The 20 best bagel shops in New York City, according to Foursquare

Location: Stuyvesant Town, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.68

If you're at David's Bagels, you're probably here for a classic BEC: bacon, egg, and cheese.

"There's no contest when it comes to bacon, egg, and cheeses, for David's is the superior sandwich, and that's all there is to it," Gothamist declared on Foursquare. "Hot egg and melted cheese wrapped around thick slices of bacon."

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 8.73

Though customers complain that the line can get long, the menu at Bagel Pub Park Slope can't be beat. From a plethora of bagel and cream cheese options to smoothies and pastries, this place has you covered for breakfast.

Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.74

Renowned for its smoked fish, which comes in lox, sturgeon, and whitefish varieties, Barney Greengrass serves up some of the freshest bagels in the city. Stop by for a quick bite or a casual brunch reminiscent of old New York. But remember to bring cash — it doesn't accept credit cards.

Location: West Village, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.76

Perennially a New York favorite, Murray's Bagels features fresh, hand-rolled bagels coated in everything from salt to garlic to poppy seed. Top 'em with lox, whitefish salad, or cream cheese, or master the cheese pull with an egg sandwich.

Location: Midtown West, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.78

A small, quick-moving bagel shop near the Garment District, Best Bagel & Coffee lives up to its name, with customers declaring that it is indeed the best in New York. The line gets long, especially with the hungover Saturday crowd, but the toasted everything bagels can't be beat.

Location: Forest Hills, Queens

Foursquare rating: 8.78

Hidden deep in Queens, Forest Hills Bagels keeps satisfied customers coming back time and time again. Keep it simple with lox and cream cheese or bulk up your meal with a BLT — they're both bagel shop classics for a reason.

Location: Kew Gardens, Queens

Foursquare rating: 8.81

Baker's Dozen Bagels is pretty deep in Queens, but it serves up top-notch bagels that keep customers loyal.

"Best bagels in Queens, and that's a bold statement," a Foursquare user wrote. "Staff is super friendly. A wee bit pricey until you see the amount of food you get. Lines out the door during rush. You won't be sorry waiting!"

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.81

Customers cheer the affordable prices and wide cream cheese selection at Bagel Bob's on York. Try a new combination every time by pairing anything from sun-dried tomato and olive to scallion schmears atop all types of bagels.

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.84

Though "Seinfeld" fans can no longer visit H&H's original Upper West Side location — it shuttered in 2011 — this Upper East Side spot (with only loose ties to the original) serves up similarly mouthwatering bagels. Fresh from the oven, the bagels come out hot and ready to be stuffed with lox, cream cheese, or eggs and cheese.

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 8.88

A favorite of Park Slope residents, La Bagel Delight combines friendly service with delicious breakfast options to embody the spirit of the quintessential neighborhood bagel shop. Start your morning with a breakfast sandwich stuffed with eggs, cheese, and one of the spot's 11 types of meat. Delightful!

Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 8.98

Brooklyn's Bergen Bagels amasses a line out the door almost every morning for its fresh bagels and huge selection of homemade cream cheeses. Expect flavors both sweet and savory, including blueberry, apple cinnamon, basil, jalapeño, and walnut raisin.

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 8.98

Locals love this tiny neighborhood bagel shop that serves up chewy, warm bagels and "flagels" — a thinner, less-bread-y bagel — all morning. Add a kick to your breakfast with spreads like garlic poppy cream cheese or olive pimento cream cheese.

There's no seating in the compact space, so grab a bagel to go.

Location: SoHo, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 9.06

It's on the pricier side, with a perpetual line to boot, but Sadelle's is well worth it.

"Lox was delicious, bagels perfectly done, maitre'd on-site, and everything bagels had a lot of seasoning which is very important," Foursquare user Jeff H. wrote. "Beautiful, fresh vegetables accompanied two types of cream cheese."

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 9.09

There's something for everyone at Bagelsmith Bedford, with a variety of flavored cream cheeses, vegan spreads, and handcrafted bagels. It's open 24/7, so you can drop in for a bite on your way to work in the morning or on your way home after hitting the bars in Williamsburg at night.

Location: East Village, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 9.11

Enjoy dessert for breakfast at Tompkins Square Bagels with a French toast bagel loaded with the spot's signature birthday cake cream cheese. In a savory mood? You can't go wrong with a classic bacon, egg, and cheese on a freshly-baked bagel. It's cash-only, so come prepared.

Location: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 9.23

It's worth trekking down to Bay Ridge for a fresh-from-the-oven bagel from Bagel Boy. Foursquare users cheer the whole wheat and toasted sesame varieties in particular. A rainbow bagel paired with rainbow cream cheese makes for Instagram gold as well.

Location: Astoria, Queens

Foursquare rating: 9.24

In addition to serving huge, fluffy bagels, New York City Bagel & Coffee House is known for its impeccable hospitality.

"Really great coffee and bagels, let me say that first. Why this place stands out, though, is the manager and the people who work here," Foursquare user Matej Hargas wrote. "They make everyone feel welcome."

Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 9.25

If you're a cream cheese fan, you're in luck: Absolute Bagels doesn't skimp on spreads, doling out generous portions of varieties like bacon and cheddar, merlot, and walnut raisin tofu. Slathered on a light and fluffy bagel, it's a match made in breakfast heaven.

Location: Chelsea, Manhattan

Foursquare rating: 9.25

Though it doesn't actually have any locations in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co. serves up authentic New York-style bagels that are crispy on the surface and chewy inside. The cream cheese selection runs the gamut from savory (think bacon scallion and sun-dried tomato) to sweet (strawberry, blueberry, and cinnamon raisin), so that everyone can pick their perfect pairing.

Location: Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Foursquare rating: 9.36

It only takes one visit to notice the difference at Shelsky's Smoked Fish, where the name says it all. The classic New York delicatessen boasts nearly 30 varieties of fish, including smoked peppered mackerel, pickled herring, and pastrami-cured salmon, imaginatively arranged into sandwich combinations that combine it with fresh bread and savory cream cheese.