One of the best benefits of Yelp when traveling is getting a peek at where the locals go. You always want to find the local gems in a region, and this past weekend we found just that in Water Street Bagel in Syracuse, NY. The place was bustling, all seats taken, people standing waiting on their order, and others dashing in for their carry out orders. There's good reason for that, the food, the coffee, the service, the vibe was all excellent. Inside is clean, simply decorated, and everything from the food to the kitchen is visible. It's simply part of the decor. We purchased some bagels from the previous day, some breakfast sandwiches and coffee. The coffee was bold, rich and fresh. The bagels delicious, all of the sandwich parts cooked to perfection. There's a friendly, warm vibe inside that extends from the staff and is entrenched in the food and coffee. Just a fantastic place for bagels and, I have to admit, NY bagels are next level. If you're in Syracuse, I highly recommend you make sure you make Water Street Bagel one of your stops. read more

See all

We usually pick Water Street Bagel as our go-to bagel spot just in relativity of its proximity to our home. We've had a few mixed experiences in the past but we do keep going back. The staff always seem to be hard at work as they are clearly in high demand. We were lucky this visit because all of the bagels were super fresh as it was peak busy hours. We also were lucky because we actually found parking quite quickly & didn't have to circle the block. I appreciate they offer sandwich options but I usually stick with a bagel & some form of cream cheese for myself because that's just usually my preference. This visit I got a rosemary salt bagel with salmon cream cheese. It was simple & perfectly what I was looking for that day. It's a beautiful space that is well lit & well decorated. It's easy to find them with their sign out front. It can get a bit crowded inside if they're busy but that's nothing to complain about it's just the reality of the space they are working with. Last note- it does always smell really amazing when you walk in there. read more

See all

Updated review - I'm glad to say they seem to resolved the issues with picking up food - you can again pick up by name on the shelving by the door. Orders are promptly ready, and the food is consistent and good. Also, while other downtown restaurants seem to be raising prices willy and/or nilly, the prices here remain very reasonable. I can't speak to the speed of ordering in person, but this now is a quick and affordable spot with tasty bagels and sandwiches. read more

My must-do breakfast on my visits to Syracuse. As a former NYer, always love a great bagel place and this is definitely one! Love the coffee and breakfast sandwiches, just wish they had more indoor seating! We also picked up some day old bagels that were still yummy and fresh days later. Staff is helpful, even with the crowds and wait time is really reasonable. read more

Water Street Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Entered around 8:30 just before the rush!Food ordered easily and ready quickly. The front window was open for a little bit but then closed because it was a sticky morning. I ordered the Caprese on an English muffin bagel. It was delicious! Toasted just right and the perfect amount of pesto. However, I didn't snap a photo so you will just have to believe me that it was dang good! I love the hometown feel of the dining area. read more

See all

First time back at Water St Bagels in a while and it was as good as I remembered. I had a Sesame Bagel toasted w/ butter and it was great bagel. My wife had the Monte Cristo and was also good, but her only complaint is putting cold ham on a warm sandwich. Fast friendly service in great building. Highly Recommend read more

See all

Definitely worth the hype and wait time. I read the reviews before coming and thank goodness I did because this place was packed on a late Saturday morning! I recommended ordering online and picking it up as my order took 45 minutes. I ordered The Western which came with double smoked bacon, egg, red & green peppers, red onions, cheddar cheese and house made chipotle sauce on a plain bagel and it was absolutely delicious! The bagel was nice and chewy and the sauce added an nice touch. read more

Water Street Bagel - The Western - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Water Street Bagel is my "I don't have to think what to get?" Bagel shop I know that my entire office my students and my family who may not be in Syracuse will always welcome a Water Street Bagel! I get everything's for my son-in-law school in Cornell. I bring if TSA is so kind some Water Street Bagel's down to Charlotte North Carolina and my office goes crazy for Rosemary and salt bagels which I understand you can only get at Water Street Bagel so if you don't wanna think about what you're getting people and you wanna win, get them something from. Water Street Bagel! read more

