Can’t-Miss Bagel Shops in the Northeast

bagel shops

A bagel may just be the simplest indulgence. Perhaps you take it with a cream cheese schmear or loaded with lox, capers and red onion. Either way, its chewiness on the inside and delicate crispness on the outside is pure bread heaven. These top bagel shops combine this deliciousness with a dollop of history and community, for your next feel-good meal.

The savory counterpart to another regional favorite doughnuts bagels reign supreme in the Northeast.

Connecticut

Sugar & Olives

Norwalk

Sugar & Olives makes its signature bagels with its own rye flour-based sourdough starter that bubbles with active yeast as it rises on the counter during production. This natural leavening takes four days, creating nine fresh varieties. Pumpernickel caraway everything and cinnamon raisin are the newest flavors. Or try gluten-free with hot honey pistachio cream cheese for your morning kickstart.

Check out Sugar & Olives Diamond Dish recipe for Kale Ribbons With Miso Maple Dressing.

Upper Crust Bagel Company

Greenwich

Since 1994, Upper Crust has kettle boiled and hearth baked more than 18 varieties of 5-ounce “bull style” bagels fresh daily, including weekly specialty bagels like apple walnut, pesto and sun-dried tomato. No matter how you slice it, its Beach Club sandwich makes a great lunch with turkey or roast beef, or try The Vegg, featuring a veggie burger with lettuce, tomato and Bermuda onion.

Massachusetts

Alex’s Bagel Shop

Longmeadow

Do you like your bagel savory or sweet? This bagel shop makes both. Your little one might like peanut butter and jelly or Nutella on a plain bagel, while you might try something bolder, like the jalapeno cream cheese on a caraway bagel with notes of fennel. The egg and cheese breakfast sammy will satiate every taste bud. If you like it that much, take a dozen bagels with cream cheese to go.

Beyond Bagels

North Reading 

The turkey club is a popular choice at Beyond Bagels, a small but friendly bagel shop in North Reading. Also try the Lox Supreme with scallion bacon cream cheese. A dozen freshly-baked bagel flavors are the tastiest backdrop for hearty additions like these that satisfy the hungriest appetite for breakfast or lunch. Don’t forget an espresso or chai. Cash only.

New Jersey

Bagels n’ Cream

Robbinsville Twp. 

Start with Bagels n’ Cream’s famed egg bagel and you have nowhere to go but up. Hot out of the oven, it’s the perfect blank slate for the nearly 50 custom breakfast and lunch sandwiches served at this independent bakery. Pumpernickel rye is also a crowd pleaser, or try the biali to kick up the flavor profile. Fresh roasted coffee, as well as baklava for dessert, make this a one-stop shop. If you can’t make it in person, order online for delivery.

Boonton Bagels and Gourmet Deli

Boonton

There’s just something about the Nova Scotia lox and cream cheese at Boonton Bagels that makes use smile with anticipation. Perhaps it’s because it crafts custom bagel sandwiches with the freshest ingredients. Try the Italian egg sandwich with peppers, tomatoes and potatoes, or any of its specialty sandwiches like the Michael Jordan (corned beef and pastrami with coleslaw and Russian Dressing) or the Jennifer Lopez (roast beef, lettuce, tomato and Russian dressing).

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New York

Russ & Daughters

Locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn

Serving traditional sourdough bagels and lox for more than 100 years, Russ & Daughters was founded by a Polish immigrant selling herring from barrels in 1908. His three daughters helped it grow to an appetizing store, selling the best bagels and their accompaniments. Now operated by fourth generation cousins, Russ & Daughters and its Orchard Street café remain must-visit foodie destinations. Try the Yum Kippered (baked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel) or the whitefish salad for Russ family recipes, and make sure you take some to go.

Goldberg’s

Southampton

Since 1949, Goldberg’s has dominated New York’s bagel heritage, from Brooklyn and Queens to Long Island. Four generations later, its 14 flavors of freshly baked bagels include sesame, pumpernickel and egg everything, as well as 13 cream cheese varieties and add-ons like hash browns, tomato and lox. Its extensive menu includes a host of specialty breakfast and lunch sandwiches, so every picky eater will find something tempting to nosh.

Rhode Island

Rebelle Artisan Bagels

Providence

Founded by a chemical engineer-turned baker, Rebelle Artisan Bagels hand rolls then cold ferments every bagel. They’re bathed in brewer’s grade malted barley, dipped in poppy seeds, sesame seeds or the house-blended everything mix, then baked on soaked cedar planks in a 24-hour process that elicits crispy yet chewy perfection. Try the house-made whitefish salad or house-cured lox on a pretzel bagel with Avi’s Pickles, then take home a signature pop tart and a half-dozen everything.

