There may be no culinary item more synonymous with New York than the chewy bread wonder that is the bagel. The ring-shaped delights date back to Poland some time between the 13th and 17th centuries. From there, bagels migrated to all of the places Polish immigrants relocated, including (and especially) New York City in the late 1800s.
Much more than a roll with a hole in it, a bagel, unlike many other breads and pastries, is cooked twice, getting boiled and baked to achieve its characteristic texture and outer crispy shell. From there it’s up to the eater to add shmears like cream cheese and smoked fish to customize the classic.
Now, generations later, bagels of high-quality can be found far beyond the Big Apple. Still, it’s worth consuming this classic from its source city. Here are 10 New York City locales for legendary and genre-defining bagels to consume:
Ess-a-Bagel
With history on its side, Ess-a-Bagel has been in the game for a whopping 50 years. The family behind the brand is well-versed in the art of baking and directed that know-how to gain popularity for its bagels right away. Decades later, the family remains still behind it all. Expect the quintessential experience and a classic menu of bagel flavors, spreads and sandwiches. Multiple locations, ess-a-bagel.com
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co.
Despite the name, this bagel brand boasts shops in Manhattan and Queens, but not Brooklyn. Still, for over 20 years it has been a solid spot for an everything bagel, an order the shops are known for. Each bagel is hand-rolled and made with unbromated and unbleached wheat flour, which the owners claim makes it a “healthier” bagel. Either way, it’s delicious. Multiple locations, bkbagel.com
Apollo Bagels
Calling itself a new-school shop rooted in old-school technique, Apollo burst onto the scene and now has expanded into a half-dozen locales around the city. Eating one of the sourdough bagels almost transports you to a pier in San Francisco where the bread is in loaf form. Make sure to order an open-faced sandwich that, along with cream cheese, features a heaping pile of fresh tomatoes coated with olive oil and flavorful herbs, making for a messy, satisfying experience. Multiple locations, apollobagels.com
Tompkins Square Bagels
For the non-traditionalists who enjoy their bagels with a dash of pizzazz and color (sometimes even literally), this is the pilgrimage to make. Rainbow bagels are a star here, as are wilder varieties like french toast bagels. There are multiple locations away from the actual Tompkins Square, but checking out the original store at 165 Avenue A and then scarfing down in the actual park is still the way to go. Multiple locations, tompkinssquarebagels.com
Terrace Bagels
Unlike others on the list, this is not a chain of bagel eateries spread around New York, but a single shop in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn that’s been a neighborhood staple for decades. The bagels here come out large and in common flavors such as pumpernickel, poppy, egg, onion, and more, each with an appealing fluffiness. The shop also operates as a deli and has a cozy dine-in area, or take your order to Bartel-Pritchard Square. 222 Prospect Park West, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, terracebagels.com
PopUp Bagels
Given how viral these Connecticut bagels became when the first PopUp Bagels opened in NYC in 2023, we weren’t sure if the hype waned the product. But it does, and the always-hot, unbelievably crunchy bagels really are that good. Customers order packs of 3, 6, 12 or even 30 bagels, which come in a bag with a choice of dippable shmears as a pairing, including salted butters, a variety of cream cheeses, and weekly specials such as vanilla-berry butter. Multiple locations, popupbagels.com
Modern Bakery
For those avoiding or allergic to gluten, bagels aren’t always a go-to breakfast item. But Modern changes that paradigm. Every baked good on offer, from rugelach to cinnamon buns, are sans gluten. The bagels get hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh, plus each is certified kosher. Best part, texturally these bagels match up to the gluten-rich counterparts. Multiple locations, modernbreadandbagel.com
Utopia Bagels
Manhattanites rejoiced when this beloved bagel store in Queens finally debuted in Midtown. Utopia opened in 1981 and claims its secret to longevity and legendary status comes from the generational method of individually hand-rolling and baking the bagels in a 1947 carousel oven. The experience is an icon treated just right. 26-11 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, Queens; and 120 E. 34th St., Midtown, utopiabagelsny.com
Bagel Hole
Unlike its peers, Bagel Hole’s prized bagels are small but mighty. That’s most certainly by design. Hailed for a crunchy texture and revered by some for the pettiness, these bagels have fans in Park Slope who go back generations. Don’t expect a glamorous dining experience. This shop is as no-frills and cash-only, with only a cashier and the bagel maker. 400 7th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn, no website
H&H Bagels
No New York bagel list is complete without one of the iconic names in the business, H&H. Since 1972 the company has used the same recipe and water bagel method as it did from the start. If H&H sounds familiar, it’s been showcased in numerous TV shows and movies, and shouldn’t be missed. Multiple locations, hhbagels.com
