Best Bagels in New York
Bagels in New York are a must-try when you visit the city. You can find them everywhere, but you buy the best New York bagels at a bagel shop. Choose from plain, everything, poppy seed or cinnamon raisin varieties. New Yorkers often go for a toasted bagel with cream cheese or butter, but bagel shops in New York also serve them with salmon, chicken and tuna. It is a perfect and quick breakfast or lunch that you can get anywhere in New York. To help you get a taste of the real New York, I have listed the best bagels in NYC below.
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Eric's Index
Russ & Daughters
The bagels of Russ & Daughters are more than just bagels. The ring-shaped bread from this shop is known for its high quality. Russ & Daughters is probably the most famous bagel shop in New York; they have served bagels since 1914. You can go for specialities, like a bagel with caviar and herring, amongst others, but the lox bagel with cured salmon is a must-try. You can choose Irish, Norwegian, or New Zealand salmon.
There are a few locations in the city, and I like the one at Houston Street the most as it is their flagship location. Katz’s Deli can be found on the next corner. Russ & Daughters can get busy, so expect to queue, but once you have the bagel in hand, all is good. Another good option is their location in Hudson Yards, on the corner of 34th Street and 10th Avenue. You can combine a visit to the bagel shop with a walk along the High Line or a visit to Edge New York.
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Apollo Bagels
When I discovered Apollo Bagels, it instantly moved into my top tier of best bagels in New York. This popular bagel shop has several branches throughout the city, all of which get crowded, but the queues move quickly. The menu options are limited, which I actually appreciate, as it means you’re not overwhelmed with choices. And the bagels are so good that you don’t need more options anyway.
You can watch the bagels being baked fresh in the open kitchen. Choose one of the signature filled bagels from the menu, or create your own combination of spread and fish. I especially recommend the cream cheese and lox bagel — it’s one of the best bagels I’ve ever had! Pair it with a simple coffee, orange juice or lemonade; there are no complicated beverage options here either.
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Ess-A-Bagel
Visiting Ess-A-Bagel is an experience in itself. In the humongous display, you’ll find dozens of bowls with salads, cream cheese and all kinds of fish. You see, this place is known for its awesome fillings as well as the fresher-than-fresh bagels. At some places, the choice is often limited, but here you can really go all out.
In addition to the fillings, choose from a variety of bagels – even toasted by the staff if you wish. Your meal can be enjoyed in the spacious dining area, but do keep in mind that it can be busy, especially during lunchtime. Ess-A-Bagel has several locations in New York, with the one on 3rd Avenue as flagship. If you are looking for a less busy location, go to the one in Downtown Manhattan.
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PopUp Bagels
PopUp Bagels has a few locations in New York, but the one on Thompson Street is my go-to. There might be a queue, but it moves quickly. At PopUp Bagels, the bagels are made fresh right in front of you, and you can really taste this. Sometimes they’re still warm!
You have to buy a minimum of three bagels and a flavour of Schmear (cream cheese). If you’d like, you can also add fish. They all come together in a paper bag along with a little knife. Walk over to a park, rip open your bagel and dip, and enjoy!
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Pick A Bagel
Pick A Bagel is a chain with a number of branches in Manhattan. If I am close to one, I definitely pop in for a bagel. They have a huge range of bagels, cream cheeses and other toppings. All Pick A Bagel locations also have a well-stocked fresh salad bar, plus you can get all sorts of muffins, cookies and other sandwiches, like paninis. The coffee here is also good.
About Eric » Eric’s Tip: “If you want a vegan breakfast or lunch, a bagel is a good option. Most bagels are vegan, except for your topping. Always ask the people at the bagel shop what the options are.” -
Black Seed Bagels
When you are visiting the New York sights, some appetite may arise. Black Seed Bagels is the perfect place to get your bagel while sightseeing. They have several locations throughout the city, which makes it easy to find one close to you. Black Seed is known for their unique combinations and New York-style bagel made with some baking techniques from Montreal. You can try the cheese pizza bagel, for instance, or the one with pastrami-spices smoked salmon.
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Murray’s Bagels
The only downside to Murray’s Bagels is that there is not a lot of room to sit down. But that’s about all. The bagels here are so good that they don’t even need filling. Try, for example, the ‘everything’ baked with poppy seeds, onion and garlic. Even if the bagels are divine, Murray’s also offers a broad range of fillings. Next to the classic cream cheese, they have loads of salads, and the staff knows all about perfect fried eggs.
The speciality here is smoked fish. It might sound unusual, but once you’ve tried their smoked salmon, you’ll be hooked! If you can’t choose, then their ‘speciality bagels’ are an option: filled with delicious combinations such as turkey, cheese, coleslaw and dressing. Want a cup of coffee on the side? The cappuccino here is very popular.
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Supermarket Bagels
The options above are the best bagels in New York, in my opinion. Bagels can be found anywhere in the city. In the supermarkets in New York, you can also get a bagel to eat on the go or for a picnic in the city. These bagels are fine as well and not expensive.
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