The history of the New York bagel is intertwined in the history of New York itself - it spans over a century, and weaves together different cultures, socioeconomic classes, and caters to a wide range of food palettes. Once a small, dense tasty treat for the Jewish neighborhoods of the Lower East Side, it evolved and grew into today's distinct pillowy roll over the span of the twentieth century. With the advent of the bagel-rolling machine and rise of packaging in the 1960s the popularity of the bagel skyrocketed, as bagels were able to be kept longer and shipped further. In the 1980s, parallelling the growth of the New York economy, the bagel doubled in size to reach the gargantuan portions we recognize today.
Appetizing stores like Russ & Daughters and Zabars pioneered the bagel and launched it into the mainstream, and they are still huge players in the bagel game today. Although bagels started in establishments such as these in Manhattan, Brooklyn is where creativity shines and novel bagels are found. The blending of cultures and ideas that has always characterized Brooklyn has created the highest quality bagels in the world- and we’re here to tell you all about it.
Whether you're a New Yorker looking for a new spot to grab breakfast or a visitor looking to try the city's famous bagels, this list has you covered. Read on to discover the best bagel shops in Brooklyn
Locations: Park Slope, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, Chelsea, West Village
Spanning across multiple neighborhoods in both Brooklyn and Manhattan, Bagel Pub provides a dizzying range of choices in both flavor of bagel and cream cheese. In addition to bagels, they offer the breakfast version of a 3 course meal, with an extensive menu of deli sandwiches, fresh juices and of course, coffee. Their interiors are bright and clean, but aren’t overly trendy. True bagel enthusiasts can identify Bagel Pub from their simply by their signature mountains of cream cheese.
Location: Prospect Heights
Olde though it may be, old fashioned it is not! Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe stands out in a sea of bagels due to their signature za’atar bagel, a zesty and novel bagel flavor that we recommend everyone try at least once.
Za’atar is the name of the game at OBBS: they pioneered the za'atar bagel, and also offer a za’atar cream cheese. The signature sandwiches, which both incorporate za’atar, bring a whole new flavor profile to the table.
Don’t worry though, there are tons of other flavor options for those feeling adventurous, but not inclined towards za’atar, such as the salmon dill cream cheese. They knock your more classic flavors out of the park as well.
Location: Park Slope
Bagel Hole, as the name might suggest, is a quintessential, no frills New York Bagel experience. These bagels aren’t one of the fluffy megaliths that other shops boast of. Bagel Hole bagels are punchier: a bit smaller with a nice crunch to them. Be forewarned though: this isn’t the spot to get an instagram. Sticking to their “hole in the wall” nature, employees will immediately remind you as soon as a phone comes out, “no pictures allowed!”
Former New York City mayor Bill Deblasio sparked a controversy when he tweeted that his go-to bagel was a Bagel Hole “whole wheat with extra cream cheese. Toasted.” The issue? Bage Hole doesn’t have a toaster (more on why you never have to toast a fresh bagel). After a public uproar, Deblasio deleted the tweet and reposted it without the word “toasted”.
Bagel Hole supplies several deli’s throughout the city, so while odds are you’ve unknowingly already had a Bagel Hole bagel, nothing beats one directly from the source!
Locations: Cobble Hill, Gowanus
For Shelsky’s, Bagel-making is an art. Every ingredient, every seed, every topping is meticulously selected. This attention to detail is what puts Shelsky’s in its own class. Somewhat small and dense, flavorful but not overpowering, these bagels look nothing like the fluffy jumbo-sized bagels so often seen today.
Shelsky's has unique options worth trying out, like Pepper & Salt, and Sichuan Peppercorn. While at some shops a wild flavor might be a risk, at Shelsky’s, everything is so thoughtfully created that you can make a safe bet that any bagel will be delicious. Even the classics, like sesame, egg, and whole-wheat, have subtle differences that elevate the bagel-eating experience. Aside from their bagels, their fish is also top tier. Throwing some lox on your bagel, while a little pricey, will be worth it.
Location: Greenpoint
Bagel Point is the future of bagels. Sounds like a bold statement, but their selection of ingredients and range of their menu is made with the health of the customers in mind. They only use unbromated and unbleached flour, organic coffee and eggs, and they’re vegan friendly. They also have the fun rainbow bagels that took instagram by storm a few years back. They’re bagels are fluffy and airy, soft with a crispy outside. The family that owns Bagel Point has been in Greenpoint since 1977 and loves their community- and you can see that reflected in their ingredient choices and bright, airy shop, which opened in 2019.
Bagel Point is very conveniently located right next to the Nassau Ave G. They stay on the cutting edge to keep their operation flowing. For example, their in-store digital kiosks speed up the ordering process. They give priority to orders made via their app (which you can find on their website or in the app store), which is a true win-win: you get your bagels quicker, and help reduce the shop's 3rd-party fees.
Locations: Windsor Terrace
A classic establishment on the Southwest side of Prospect Park, Terrace Bagels has the biggest, fluffiest bagels in town. Perfect for one of those fill-you-to-the-brim bagel sandwiches that can fuel you for a whole day in nearby Prospect Park. If it’s too rainy or cold (or steamy and hot in the summer months) to head to the park, Terrace offers one of the most expansive indoor seating areas of any bagel shop.
