Land of the free and home of the bagel. Travel within a one-block radius of your apartment and you’re likely to hit at least one decent place to grab a whole-wheat everything with schmear. But when a serious carb craving hits, only the chewiest, warmest, crispy-on-the-outside bagel will do—and fast. So, we’ve created a handy guide for where to get the best bagels in NYC. (Did we mention all of these spots also offer takeout and/or delivery?)
The Best Bagels in NYC, Ranked
Published Mar 10, 2022
Finn's Bagels
21. Finn's Bagels
- Delivery Services Offered: Seamless
If your go-to order is a BEC, head to Finn's for a bagel sandwich with a near-perfect egg-to-cheese ratio. The staff is friendly and attentive too, often greeting regulars by name and having their orders memorized. Now that's service.
477 10th Ave.; finnsbagelsnyc.com
20. Bagelsmith
- Delivery Services Offered: Seamless, Door Dash, Delivery.com, website
Top one of those chewy wheels of deliciousness with jalapeño-cheddar cream cheese. In addition to their bagels, Bagelsmith is also famous for their massive sandwiches.
Two locations in Williamsburg; bagelsmith.com
19. Bagels & Schmear
- Delivery Services Offered: website (call to order)
A no-frills joint with top-notch bagels and avocado cream cheese? We’re in, especially when you can have it brought straight to your door.
116 E. 28th St.; bagelsandschmear.com
18. Davidovich Bakery
- Delivery Services Offered: website
These hand-rolled-bagel wizards also provide their goods to Barney Greengrass for brunch. For now, though, we recommend going straight to the source for takeout.
120 Essex St.; davidovichnyc.com
17. Bagel Buffet
Don’t be fooled by the store’s unassuming exterior—the good stuff is inside. And you can grab it to go or order online or for delivery.
510 Ave. of the Americas; bagelbuffetnyc.com
16. Leo's Bagels
- Delivery Services Offered: Seamless, Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Delivery.com
The Financial District deserves a good bacon, egg and cheese, too. Leo's offers takeout to boot, so you can get your fix right away.
3 Hanover Sq.; 212-785-4700 or leosbagels.com
15. Shelsky's Smoked Fish
Top your poppyseed with lox, sable and creamed herring—trust us on this one. Then go ahead and place a pickup order by phone (or save yourself the work and get it delivered).
Two locations in Brooklyn; shelskys.com
14. Zabar's
- Delivery Services Offered: website
No fancy cream cheese flavors here, but this market and its delicious bagels (brought in by a secret supplier) are quintessential New York. And they can be shipped nationwide—score!
2245 Broadway; zabars.com
13. H&h Midtown Bagels East
Not to be confused with the original H&H (may she rest in peace), this also pretty-damn-decent spot is filling the void left by the dearly departed. They're available for pickup and delivery, and like Zabar's, these bagels can be shipped nationwide.
1551 Second Ave. (at 80th St.); hhmidtownbagelseast.com
12. Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Available for pickup and delivery, the hardest part about ordering from Brooklyn Bagel is choosing which bagel-and-schmear combo to go with (but we highly recommend the everything with bacon-scallion cream cheese).
Locations in Manhattan and Queens; brooklynbagelandcoffeecompany.com
11. Bo’s Bagels
- Delivery Services Offered: website
When a Harlem couple couldn’t find good bagels in their neighborhood, they took matters into their own hands—and as their beautifully blistered rounds prove, they’re very capable hands indeed. Grab a half-dozen for takeout or delivery and enjoy breakfast for days.
235 W. 116th St.; bosbagels.com
10. Tompkins Square Bagels
- Delivery Services Offered: ChowNow, Caviar, DoorDash, Seamless, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Delivery.com, Goldbelly
It has normal stuff, too, but if you want to go a little wild (and we know you do), order the mac-and-cheese bagel for pickup or delivery.
165 Ave. A (at 10th St.); tompkinssquarebagels.com
9. Bagel Pub
Park Slope residents, rejoice. We’ve found the perfect vehicle for lox and capers, and you can have it delivered.
287 Ninth St. (at Fifth Ave.), Brooklyn; bagelpub.com
8. Utopia Bagels
If you aren't within delivery range, you’ll have to travel to where the subways don’t go to grab takeout from this Queens institution, but once you sink your teeth into a fresh-baked salt bagel with all the fixings, the commute will have been worth it.
19-09 Utopia Pkwy., Queens; utopiabagelsny.com
7. Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish
- Delivery Services Offered: Grubhub, Seamless, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Delivery.com
One of the co-founders also started Murray's Bagels, so you know these are the real deal. Takeout and delivery are available, so honestly, what are you waiting for?
Locations in Chelsea and Greenwich Village; zuckersbagels.com
6. Black Seed Bagels
New Yorkers are naturally skeptical of any outsider bagels. But Black Seed’s Montreal-style bagels—boiled in honey, then baked in a wood-burning stove—won us over, and now we can’t imagine life without them. Prepare to get to know the delivery folks real well.
Multiple locations; blackseedbagels.com
5. Best Bagel & Coffee
The name makes a lofty promise, but we guarantee they don't disappoint. Might be suggest a blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese?
225 W. 35th St. (at Seventh Ave.); bestbagelandcoffee.com
4. Bagel Hole
- Delivery Services Offered: website
This Park Slope shop provides the bagels for Russ & Daughters. 'Nuff said. Call or order online to grab one (or a dozen, we won't judge) for takeout.
400 Seventh Ave. (at 12th St.), Brooklyn; bagelhole.net
3. David's Bagels
An East Village classic with mind-blowingly awesome bagels and possibly the friendliest staff in town, offering their wares via takeout and delivery.
273 First Ave. (at 17th St.); davidsbagels.com
2. Absolute Bagels
- Delivery Services Offered: none
This Thai family-run bakery is serving little wheels of heaven warm out of the oven. To quote David Bowie, “I absolutely love you.” They're offering takeout only for the time being, but it's worth the trek, no matter where you live.
2788 Broadway (at 108th St.); 212-932-2052
1. Ess-a-bagel
- Delivery Services Offered: Seamless, Grubhub, Delivery.com Goldbelly
The original and still-reigning queen, offering takeout and delivery. We bow down to you, tender-but-chewy delight with just the right amount of crunch. Please take our life savings.
831 Third Ave. (at 51st St.); ess-a-bagel.com
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