Best Bagel Near Penn Station & Madison Square Garden: A Pre-Show, Pre-Game & Pre-Train Itinerary

You've got tickets. Maybe it's the Knicks at the Garden, maybe a Broadway matinee, maybe an 11:40 out of Penn that you cannot miss. And you've got that classic New York problem: the blocks around Madison Square Garden and Penn Station are wall-to-wall with food that's fast, overpriced, and instantly forgettable. Eat there and you'll spend real money on something you won't remember by halftime.

Here's the better plan. Anchor your day with a genuinely great New York bagel first, then roll into your event. Tompkins Square Bagels at Union Square — our East 17th Street shop — sits a short trip south of the Garden, close enough to build into the front end of any MSG or Penn Station outing and good enough to be worth the small detour. Below are three ready-to-run itineraries: one for game day, one for a Broadway show, and one for catching a train. Pick the one that matches your tickets.

First, the Honest Geography

Let's be upfront, because a real plan needs real distances. None of our four shops sit directly on top of Penn Station or the Garden — that stretch of Midtown is short on great bagels, which is exactly the problem. Our closest open location is Tompkins Square Bagels on East 17th Street, right by Union Square, roughly fifteen to twenty blocks south of MSG.

Good news: Tompkins Square Bagels will be opening at 424 5th Avenue, between 38th and 39th Streets this Friday, making us one of the closest quality bagel options to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.

That's a feature, not a bug, for an itinerary. It's about a 15–20 minute walk up through the Flatiron district and Herald Square — a genuinely good pre-event stroll — or a quick couple of stops on the N, Q, R, or W from 14th Street–Union Square up to 34th Street–Herald Square, then a short walk west to the Garden and Penn. Either way, you fuel up somewhere worth eating, then arrive at your event ready to go.

Tompkins Square Bagels — East 17th Street (Union Square) 23 East 17th St, New York, NY 10003 (646) 978-9088

Now, the three itineraries.

Itinerary 1: Breakfast Before a Madison Square Garden Game

Knicks, Rangers, a big fight, a sold-out concert — game day at the Garden runs long, and you'll be on your feet, in lines, and riding adrenaline for hours. This is not the morning for a sad pretzel. You want real fuel that holds.

Two-plus hours before tip-off / puck drop — fuel up at Union Square. Head to the East 17th Street shop and order like you mean it. The move here is one of our heavyweight signature breakfast sandwiches:

El Chapo (one of our most popular) — braised pork, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, and chipotle mayo. A serious, slow-cooked sandwich that eats like a pre-game training meal.
The Weezer — bacon, chorizo, egg, cheddar, and any cream cheese you want. Built for an appetite that's about to stand and yell for three hours.
The Triple Crown (also a fan favorite) — Canadian bacon, apple-smoked bacon, scallion cream cheese, spiced honey maple glaze, egg, and cheese. Sweet, smoky, and gloriously excessive — fitting for a big night out.

Grab a coffee to go with it, take a few minutes to actually sit and eat, and you're set.

90 minutes out — make your way to the Garden. Walk it up 7th Avenue for the full big-game build-up, or hop the N/Q/R/W to Herald Square and stroll the last few blocks. You'll hit MSG well-fed, with money still in your pocket and zero regret about a $14 stadium hot dog you haven't eaten yet.

Pro move: order ahead so the sandwich is ready when you arrive. Order online for pickup and you skip the line entirely — clutch when the whole city is heading to the same building you are.

Itinerary 2: Brunch Before a Broadway Matinee

A 2 or 3 p.m. curtain in the Theater District calls for a relaxed late breakfast, not a rushed bite. This is the itinerary for a proper New York morning that ends in your seat before the overture.

Late morning — a leisurely bagel at Union Square. Since you've got time, treat it like brunch. A few picks that feel right before a show:

Murray the Cop (one of our most popular) — pesto, eggs, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella. Bright, a little fancy, and a great way to start a special day.
The Koch (also popular) — hot pastrami, egg, scallion cream cheese, and red onion. Deli theater of its own, in sandwich form.
The Leo — lox, egg, and caramelized onion, for that classic New York smoked-fish flavor before a classic New York night out.

And because it's a treat day, finish with a sweet note: grab a second bagel with one of our house-made cream cheese flavors — Birthday Cake or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (both fan favorites) on a French toast bagel is basically dessert, and a very photogenic intermission snack if you sneak it in.

About an hour before curtain — head uptown to the Theater District. It's a short ride up to Times Square on the N/Q/R/W, or a 25-minute stroll up Broadway if the weather's good and you want to soak in the city before the show. Either way, you arrive having actually eaten something memorable — not whatever was closest to the box office.

Itinerary 3: Breakfast Before Your Train at Penn Station

Penn Station means you're leaving — LIRR home to Long Island, NJ Transit across the river, or Amtrak up and down the coast. The goal here is portable, no-mess, and timed perfectly to your departure board.

