’s Bagels (West Village)
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Murray's Bagels always has a long line, but it’s very much worth it. A bagel shop institution for decades, they also offer nationwide delivery—but there's nothing like visiting the store in person.
12. Leo's Bagels (Williamsburg)
Apollo Bagels is technically a wandering bagel shop but one bite of their unparalleled sourdough bagels and you'll find yourself asking where you can stock up on the regular. The NYC answer would be Leo's Bagels in the Financial District but only on the weekends—when they pop up and sell them until they run out. You won't find a better bagel.
13. Tal Bagels (Multiple Upper Manhattan Locations)
"Tal Bagels have the best example of the chewy texture that defines a NY bagel, which comes from the boiling," explains Harris Meyer, founder and executive chef of Creamline in Chelsea Market. "They also have excellent whitefish salad and the cinnamon raisin bagel gets flat and crunchy on the bottom. It's ‘fire’ as the kids say."
14. Dagon (Upper West Side)
The lavash bagel at Dagon may look similar to a traditional sesame bagel, but there’s so much going on. First of all, it’s way bigger—like, giant. It’s also lighter, airier and fluffier. It’s generally served with zaatar and olive oil, cheese and hummus, but they are happy to serve it with some cream cheese and lox!
15. Bagelworks (Upper East Side)
Bagelworks on the Upper East Side is a go-to for many, especially for their toasted everything bagels with lox spread. "The best part about this place is you can never tell which side is the top of the bagel because both sides are evenly doused in whatever seasoning you choose," shares chef Christopher Arellanes. "The lox spread adds a light, smokey depth of flavor and the creamy texture brings this perfect balance to the toasted, crusty everything bagel. It’s a religious experience.”
16. Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee (Queens)
The name of this bagel spot may be deceiving, but it is actually a favorite go-to for bagels in Queens, not Brooklyn! It's also loved for its budget-friendly bagels and delish spreads.
17. PopUp Bagels (Multiple Locations)
Popup Bagels has been winning all sorts of awards of late and is shaping up to be one of the most popular new bagel go-to's in NYC. In fact, people have been known to wait for hours just to have a taste of their "not famous but known" bagels and schmear.
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