Where to Taste the Best Bagels in Montreal

Montreal takes its bagels seriously — and for good reason. These chewy rings of dough are more than just a breakfast staple. They've become a symbol of the city’s melting pot, a dish steeped in history and immigrant lore. If you're a pastry aficionado or simply appreciate a side of storytelling with your delicious food, a trip to Montreal's renowned bagel shops is a must. 

The story of the Montreal bagel is closely woven with the history of the European Jewish community in the city. Legend has it that a Jewish-Viennese baker invented the original bagel in 17th-century Vienna. It then made its way to Canada, particularly the Mile End neighborhood, with the waves of Eastern European Jewry in the 1900s. 

It’s hard to take two steps down St. Laurent Boulevard, one of Montreal’s oldest streets, without being reminded of the bagel. The city’s two most legendary bakeries are just steps away and other bagel-serving establishments dot the street. But the Montreal bagel has far surpassed its humble Jewish roots, becoming the darling of the entire city. So what makes it so special?

What sets Montreal bagels apart?

First, let’s get it out of the way: Montreal bagels are a different beast than New York bagels and one is not better than the other. Montreal bagels are smaller, sweeter, and thinner than their American counterparts, due to the cooking technique.

It all starts with the unique ingredients and baking process. Montreal bagels are boiled in honey-sweetened water before being baked in a wood-fired oven, giving them a distinctive crust that's crisp and slightly sweet on the outside while remaining chewy on the inside.

The dough is a blend of simple ingredients: high-gluten flour, water, salt, and a touch of sugar. But experts claim that it's the city's water, drawn from the ancient Laurentian mineral basin, that lends a special je ne sais quoi to these bagels. The air in Montreal's bakeries, infused with the scent of wood smoke and freshly baked dough, just may add an intangible magic to the process.

Montreal's best bagel shops

Now that you can recognize a Montreal bagel, the question remains: where to go to taste the best ones? I’ve done the leg work for you, identifying five of the city’s best bagel bakeries. From the traditional to the modern, these Montreal bagels will not disappoint.

St-Viateur Bagel

No bagel tour of Montreal would be complete without a stop at St-Viateur Bagel, an iconic bakery that's been serving up these doughy lifesavers since 1957. Step inside, and you'll be greeted by the irresistible aroma of bagels fresh from the wood-fired oven. Watch as skilled bakers deftly roll, shape, and bake the dough, demonstrating a tradition that has been passed down through generations.

When it comes to must-try items, the sesame and all-dressed bagels are legendary, but don't overlook the sweet treats like the cinnamon-raisin and chocolate chip varieties. For a limited time in 2024, they also have the controversial holeless bagel available.

Fairmount Bagel

Just across the street from St-Viateur Bagel lies its friendly rival, Fairmount Bagel. This family-owned bakery has been churning out delicious bagels since 1949, and the competition between these two titans has only made their products better.

Fairmount's bagels are known for their slightly denser texture and rich, woodsy flavor. Don't miss the poppy seed variety, a beloved classic.

Bagel Etc

Bagel Etc has been a beloved Montreal institution since 1982, iconic for its neon-and-vinyl diner kitsch and bagel-centric breakfast fare. The diner’s main claim to fame is counting Leonard Cohen among its famous patrons, though it remains a popular brunch spot on The Main, Montreal’s nickname for St. Laurent Boulevard. Come here to feel at home over huevos rancheros or a classic breakfast paired with their hot sauce collection. Or do like Cohen and try his signature order of eggs, bacon, a sesame Fairmount bagel and an allongé coffee.

Bagel St-Lo

A ways off the beaten path, in Montreal’s Verdun neighborhood — voted by Time Out magazine as the coolest neighborhood in the world in 2020 — is Bagel St-Lo. Here, among the mismatched tables and baby-led-weaning toddlers, you may sit down for a multicourse bagel menu. Start with their famous eggs benedict on a bagel in place of an English muffin, sip on a dark roast coffee and make sure to leave room for a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and homemade jam. Even those avoiding gluten can find a very decent gluten-free bagel here.

Dizz’s Bagel

For the last bagel shop on our list, we invite you to leave the city and head to the suburbs, specifically, to the West Island city of Pointe Claire. Dizz's Bagel offers a taste of classic Montreal bagel tradition with a fresh, modern vibe. While you'll find all the standard flavors done exceptionally well here, don't miss their inventive rainbow bagels. The darlings of Instagram, these colorful bagels are filling and pretty while the bright, airy cafe is a welcoming space to enjoy a bagel brunch.

Expert tips

From cozy cafes to bustling bakeries, each spot has its own charm and specialties. Some are takeout-only, while others provide a warm place to sit down with a cappuccino and a good book. All come with a dose of storytelling.

So grab a classic sesame bagel or try adventurous flavors like rainbow or blueberries. Whatever your proclivities, there's a Montreal bagel shop ready to fulfill your doughiest fantasies.