(credit: Bagel Hole)
No food item is more “New York” than the bagel. We took on the tedious task of ranking the city’s best. Here are the 6 best bagel stores in New York City. By Valerie Stivers.
Bagel Buffet
(credit: greenwichvillagedailyphoto.blogspot.com)
406 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 477-0448
bagelbuffet.com
Reviews & more info
This is a superb example of a typical kind of New York deli. There’s a high-silver-topped counter holding loaves of cold cuts, saran-wrapped pasta salads, tubs of flavored cream cheese and cupcakes the size of space-ships. The fry-up guy moves at the speed of light on the grill. It’s open 24 hours, delivers, and the everything bagel is chewy, garlicky, onion-y perfection.
Bagel Hole
(credit: Bagel Hole)
400 Seventh Ave
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 788-4014
bagelhole.net
This undistinguished deli in strollerville (no spreads, no toasting) still has many adoring fans for its large, fluffy, square-ish hunks of dough.
Bagel Oasis
(credit: NYC Go)
18312 Horace Harding Expressway
Queens, NY 11365
(718) 359-9245
bageloasis.com
Reviews & More Info
A trek out to the boroughs to try a reputedly superior ethnic product is another New York rite of passage. The Bagel Oasis, since 1961 is Queen’s cult bagelry, an easy detour off the LIE. It’s open 24 hours a day seven days a week, and serves deli sandwiches, spreads, et al.
Ess-a-Bagel
(credit: offthebroiller.wordpress.com)
359 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
(212) 260-2252 831
Third Ave New York, NY 10022
(212) 980-1010
ess-a-bagel.com
Reviews & More Info
It’s rare that there’s a near-consensus in any category, but Ess-a-Bagel is hands-down considered to have the best bagel in NYC. They’re enormous, tough-skinned, dense almost to the point of breadiness and have a malty kick. Ess-a-Bagel also provides a bustling, colorful deli experience with great whitefish salad, spreads, pickles, rice pudding and more.
Kossar’s Bialys
(credit: Kossar's Bialys)
364 Grand Street
New York, NY 10002
(877) 424-2597
kossarsbialys.com
Reviews & More Info
The runner-up is a no-decor storefront on the far Lower East Side with comically surly service and all the workings of bagel-making on display. The bagels are fantastic, but no trip to Kossar’s would be complete without sampling that half-a-hole step-sibling, the bialy. The cream cheese is a touch on the slippery side, but goes well with the bagel.
(credit: Foodmayhem.com)
Murray’s Bagels
500 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 462-2830
murraysbagels.com
Reviews & More Info
Any weekend morning Murray’s has a solid line from counter to door. These are plump, rounded, golden-topped bagels in an unsually wide variety of flavors, and both the toppings and the interior have a more gourmet feel than usual.
More CBSNewYork Restaurant Guides:
The Best Pizza In New York City
NY’s Best Latin American Restaurants
Looking for a daily dose of The Best of New York? Follow us on Twitter!
VIDEO ON DEMAND 
20 Comments
Brooklyn Bagels on 25th st and 8th Ave?! how could a bagel get any better?
January 16, 2012 at 3:26 am | | Report comment
Bagel Buffet is closed – at least its location at 406 Sixth Avenue is.
January 2, 2012 at 10:45 am | | Report comment
Zucker’s in Tribeca… best I’ve ever had
October 27, 2011 at 3:48 pm | | Report comment
I live in CT and make the trek to NY just to get my bagels from Bagel Oasis in Fresh Meadows. They NEVER close and the bagels are always fresh
October 26, 2011 at 10:13 pm | | Report comment
The best bagels in NYC are bagels from H&H Midtown Bagels East located on the upper east side. How did one go about determining what the best bagel is in NYC? Is there a special test? You have to try them. There open 24 hours 7 days.
October 26, 2011 at 5:00 pm | | Report comment
Not on your list because they don’t have their own store but you can find them all over NYC are Davidovich Bagels. They are like H&H style but much better. The lady who wrote the famous book called “The Bagel” says they are the best in NYC
October 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm | | Report comment
what about brooklyn bagel in astoria on broadway the best bagel place i have ever been to
August 9, 2011 at 3:35 pm | | Report comment
The Bagel Oasis keeps me coming back for more. They now sell apple/cinnamon which I began clamoring for about a year ago. Bagel and coffee – YUM!!!
June 20, 2011 at 4:44 pm | | Report comment
Ess a Bagel
best bagels in the world
June 20, 2011 at 11:57 am | | Report comment
For Quality and Richness of dough and surpassed taste Astoria Bagel Shop & Deli on Ditmars Blvd in Astoria Queens. Really Quality and Really Good. I don’t live in Astoria but when I am there I stop by for a bagel.
June 20, 2011 at 10:06 am | | Report comment
Hot Bagels on Kins Highway and 16th St. in Sheepshead Bay should be considered as on of the best bagels as well.
June 20, 2011 at 8:18 am | | Report comment
Sorry guys H&H bagels have to much sugar in them .
I guess the person writing this has a sweet tooth.
June 20, 2011 at 8:14 am | | Report comment
I MAKE MY OWN BAGELS FROM RECYCLED ROLLA i FIND IN MCDONALDS DUMPSTERS.
February 9, 2011 at 8:59 am | | Report comment
JUMBO Bagel is the best!!! They still steam them and make them 3xs daily. How couldl you have possibly missed mentioning the best bagel in NYC on 2nd avenue between e 57 and e 56th street..
January 5, 2011 at 11:16 am | | Report comment
Izzy and Nat’s on South End makes AMAZING Bagels…! Gotta try their homemade flavored cream cheeses as well. I LOVE the Bloody Mary Cream Cheese…
November 23, 2010 at 10:44 am | | Report comment
Bagel Bistro on Victory Boulevard and Manor Road. Bagels are HUGE and fantastic.
November 17, 2010 at 7:16 pm | | Report comment
What about the Bagelry on Lexington and 88th Street.
Great Bagels.
September 12, 2010 at 2:30 am | | Report comment
People always leave out the place that I consider to be the best: Jumbo Bagels on Second Ave., between 56th-57th St. All the others pale in comparison, trust me.
September 8, 2010 at 11:04 am | | Report comment
Sounds like Peter is the new owner!
September 7, 2010 at 5:24 pm | | Report comment
You have to include Hot Bialys & Bagels in Forest Hills!
New owners are dedicated to improving the decor and service, but the recipe and products are the same and out of this world and now they deliver – (opening early too)
If you are a bagel purest – this is your place.
The Bagels are bigger then most and the offer Flagels (Flat Bagels)
They offer the basic favors
plain, onion, garlic, salt, poppy seed, sesame seed, whole wheat, egg, pumpernickel, cinnamon raisin and of course everything. (No blue berry, flax seed, cranberry, etc.)
Their Bialys are old country perfect.
Everything is fresh! Nothing from the day before. Actually if you go there late in the day, 30 minutes before closing you can get a discount left over bagels – to stock your freezer.
If you take the E or the F to Union Turnpike on a weekend, you smell the fresh bagels cooking from the subway exit closest to 78th Ave.
September 7, 2010 at 10:08 am | | Report comment