Nyc Bagel Tours: Midtown's Iconic Bagels

What a brilliant tour! Sam gave us so much information all about the history of bagels and could answer all of my very niche questions. We got to try several bagels at each place and had time to see everything and ask all of our questions. We went into the bakery part of the last place and got to see the mixing and rolling process. I’m a baker so I know a lot about the baking side but I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it. 11/10

Why are there not more bagel tours in NYC?? Probably because they can't be better than this one! It was not just eating bagels and trying new flavors (there was a lot of that), but there was a lot of history with bagels, bagel gangs, and about the bagel makers themselves. I am a history buff and this tour blew me away because I didn't expect that much history! Aiden was a great tour guide and let our small group have a say in a few flavors of cream cheese. I have always wanted to try a sweeter one but have been scared to, since savory is my thing. Luckily I got to try a bunch of flavors- which none of which I disliked. If you love (or just like) bagels, and are interested in some NYC history, this is for you! You even learn how bagels are made and what sets some apart from others. I would definitely do this again!

Really fun experience. Will was a very good tour guide and knew his stuff! Highly recommended if you’re in New York and want to try some great bagels. We got to see how they made all the different bagels and try a lot of different styles, fillings etc

Very informative! It was so interesting to hear about the history and culture of our friend, the bagel. Our guide was engaging, friendly, and well-informed. I would like to do the tour again and bring more friends and family. Don’t eat lunch before you come!

Loved taking the bagel tour and highly recommend it. Learned the history of bagels, how they are made and, most importantly, you get to try a variety bagels from each shop you visit.

Such a fun tour, informational and all the food was delicious! We had a great time and our group was able to keep most everyone happy with the large selection of bagels and schmears. I would highly recommend this tour

Aidan our tour guide was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Would highly recommend this tour

A huge thank you to Reva and Sam for an unforgettable experience! Reva’s expertise in bagel-making was truly inspiring. She guided us through each step of the process with patience and enthusiasm, making sure everyone felt confident in shaping and baking their bagels. Her practical tips were incredibly helpful, and the finished bagels were absolutely delicious! Sam’s enthusiasm for the history of bagels was equally engaging. His storytelling brought the origins and evolution of this iconic treat to life, adding fascinating cultural context that made the experience all the more enriching. The blend of hands-on learning and captivating history made the workshop both educational and fun. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a unique and enjoyable culinary adventure. Thank you again for such a memorable time!

Classic NY experience is getting bagels, but this tour helped us try various bagel shops and combinations. Two of the stops had long lines, but the guide ordered ahead of time and we got to try different combos of bagels and cream cheese without getting too full. We also learned a lot about the bagel history from our guide Aiden. It was a great fun tour. Come hungry!

This class changed my life! And I mean that literally! I fell in love with bagel making and New York Bagels. I came back from my trip and am starting a bagel business. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves food!

Emily is an excellent guide who enjoys sharing her knowledge in a way that is interesting and engaging. Good way to see that part of the city - and chance to try some bagels and cream cheeses along the way.

Took my Husband to NYC for a surprise bday trip and this NYC Bagel Tour was a part of it as he is a huge lover of bagels. We had such an awesome time and learned so so much about bagels!! Emily, our “bagel master” as we deemed her, was so amazing - she was a wealth of knowledge and helped us try bagel flavors we probably never would have picked if we didn’t go on this tour! Would highly recommend for anyone!! 🥯💗🥯💗🥯

Sam is truly a bagel ambassador. His BTS info, history and views into the quintessential New York City Bagel was so much fun and thoroughly tasty. I was worried my NYC native hubby would not enjoy tasting bagels which he had growing up all the time. But, we both loved it. We were thrilled to get photos of him twisting some bagel dough. The bagels were all excellent; but, Sam's personality was the winning ingredient.

A+ Experience. A fun way to enjoy NYC with a Bagel Food Tour. Highly recommended. We had a great time- an easy walk just a few blocks between stops and 2 hours on the history of the Bagel, the people that have made them over the years, and cream cheese varieties that are life-changing. Aidan was incredibly knowledgeable & fun. Sam & Aidan helped book a private tour on Sun when the Sat schedule had filled up to make my birthday extra special.

A lot of fun. Aiden our tour guide was very knowledgeable and a great presenter. I learned fun bagel facts and enjoyed rolling my own bagel.

