I was never a bagel gal until I moved to NYC. The bagels here taste different, they really do!! After doing some research, I found out that it has something to do with New York tap water being very soft. During the first few months of moving to New York City, I tried to explore as many bagel shops as possible. After visiting a bunch on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, I landed on the following best bagels in Uptown NYC.
1. Absolute Bagels
:: Upper West Side ::
2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
1. Everything Bagel w/ Chives Cream Cheese | 2. Egg Bagel w/ Blueberry Cream Cheese | 3. Pumpernickel Bagel w/ Sundried Tomato Tofutti
By far my favorite bagel place in the city, Absolute Bagels is a no frills bagel shop located on the Upper West Side.
Items on their menu include a delicious brioche-like Egg bagel and Vegan cream cheese called “Tofutti.” Their menu is so varied that I recommend getting a couple of different bagels and cream cheeses to split with friends.
Wanderer Tip: The line may seem long but it moves quickly. Oh and Absolute Bagels is cash only!
2. Zabar’s
:: Upper West Side ::
2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
Zabar’s was recommended to me by a couple of different friends. Plus, it had appeared in many movies and TV shows that I’d seen – Sex and the City and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I had to check it out for myself even though I knew there was a chance it was overhyped.
It was the best feeling ever when I took a bite into the Pumpernickel Smoked Salmon bagel and realized how yummy it was!! I had read that they are known for their smoked salmon, so I’m glad that’s what I got. If you’ve never been, start with the smoked salmon.
3. Orwashers
:: Upper West Side ::
440 Amsterdam Ave New York, NY 10024
Another bagel place that does a great smoked salmon bagel, Orwashers is a great spot for some of the best bagels in NYC located.
I got their New York Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich. It was the perfect combination of bagel, cream cheese, smoked salmon, onion, and I think I tasted some capers too.
4. H&H Bagels
:: Upper East Side ::
1551 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028
H&H is also a no frills bagel spot in NYC. It was the first bagel place where I learned that you can customize your bagel by specifying how many pounds of cream cheese you want and how toasted you want the bagel to be.
The bagel shop seems frequented by locals, and if I’m craving something simple and guaranteed to satisfy my bagel cravings, H&H would be the spot.
Wanderer Tip: 787 Coffee (featured in my NYC Coffee Guide) is right around the corner if you’re looking for a beverage to pair with your bagel
5. Pick A Bagel
:: Midtown West ::
891 8th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Pick A Bagel has several locations, and the one I’ve been to is technically located in Central Park South/Midtown West. The Midtown Pick A Bagel has surprisingly good bagels for how touristy the spot can get.
They are quick with orders, and there are tons of bagel and cream cheese options to choose from.
6. Modern Bagel
:: Upper West Side ::
472 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024
Although on the pricier side, Modern Bagel deserves a shout out for how aesthetic the interior is. Their coffee also goes well with their bagels. It’s a good place to visit after a Saturday morning run in Central Park.
The bagel shop is also gluten-free, which I was surprised to find out after the fact. I could not tell there wasn’t any gluten in my bagel!
Start Exploring the Best Bagel Shops in NYC
Are you hungry yet? I’m excited for you to start exploring these amazing bagel shops in uptown NYC. Since these bagel shops are fairly close to each other, you can even make a Sunday morning food tour out of this!