See all

Water Street Bagel is such a good spot for breakfast. I love going here on the weekends. They make their bagels fresh and you can actually watch them baking in the brick oven as you walk in to order. They have tons of options to choose from and different combinations of egg, cheese, and meats so you can pretty much build whatever you're craving. This place can get really busy, especially on the weekends around 9:30 ish and later, but honestly they are worth the wait every single time. I always get the Hot Honey Egg. It has scallion cream cheese, bacon, eggs, hot honey (ofc), and a slice of cheese. I am pretty sure it is sharp cheddar and the combination is amazing. It is sweet, a little spicy, and the scallion cream cheese balances everything out so well. I especially love coming here in the spring and summer when the weather is nice because they usually open the front window and set up outdoor seating. It just adds to the whole experience. read more

Water Street Bagel - hot honey egg (left) and the vermonter (right) - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

If you've never been to Water Street Bagel, then I highly recommend ordering online to beat the potential crowd. The perks of ordering online is that you'll receive a text when your order is ready! They often are able to turn around orders quicker than the estimated time. Almost every time I go I get The Albuquerque which is usually under "Daily Specials. It has turkey, avocado, chipotle mayo, bibb lettuce, red onion, & pepper jack cheese on it, and you can choose your bagel. I always go with the spicy everything bagel because I rarely see it elsewhere! I love this option. My bagel sandwiches are always consistent. I know what I'm getting and it tastes great every time!! read more

Water Street Bagel - The Albuquerque with turkey, avocado, chipotle mayo, bibb lettuce, red onion, & pepper jack cheese on a spicy everything bagel. - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Good bagels, sandwiches are ok but would go back. Prices arent crazy (about $7.50 for a BEC). Ambiance is nice and service was friendly and quick during a rush. read more

Busy as usual but I was craving one of their Rosemary Salt bagels. I couldn't decide what to get so I ordered just an "untoasted" bagel with a small tub of the veggie cream cheese. When bagels are as fresh as this I never get them toasted, just a personal preference. I have had vegetable cream cheese in many places and Water Street Bagel's homemade probably has the most vegetables of any I've eaten. I knew I'd want more of the cream cheese since I also purchased a bag of their day old bagels. It's a great deal and I slice them up and freeze them. They toast up very nicely. The staff is always very nice and they have a small outdoor seating area. read more

Water Street Bagel - Rosemary Salt Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Can be very busy, especially on weekends so would order ahead. Had the New Yorker on an everything bagel. The pastrami was fine, the bagel was better. Not quite New York, not quite Montreal. Next time will just get a bagel with cream cheese so I can better taste the bagel. They have a small amount of indoor seating. In the nice weather they have outdoor tables which I prefer. read more

Water Street Bagel - New Yorker - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Find me a better bagel in Syracuse, I dare you. Seriously though, they're a good bagel for anywhere. Their style is a little different from a downstate NYC bagel, but they hit. A little on the smaller side, but they're packed with flavor. My favorite is the spicy everything with scallion cream cheese and lox. Service is good, they move pretty fast considering how busy they are during their morning and lunch rush. I can't really say too much about the ambiance. It's nice inside, everything is clean. It can get crowded during the rush, but like I mentioned above, they move pretty fast. Overall, one of my favorite spots in Syracuse and they're worth a drive out to any day of the week...which, I'm thinking, I'm going to do this weekend! read more

This place is always busy. We placed our order online and it was ready in 15 minutes to pick it up. I got the egg whites and cheese but with modifications. I chose the gluten free plain bagel and requested no cheese and add avocado. It was delicious. You won't be able to tell that it was a gluten feee bagel ! read more

A Downtown Syracuse Staple! Great vibes, even better food. Water Street Bagel Co. continues to be my go-to spot in the city. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this place is a must-visit. The Food: The quality here is consistently top-tier. On my most recent visit, I tried: Rosemary Salt Bagel w/ Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese: This is a flavor powerhouse. The herbal notes of the rosemary paired with the savory garlic cream cheese was unreal. And yes, that is how much cream cheese is supposed to be on a bagel! The Monte Cristo: This sandwich is the ultimate sweet-and-salty combo. It features thinly sliced ham, a perfectly cooked egg, and Swiss cheese, all topped with a drizzle of authentic Dutch Hill Maple syrup on a plain bagel. The atmosphere is always buzzing, but it can get crowded! Pro Tip: If you want to avoid the long lines and grab a table easily, try to visit when the college students are on break. It's much quieter and you won't have to wait nearly as long for your fix. We were in and out within 5 minutes. read more

