Unearth The Voyage
There is nothing like a New York morning built around a glossy bagel piled with silky lox. Whether you crave tradition or a playful twist, these delis deliver textures and flavors that hit all the right notes.
You will find hand rolled dough, house cured fish, and schmears so smooth they feel like a secret handshake. Grab this list and plan your next bite, because the city’s best are waiting a few blocks away.
1. Russ & Daughters (Lower East Side)
Russ & Daughters brings a century of craft to every bagel and lox, and you can taste that heritage in each bite. The bagels arrive with a glossy crust and a tender, chewy interior that holds its shape without being stiff.
Layered with silky Gaspe or Scottish salmon, plus a gentle smear of cream cheese, it is balance you feel immediately.
You can customize with red onion, tomato, and capers, or keep it simple and let the fish sing. Staff moves quickly, but they never rush your choices, and you will leave with confidence.
The lines can stretch, so plan smart, but they move with purpose and care.
When you need a benchmark for what bagel and lox should be, this is your north star. Pick up a few extras for later, because regret hits when the last bite vanishes.
Tradition tastes better here.
2. Russ & Daughters Café (Lower East Side)
The café version of Russ & Daughters gives you a seat and a plate arranged with painterly precision. Bagels arrive warm, with that shiny shell and cushiony crumb that invites generous schmear.
Lox options range from buttery smoked salmon to more assertive, briny cuts that wake the palate.
Order a classic board with tomato, capers, onions, and cucumbers, and you will appreciate how everything is sliced to support texture, not dominate it. Service is attentive without fuss, keeping coffee topped and decisions easy.
You can split a few styles to compare salt, smoke, and richness in satisfying bites.
It is a perfect stop when you want the full ritual without balancing a to go bag on a street corner. The café slows time enough to savor every detail.
Leave with cookies or babka if you like sweet finishes.
3. Barney Greengrass (Upper West Side)
Barney Greengrass is a smoky dream for anyone who loves fish with character. The bagels are sturdy and chewy, ideal for generous layers of nova or sturgeon that bring a whisper of smoke and a velvet texture.
Cream cheese binds everything, anchoring briny capers and sweet tomato slices.
Servers move with practiced rhythm, tossing advice without pretense, and somehow always knowing what you meant to order. The room hums with neighborhood energy, where regulars nod and newcomers relax fast.
It feels like a time capsule, yet the food stays sharply alive.
If you crave a slightly saltier, more assertive profile than most, this is your spot. Pair your bagel and lox with a side of scrambled eggs for a hearty morning push.
Bring cash backup, arrive early, and claim your table like a local.
4. Zabar’s (Upper West Side)
Zabar’s excels at precision slicing and superior fish selection, making their bagel and lox a dependable classic. Bagels hold structure without going tough, giving you that coveted chew against silky nova.
The cream cheese is cool and clean, allowing subtle smoke to move forward.
Step to the appetizing counter and watch the slicers work like artisans, laying ribbons of salmon that drape perfectly. Add onions, tomatoes, and capers if you want zing and crunch.
Everything moves quickly, and you can be in and out with breakfast for the park.
It is perfect for grab and go mornings when you crave predictability and quality. Prices are fair for the caliber, and the selection of sides makes building a picnic simple.
Treat yourself to coffee and rugelach to round out a perfect Upper West Side stroll.
5. Frankel’s Delicatessen & Appetizing (Brooklyn)
Frankel’s brings a younger Brooklyn energy to a deeply traditional combo. Expect bagels with a good boil and a nicely blistered crust, ready to carry lush salmon and assertive scallion cream cheese.
The flavors are dialed for clarity, so each bite stays focused and satisfying.
Specials rotate, and you may catch dill packed lox or a peppery whitefish salad that loves a plain bagel. The staff is friendly and quick with suggestions, especially if you want to customize build by build.
Lines can form, but the payoff is worth it.
This is a great stop before a day exploring Greenpoint or Williamsburg. Bring a friend, split two versions, and compare textures and seasoning.
It is familiar yet fresh, the kind of place that reminds you why bagels and lox never fade.
6. Absolute Bagels (Upper West Side)
Absolute Bagels is for purists who want the bagel to be the star. The crust crackles slightly before you reach a soft, hot interior that practically sighs with freshness.
Add lox and a light smear, and you will appreciate how the fish complements rather than overpowers.
Flavors like sesame and everything shine, but a plain bagel can be best for showcasing a delicate nova. The line wraps around the block on weekends, yet staff maintains a steady rhythm.
Bring cash, decide early, and the process becomes painless.
It is perfect when you want that just out of the kettle warmth. Grab an extra bag for later because they freeze well and reheat beautifully.
This is a neighborhood anchor that still feels like a discovery every time you return.
7. Ess-a-Bagel (Midtown East & Downtown)
Ess-a-Bagel is famous for size and chew, delivering bagels that make a generous canvas for lox. The crust has satisfying resistance, and the crumb stays moist, so every bite carries weight without going dense.
Go classic with nova and plain cream cheese, or try scallion for extra bite.
Customization is the move here, with add ons from cucumber to jalapeño that keep flavors bright. The line can feel intense, but it moves faster than you think.
Have your order ready, speak clearly, and you will be rewarded with a stacked sandwich.
It is ideal before a Midtown commute or a downtown wander. Grab napkins, because these bagels are not shy, and you will want every crumb.
Consistency and volume are their superpowers, and they still deliver personality.
