New Yorkers are pretty serious about their bagels, but you'll see them lining up regularly to get these—widely considered the best downtown.
The best bagels downtown
Simple but stylish
The drinks
Coffee, coffee, coffee
No better bagels
John Wogan
Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.
"Modern bagel bodega" may sound odd, but there's really no other way to describe Black Seed Bagels' location in the heart of Nolita. Designed by Brooklyn firm hOmE, it's sleek, with plank wood walls, tiled floors and cool, modern light fixtures that make grabbing a bagel and lox a wholly new experience.
What was the crowd like?
New Yorkers are serious about their bagels, and you'll find all sorts of them standing in line, waiting for theirs here. Most people grab and go, though there are a few tables and a small counter to eat-in, too.
What should we be drinking?
You're pretty much limited to coffee, but luckily, it's Stumptown (hot or iced), and that's probably what you'd want to sip with your bagel anyway.
Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.
What sets apart Black Seed's bagels from any other you'll have are the little details. A little smaller and denser than the typical NYC bagel, they're hand-rolled and wood fired, and the types are pretty straightforward (rye, salt, sesame, etc). Although they're great on their own with some scallion cream cheese, try one of the egg sandwiches—we recommend the BOCA, which comes with avocado, tomato and cheddar.
And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?
It's a walk-up and order operation, and the staff here are fast and pleasant.
What's the real-real on why we're coming here?
If you're solo, grab a bagel sandwich and stroll over to the nearby Elizabeth Street Garden to pretend you're in the countryside.
The entire world in one place.
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