Greenwich Village Hot Bagels and Schmears on Thompson

PopUp Bagels makes tearing and dipping the whole ritual. At its Greenwich Village counter, the bagels arrive hot and unsliced, with a crisp outside and a soft, fluffy middle. Pull one apart, then dip a piece into a schmear. This is a stop for tearing and sharing rather than settling into a seat.

The bagels are sold in batches of three, six, twelve, or thirty. Choose a batch for your group and let the spreads change the next bite. Chimichurri butter and elite cream cheese are among the options, alongside rotating weekly specials. A container of schmear turns each torn piece into its own combination of crisp edge, soft center, and spread.

Find the counter at 177 Thompson Street, where there is no indoor seating. Many people walk a few blocks over to Washington Square Park to eat. Take your batch and schmears along for a Village stroll, with the bagels doing all the work.