26 Best Bagels Outside Of New York: Where To Discover The Ultimate Doughy Delights
Think the best bagels live only in New York. Think again. Across North America, bakers are boiling, baking, and hand rolling doughy rings that can stand toe to toe with the classics. From wood fired Montreal rounds to West Coast sourdough tang and bold Southern spreads, this list maps out where to grab a warm bagel that hits every craveable note. Bring your appetite and a little curiosity you are about to meet your new favorites.
1. Montreal Style Bagels – Montreal, Quebec
Montreal bagels are a different rhythm entirely. Smaller, sweeter, and boiled in honey water, they hit the palate with a gentle glaze before a wood fired kiss. You get a dense chew, a tight crumb, and generous sesame or poppy seeds that tumble with every bite.
Head to Mile End early, when the oven roars and paper bags warm your hands. Order a dozen hot and eat one walking. Pair with salty butter or cream cheese, but honestly, plain sings.
2. Chicago, Illinois – Classic Chew and Schmear
Chicago brings serious chew, real kettles, and a deli spirit that respects tradition. The best shops boil properly, seed heavily, and serve schmears that balance tang and richness. Expect hand rolled rings with glossy crusts that stand up to towering sandwich builds.
Try an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and shaved red onion. Or go full deli with nova, capers, and tomato. Coffee is strong, service friendly, and lines move fast.
3. Los Angeles, California – Creative and Proper
Los Angeles has range. You will find shops that nail the boil and bake while riffing with California produce and spice cabinet creativity. Expect zaatar everything, jalapeno cheddar, and perfect plain for purists who just want cream cheese.
The vibe is bright and breezy, with long lines that move on surfer time but reward patience. Grab a hot sesame with herby labneh, or a smoked fish plate piled with citrus and dill. It is sunny comfort, one bite at a time.
4. San Francisco Bay Area, California – Artisan Edge
Bay Area bakers bring an artisan mindset to bagels. Expect wild fermentation leanings, patient boils, and seeds that cling like armor. The crust snaps, the crumb pulls, and the aroma hints at sourdough without overpowering the wheat.
Look for shops tucked near farmers markets, where toppings rotate with the seasons. Carrot lox, beet pickles, and cultured cream cheese play well with classic salt and pepper. Coffee programs shine too, which makes a lazy morning feel intentional.
5. Seattle, Washington – Coffee And Bagels
In Seattle, good coffee meets serious breakfast and the bagels follow suit. Shops here respect the boil and favor a sturdy, glossy crust that loves a heavy schmear. The chew lands in that sweet spot between tender and toothsome.
Grab an everything bagel with chive cream cheese and wild smoked salmon. Sit by the window and watch the drizzle while steam rises from your cup. It is the kind of cozy that begs for seconds.
6. Portland, Oregon – Sourdough Vibes
Portland leans tangy, inventive, and lovable. Expect naturally leavened bagels with a gentle sour edge, blistered crusts, and clever toppings like fermented jalapenos. The seeds are heavy, the shape a touch rustic, and the chew deeply satisfying.
Order sesame with scallion schmear and a side of pickled carrots. Or go breakfast mode with egg, sharp cheddar, and hot sauce. Coffee is dialed in and the staff feels like friends by the second visit.
7. Denver, Colorado – Quietly Excellent
Denver’s bagel scene leveled up with focused shops that respect time and temperature. You will find glossy, golden crusts and a balanced crumb that holds up to hearty fillings. Local flavors sneak in, like green chile schmear or honey butter after a morning hike.
Grab a sesame with egg and bacon, or keep it simple with plain and chive. The altitude does not stop the rise it somehow sharpens it. Weekend lines, weekday consistency, all smiles.
8. Austin, Texas – Weekend Habit
Austin’s bagels ride the city’s breakfast obsession. Boiled and baked rings meet Texas personality, from peppery brisket to pickled jalapenos. Expect lively crusts, solid chew, and playful specials that make weekends feel like events.