Location: Bedstuy
Finally we can say: Greenberg's Bagels IS the spot to get that Instagram shop. It’s hip, it’s cute, it has a curated aesthetic, and it backs it all up with a world class bagel. Located in Bed-Stuy, Greenberg's cracked Infatuations Top Bagel Shops in New York in less than 2 years in operation. For reference: the only other bagel places on this list that reached that level of popularity this quickly are Ess A Bagel, the godfather of bagels in NYC. They boast a large menu of Special Breakfast Sandwiches, like the Mike's Hot Double (Double sausage, egg and cheese with butter and mike's hot honey), a delightful combination of savory and sweet. Pro tip: they had the best hash browns in NYC, but they must be ordered as a side! As a huge proponent of hashbrowns on breakfast sandwiches, we highly recommend ordering them and adding them to your sandwich yourself. If you’re somehow still hungry afterwards, check out their sister pizza shop, Valentine's right next door.
#8: Edith’s Sandwich Counter
Locations: Williamsburg
Born as a popup during the pandemic, Edith’s Sandwich Shop has quickly cemented itself as one of the top sandwich shops in NYC. Their Bacon, Egg & Cheese with a Latke made The New York Times 57 Sandwiches That Define New York City list for a reason.
Must tries here include the BEC&L, Tahini Coffee Slushie, Totkes (square latkes cut into bit size tots), and we’ll even go so far as to recommend a gasp non-bagel item: the Sephardi Breakfast wrap on malawach.
Their distinct “Chicago-style” everything seasoning that is described as a “spice blend that has all of the best parts of the traditional ‘everything’ seasoning, with a little warming heat.” Don’t be afraid to spice it up!
Locations: Nolita, East Village, Nomad, Rockefeller Center, Chelsea, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Bushwick, Battery Park City
Baked in wood-fired ovens and tossed into piles of steaming hot fresh bagels, Black Seed is one of the most unique bagels in New York City. Bringing in the style of our closest neighbor to the north, Montreal, the bagels are boiled in honey water for a touch of sweetness. While many New York Bagels are large, savory and chewy, Black Seed’s are small, sweet, and unassuming. However, don't be lulled into a false sense of security due their size and sweet nature: Black Seed crafts them into killer sandwiches that leave you wanting more. We highly recommend the pastrami, egg and cheese, a slight deviation from a classic, and it absolutely melts in your mouth.
Locations: Park Slope, Fort Greene, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights
La Bagel delight has nailed the bagel trifecta: fast, fresh, and cheap. You don’t spend long in the shop but the time you do spend feels valued: across the board, people remark on the accuracy and speed of making customers orders. Doughy, but not too fluffy and crisp on the outside without getting too crunchy, these bagels strike a balance that even goldilocks would dub as “just right”.
Locations: Bay Ridge, Sheepshead Bay
Bagel boy knocks seeding out of the park. What’s seeding? To quote Elyse Meyers: great question, we would love to tell you. The most overlooked part of a bagel is the distribution of toppings: and bagel boy absolutely cakes its bagels in seasoning. An everything has everything on it. A sesame has every last millimeter crusted in sesame seeds. We suggest eating these bagels over their wrappings, because it will be raining seeds upon your lap as you eat each bite. Along with being chewy and crunchy and checking off all of the boxes on what makes a great bagel… the seeding is what really bumps Bagel Boy up above your average bagel shop.
Locations: Williamsburg
Located in Williamsburg off the L, Bagel Smith's location cannot be beat. Any weekend morning, williamsburg residents and partygoers from the night before form a line out the door, and for a good reason. BagelsSmith’s bagels are airy, with a chewy exterior rather than a crispy one. While their bagels are on the lighter side, their sandwiches are not. Packed and a little greasy, these bagels are perfect for a hungover morning or end-of-night snack (often affectionately referred to as drunchies). Luckily for all of us, Bagelsmith is open 24 hours and is ready to make these sandwiches in the moments we need them most.
Location: Greenpoint
Baker's Dozen is a neighborhood establishment in Greenpoint that is distinguished by its incredible customer service. We took to yelp to see which bagel was the fan favorite- and it seems like every single bagel knocks it out of the park. Every review named this spot as the best bagel in Greenpoint, and every review named a different sandwich. It seems like no matter what you order here, you’ll be impressed. "The Vegan" is our favorite vegan bagel sandwiche we've had in New York City.
Locations: Bushwick
To describe Knickerbocker Bagels in one word, it would be: Fun. I mean, check out this menu: their most popular bagel is called The Loxury. (lox + cream cheese + capers + tomatoes + onion). Adorable. They’re talents don’t just lie with punny names though: they’re on this list because their bagels truly are just as good as their skills in nomenclature. Knickerbocker heaps generous helpings of all toppings that encourages sharing these gargantuan bagels with a buddy. They keep the vibes high with delicious combinations of toppings, sauces, and schmears, such as hot honey or jalapeno cream cheese. They have the signature chewy inside with a crispy outside of a classic New York bagel, and even won Grub Hubs “State of the Plate: Most Loved” award. That’s no small feat. If you’re looking for a good bagel and a fun time, be sure to check out Knickerbocker Bagels.
#7: COurt Street Bagels
Locations: Cobble Hill
In the heart of Brooklyn's Cobble Hill, Court Street Bagels has long been a fixture for locals craving traditional New York bagels since 2004.
Despite recent events that thrust this small eatery into the spotlight due to a head scratching transition of ownership - read about the complex real estate and business dispute that went viral here - the bagels remain as fluffy and delicious as they’ve ever been.
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