Best Montreal
The painted window of St-Viateur Bagel Shop

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Best bagels in Montreal: 6 bakeries, from 1919 to today

Two Mile End legends and four newer bakeries, each with its source.

Checked November 13, 2026Français

Photo: Bohemian Baltimore, CC BY-SA 4.0
How we pick

The two oldest bakeries come first, in order of founding year. The four others come from Time Out Montreal's bagel list of November 10, 2025, in order of founding year where Time Out gives one.

  1. Fairmount Bagel

    Since 1919Mile End

    Hand-rolled bagels from a wood-fired oven at 74 avenue Fairmount Ouest. The bakery dates itself to 1919 and marked 100 years in 2019. Canadian Geographic notes that the first shop closed and reopened in 1949.

    Source: Fairmount BagelWebsite

  2. St-Viateur Bagel

    Since 1957Mile End

    Wood-fired bagels at 263 rue Saint-Viateur Ouest since 1957, with a second Mile End shop at number 158.

    Source: Daily HiveWebsite

  3. District Bagel

    Since 2008

    A kosher bakery that started in the Town of Mount Royal in 2008 and added a Mile End shop in 2019.

    Source: Time Out Montreal

  4. Bagel St-Lo

    Since 2014Verdun

    Verdun's bagel shop since 2014, on Time Out's 2025 list.

    Source: Time Out Montreal

  5. Le Trou

    Since 2019Griffintown, Rosemont

    Hand-rolled bagels in Griffintown since 2019, with a Rosemont shop since 2023.

    Source: Time Out Montreal

  6. Beaubien Bagel

    11 flavoursLittle Italy

    A Little Italy bakery with 11 flavours, on Time Out's 2025 list.

    Source: Time Out Montreal

What makes a Montreal bagel different?

The dough is boiled in water sweetened with honey. Then it bakes in a wood-fired oven. Canadian Geographic names both steps, and notes egg in the dough.

The result is smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser than a New York bagel, with a larger hole. The two main toppings are sesame and poppy seed.

The La Maison du Bagel sign above St-Viateur Bagel
The sign at St-Viateur Bagel in Mile End: hot, open 7 days. Photo: Bohemian Baltimore, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions people ask

Fairmount or St-Viateur: which is older?

Fairmount Bagel dates itself to 1919. St-Viateur Bagel opened in 1957.

Are Montreal bagels boiled?

Yes. They are boiled in honey-sweetened water, then baked in a wood-fired oven.

Sources (6)

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