Water Street Bagel - Rosemary Salt Bagel w/ Garlic Herb Cream Cheese - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Everything here is delicious!!! I'm obsessed with the Rosemary Salt bagel, it's great with their homemade cream cheese (my fav is the garden veggie!) or on one of their sandwiches. The Cranberry is my go to: it's a filling lunch with cheese, apples, and turkey. The services is quick, but they get busy during the late morning/lunch hour. Use online ordering to have it ready when you arrive! read more

Great bagel, great cream cheese selection... I had my favorite... an everything bagel with even more cream cheese (veggie CC) toasted... grabbed some day old bagels to take home and freeze. read more

Water Street Bagel - Even the bag is polite! - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Delicious, Fresh & Worth Every Bite! My daughter and I stopped by Water Street Bagel Co. after her appointment and placed our order ahead--it was ready right on time! The service was fast and friendly, and the food... so good. The bagel sandwiches were perfectly toasted with fresh, flavorful ingredients (highly recommend the Hot Honey Egg), and the coffee was rich and smooth--just what we needed to recharge. read more

Water Street Bagel - The New Yorker and Hot Honey Egg bagels - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Super busy but they kept right up with orders. Nice little spot and the windows were open because of the nice weather. I just went with a simple spicy everything bagel with jalapeno cream cheese. I wasn't a huge fan of the bagel, thought it was a bit chewy and tough. The cream cheese was excellent. They had a lot of unique sandwiches on the menu so I would go back and try. read more

See all

The maple is very good. Sweet and salty on everything bagel. Great vibes as well. Good service read more

Water Street Bagel - The Maple - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I used to love this place! They used to consistently serve hot bagel sandwiches. I'm not sure what's changed but the last 7 plus times or so I keep trying to order and hope to get what I used to but it just doesn't happen. Consistency they serve me a cold hot honey egg sandwich every time now and honestly I'm sick of it. It's so disappointing and overpriced to be serving bagel sandwiches cold that are supposed to be served HOT! Bagels are still great regardless but just don't expect to be served a hot sandwich!! read more

Excellent service on a busy morning. It was very cool to see the bagels being made, the fire pumps out some heat. I got a classic bacon, egg and cheese with an extra egg on a salt&pepper bagel. The bagel is soft but has a nice chew to it. Excellent sandwich and would get again no questions asked. read more

The bagels here are amazing. My favorite one is the spicy everything bagel, and I usually buy an extra half dozen to freeze at home. My 3 year old likes the cinnamon raisin bagel, or on one occasion I bought her the turkey bacon ranch sandwich and she ate that like an adult. I usually place an order while on my way there so it is ready by the time I arrive. Seating is available indoors or outside. In the summer the front windows are open. Love this spot. As a friend suggested, it would be nice if they made the entrance wheelchair accessible with only one step. read more

What can I not say about this fantastic place? The atmosphere the staff, the food and the coffee was just an absolute pleasure. I stopped in on a snowy day in April out of the whim, I mean really it was not a hard choice because he doesn't like coffee and bagels. But boy am I glad that I did. The coffee was fantastic. The bagel with jalapeño cream cheese was even better, the staff and atmosphere was just amazing. You add that by window seating while snowing was just a perfect experience well out by myself. Thank you. read more

Water Street Bagel - Store sign - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

The best bagels in Syracuse! Just like NYC bagels. I have never had a bad one. Their cream cheese is good too, always fresh ! read more