Jamo’s Bagels

Newport

Rhode Island’s newest and most secret bagel shop doesn’t have its own storefront – yet. Jamo’s Bagels are boiled and baked New York-style at Foodworks Restaurant in Portsmouth, then sold at locations across Aquidneck Island on weekends, including Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, and The Nitro Bar in Newport, which can craft your bagel into a mouthwatering egg sandwich. Make sure to pre-order your favorite jalapeno cheddar bagel or get it delivered before it sells out.

Did we forget your favorite bagel spot? Tell us about the best bagel shops near you in the comment below. 

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103 Thoughts on “Can’t-Miss Bagel Shops in the Northeast

  1. How did you miss Shef’s Bagels in Cheshire, CT? Best bagels around. Great owners and staff.

  2. Best by far Bagel Alley, Nashua, NH – huge delicious bagels and interesting cream cheese varieties – all wonderful in a cozy little sit down joint

    1. Hands-down the absolute best. We drive up there from MetroWest Boston. Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with the Walnut-Raisin cream cheese, big cup of coffee. Does not get any better.

  3. Café Fresh Bagels, Needham, MA has great bagels, huge bagel sandwiches, a variety of flavored cream cheese as well as other menu items.

    1. Yes, yes, and YES to Cafe Fresh Bagels! They also have shops in Norwood and Dedham and Framingham. Great bagels!

  4. If you venture north by northwest to Bloomfield Hills, MI – northwest suburb of Detroit, New York Bagel has fantastic bagels. With a name like that it has great – and deep – roots!

  5. Bagel Boy, in Brooklyn NY should be on the top of everybody’s list. 15 types of bagels with various toppings. MMMMM

  6. Bagelz in Wakefield (Narragansett), RI offers bagels that rival those I grew up with in Brooklyn and Manhattan, NYC.

  7. SPOT Bagel in Norwood, MA is absolutely amazing! Great space, great bagels, and more! And to top it off, every day from 3 pm to close bagels are 3/$1.

  8. The NJ stores mentioned may have decent bagels, but the writer sounded more impressed with what goes ON the bagel “crafted” sandwiches, variety of 50 sandwiches etc. For the best naked bagel, go to Hot Bagels in Fair Lawn on River Road. Maybe also try Saddle River Road Bagels in Fair Lawn. Neither are fancy. Maybe some cream cheese or a Taylor ham & egg

  9. Main Street Bagels and Appetizing in Queens is the absolute best, and I’m a native New Yorker, so you know my bagel standards have to be high. Not only are their bagels amazing, their other pastries (try the chocolate croissants!) are fantastic, and the service is amazing – the line can look a mile long but you’ll only be waiting five minutes. 72-26 Main Street in Flushing – you will NOT regret it! (It’s Kosher, so don’t come on Saturday.)

  10. How can you not list The Bagel Corner in the Riverdale section of the Bronx? I’ve been getting bagels there since the mid 70’s.

  11. Bagel gourmet/cafe/ole is one of the best bagel shops in town. Being a New Yorker I can appreciate a good toasted bagel! They have been around for 20+ years and supply most of the local restaurants!

  12. The Bagel Pub stores in Brooklyn have outstanding bagels. Even though it us a chain, it’s offerings stand out.

  13. Mary Lou says the best Bagels in our area is definitely Bagel Delite in Newtown, CT. Worth a few more miles to get them. Bagels are usually still warm when you get them. The smiles of the workers is great too!!!

  14. You can’t make a list of best bagels in Connecticut and not include Shef’s Bagels in Cheshire. Done the old fashioned way -boiled then baked. Tender and delicious inside and crispy outside, great coffee and awesome staff!

  15. The best bagels on North Shore of MA are made by Bagel World, with shops in Salem, Peabody, and Reading. They rival any I’ve ever had, even the great spinoffs from NYC, Philly, and Boston.

    1. Carolyn, you are spot on regarding Bagel World ! Best bagels AND sandwiches I’ve discovered in the area…and I’ve tried them all.

    2. 100% Bagel World and I’m from NY!!!! If only they could match NY speedy service, though they do have a drive thru!!!!

  16. Best bagels in Southeast Massachusetts is :
    Life’s a Bagel
    Washington Street
    Canton Massachusetts

  17. The BEST bagel shop on Long Island, NY is Bagel Boss in Hicksville. Open 24 hours (except on Jewish holidays), BB also has a large variety of schmaers, baked goods, & fishes (think lox)!

  18. The best Bagel shop is in Bristol RI. Bristol Bagel Works on Hope St. Best homemade bagels anywhere.

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