Before you head to Penn — grab and go from Union Square. Order ahead, swing by, and pick up something that travels clean and eats one-handed on a moving train:

The Jersey — Taylor ham, egg, and cheese. If you're catching NJ Transit, this one's practically required reading.
A simple bagel with Scallion or Jalapeño Cheddar cream cheese (both among our most popular), wrapped tight — the cleanest possible train food, and the Jalapeño Cheddar will wake you up for an early departure.

Then make your way to Penn. From Union Square it's a quick N/Q/R/W to Herald Square and a short walk west, landing you at Penn with breakfast in hand and time to find your track.

One more thing before you leave town: if a single bagel won't be enough to get you through withdrawal back home, you don't have to say goodbye. Tompkins Square Bagels ships nationwide through Goldbelly — order a box to your door and bring the trip home with you. It beats anything in the Penn Station gift shop.

The Pre-Event Order Cheat Sheet

Short on time and just want the answer? Here's the quick logic:

Going to a game and need to be full for hours? El Chapo, the Weezer, or the Triple Crown.
Easing into a show day and want something special? Murray the Cop, the Koch, or the Leo — plus a sweet cream cheese for the road.
Catching a train and need it portable? The Jersey or a tightly wrapped bagel with scallion or jalapeño cheddar cream cheese.
Eating plant-based? The fully vegan Beyond Delight (Just Egg, Beyond Meat, Stockeld cheddar, sriracha drizzle) works for every one of these itineraries.

Whatever you choose, the smartest single move is the same across all three: order ahead for pickup so you're never stuck in a line while the clock runs down on your event.

Make It Part of the Ritual

The best part of anchoring your MSG or Penn Station trips to a real bagel is that it becomes part of the occasion. Season-ticket holders have their pre-game spots. Theater regulars have their show-day traditions. Frequent travelers have the breakfast they always grab before they leave. A Tompkins Square Bagels stop at Union Square is the kind of small ritual that makes a big day feel complete — and it's a lot more fun to tell people you started game day with an El Chapo than with whatever you grabbed in the concourse.

If you're rolling with a crew — a group heading to the game, a family doing a Broadway day, a bunch of coworkers catching the same train — consider a bagel platter with an assortment of our signature cream cheeses instead of everyone fending for themselves. It's easier, it's cheaper per person, and it turns the pre-event meetup into its own little event. Take a look at our catering options if you're feeding a group.

The Bottom Line

The food right around Madison Square Garden and Penn Station is built to catch you when you're rushed and hungry. Beat it by planning ahead: start your game day, show day, or travel day with a real New York bagel from Tompkins Square Bagels at Union Square, then make the short trip up to your event. Hearty signature sandwiches for the game, something special before the show, something portable before the train — and dozens of house-made cream cheese flavors you can't get anywhere else.

Order ahead, fuel up at Union Square, and arrive at the Garden or Penn like someone who actually knows the city.

Order online for pickup now — or browse all our NYC locations to find the one that fits your route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get breakfast before a Knicks or Rangers game at Madison Square Garden?

For real fuel before a game, head to Tompkins Square Bagels at Union Square (23 East 17th St), about fifteen to twenty blocks south of the Garden. Order a hearty signature sandwich like El Chapo, the Weezer, or the Triple Crown, then walk up 7th Avenue or take the N/Q/R/W to Herald Square and walk a few blocks west to MSG. Order ahead for pickup to skip the line on a busy game day.

Where should I eat before a Broadway show?

For a matinee, treat it like brunch: start at Tompkins Square Bagels at Union Square with something like Murray the Cop (pesto, eggs, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella) or the Leo (lox, egg, caramelized onion), then head up to the Theater District on the N/Q/R/W or stroll up Broadway. You'll eat something memorable instead of settling for whatever's nearest the box office.

Is there a good bagel place near Penn Station?

The blocks immediately around Penn Station are short on great bagels. The closest Tompkins Square Bagels is our East 17th Street shop at Union Square — a quick ride or a 15–20 minute walk south. Order ahead, grab a portable sandwich like the Jersey or the MCA, and you'll have a real New York breakfast in hand before your train.

What's the best bagel to grab before catching a train at Penn Station?

Choose something that travels clean and eats one-handed: the Jersey (Taylor ham, egg, cheese) or a tightly wrapped bagel with scallion or jalapeño cheddar cream cheese. Skip the saucier sandwiches for the train and save them for a sit-down morning.

Can I order ahead before an event at MSG or Penn Station?

Yes. You can order online for pickup at the Union Square location and have everything ready when you arrive, which is the best way to avoid losing time in a line when the whole city is heading to the same event. Order from your phone before you make the trip up from Union Square.

How do I get from Tompkins Square Bagels to Madison Square Garden?

From the East 17th Street shop at Union Square, it's about a 15–20 minute walk up through the Flatiron district and Herald Square to reach Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. If you'd rather ride, take the N, Q, R, or W from 14th Street–Union Square to 34th Street–Herald Square, then walk a couple of blocks west.

Can I bring NYC bagels home from my trip?

Yes. Tompkins Square Bagels ships authentic New York bagels nationwide through Goldbelly, so you can order a box delivered to your door anywhere in the country. It's a far better souvenir than anything in the Penn Station shops, and a great gift for whoever's waiting at home.