Born and raised in NYC, I can tell you that this bagel making class and tour is a true, one-of-a-kind New Yorker experience. Being in a real NYC bagel shop ~ after hours~ made us feel like we were the ultimate insiders. Under the watchful eye of an award winning bagel maker, we learned the art of shaping, seeding, baking, and DEVOURING (most important). Throughout the night there was never a dull moment. Some of the best parts were learning about the history of bagels and meeting new people from around the states (and even the world!). Thank you Sam for an amazing evening!

Sam was friendly and knowledgeable. He has a low-key and casual delivery yet he is well versed and knows everything about bagels. The portions are generous and the choices endless. It was all delicious and if you’re lucky you’ll have a patient, friendly roller show you how to shape a bagel or two. Thanks to Sam, we learned a lot and it was delicious. It’s a fun experience. You can’t be disappointed.

I had a lot of fun at the Bagel Tour and Baking Class. It was great to learn so much about bagels and try so many different types. Sam is great and I highly recommend booking a tour with him. You will go home happy and full.

If you like bagels, this class is a MUST. Sam has a wealth of bagel knowledge ready to share as Reva teaches you how to roll, boil, and bake some LEGIT bagels. Our class had about 8 people and I think everyone left with atleast a dozen bagels… including the several fresh FRESH bagels we consumed during the class. A great experience for couples, friends, family, and solo bagel enthusiasts. The bagel class took a little longer than anticipated (around 3 hours) but it was fun and educational the whole time so not a negative but something to keep in mind when making plans.

This is almost an off the beaten track tour, and one which is most enjoyable. If you love bagels but know very little about them, then this is for you. The tour guide is nice and informal, very friendly and very knowledgeable. I have finally discovered which bagel and topping is my favourite, but fear that I will not be to get this where I live.

Amazing planning and wonderful bagels I have ever tasted for real. Good history of bagel busy. A very friendly tour guide and excellent choice of shops with access to WC All within a walking distance

This was a fun and informative way to spend a morning. My young niece (11) and I enjoyed the walk, the talk, and of course, the bagels. As a NY'er, I think I know my bagels pretty well. The ones we tested were delicious & I learned some interesting things. I was really surprised by the cream cheeses. Yum! Be adventurous w/those. This is a great thing to do with friends/family. Substitute it for a breakfast or brunch, wear some comfortable shoes, pack your own beverages, & have a good time at it! I'll be doing this again with visitors. :)

Signed up for NYC Bagel tours online. It was highly recommended, but you never know what to expect. Family of 4, including 2 older teens. It was a superb fun filled family 2 hours. Sam, the guide, is very knowledgeable. History of bagels, and all things bagels. 3 stop tour with only bagel stores that are hand made and freshly baked. No machine made bagels on this tour. The bagels taste amazing. Good variety and a lot of choice. Sam did a nice job engaging the kids as well. The 3 stops are not more than half a mile of walking and you feel you are being let in on a New York secret. Only downside is that you end up with a new found appreciation for the best bagels which sets you on a path to reliving the taste experience. This could be a cross to bear :-)

What a fun way to explore the city and eat delicious bagels! Sam was so knowledgeable and passionate and introduced us to varieties and locations that we wouldn't have tried on our own. I would recommend this tour without hesitation!

Sam was great! He took us to 3 different bagel bakeries and was super interesting to hear all about the history of bagels and cream cheese! We had a fantastic experience at the last location where we were able to experience the art of rolling the dough into a bagel. Our group consisted of ages 10 to 72 and everyone had a fantastic time. Highly recommend this tour

What an incredibly fun and delicious way to spend a few hours in New York City! Within minutes of meeting up at the first stop, it became clear how passionate tour guide Sam “The Bagel Ambassador” Silverman is about bagels—and how much he loves sharing his passion with others. Our tour happened to be on a cold, rainy Saturday, and I was worried the weather might put a damper on our experience, especially since it involves walking to three different bagel shops. Luckily, my apprehension was completely unfounded, as Sam’s energy and friendliness made the dreary day an absolute blast. Our tour group was a big one, with maybe 20 people. But Sam made all of us feel like bagel VIPs amid the hustle and bustle of busy NYC. As we traveled between shops, Sam shepherded our pack while riding a one-wheel motorized skateboard (a perfectly bagel-shaped vehicle for a bagel tour, I might add!). At one point, Sam stopped to take a photo of the group and encouraged us to yell “CREAM CHEESE” as we smiled. It was so corny, but so hilariously awesome. The behind the scenes access to some of the shops (including a hands-on bagel rolling lesson!!) was so cool and really made me appreciate the art of bagel making. Sam brought bagels right to our group at each stop, explaining what we were eating and doling out fun bagel facts along the way. And the bagels! The bagels were so good! The jalapeño bagel at Liberty Bagels was awesome, and the smoked salmon sandwich at Bagel Market blew my mind. And those are just two of what felt like 50 different bagels we got to sample throughout the day. All in all, this was a wonderful experience! Thanks, Sam! Can’t wait to do the tour again the next time I’m in NYC!

