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
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.
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
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.
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
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).
New York
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.
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
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.
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.
103 Thoughts on “Can’t-Miss Bagel Shops in the Northeast”
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Andyman’s in Amesbury have my favorites. Soft inside with a crisp outside and many varieties. LInes form early on the weekend.
Providence Bagel
2 locations here in Rhode Island
1 in Providence
1 in North Providence
They’re the best bagel shop here in Rhode Island and I’m initially a NYer
And one in Mansfield MA, now.
The best in Queens, if not all NYC, is Utopia Bagels on, of course, Utopia Pwy.
If you’re ever in Sparta NJ try bagful of bagels on Rt 15. The bagels are excellent and they have other delicious baked goods. They even make their own corned beef!
Linden Bagel in NJ, excellent bagels with a nice selection!
The best bagels just like your traditional New York style, old-school bagel is in Stamford Connecticut. Eric’s Bagels. No bagel shop though. You got to pre-order online about 2 days in advance. They are worth you planning on picking up along your route. They also have delicious Pretzels and Bagel Breads. You won’t be disappointed!
Thanks for the suggestion, Nicole!
Real bagels need Nyc water! And Brooklyn bagels are the best: we get ours at Gerritsen Bagels on Gerritsen Ave in Brooklyn!
Kupel’s in Brookline, MA.
Bagelsaurus in Cambridge, MA, reigns supreme among the bagels I’ve tasted.
Best bagels around is at the Bagel Shop on Hicksville Road, Bethpage. Very light and delicious.
When in Philadelphia, PA, Spread Bagelry is a must. There are 8 locations in the Greater Philadelphia Area. They specialize in Montreal-style bagels which are boiled in honey water and then baked in a wood oven. So delicious. Great for breakfast, brunch or lunch. They also make their own cream cheeses and other spreadable salads and jams. So good. They are addictive though. You’ve been warmed. Their rewards club is stellar too. Don’t miss their whitefish salad made in-house. it’s the best I’ve ever had…and I’ve had a lot.
Hightstown Bagels, Hightstown NJ – right off NJ Tpke Exit 8 – and much welcomed respite from NJ Tpke food fare!
YOU MISSED DUNKIN’ DONUTS ALL ON LONG ISLAND!
NYC’s Ess-a-bagel! C’mon!!
Was waiting for it.. Yes, ESS-A-BAGEL.. what every bagel should be judged against. I’ve not found a better bagel anywhere. Both locations in Manhattan are the same… The Best!!
Nyack Hot Bagel on rte 59 in Rockland County NY. Excellent bagels and bialys.
http://nyackbagels.com/
Bagel Hole on at at 700 7th Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets in the Park Slope
neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.
They have been consistently better than any others I have tried, for decades. They are
not big and puffed up but are the size that many will remember from their childhood, with
a good crust and proper chewy interior. I have recommended them to many people who
thank me for the suggestion.
And, they give a baker’s dozen (13 vs. 12) which others do not do and younger people will
not even know the concept of.
Also, Russ and Daughters bagels are not sour-dough bagels.
S is correct! As someone who comes from a three generation bagel dynasty, I can attest to the delicious quality of bagels made the old fashioned way at The Bagel Hole in Brooklyn
Definitely Kinderkamack Bagels on Kinderkamack road in River Edge, NJ.
The parking lot is always packed— people come from all over to taste one of their sublime bagels. Worth the trip, and the small parking lot!
Olmo in New Haven. Nothing more need be said. Thanks to the others for entering the competition lol.
Ess A Bagel Third Avenue at 52nd Street in Manhattan are the best bagels in NYC, much better than Russ and Daughter. Their Nova and other appetizing is quite good as well.
Yup, another excellent palate… Ess-A-Bagel is #1
Bagels Plus in North Conway, NH has incredible bagels!
What about New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont bagels.