New York City has the best bagels in the world. There’s no debate! We’ve tried a wide range of classic bagel flavors like everything, blueberry, egg and onion with toppings including smoked salmon, eggs, avocado, garnishes and so many kinds of random but delicious cream cheeses (also known as schmear).
In this guide we show you 10 popular and highly rated NYC bagel places with insider tips only locals would know, based on our experiences. Read more about us.
Kristen is a New York state native and we lived in NYC for a few months in early 2021. We actually moved to the city to explore non-stop and do everything there is to do as a tourist, so we could create the most comprehensive New York City travel guides for our readers.
Bagels are just as famous as New York City pizza with hundreds of places to choose from so it’s almost impossible to pick the best one. When we lived in NYC, we personally ate at most of the bagel places included in this list several times. And we always try new spots every time we revisit so we’re pretty clued up on our bagels. Okay, let’s begin!
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1. Absolute Bagels
- Google: 4.6 (3.2k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (500)
- Yelp: 4.4 (1.8k+)
We like this traditional no frills joint on the Upper West Side serving hand-rolled bagels and numerous cream cheese or deli meat options. You can expect to pay about $1.75 per bagel, but the prices increases to $5.50 if you add cream cheese. They also serve Tofutti which is soy-based and dairy free.
- Address: 2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
- Location: Google Maps
Travel Tip: Absolute bagels takes cash only.
2. Bagels & Schmear
- Google: 4.5 (1.2k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (270+)
- Yelp: 4.1 (600+)
Opened in 2000 in the Flatiron District, this is a place we always find ourselves gravitating back to for another bagel. With an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, you’ll have trouble deciding what to choose with almost 30 schmear or salad options. The line may be long, but it always moves quicky.
- Address: 116 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: bagelsandschmear.com
Travel Tip: Try the House Special with fresh lox, cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, and capers. Visitors also rave about the multiple flavors of tofu cream cheese.
3. Best Bagel & Coffee
- Google: 4.6 (5.2k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (1.6k+)
- Yelp: 4.5 (4.7k+)
This is a popular spot in Midtown offering hand rolled and kettle boiled bagels that are baked right on the premises. It’s a great location if you’re checking out some of the best things to do in New York City. You can find everything from spreads, sandwiches, breakfast platters, omelets, smoked fish, cold cuts and more.
- Address: 225 W 35th St A, New York, NY 10001
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: bestbagelandcoffee.com
Travel Tip: The cinnamon walnut raisin cream cheese is one of our favorites. Or you can be adventurous with the bacon honey sriracha.
4. Broad Nosh Bagels
- Google: 4.9 (3.7k)
- TripAdvisor: 5.0 (15)
- Yelp: 4.4 (200+)
Only opened a few years ago in 2020, this is one of the newest places in New York to get your bagel fix with 2 locations. While TripAdvisor and Yelp ratings are lower in volume, it has the highest Google ratings on our list so we had to give it a chance. Here you’ll find 16 bagel options and 18 cream cheese flavors including vegetarian and vegan options.
- Address: 314 W 58th St, New York, NY 10019
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: broadnosh.com
We have yet to try Broad Nosh so leave your comments below if you’ve been as we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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5. Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
- Google: 4.5 (3.2k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (500+)
- Yelp: 4.3 (1,9k+)
The Brooklyn Bagel and Company is one of our favorite New York bagel shops because they offer so much variety with special fan-favorite rotating flavors. If you’re not feeling a bagel, you can also try signature sandwiches, breakfast wraps or something from the bakery. Brooklyn Bagel is spread out between five locations so they must be doing something right.
- Address: 286 8th Ave, New York, NY 10001
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: bkbagel.com
Travel Tip: Ordering can be a bit confusing here because you’ll have to order food at one counter and pay then order coffee at a second counter and pay again. But trust us, it’s worth it!
6. Ess-a-Bagel
- Google: 4.1 (3.8k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (1.7k+)
- Yelp: 4.0 (4.5k+)
Established in 1976 by an Austrian baking family, this NYC bagel shop has withstood the test of time. Now run by the younger generations, Ess-a-Bagel has a very loyal following with 3 locations. In addition to bagels, you can also order sandwiches, fish platters, cold cuts, salads and knishes.
- Address: 831 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: ess-a-bagel.com
Travel Tip: We love their fresh squeezed orange juice.
7. Liberty Bagels
- Google: 4.6 (2.9k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (400+)
- Yelp: 4.5 (1.5k+)
Liberty is one of our regular bagel stops when visiting New York City. The line is usually long but it always moves fast across their 4 locations. With an extensive menu featuring unique flavors, you can find whatever you’re craving. We love the french toast, egg everything and rainbow bagels.
- Address: 260 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: libertybagels.com
Travel Tip: Download their user friendly app to receive 25% off your first order.
8. Russ & Daughters
- Google: 4.6 (3.7k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (1.2k+)
- Yelp: 4.3 (2.8k+)
In operation since 1914 by four generations of the Russ family, this is a long time NY specialty food shop offering high-end smoked fish and caviar in multiple locations. It’s very different compared to other bagel shops on this list, but it’s one of the best places in the city to try smoked salmon. Gluten free options are also available.
