5 Best Synagogues in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 7 min read

New York's synagogues range from a landmark Reform congregation with a livestreamed service to a small Lower East Side shul that has held daily minyan since before most of the city around it was built. The synagogues on this page span nearly 800 combined Google reviews and cover four distinct movements, so this page focuses on what actually differs: denomination, size, and whether there's a reliable minyan when you need one.

Short answer: Central Synagogue on the Upper East Side is the most-reviewed congregation here at 479 reviews, 4.7 stars, known for its 1872 Moorish Revival sanctuary and livestreamed Reform services. Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum holds the highest rating at 4.8, as the last Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. Attending services is free at every synagogue on this list; most rely on membership and donations rather than admission fees.

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1. Central Synagogue
2. Bialystoker Synagogue
3. Kehila Kedosha Janina…
4. Hudson Yards Synagogue
5. Brotherhood Synagogue
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New York's Synagogues, Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Central Synagogue	4.7 ★	479	Reform services, historic landmark sanctuary	View ›
2	Bialystoker Synagogue	4.7 ★	111	Orthodox, historic Lower East Side shul	View ›
3	Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum	4.8 ★	66	Romaniote heritage & museum	View ›
4	Hudson Yards Synagogue	4.6 ★	70	Orthodox, daily minyan near Hudson Yards	View ›
5	Brotherhood Synagogue	4.6 ★	62	Conservative, historic Gramercy Park building	View ›

The synagogues, one by one

#1 Overall

Central Synagogue

4.7479 Google reviews

Central Synagogue is a Reform congregation on Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, housed in an 1872 building recognized as both a New York City and National Historic Landmark. Its site describes an active congregation with worship, adult and youth education, and community outreach programs, alongside livestreamed services for members who can't attend in person. It is the most-reviewed synagogue on this list by a wide margin.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly praise the Moorish Revival sanctuary as a striking architectural landmark
Livestreaming lets members outside New York participate, cited specifically by an out-of-state reviewer
Music, including cantor vocals and live instrumentation, singled out across multiple reviews
Offers free public tours on summer Wednesdays

Worth knowing

A portion of the rating distribution falls below five stars, though the large majority remain positive

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume479 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The largest and most-reviewed congregation on this list, with its landmark sanctuary and music program drawing consistent praise well beyond its own membership.

Website +1212-838-5122 Directions

652 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Bialystoker Synagogue

4.7111 Google reviews

Bialystoker Synagogue is an Orthodox congregation on Willett Street on the Lower East Side, describing itself as one of the last traditional Jewish shuls still in active use in that neighborhood. Its site lists classes, a virtual tour, a gift shop and community programming alongside regular services. Several reviewers specifically note it as a rare surviving example of the neighborhood's historic Jewish community.

What people praise

Reviewers describe it as one of the last active Orthodox synagogues on the historic Lower East Side
Praised as beautiful and welcoming, with a peaceful atmosphere for Shabbat prayer
Long daily hours, open seven days a week

Worth knowing

One visitor was unable to reach anyone by phone or in person on a Sunday visit

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume111 · 92th

Confidencemoderate

Recency5 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown86% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A historically significant Orthodox shul with strong reviews, though visitors who aren't attending scheduled services should call ahead to confirm someone will be there.

Website +1212-475-0165 Directions

7 Willett St, New York, NY 10002

#3🕑 Open 2 days/wk

Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum

4.866 Google reviews

Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum on Broome Street is the last remaining Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, serving a small Greek Jewish community whose roots trace back nearly 2,300 years. Its site describes weekly Shabbat services in the traditional Romaniote liturgy alongside a museum documenting Greek Jewish history, open for guided tours by appointment. It holds the highest rating of any synagogue on this list.

What people praise

The highest rating on this list at 4.8 stars
Reviewers describe a genuinely unique cultural and religious tradition unavailable anywhere else in the hemisphere
The attached museum and its programming, including an annual Greek Jewish festival, are repeatedly praised
Congregants and staff described as friendly and welcoming to visitors

Worth knowing

Museum tours require advance scheduling by appointment rather than walk-in access

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume66 · 82th

Confidenceearly

Recency8 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown91% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A one-of-a-kind Romaniote congregation and museum with the strongest rating on this list. Well worth a visit for its history alone, but plan ahead if you want the museum tour rather than just services.

