Life would be bleak without New York bagels. Beloved for their simplicity, the doughy rounds are a go-to at all hours of the day. In the morning, they wake us up with a hearty spread of cream cheese. Come midday, they fuel us through the power hours when stacked with bacon, egg, and cheese. Even at dinner, they offer a quick fix solution to those inevitable pizza cravings with the help of a little tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. In short, they’re nothing less than essential to everyday living.
Now, we may be making a bold statement here, but we’d choose a Hudson Valley bagel over a New York City one any day. Before you call our bluff, sample a round or two from one of these local shops. By the time you finish your last bite of that perfectly toasted cinnamon raisin or everything circle, you’ll be hopping on the Hudson Valley bagel train with us.
Bagel Boys Café
Suffern
For more than 30 years, Bagel Boys has delivered warm, carby goodness to bagel aficionados across the Hudson Valley. Flavor fans can rejoice as they pick and choose between cinnamon raisin, onion, and poppy. Get the rounds toasted or to-go with walnut raisin, sun-dried tomato, or veggie cream cheeses for an easy breakfast or lunch that never fails to impress. P.S. Don’t forget to ‘gram the shop’s rainbow bagel if you visit.
The Bagel Shoppe
Fishkill
As a go-to spot for commuters in the Fishkill area, The Bagel Shoppe has developed quite the reputation for its fresh, authentic water bagels. Flavors come in pretty much every style you can imagine, from garlic and pumpernickel to jalapeno, carrot walnut raisin, cinnamon, and Irish soda bread. Bagel twists, flagels (that’s flat bagels for you), and mini bagels are available as well. P.S. Stop in on Monday through Thursday during the week, when you can get six free bagels with your purchase of any one dozen.
Downtown Bagels and Miracle Bagels
Newburgh, New Windsor
If you’re looking for an honest-to-goodness boiled bagel, look no further than Downtown Bagels in Newburgh or Miracle Bagels in New Windsor. Open seven days a week, both locations use natural ingredients and kettle-boil, then bake their bagels on burlap-covered wood boards. Flavors lean on the traditional side, with options to upgrade with cream cheese and bacon, lox with the works, or classic peanut butter and jelly.
Goldberg’s Famous Bagels
New City
A favorite stop for locals in Rockland County, Goldberg’s is more than a little iconic among bagel eaters in the Hudson Valley. The no-frills shop specializes in the classics; think toppings like lox with cream cheese and onions, avocado toast, and egg and cheese. No matter what you order, you’ll want to get a plain to go. After all, you need to eat something tomorrow morning, right?
Hopewell Hot Bagels
Hopewell Junction
Our Readers’ Pick for Best Bagels in our 2018 Best of Hudson Valley Awards, Hopewell Hot Bagels is a must-visit for all Hudson Valleyites. Get the super onion bagel with jalapeno cream cheese and lox if you want a spicy start to the morning or go for the always reliable salt bagel and cream cheese combo.
Jessie’s Bagels
Sloatsburg
Known for its fun flavors and thoughtful customer service, Jessie’s is a treat for breakfast and lunch in the Hudson Valley. Depending on when you go, you can pick up bagels with add-ins like asiago cheese or jalapeno, then top them off with bacon, eggs, or lox galore.
Kingston Candy Bar
Kingston
A candy bar might seem like a weird place to get a bagel, but, then again, you’ve probably never been to Kingston Candy Bar before. The hole-in-the wall shop specializes in genre-defying treats, many of which are vegan. While most of the offerings are sweet, the spot’s savory schmearfulls – bagel bites along the lines of donut holes – are more than a little addictive. They’re filled with flavor-packed stuffings like artichoke heart and gremolata, which means a few of them make for an easy, albeit unconventional meal.
Lox of Bagels
Saugerties
Lox of Bagels has been making bagels from scratch since 1990, so it’s pretty hard to go wrong with breakfast or lunch here. Each bagel costs 90 cents apiece, and flavors range from blueberry and everything to spinach and onion. Get them with one of the shop’s specialty cream cheeses (hey, vanilla pecan), then prepare for a lil’ bite of heaven.
Nyack Hot Bagels & Deli
Nyack
Since 1995, Nyack Hot Bagels has remained committed to its signature New York bagel style. Made in the old-fashioned way, all bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in water, and baked fresh daily. Since tradition reigns supreme here, treat yourself to a plain with cream cheese or switch it up with a whole wheat topped with the eatery’s signature bacon red onion spread. “Yum” is an understatement.
Psychedelicatessen
Troy
Troy’s very own “farm-to-fork” bagel shop prides itself on its expertly hand-rolled, boiled, and baked bagels, made fresh daily. The recipe is based on a third-generation Jewish method and uses over 75 percent local ingredients, so expect only the best when you place your order. Go for bagel sandwiches like lox and schmear or the Med Head, a limited-edition morning favorite that combines a local fried egg, sun-dried tomato cream cheese, mozzarella, baby spinach, and tomato on a grilled, buttered pesto bagel. Hungry yet?
Rhinebeck Bagels
Rhinebeck
While the bagels at this Rhinebeck shop (which won our 2018 Best of Hudson Valley Editors’ Pick for Best Bagels) are admittedly great, the true shining stars can be found on the sandwich menu. Take a peek at @RBKBagel on Instagram for a glimpse at the over-the-top concoctions available, then order a toasty Pipe Doctor bagel sammie, which stacks hot turkey, bacon, cheddar, tomato, and mayo. The zesty Bumper, with roast beef, cheddar, onion, and horseradish sauce, is also a winner.
Rockland Bakery
Nanuet
Is there anything that Rockland bakery can’t do? Maybe, but we’ve yet to experience a bad egg, ahem, bagel here. Step into the storefront to breathe in the comforting scent of yeast, then dive into the fresh selection of egg, pumpernickel, and salt bagels on the racks. Don’t know where to begin? Just ask the staff for their favorite picks.
Sunrise Bagels & Deli
Kingston
If flavor variety is key for you, make a beeline for Sunrise in Kingston. Go for the asiago-topped, pesto parmesan, or pizza rounds if you’re in a savory mood. On the sweet spectrum, meanwhile, the cranberry orange zest, fruitwave, and snickerdoodle styles are a delight on their own or toasted with a pat of butter.
Wired Coffee and Bagel
Albany
The next time you’re in or around the Albany area, take a detour to Wired for a cup of java. While you’re there, make your morning better with toasted bagel topped with bacon scallion or candied bacon jalapeno spread or indulge your sweet tooth with Nutella and banana or…get ready for it…Nutella, bacon, and cream cheese. For savory fans, lox with the works on an egg or asiago bagel doubles as an easy, unforgettable lunch.
Zimi Bagel Café
Nanuet and Pearl River
“Made from scratch” is the secret to success at Zimi in Nanuet and Pearl River. The bagel-making begins with homemade dough that gets hand-rolled and boiled to form delectable circles that taste just a wonderful on their own as they do with the simple addition of butter or cream cheese. For the holidays, Zimi brings the fun with themed Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween varieties.
