The 10 Best Bagel Shops in NYC

This old-school Park Slope shop makes smaller, denser bagels in the traditional New York style. Unlike many modern bagel shops that prioritize size, Bagel Hole focuses on quality and authenticity. The smaller size allows for the perfect ratio of crisp exterior to chewy interior. They've been making bagels the same way since 1985, and bagel purists consider them among the city's best.

A relative newcomer to the NYC bagel scene, Black Seed has quickly made a name for itself by creating a hybrid between Montreal and New York-style bagels. They're hand-rolled, boiled in honey water, and baked in a wood-fired oven. The result is a slightly sweeter, smaller bagel with a distinctive char. Their creative sandwich combinations have helped them expand to multiple locations across the city.

Once an iconic Upper West Side institution, H&H Bagels has reopened under new ownership. Their bagels are still made the traditional way - hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked on stone. The result is a slightly sweet, light interior with a thin, shiny crust. While purists debate whether the new version matches the original, they remain a strong contender in NYC's bagel scene.

This East Village favorite offers bagels that are larger and softer than most traditional New York bagels, but they've built a devoted following for their creative cream cheese flavors (including birthday cake and cookie monster) and generous toppings. The bagels themselves are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh throughout the day, resulting in a soft interior with a nice chew.

Despite the name, Brooklyn Bagel is actually located in Queens and Manhattan (not Brooklyn). Their bagels are hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh all day. What sets them apart is their wide variety of bagel flavors and cream cheese options. Their bagels are on the larger side but maintain a good chew and crust. They're consistently rated among the city's best bagel shops.

A beloved neighborhood staple in Crown Heights, Bagel Pub has expanded to multiple Brooklyn locations due to their consistently excellent bagels. They're hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked throughout the day. Their bagels have a slightly sweet flavor, a glossy crust, and a perfect chew. Beyond traditional varieties, they offer specialty flavors like rainbow bagels that have become Instagram favorites.

A Greenwich Village institution, Murray's makes traditional New York bagels with no shortcuts. They refuse to toast their bagels (though they've recently relaxed this rule) because a fresh Murray's bagel doesn't need it. Their bagels have the perfect balance of a crisp exterior and a chewy interior, and their cream cheese is applied generously. While not as famous as some other shops, locals consider Murray's among the city's best.