Where to Find the Best Bagels in New York City

You haven't had a bagel until you've had one in New York. The crust cracks when you bite through it, the inside stays dense and chewy, and a proper schmear holds everything together. It sounds simple, and that's exactly the point. The best bagels in NYC have been perfected over decades, and there’s a constant debate in the city about who does it best.

In this guide, we’ll cut through the noise. From kettle-boiled classics on the Upper West Side to creative flavors in the East Village, here are seven bagel shops worth going out of your way for. Start planning your bagel crawl across New York City!

Absolute Bagels (rebranded to New Absolute Bagels) on the Upper West Side has been a neighborhood institution since 1990, and it earns every bit of the devotion locals show it. The bagels here are hand-rolled and kettle-boiled, giving them that chewy, dense texture that defines the New York-style bagel at its best.

The sesame and everything bagels are the most popular; the crust has just the right snap, and the inside stays soft all the way through. Prices are very reasonable, making this a great option if you want a proper bagel without spending much. 

If you're in the area, pair your visit with a walk through Riverside Park or a browse around the Columbia University campus nearby.

If you're after a best bagel and coffee NY combo, this Midtown staple has been doing exactly that since 1984. Best Bagel & Coffee is a local favorite that somehow flies under the tourist radar, which means the lines stay manageable and the vibe stays neighborhood-y. The bagels are made fresh daily and are known for being consistently well-sized and perfectly chewy.

The cream cheese selection here is one of the better ones in the city, from plain to lox to vegetable, and the coffee is solid diner-style, which pairs perfectly with the classic bagel experience. It's located in Midtown West, making it a convenient stop if you're starting your day before heading to Times Square or the High Line. For a morning meal that won't set you back much, this is one of the more satisfying, best bagel & coffee New York finds.

Located in the East Village, Tompkins Square Bagels has become one of the most talked-about bagel shops in the city. It helped spark a wave of creative bagel culture in New York, offering flavors and toppings that go well beyond the traditional lineup. They have rainbow bagels, black sesame, and seasonal specials that keep regulars coming back just to see what's new.

That said, the classics here are just as strong as the creative options — the everything bagel with lox and capers is done really well. The shop is right near Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, which makes it a great stop before or after exploring the Lower East Side. 

And if you want to dig deeper into the food traditions that shaped the NYC bagel, the Lower East Side food tour is a great way to spend the afternoon.

For sheer size and value, NY Jumbo Bagels in the East Village is a go-to. As the name suggests, these bagels are bigger than average, and they come loaded with your choice of toppings. The shop has a loyal following among students and neighborhood regulars who appreciate getting a filling meal without paying a lot for it.

The bagels are baked fresh in-house and have a slightly crispier exterior than some of the other shops on this list, which gives each bite a satisfying texture. If you’re looking to eat well on a budget, NY Jumbo Bagels is one of the better stops on this list. 

If you're making a morning of it in this neighborhood, the sandwich tour in New York picks up nicely where a bagel breakfast leaves off, covering delis and eateries that are just as much a part of the city's food identity.

Mike's Bagels is a newer addition to the NYC bagel scene but has quickly built a reputation for quality. The bagels are hand-rolled and boiled in-house, and they come out with a beautiful, slightly glossy exterior and a dense, springy chew.

The schmear selection is well-curated and changes seasonally, with options like honey walnut, jalapeño, and smoked salmon cream cheese sitting alongside the classics. The West Village location also puts you close to some of the best streets in the city for wandering, including Bleecker Street, which is lined with small shops and cafés.

BO's Bagels is a small, focused operation that takes the craft side of bagel-making seriously. The bagels are slow-fermented for flavor, kettle-boiled for that characteristic chew, and baked until the crust is just right. The menu is intentionally tight, which keeps the quality of their bagel high. It's become a go-to for those who care about the New York-style bagel in its purest form.

If you're interested in going deeper into the city's food culture beyond just bagels, a New York City food tour is a great way to explore what the different neighborhoods have to offer.

Ess-a-bagel is one of the most famous bagel shops in New York City and has been since it opened on Third Avenue in 1976. The bagels are noticeably bigger than most other shops' and come with an extensive list of toppings and cream cheese options that can make choosing feel like a real decision. 

The smoked salmon on a toasted everything bagel with plain cream cheese is the classic order, and it's one of the more satisfying breakfasts you can have in the city. If you want to tick off one of the best New York City bagel experiences that locals actually like, Ess-a-Bagel is the one. 

The key difference comes down to two things: the water and the process. New York tap water has a particular mineral composition that affects how gluten develops in the dough, resulting in a bagel that's chewier and more flavorful than most. 

Beyond that, authentic New York-style bagels are hand-rolled and kettle-boiled before baking — a step that creates the signature shiny crust and dense interior. Many bagel shops outside the city skip the boiling step or use machines for rolling, which produces a noticeably different result.

Most locals have a neighborhood spot they swear by rather than traveling across the city for a specific shop. That said, Absolute Bagels on the Upper West Side, Ess-a-Bagel in Midtown, and Tompkins Square Bagels in the East Village all have strong local followings.

Ess-a-Bagel is considered the most famous bagel shop in New York City. It's been open since 1976 and has built a reputation for oversized, high-quality bagels with an extensive topping selection. It draws both tourists and longtime locals, which is a fairly rare combination in the city's food scene. 

Yes. Most of the shops on this list price their bagels with schmear between $3 USD and $6 USD, and a drip coffee or basic latte at nearby cafés usually runs $4 USD to $5 USD. The best bagel & coffee in Midtown is one of the best spots for this, since both the bagel and the coffee are available in-house and the prices are very reasonable.