The Best Bagels in NYC, Ranked New York City is known for many things, not least of which are its bagels. Bagels are a quintessential piece of the New York culinary culture, and there is no shortage of great places to get them. But which spots can you trust to deliver an authentic, delicious bagel experience? We’ve done the research and ranked the best bagels in NYC to help you decide. So, whether you’re a cheap and cheerful “just-get-me-a-bagel” type or a true connoisseur who appreciates a perfectly-crafted variety of flavors, here are the best bagels in New York City, ranked.
1.Ess-a-Bagel
Located in Midtown, Ess-a-Bagel has been shaping, boiling and baking its bagels since 1976. It’s renowned for its large, chewy, flavorful bagels, made with traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients. They offer a wide variety of classic bagels, including garlic, pumpernickel and sun-dried tomato, as well as a range of specialty bagels, such as honey walnut, egg and onion. Ess-a-Bagel also offers a wide selection of cream cheese flavors, from plain to veggie and everything in between.
- Black Seed Bagels
Black Seed Bagels, which can be found across NYC but has its flagship store in the Nolita neighborhood, opened in 2014 as a tribute to the traditional Montreal bagel. This style is smaller and denser than your classic New York bagel, but is equally delicious. The bagels here are boiled in honey water before being dusted with a choice of 10 natural flavorings and baked in a wood-burning oven. The bagel flavors rotate throughout the day, creating a unique experience and atmosphere.
- Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Mainly operating in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company boasts a wide array of bagels and flavors. Their bagels are made the traditional way with high-quality ingredients, including all-natural, unbleached flour, pure honey, and fresh yeast. The selection includes plain, salt, onion, cinnamon, garlic, and several inventive varieties, such as the Brooklyn Everything, which is topped with a mix of sesame, poppy, and caraway seeds.
- Tal Bagels
Located in the East Village, Tal Bagels is another NYC favorite. This neighborhood shop bagels that are larger, thicker, and denser than most, and are boiled in honey water and crafted from an old-fashioned recipe. Tal Bagels offers around 10 different classic varieties, as well as a range of flavored cream cheeses, like olive and jalapeno.
- David’s Bagels
David’s Bagels, located in the Upper West Side, was established in the 1930s and has been serving customers since then. The shop specializes in boiled and baked bagels, and offers a wide range of classic varieties, like whole wheat and onion. Additionally, they offer a selection of flavored cream cheeses, such as garlic, scallion, and honey walnut.
- Absolute Bagels
Absolute Bagels, in the Upper West Side, is a cozy bagel shop that has been around for over 25 years. The shop offers a wide range of bagels, including cinnamon raisin, everything, poppy, and sesame. Each bagel is boiled in hot water with malt syrup, baked fresh in a wood-fired oven, and carefully crafted with the highest-quality ingredients.
- Bagel Hole
Bagel Hole, located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, is a no-frills bagel shop that has been serving the locals since the 1980s. Their basic options include plain, onion, everything, and poppy. But don’t be fooled by the plain exterior — these bagels are boiled to perfection and come with generous scoops of cream cheese, making for a delicious and filling snack.
- Barney Greengrass
Barney Greengrass, located in the Upper West Side, is a restaurant that’s been around since the early 1900s. Barney Greengrass offers a range of traditional bagels, including plain, sesame, and onion. But the true highlight here are its bagel sandwiches, which are composed of freshly sliced lox, cream cheese, onions, tomatoes, and capers.
No matter what type of bagel you’re craving, the NYC area has it all. All of the bagels mentioned above are made with careful craftsmanship and an authentic recipe, making them worthy contenders for the best bagels in NYC. So whether you’re looking for a classic simple bagel or an inventive flavor, these top 8 spots are sure to hit the spot.
