The 10 Best Bagel Shops in NYC
Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled perfection across the five boroughs
From classic establishments like Absolute Bagels to creative newcomers like Black Seed, discover where to find the most authentic and delicious bagels in New York City.
The Best Bagel Shops in NYC
Considered by many to be the gold standard of NYC bagels, Absolute Bagels consistently delivers perfect New York-style b...
A family-owned business since 1976, Ess-a-Bagel is renowned for their oversized, hand-rolled bagels with a perfect balan...
While primarily known as an 'appetizing store' specializing in smoked fish, Russ & Daughters offers exceptional bagels t...
This old-school Park Slope shop makes smaller, denser bagels in the traditional New York style. Unlike many modern bagel...
A relative newcomer to the NYC bagel scene, Black Seed has quickly made a name for itself by creating a hybrid between M...
A Greenwich Village institution, Murray's makes traditional New York bagels with no shortcuts. They refuse to toast thei...
Once an iconic Upper West Side institution, H&H Bagels has reopened under new ownership. Their bagels are still made the...
This East Village favorite offers bagels that are larger and softer than most traditional New York bagels, but they've b...
Despite the name, Brooklyn Bagel is actually located in Queens and Manhattan (not Brooklyn). Their bagels are hand-rolle...
A beloved neighborhood staple in Crown Heights, Bagel Pub has expanded to multiple Brooklyn locations due to their consi...
What Makes a Great New York Bagel?
What defines a true New York bagel is still hotly debated among locals. Traditionalists insist on a smaller, denser bagel with a crisp exterior and chewy interior, while others prefer the larger, softer style that has become common in recent decades. Regardless of preference, the best bagel shops in NYC still follow the traditional process: hand-rolling the dough, kettle-boiling, and then baking at high temperature.
This process creates the distinctive shiny crust and chewy texture that sets New York bagels apart. While each shop on our list has its own unique approach, they all maintain this commitment to traditional methods, using high-quality ingredients and avoiding shortcuts that would compromise the integrity of the bagel.
This list is based on multiple visits to each establishment, and all purchases were paid for by dothings.nyc (we don't accept free food or special treatment). The bagels were evaluated based on flavor, texture, freshness, and overall experience.