Ess-a-Bagel
Bagel shop · Midtown East ·
Iconic NYC bagel shop with huge, chewy bagels & vast cream cheese options
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23079010/shutterstock_1264592866.jpg "Ess-a-Bagel by James R. Martin/Shutterstock")
Iconic NYC bagel shop with huge, chewy bagels & vast cream cheese options
"An iconic New York bagel shop prized for generously sized, chewy, and authentic bagels that draw locals and tourists alike seeking classic, hands-on bagel craftsmanship." - Regan Stephens
"Ess-a-Bagel is a classic, having opened in 1976, from Austrian baking family Florence and Gene Wilpon and Florence’s brother Aaron Wenzelberg. Today, there are a handful of locations making their signature enormous bagels, including a new one that opened in March in the Financial District." - Robert Sietsema
"For a bagel with as much puff as it has history, head to Ess-a-Bagel’s original location on 1st Ave. and 19th Street. Now at a few Manhattan outposts, this family-owned business has been churning out highly consistent, quarter plate-sized bagels since 1976. Slightly sweet, these are crisp and chewy in all the right places, and take scallion cream cheese like champions. Their everything looks like it’s frolicked in a meadow full of seasoning, with not a bald spot in sight, and you should eat one in nearby Stuyvesant Square for a perfect start to a New York day. In our taste test, these were the top crowd-pleasers, scoring high on chew and flavor." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah
"It’s not controversial to say that Ess-A-Bagel serves the best bagels in Midtown. People around here seem to agree, as evidenced by the lines that stretch out the front door. But the lines move fast, and while you’re waiting you can figure out your order. Get the signature bagel with whitefish salad, or try the pizza bagel if you want to feel like it’s school pizza day." - team infatuation
"If you want to be early for work, you probably shouldn’t stop at Ess-A-Bagel on your way in. The lines in the morning are always pretty long, but they’re much more manageable at lunch, when you can order breakfast-y things like a bagel with whitefish salad and nova, or lunch sandwiches, like a reuben or the BLT with avocado and Russian dressing." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, matt tervooren