New York is as synonymous with bagels as it is with bright lights and Broadway, so hitting one of its renowned bakeries is a must. One couple, however, has taken things a little further, eating their way through pretty much every bagel turned out in the city. Mike Varley and Jessi Highet visited 202 bagel stores and wrote up comprehensive reviews of each one, ranking the stores from the worst to the absolute best.

Their survey is believed to be the most comprehensive analysis of NYC's bagels ever undertaken. And they didn't just stroll around the city: they spent 13 months walking five marathons a week to cover all five boroughs. Each shop was judged on the taste and presentation of one item: an everything bagel with spring onion–laced cream cheese. Visitors can follow the interactive map online or book a guided bagel tour, hosted by Mike and/or his business partner Sam Silverman, with stops and tastings at some of the stores.

We've put together a top 30 based on their research, counting down to the number one place for bagels in the Big Apple. The list covers a broad range of places that showcase the city's heritage and diverse culture in bagel form, from family-run bakeries and delis that have been going for decades to newer stores on the scene.

This bagel shop in Queens offers some of the best customer service in town, with a side of chewy, delicious bagels. Owner Ben Suh is often around the shop and is quick to offer complimentary goodies to his customers – even though the bagels already speak for themselves. A customer favourite is the Seoul Meets Bagel (SMB). Inspired by Ben’s Korean heritage, it's packed with bulgogi, egg, American cheese, kimchi and a gochujang mayo.

Located in Manhattan Valley, this sleek, modern store serves a wide variety of spreads and pastries. It's a great option for when you need to grab a quick bite, as the staff know how to deliver bagels quickly – which, in a bustling city like New York, is always a good thing. The bagels are soft and larger than the average, and the fillings are abundant. 

Open only from 5am until noon, Empire Bagels is located in Pelham Bay and offers good, no-nonsense fare. This is the kind of place that does one thing and does it well, so get your coffee elsewhere. The bagels are large and slightly crackly, and they come with just the right amount of filling. A classic, no-frills breakfast stop for daily commuters and locals.

Founded in 1972, H&H Bagels is all about serving good bagels, period – and its Upper East Side location in Yorkville does just that. The high-quality products you can buy here are the talk of the town; in fact, this shop's fame is so widespread that it's appeared in TV shows and movies like Seinfeld, The Office, You’ve Got Mail, Sex and the City, How I Met Your Mother and Entourage.

The Upper West Side location of the H&H chain is also worthy of a mention, with its original New York-style bagels available here too. All H&H bagels are made with natural ingredients, and are proofed, kettle-boiled and bathed in cold water before being oven baked. They're slightly smaller than the average bagel, but they're well-filled and served warm. 

This contemporary bagel shop serves large, tall bagels with a satisfying array of classic and modern toppings. The fillings are delicious too. Take, for example, this classic from the breakfast menu: The Bubeleh, which comes filled with two farm-fresh eggs, Nova Scotia salmon and a crispy potato latke on a bagel of your choice (and there are a whopping 13 different types to try).

This large bagel and deli shop is located in Rego Parks, Queens, and serves soft bagels alongside a long list of other soups, salads, pastries and drinks – including beer, which is definitely not standard bagel shop fare! This is a good stop if you're looking not only for a tasty, classic bagel, but also for a big deli with an ample selection of tempting foods.

Run by a former pizza entrepreneur, Bagel Parlor in Whitestone, Queens does very good bagels and even better pizza bagels, combining two amazing New York street foods into one. However, if you're simply looking for a classic lox bagel, Bagel Parlor does those too, and its staff have been praised for their quick service. You can also get mini bagels, which are the perfect choice if you can’t decide on just one flavour.

This classic bagel shop and deli is located in Dongan Hills, and boasts a large selection of bagels, toppings and pastries. It specialises in flavoured cream cheeses, which are displayed in large bowls in the style of a traditional gelato shop. Varieties include spring onion, strawberry, blueberry, Oreo, chocolate chip, bacon cheddar, olive and jalapeño and lox, all of which are whipped and served in an extra-large, perfectly chewy bagel.

Bagelworks is another classic bagel shop that's a must-try if you happen to walk by Lenox Hill in Manhattan. It's a small store that serves big bagels with a remarkably creamy and milky cream cheese spread. The spread comes in a variety of flavours, including honey walnut, chive, strawberry, huckleberry, lox, spinach herb, jalapeño and sun-dried tomato.

A classic, no-frills Brooklyn bagel shop where you can get your on-the-go bagel in no time. The menu has an ample selection of salad spreads that go nicely with the shop's range of crunchy, toasty bagels. The staff are friendly and efficient, and they serve all sorts of breakfast fare and drinks (all at a low price too, which is always a win).

Forest Hills Bagels has been a favourite among local residents for quite some time, and it's one of the best bagel shops you can find in Queens. Along with the bagels, there's a lengthy breakfast and lunch menu, perfect for any time of the day. The variety of bagels here is impressive – they even serve the once-viral rainbow bagel, and crispy bagel chips – and the bagels can be customised in pretty much every way you can think of.

Boasting a recently renovated interior and an impressive array of bagels and spreads, Gotta Getta Bagel has everything you’d expect from a bagel shop, and more – you can even have a bubble tea with your order. There's also a selection of tofu spreads for those looking for a plant-based alternative, and the menu is guaranteed Kosher.

This old-timey Brooklyn bagel and bialys shop serves large, hot bagels that sell out fast. The bagels are pleasantly crackly, and the flavour combinations are practically endless; there's a menu featuring all the usual bagels and toppings, plus a dedicated menu filled with speciality sandwiches (such as the Spicy Buffalo Sandwich, which can be served on a bagel or roll).