- Address: 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: russanddaughters.com
Travel Tip: Try the Russ and Daughters Cafe for a more intimate experience. This is one of our favorite brunch spots in the city, but it will be extremely busy.
9. Tompkins Square Bagels
- Google: 4.5 (1.7k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (200+)
- Yelp: 4.2 (1.5k+)
With 3 locations, Tompkins Square Bagels is one of the few options on this list offering visitors a place to sit down. You’ll find the typical classic options, but they also serve unique speciality cream cheese flavors such as cucumber dill, chocolate chip cookie dough and carrot cake.
- Address: 165 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: tompkinssquarebagels.com
Travel Tip: We also love the bagel breakfast sandwiches with fun names at Tompkins. You can order beyond meat and gluten free options too.
10. Utopia Bagels
- Google: 4.5 (2.2k+)
- TripAdvisor: 4.5 (100)
- Yelp: 4.2 (1.1k+)
Located in Queens, this is a simple establishment serving up fresh New York bagels and delicious sandwiches. In addition to bagels, you can also order Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast and plant-based options. They’ve been featured on Insider Food and you can watch it on YouTube here.
- Address: 1909 Utopia Pkwy, Queens, NY 11357
- Location: Google Maps
- Website: utopiabagelsny.com
Travel Tip: The bagels at utopia are hand rolled, kettle boiled and then baked in a 1947 carousel oven.
Honorable Mentions
If you’ve already been to the places we featured on our NY bagel roundup, here are a few more honorable mentions to try in various boroughs around the city:
- Bagel Oasis – Known for their chicken salad, you can find speciality sandwiches, chicken cutlets and steak as well as bagels.
- Bagel Shop – Offering an extensive menu with speciality sandwiches, smoked fish and an ice cream bagelwich.
- Baz Bagel – Serving popular tie-dye bagels, you can order one for any occasion with nationwide shipping.
- Black Seed Bagels – With 10 different locations, these wood-fired bagels have been making waves since 1014.
- Bo’s Bagels – Located in Harlem, this popular place was started by a couple looking for a descent bagel.
- H&H Bagels – As seen on Seinfeld, the Office, Sex and the City and Entourage, this is a bagel shop you might easily recognize.
- Leo’s Bagels – We like this simple joint in the Financial District, perfect for pairing with a trip to the Statue of Liberty.
- Murray’s Bagels – A classic stop offering a large amount of spreads and smoked fish in addition to catering.
Top Bagel Spots By Reviews
The best NY bagel is sure to spark a debate between visitors and locals alike. Here are the top 5 bagel places according to multiple sources (please note we eliminated non-bagel and low review places from the list):
Comparing reviews on Google, the 5 top rated options are:
- Broad Nosh Bagels (4.9 with 3.7k)
- Best Bagel and Coffee (4.6 with 5.2k)
- Russ & Daughters (4.6 with 3.7k)
- Absolute Bagels (4.6 with 3.2k)
- Liberty Bagels Midtown (4.6 with 2.9k)
According to TripAdvisor, the top 5 bagels spots are:
- Liberty Bagels Midtown
- Best Bagel and Coffee
- Bagels & Schmear
- Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
- Ess-a-Bagel
According to Yelp, the 5 most popular bagel spots are:
- Best Bagel & Coffee
- Russ & Daughters
- Ess-a-Bagel
- Brooklyn Bagel & Company
- Liberty Bagels Midtown
And here’s a link to our map showing you where to find the best bagels in New York City. We’ve also included the honorable mentions in case you wanted to try other options.
Tours
New York City is now home to the best bagels in the world, but it wasn’t always that way. As Jewish refugees arrived to the city from Poland in the 1800’s, they brought many traditional foods including the bagel.
The style of bagel popular today was created as an inexpensive snack by these Jewish immigrants and it remained popular only within their community. But by the 1960s, the secret was out and the bagel started to gain popularity with the non-Jewish population throughout the city.
Over the decades, the New York bagel has doubled in size with a wide variety of unique flavors and numerous cream cheese spreads for any palate.
If you’d like to learn more, let a local to show you the best bagel places in NYC on a guided bagel tour. Here are a few options:
- NYC Bagel Tour – Learn about 3 popular spots in the city on this tour.
- Lower East Side Tour – A two hour tour celebrating the Jewish heritage and some of the best food on the LES.
- Ben’s Bagel Tours – Walking tours combined with fresh bagel tastings.
Our Top Tips
- Always bring cash. Some bagels shops only take cash so make sure you always have some on hand.
- As you add toppings, the price increases. Most dry bagels start around $1.50 and then the price increases to $3.00-9.00 depending on what you order.
- New Yorkers use the term schmear. This is a Yiddish term referring to any type of spreadable topping placed on a bagel including cream cheese, smoked salmon, peanut butter, etc.
- Most bagels shops have multiple locations. No matter where you are in the city, you might be able to find another location closer thank you think.
- Lox is a very popular topping on NY bagels. It’s cured and cold salmon. You’ll find many types and qualities, but the most common kind in the city is Nova Scotia Lox.
- Expect small spaces. Many of the places on this list have very small store fronts and there may be no where to sit. We always look for a nearby park to enjoy our bagels after ordering.
We hope our guide to the top rated bagel spots in New York helps with planning your visit!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.