Highly recommend this tour! You get a look behind the scenes of some top NYC bagel shops, learn about the history of the bagel, and (of course) sample as many bagels as you can eat! My favorite part was watching a master bagel roller at work and getting to roll some myself. Sam is an engaging and knowledgeable tour guide. Really great experience.

My NYC Bagel Tour was such a fun, novel, warm, and delightfully indulgent way to spend my Saturday. Sam is simply elite at what he does - it was such a joy to witness his passion, knowledge, and rapport with NYC bagel big shots. I appreciated the intentional curation of the tour - we went to a shop known to bake the best bagels, another shop known for its bagel sandwiches, and another shop known for its cream cheeses. When I signed up, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get, or if it would be worth the price tag — but very quickly I realized that the the people, the tour, the food, and the experience would be well worth my time, energy, and money. My new favorite party trick moving forward will be to reveal some of the exciting insider bagel secrets (and rolling techniques) I learned on this tour. Fair warning, though: be prepared for the hundred-person long lines to stare at you enviously as you skip the line and head straight into the utopian bagel smorgasbord of your dreams. This is a must-do for anyone looking to get a true sense of the New York spirit in a fun and inventive way.

My group and I had the pleasure of partaking in a BagelFest NYC Bagel Tour during our trip the New York City. For something that was a rather last minute addition to an already packed schedule, our tour with Sam ended up a highlight of our stay! The tour was truly an excellent experience for not only my tastes buds but also thanks to the interesting facts learned along the way. Not only did we get to sample a plethora of delicious bagels and schmears, but we also learned about the history and process of making a true New York bagel, bagel history in general, and so much more! Sam even dressed the part in a slick pair of 'Montreal bagel' shoes as he led our way atop a motorized bagel. Sam's expertise and carefully curated selections were perfect--seriously, we sampled such an array of flavors (both unique and standbys) and learned without feeling like we were in a lecture. From start to finish, our tour guide Sam was knowledgeable, entertaining, and passionate about not only the city's bagel culture but the bagel culture and future on a global scale!! BagelFest's bagel tour exceeded expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city or to anyone who loves a good bagel (be they novice or expert)!

Absolutely exceptional experience curated by Sam. On top of his passion and knowledge for bagels, it was apparent throughout the tour that Sam's dedication to the bagel "community" has earned the respect of many NYC shop owners who are more tha happy to go above and beyond for Sam and his guest during this tour. I wish there were more than 5 stars so I can give this a truly appropriate rating. Looking forward to the next one

I took this tour while visiting my daughter. We had such a great time! The bagel shops were really busy, but Sam got us through in no time. He helped us make choices that we wanted and also had input on the must tries. Everything was so delicious! There was enough walking/talking/window shopping/taking in the city time between bagels that we were able to try many kinds of bagels and spreads without being overly stuffed. Sam knows so much about bagels and is really skilled in weaving a lot of information in a very laid back and friendly way. I would highly recommend this tour!

This was a great experience, Sam was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. We ate some incredible bagels at iconic places that we wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. In fact, one of the shops had a line out the door but we were able to go right in and skip the line! I can't recommend this tour enough!

I went on the bagel tour with Sam, we spent time at three different bagel shops, and at each location we tried several bagel sandwiches (cut up into 4ths, so we could try many throughout the day and not get too full 😄) as well as plain bagels with/without various cream cheeses. It was really fun to see so many places and get to sample so many things (everything was delicious). Sam is very funny and knows way more about the history of bagels and specifically bagels in New York than I even knew it was possible to know, and I ended up learning a lot. He is a sweet and lively tour guide, and he did a great job at getting the group excited and engaged together.

What an awesome experience! I'm always looking for fun, unique activities in the city, especially ones that involve food, and this checked alllll of the boxes. Our tour guide, Sam, took the group to three top bagel shops where we got to sample a variety of bagel sandwiches and see behind-the-scenes where the bagels are being made. Learned a lot of fun bagel facts and overall had a great time! I definitely recommend a tour if you're looking for something to do with friends or if you're celebrating something with a group.