Best NYC Bagel Shops

This breakfast bucket list covers New York City bagel shops for locals and visitors, from old-school kettle-boiled classics to lighter sourdough styles. The stops reach Midtown East, Greenwich Village, Harlem and the East Village in Manhattan, Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn and Fresh Meadows in Queens. Ess-a-Bagel makes big, chewy hand-rolled bagels; get an everything with scallion cream cheese or lox. Bo's Bagels in Harlem turns out a crackly crust with a chewy interior. Apollo Bagels goes lighter, with open-crumbed bagels and a blistered crust, while Tompkins Square Bagels fills a long case with inventive cream cheese flavors. Bagel Oasis keeps hot, hand-rolled bagels coming out for late-night and road-trip stops.

At Apollo the line builds and items can sell out, so arrive early, and the same goes for Bo's on weekends.