Upper West Side Bagel Spot Named Among Best in New York City

By Gus Saltonstall

Eater New York City recently put together its new list of the best bagel spots in New York City, and, somewhat surprisingly, just one Upper West Side shop made the ranking.

Published earlier this month, the list featured nearly 20 bagel joints across the five boroughs.

The lone Upper West Side representative? Bagel Talk at 368 Amsterdam Avenue, between West 77th and 78th streets.

“Sure, Zabar’s and its stellar smoked fish are just around the corner in the Upper West Side, but the bagels here have a better chew,” Eater NY wrote. “The place is full of customers excited for any of the bagel sandwiches, from the standard bacon, egg, and cheese to those with whitefish or cream cheese and lox. Despite having a no-toasting policy for years, owner Abid Islam now grumpily allows it.”

The most notable omission? 2788 Bagels, formerly known as New Absolute Bagels, which replaced the long-running, much loved Absolute Bagels.

Tal Bagels and Bagels & Co. also made the list, but Eater NY specified both of the shops’ Upper East Side locations, despite both having outposts on the Upper West Side as well. In the description of Bagels & Co., the Eater editors even write, “This shallow storefront was a favorite in our Upper West Side bagel crawl to nine locations,” but then list 1428 York Avenue as its location of choice.

Tal Bagels has a location at 2446 Broadway, between West 90th and 91st streets, and Bagels & Co. has an outpost at 391 Amsterdam Avenue, between West 78th and 79th streets.

While Bagel Talk was the only Upper West Side shop to make the list, there was one other not far from the neighborhood’s boundaries: BO’s Bagels at 235 West 116th Street, between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. boulevards.

You can check out the full Eater NY best bagels list — HERE.

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