8. Tompkins Square Bagels (East Village)
Tompkins Square Bagels leans playful without losing classic balance. The bagels have a light crust and pillowy interior, perfect for both straightforward lox and creative combinations.
You can go wild with flavored schmears, but a simple plain spread lets the salmon shine.
Service is upbeat and patient, helpful if you like to explore new pairings. The East Village energy is real, with students, artists, and locals sharing tables and small talk.
Everything feels approachable, from first timers to regulars.
For a bagel and lox that invites experimentation, this place delivers. Consider adding cucumber for crunch and a squeeze of lemon for brightness.
Then take it to Tompkins Square Park and enjoy that singular neighborhood rhythm.
9. Murray’s Bagels (Greenwich Village & Chelsea)
Murray’s Bagels champions the untoasted bagel, and it works beautifully with lox. The crust is shiny and resilient, yielding to a flavorful crumb that hugs cream cheese and salmon.
Balance is the theme, with careful slicing and well judged portions that never spill out.
Order the classic lox and schmear with onion, tomato, and capers for a textbook build. The no toasting rule keeps textures honest, letting freshness do the talking.
Service is quick, though the line can snake the block on weekends.
It is a great stop before wandering the Village or heading into Chelsea. The bagels carry well, so a park bench picnic is easy.
When you want tradition handled with care, Murray’s lands that sweet spot every time.
10. H&H Bagels (Upper East & Upper West Side)
H&H Bagels turns out glossy, generously sized bagels with a soft chew that welcomes rich lox. The aroma alone gets you halfway to satisfied before the first bite lands.
Cream cheese spreads smoothly, acting as a cool cushion for silky salmon and crunchy onion.
You can taste consistency baked into every bagel, a dependable rhythm that suits busy mornings. Staff is efficient and friendly, making quick work of big orders.
The menu covers all the classics, with a few seasonal twists that keep things fun.
Grab your sandwich and stroll Riverside or Central Park for a perfect New York pairing. These bagels reheat well, so take home a dozen for later.
When convenience meets quality, H&H remains a city standby you can trust.
11. Bagel Hole (Brooklyn)
Bagel Hole is a shrine to traditional technique, delivering compact bagels with tight crumb and robust flavor. The crust brings a satisfying tug, and the interior stays tender without fluff.
Lox sits neatly, so each bite is structured and clean.
There is no circus of toppings here, just quality that rewards attention. Order a plain or sesame, add a measured schmear, and let the salmon’s silkiness do the talking.
It is small, no nonsense, and proud of it.
Perfect for those who prefer less show and more soul, Bagel Hole feels like a secret even locals guard. Bring cash, decide quickly, and respect the line.
You will leave with a sandwich that proves restraint can be delicious.
12. Shelsky’s of Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights & Cobble Hill)
Shelsky’s blends old world appetizing with Brooklyn’s culinary curiosity. Expect carefully sourced salmon, sometimes flavored with dill or pastrami style spice, arranged over bagels that hold their own.
The cream cheese options are thoughtful, from classic to herbed, letting you tailor bite by bite.
Staff guides you without pressure, happy to explain nuances in smoke and salt. Specials rotate, so there is always a reason to return.
The shops feel welcoming, with just enough bustle to remind you this is New York.
Pair your lox with pickled sides or a refreshing cucumber salad. The result is elegant, satisfying, and never heavy.
If you love variety and craftsmanship, Shelsky’s gives you both in confident harmony.
13. Bagel Pub (Brooklyn)
Bagel Pub is a neighborhood favorite where portions are generous and prices fair. The bagels strike a nice balance between crisp shell and soft chew, keeping structure under a hearty lox stack.
You can add tomatoes, onion, and capers without losing control of the sandwich.
There is a casual ease to the service that suits lazy weekend mornings. Coffee is strong, seating is comfortable, and the flow encourages lingering.
The menu ranges wide, but the classic lox and schmear stays the smartest order.
Bring a friend, split bagel styles, and compare the everything versus sesame showdown. You will leave full and happy, with a plan to come back next week.
It is reliable, friendly, and very Brooklyn in the best way.
14. Sadelle’s (SoHo)
Sadelle’s turns bagel and lox into a showstopper. The presentation is dramatic, with tiered stands and perfectly sliced accompaniments laid out like jewelry.
Bagels are soft and warm, ideal for spreading thick cream cheese before draping salmon ribbons.
Service is polished yet friendly, and the room buzzes with celebratory energy. It is a great place for a brunch that feels special without being stiff.
Expect to take photos, then eat quickly because everything tastes best warm.
If you like a delicate, buttery lox that melts into the bagel, this hits the mark. Add capers and lemon for a gentle spark.
It is indulgent, memorable, and a fun reminder that classics can still feel glamorous.
15. Baz Bagel & Restaurant (SoHo & Upper West Side)
Baz Bagel is cheerful, unfussy, and dialed into the joy of a great bagel and lox. The bagels are hand rolled and nicely boiled, giving you that classic snap and chew.
Nova is silky and mildly smoky, pairing well with plain or chive cream cheese.
Menu options include fun twists, but the standard build sings with fresh tomato, onion, and capers. Service is upbeat, and the vibe encourages lingering over coffee and conversation.
Both locations keep the experience consistent and friendly.
It is a lovely stop when you want comfort without compromise. The balance of texture and salt makes every bite feel complete.
Leave satisfied and ready to wander SoHo’s streets or the Upper West’s leafy blocks.
