Bagel St-Lo Verdun
Verdun · 5411 Rue de Verdun, Verdun, QC H4H 1K6, Canada
Bagels, brunches & global plates served up in an intimate spot with a boho vibe & funky furnishings.
Eat
Best Bagels in Montreal
The best bagels in Montreal. Hand-rolled, honey-water boiled, wood-fired Montreal-style at St-Viateur, Fairmount, and the bakeries that make this city's bagel famous worldwide.
Five picks
Mintar
Plateau · 3418b Av. du Parc, Montréal, QC H2X 2H5, Canada
Cottage cheese pancakes with pillowy texture pair with quality espresso drinks in a cozy space where students and locals work side by side.
Bagels Le Trou - Griffintown
Sud-Ouest · 1845 Rue William, Montréal, QC H3J 0A7, Canada
Soft inside, perfectly toasted outside bagels arrive fresh daily with creative sandwiches like smoked meat and everything bagel varieties that stick with you.
St-Viateur Bagel
Plateau · 263 R. Saint Viateur Ouest, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1, Canada
The world famous flagship shop where bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water, and wood-fired in an oven that never turns off.
Fairmount Bagel
Plateau · 74 Av. Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2T 2M2, Canada
The original rival to St-Viateur with a slightly sweeter, denser dough and a huge variety of specialty toppings available 24/7.
Local pick
Bagel Henri-Bourassa
Ahuntsic · 443 Boul Henri-Bourassa E, Montréal, QC H3L 1C5, Canada
Thinner-style bagels with superior flavour that edge out the city's famous competitors, plus standout English muffins and samosas in a quiet, family-run shop.
The Montreal bagel is not just a different style from New York. It is a fundamentally different thing. Boiled in honey water and baked in a wood-fired oven that never turns off, Montreal bagels come out smaller, denser, slightly sweet, and with a thin char on the outside. The two founding shops, St-Viateur and Fairmount, have been running continuously in Mile End since the 1950s and 1960s. A new generation of bakeries across the city has brought the craft to neighbourhoods like Rosemont, Verdun, and Downtown, each putting their own spin on the tradition while respecting the fundamentals. Eat them within an hour of coming out of the oven for the full experience.
Frequently asked questions
St-Viateur or Fairmount: which is better?
Both are excellent and the debate is part of Montreal culture. St-Viateur has a slightly chewier, less sweet bagel. Fairmount tends to be a touch sweeter with a crispier crust. Most locals have a favourite but would happily eat either. Try both and decide for yourself.
What makes Montreal bagels different from New York bagels?
Montreal bagels are boiled in honey water before baking in a wood-fired oven. They are smaller, denser, sweeter, and have a chewier texture with a slight char from the wood fire. New York bagels are larger, puffier, and boiled in plain water before being baked in a conventional oven.
Can I get Montreal bagels at night?
Yes. Both St-Viateur and Fairmount operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of the best bagels come out of the oven between midnight and 6 AM when there is no line and the bagels are at their freshest.