Known for its efficient, friendly staff, Leo’s Bagels serves big, hot bagels with a soft interior and crispy, crunchy shell, evenly topped with everything seasoning. It also serves gluten-free bagels and tofu 'cream cheese' spreads, or 'Tofutti'.  A contemporary shop that does the classics and modern twists equally well, it's definitely worth a visit if you find yourself walking around the Financial District.

If you're looking for hand-rolled bagels with a modern twist, try Liberty Bagels in Jackson Heights. This well-known chain serves swirly speciality bagels such as the green and spicy jalapeño bagel, the vivid rainbow bagel and the Liberty bagel, which has a strawberry swirl, mini chocolate chip pieces and vanilla. However, if you're a bagel purist, fear not: they also serve all the classics, plus some stunning bagel sandwiches.

For great, chewy bagels, try Shelsky’s in Cobble Hill. Here, you'll get a top tier experience and a delightful ‘sandwich with a schmear'. Go classic – this institution is well-known for its remarkable smoked fish – or try a modern take like the Sichuan Chili Crisp Cream Cheese on a bagel or bialy sandwich. Perfect!

Just follow the delicious, bready scent through Windsor Terrace and you’ll find this Brooklyn bagel shop. Terrace bagels boasts an impressive selection of bagels, spreads and sandwiches, and even serves something called a 'split decision' – an open-faced bagel with fresh lox and cream cheese on one side, and whitefish salad or baked salmon salad on the other side – for those of us who can’t choose.

Well worth a visit if you're strolling through the East Village, this indie bagel shop serves hip vibes and squishy bagels with generous toppings. The menu has an extensive array of classic and contemporary fillings, including savoury delights such as wasabi, fresh bacon with cream, and olive-pimento, plus sweeter varieties like chocolate chip cookie dough, birthday cake and espresso. 

Bagel Boy is a brilliant city-meets-suburbs bagel shop. It serves tasty, large bagels that are topped perfectly, and the shop also boasts an impressive selection of deli case offerings. The bagels are on the pleasantly chewy side, and the staff are friendly, yet quick and efficient. It can get busy, but with good reason – customers say it's well worth the wait.

If you're only going to do one thing, you better do it really well – just like this neighbourhood shop does when it comes to bagels. Well-known for its fantastic pastrami lox and efficient staff, Bagel Corner has been ranked as the best bagel shop in the Bronx. Crowd favourites are its soft cream cheese spread and its evenly topped everything bagel, which has a rich, toasty flavour. 

Serving comparatively small, traditional-style bagels (as opposed to the larger contemporary versions), this Brooklyn bagel shop is simply charming. With its vintage 'salt in the walls' storefront, Bagel Hole has an impossible-to-imitate look that can only be achieved by having been open for decades. It's as classic as it gets, and has gathered a cult following.

With a large and stunning façade, BO's Bagels is a contemporary bagel stop in Harlem that serves all the usual suspects alongside a few modern takes. The service is efficient and focused, and the shop has a nice selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free treats. Speciality sandwiches include the Jive Turkey, a pumpernickel bagel filled with turkey, cranberry sauce, melted brie and honey mustard, and the Uptown Vegan: a za'atar bagel with hummus, tomato, avocado, sprouts, cucumber and red onions.

This small shop in Manhattan serves a mighty bagel and, despite its size, ticks all the boxes: efficient and friendly staff, crunchy bagels with a good topping density, and a tantalising selection of freshly prepared fillings. It's keeping up with all the contemporary shops too, serving gluten-free and rainbow bagels. 

Serving hot, fresh bagels from 6am onwards, this cosy, old-school stop is another Brooklyn favourite that serves fantastic snacks with creamy fillings. It may be a bit crowded – the shop is small, but very popular – but you can expect some exceptionally good fare if you're willing to wait.

Looking for the best gluten-free bagel in New York City? Modern Bread and Bagel has it. This Upper West Side bakery specialises in just that and does it incredibly well, making the bagels in small batches and using ancient grains instead of wheat flour. There's a nice selection of sandwiches, salads, sweet treats and more gluten-free bakes on offer too.

Said to be the original home of the za'atar bagel – a spice blend that's recently come into the spotlight thanks to famous chef Yotam Ottolenghi – this shop in Prospect Heights serves the best bagels in Brooklyn. The shop serves more than 30 different flavours of homemade cream cheese to pair with the hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked on-premises treats.

There’s nothing bad about these bagels, served in a contemporary shop in Bushwick that boasts that unique Brooklyn industrial style. The shop has embraced the rainbow trend, offering beautifully swirled bagels alongside the more traditional offerings, and there are French toast bagels and a cheesy asiago bagels to try too. What's more, the menu is packed with hot and cold sandwich options, each one more delicious than the last.

Going strong since 1947, this bagel shop in Whitestone is the best in Queens, and offers an impressive array of tasty baked goods. It serves hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels, resulting in crackly, toasty goodness with a soft, chewy inside, and isn't afraid of trying new trends. The brown-and-yellow egg-everything is a must, but come with an appetite – there are so many other options, it's hard to choose just one. 

The Manhattan location of this beloved chain serves the best bagels in the borough – and, arguably, all of New York City. The bagels are doughy, made fresh every day, and served up fast. What else could you possibly need? The shop has been serving loyal customers since 1995, and its speciality sandwiches and cream cheese fillings will have you drooling. How does honey bacon sriracha or avocado and herb cream cheese sound?

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