Some of these spots have lines that wrap around the block and every single one of them is worth the wait. Here are the best bagels on the Upper West Side.
Why trust me about Upper West Side bagels?
Hi there! I’m Antonina and I live on the Upper West Side. Bagels are a passion of mine. There’s nothing like biting into that hot, fresh, straight off the rack bagel with the proper schmear.
Ever since moving to the UWS I’ve made it a mission of mine to find the best bagels here. Of all the shops and countless bagels I’ve tried, the following are the ones I love the best and keep coming back to.
A quick word about health scores
Ever noticed that bold, colored letter in the window of restaurants? That’s the establishment’s official letter grade issued by New York City’s Health Department that correlates with their sanitary inspection. When a restaurant is inspected they are given points for each violation that adds up to their overall inspection score.
I don’t know about you, but I take sanitation seriously and will not eat at a restaurant with a letter score of less than an “A”. To that end, we only recommend restaurants with an “A” letter grade. If you ever notice a health score less than an “A” on a restaurant we’ve recommended please let us know and we will drop it from the list until its score improves.
The list, in my order
6 I’d go back to. My verdict on every one, and the ones nearby from my other lists.
Zabar's
- Address2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
Found on the corner of Broadway and West 80th, Zabar’s (pronounced zay-bar) is a family-owned grocery store that feels like a true New York experience. They have a vast selection of interesting goodies in store, from Jewish delicacies and an excellent assortment of cheese to incredible baked goods, but the lox is where they shine.
My husband I never pass up an opportunity to order a bagel with lox while shopping in store. Reasonably priced, I consider these some of the best bagels on the Upper West Side.
If you haven’t had a bagel from Why trust me about Upper West Side bagels?, have you even been to New York?
Modern Bread & Bakery
- Address472 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024
I stumbled upon Modern Bakery completely by accident during a morning walk through the neighborhood, struck by a craving for bagels. I popped in without realizing this was a gluten free bakery, but I enjoyed the bagel so much I returned the following weekend for more. The texture is chewier than a traditional bagel, which I really enjoyed. The vibe here is cozy and unpretentious, perfect for a low-key outing with friends or a solo treat. It flies under the radar and I kind of love that about it.
Orwashers Bakery
- Address440 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
Originally founded in 1916, Orwashers recently branched out to a second location the Upper West Side. Serving New Yorkers for more than 105 years, the bakery’s success can be attributed to traditional baking methods perfected over time.
So it’s no surprise that they serve some of the best bagels on the UWS, swing by for the classics. The lox is great, but my preference is a plain bagel with scallion cream cheese (chef’s kiss!).
Barney Greengrass
- Address541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
Dating back to 1908, Barney Greengrass is an Upper West Side institution famous for knock-out smoked fish. No, seriously, U.S. Presidents have had it shipped to the White House. They churn out some of the best lox and bagels on the Upper West Side and the neighborhood is lucky to have them. A friend dragged me here years ago and I’ve been a devoted regular ever since. You’ll understand why after one visit.
Kossar's
- Address1409 York Ave, New York, NY 10021
In terms of bagel sandwiches, it doesn’t get much better than Kossar’s on the Upper West Side. The line wrapping around the block says it all. These bagels are typically hot, fresh, and go great with the delicious lox they have on offer here. One of my closest friends considers Kossar’s as the best bagel on the Upper West Side.
Kossar’s flagship store on the Lower East Side dates back to 1936 putting them in the realm of institution status. In fact, they claim to be. Regardless of the history, they’re still cranking an absolutely delicious product worth traveling for.
Popup Bagels
- Cost$12 for 3 bagels with schmear
- Address338 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023
You’re saying the newest bagel joint in the Upper West Side is the best!? Yes. It’s seriously hard to beat a Popup bagel. The smell of this place has taken over the UWS by storm and the taste is every bit as good.
Bagels don’t get fresher than those at Popup which typically roll right out of the oven shortly after ordering. The deal here is novel and breaks New York tradition. Some love it, some hate it. So goes the world.
At Popup, the minimum order is three bagels, and that comes with a healthy carton of schmear for $12. You choose the schmear and can mix and match the bagels.
As an Upper West Sider myself, I’ve gotta say the arrival of Popup came with no small amount of excitement. This place already has lines around the block each morning and deservedly so.
Also worth noting, Popup Bagels is Kosher!