Website +1212-431-1619 Directions

280 Broome St, New York, NY 10002

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Hudson Yards Synagogue

4.670 Google reviews

Hudson Yards Synagogue is an Orthodox congregation on West 34th Street offering daily shacharit and mincha minyanim for the growing residential and office population around Hudson Yards. Reviews describe regular weekday attendance in the dozens and larger mincha turnout, with the synagogue itself responding directly to a critical review to clarify typical minyan sizes. Friday and Saturday services run around Shabbat hours listed on its site.

What people praise

Reviewers confirm a reliable, on-time weekday shacharit minyan starting around 6:45 or 6:50am
Convenient for the Hudson Yards office and residential district, an area with few other synagogues nearby
Described by reviewers as friendly and welcoming to newcomers

Worth knowing

One reviewer showed up to an advertised prayer time and found no minyan present that day
Reviewers note weekday minyan can depend on enough people showing up to attendance

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume70 · 87th

Confidenceearly

Recency7 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown83% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A practical option for a reliable weekday minyan in a part of Manhattan with few alternatives, though attendance (and therefore whether a minyan forms) can vary, so it's worth confirming ahead for less-common prayer times.

Website +1212-502-5291 Directions

347 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001

#5🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Brotherhood Synagogue

4.662 Google reviews

Brotherhood Synagogue is a Conservative congregation in a former Quaker meeting house built in 1859, holding landmark status in the Gramercy Park neighborhood. Its site and reviews describe a diverse congregation with programming ranging from a daily nursery school and Hebrew school through adult education classes. Multiple reviewers describe decades of membership despite living elsewhere in Manhattan.

What people praise

Reviewers describe a genuinely warm, diverse congregation across many years of membership
Housed in a landmark 1859 building with real architectural and historic character
Full range of programming, from children's nursery school through adult education
One reviewer specifically praises the rabbi's ability to connect Torah lessons to contemporary situations

Worth knowing

Two visitors passing by outside of services found the building locked and gated
A visiting reviewer noted the sanctuary's layout made facing Jerusalem for certain prayers difficult

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume62 · 76th

Confidenceearly

Recency6 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown76% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A warm, long-established Conservative congregation with a genuinely loyal membership, best experienced by attending an actual service rather than dropping by unannounced.

Website +1212-674-5750 Directions

28 Gramercy Pk S, New York, NY 10003

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How we compare these listings

Every number here comes from public Google data on the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is each synagogue’s live Google star average. Review volume measures how many people have left a review, ranked against other New York synagogues. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.7 from hundreds of reviewers carries more weight than a rating from a handful. Recency reflects how recently people are still reviewing. No listing can pay to change these numbers, and this page does not rank synagogues on faith, denomination or the quality of worship, only on the practical, publicly available information above.

Is there a cost to attend these synagogues?

None of the synagogues on this page charge admission for services. Most rely on membership dues and donations to fund operations, education and community programs, and several mention Shabbat and holiday services as open to the community without a fee.

Synagogues across New York City

These synagogues span the Upper East Side, Midtown near Hudson Yards, Gramercy Park, and the Lower East Side, giving coverage across several distinct Manhattan neighborhoods. Searching for a synagogue near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and address so you can confirm current service times before you go.

What to check before visiting a synagogue

What denomination is the congregation (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox), and does that match what you’re looking for?
What are the current Shabbat and holiday service times, since schedules can shift seasonally?
Is a weekday minyan reliably available, or does it depend on attendance?
Is membership required to attend services, or are visitors welcome to drop in?
Does the building offer guided tours or museum access outside of service times?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these synagogues?

We started from synagogues in New York with a public Google presence, then compared them by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we compare these listings above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. This comparison comes from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another listing’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Are these synagogues open to visitors who aren’t members?

Reviewers describe visiting several of these synagogues without being members, including for services, tours and museum visits at Kehila Kedosha Janina and Central Synagogue’s summer tours. Confirm visiting norms directly with each congregation.

What’s the difference between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox synagogues on this list?

Central Synagogue is Reform, Brotherhood Synagogue is Conservative, and Bialystoker and Hudson Yards Synagogue are Orthodox. Kehila Kedosha Janina follows the distinct Romaniote tradition. Each has its own service style and customs, so it’s worth confirming what to expect before your first visit.

The bottom line

Central Synagogue is the largest and most-reviewed option for anyone seeking a major Reform congregation, while Kehila Kedosha Janina offers a genuinely unique Romaniote experience with the highest rating on this list. Whichever congregation you choose, confirm current service times directly since several reviewers noted schedules had shifted.

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