Delivered as expected - which is great! Gave me great big apple fast moving cafe vibes. They were crunchy, flavorful & easy to share since they were sliced and packaged beautifully. I am joansing to try a sweeter cream cheese base next time, to really see just how their standard bagel matches up vs from a speciality bagel sandwich. 1000% recommend picking up some your next lazy weekend. Order in or simply run in & grab your bag, they have a very clean and easy system for those busy mornings. read more

See all

Really good bagel sandwiches. Tons of variety and very good customer service. They have gluten free bagels too so I can enjoy breakfast with my family. read more

Waited 20 minutes for a plain bagel toasted with light butter and a little cream cheese. When I approcahed the counter after several people after me received their orders and asked the woman that waited on me about my order she placed an untoasted bagel in a bag and tried to hand it me. I told her I was looking for my order and she said to me "you have not received your order". I would not of asked if I had received the order. I even tipped a head of time. I walked out. some of us have to be to work. Will be a while before I go back, you can get a bagel accross the street. read more

Great bagels. Love the Salt and Pepper as well as Rosemary. Like they have non traditional options but the usuals are just as delicious. Great customer Service hooking us up for our camping trip. read more

Yummy bagels, and salt city cold brew! Lots of different flavors options. Indoor and outdoor seating available. read more

Water Street Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Good bagels. They are toasted in a brick oven. Get the spicy everything it's a different spin but not overly spicy. Cream cheese selections yummy read more

Best bagels in SYR! They have a large menu with plenty of options! This is my favorite place to grab a breakfast sandwich. It's very easy to order online as well! read more

Water Street Bagel - Sausage bacon egg and cream cheese - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

+.5 hottie at the register. no number, so no five star gas bagels tho, got the asiago bagel. read more

Water Street Bagel - classic bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I cannot rave enough about Water Street Bagels. This place offers bagels with a crusty exterior but a soft and chewy interior that goes perfectly with their house-made cream cheese. The spicy everything bagel on their Vermonter specialty sammy is my favorite combo and I've even tried recreating it at home but it doesn't come close. I've taken all of my friends from out of town here and even they agree it's some of the best bagels they've ever had. It does get busy on a Saturday or Sunday morning, so be aware that there might be a little bit of a wait. The service is still fast for how popular it is and they do a great job with consistency! read more

Had breakfast at Water Street Bagel today and it was amazing! I tried the Hot Honey Breakfast Sandwich and it was so tasty -- sweet, spicy, and just plain delicious. The bagel was fresh and had that perfect chew. Great vibe, great food, and super friendly staff. Definitely coming back again soon! read more

Since I moved downtown in July of 2022, I've been a regular customer at Water Street. I mostly buy bagels and cream cheese to bring home. My favorite cream cheese is the jalapeño (although there was a strawberry chip around Valentine's Day that was AMAZING). It went away for a bit, and then came back and I was so happy. But it didn't taste the same as I remembered...I bought two take home containers and the results were meh to me. So, I decided to try Schoolyard that recently opened on Marshall Street. Meg, the owner of Water Street, read my review of Schoolyard and offered me a gift card to come back and give the jalapeño cream cheese a try. Apparently there was a slight mishap with the recipe for a bit. I was just blown away by her business savvy and her keeping a pulse on what's being said about her business and the competition. Customer for life, and I also love supporting female-owned businesses. I went in to use the gift card today and the jalapeño cream cheese is back to being fantastic!! There's no need for me to go back to Schoolyard ever again and I'm happy to get all my bagel and cream cheese fix from Water Street! read more

I live in Florida and I literally pick my flights home to Syracuse around the hours where I can go straight from the airport to Water Street Bagel. The Turkey bacon Ranch on an everything bagel is what dreams are made of. The Clark is 10 out of 10. Honey walnut cream cheese on and everything bagel is Syracuse heaven. The staff is iconic too! Legends for working sooo hard and fast. read more

Water Street Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Can make a better bagel at Sadler Dining Hall. Water street is decently overpriced and in a weird location. Servers are always nice but passive aggressive and dining room is small. It gets packed and servers lose patience and bagels are always okay. read more

Water Street Bagel - Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Quick Service! Tasty bagel. Fresh vibe Parking is not available most of the time Little overpriced. read more

See all