Order an everything with smoked turkey, or a sesame with honeyed cream cheese and hot sauce. Coffee is cold, strong, and perfect for the heat. Friendly staff will nudge you toward their favorites, and you will be glad they did.
9. Dallas Fort Worth, Texas – Deli Leaning
Dallas Fort Worth delivers more great bagels than expected. Deli style shops keep things classic with kettle boils, heavy seeding, and generous spreads. Sandwich builds are confident without being messy, and the bagels hold their structure like champs.
Try a salt bagel with whitefish salad, or go nova and capers on sesame. The pace is brisk, the smiles easy, and the coffee surprisingly strong. You will plan a return visit before finishing the first half.
10. Houston, Texas – Big City Variety
Houston’s bagel scene mirrors its food culture big, diverse, and delicious. You can chase classics or explore creative paths without fear. Shops here respect the boil and do not skimp on seeds, while spreads range from scallion to spicy cilantro lime.
Order a sesame with lox, then grab a jalapeno cheddar for the road. The vibe is lively and friendly, with lines that move. Breakfast here easily becomes a habit worth protecting.
11. Phoenix, Arizona – Legit Surprises
Phoenix surprises with bagels that respect fundamentals. Expect clean boils, even bake, and crusts that shine. Some shops riff with citrus zest schmears or chile honey, nodding to the desert without gimmicks.
Grab an everything with chive cream cheese and a squeeze of lemon. Sit in the sunshine and let the heat soften the crust slightly. It is simple, satisfying, and way better than you might guess before visiting.
12. Las Vegas, Nevada – Late Night To Early Bite
Vegas feeds night owls and early birds with equal enthusiasm. Deli style counters serve glossy bagels that can anchor a midnight snack or 7 a.m. fix. Expect sturdy crusts, tight crumb, and toppings that run classic to indulgent.
Order a hot everything with pastrami and mustard or keep it light with nova and cucumber. Service is quick, portions generous, and the vibe playfully chaotic. You will leave satisfied and ready for round two.
13. Salt Lake City, Utah – Small Scene, Strong Bites
Salt Lake City’s bagel scene is small but dialed in. Shops here favor a balanced boil, gentle sweetness, and crusts that crackle. The crumb is soft enough for quick bites, sturdy enough for egg sandwiches after a powder day.
Try a sesame with honey butter for local charm, or go classic with lox and capers. Friendly staff, warm counters, and snow boots by the door make it feel neighborly. Quality over quantity, every time.
14. Minneapolis Saint Paul, Minnesota – Baker Proud
The Twin Cities love good bread, and that pride shows up in bagels. Expect careful fermentation, glossy boils, and seeds that cling stubbornly. The chew is assertive yet friendly, great for open faced gravlax or breakfast stacks.
Order sesame with dill cream cheese and thin cucumber. Or try a hearty sandwich with egg, cheddar, and hot sauce. You will find warmth inside even on icy mornings, and the bagels taste like comfort done right.
15. Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Sleeper Deli Wins
Milwaukee flies under the radar with classic deli style bagels. Boiled right, seeded heavy, and paired with excellent fish, these rings deliver steady satisfaction. The crust crunches, the crumb holds, and the toppings are honest and generous.
Get an everything with whitefish salad and a pickle on the side. Or keep it old school with sesame and plain schmear. Service is no nonsense, prices fair, and you will leave plotting a return visit.
16. St. Louis, Missouri – Standout Shops
St. Louis has a few bagel spots that go from good to craveable. Expect honest boils, well browned crusts, and careful seeding. The texture leans satisfyingly chewy, making sandwiches tight and neat.
Try a sesame with chive cream cheese and a drizzle of local honey. The staff knows regulars by name and steers newcomers kindly. A quick stop becomes a habit, especially when the toaster pops at just the right moment.
17. Kansas City, Missouri – Breakfast Friendly
Kansas City’s breakfast culture lifts bagels too. Shops boil, bake, and then fill with everything from classic lox to gentle barbecue nods. The crust is shiny, the crumb resilient, and the seasoning usually generous.
Order an everything with egg and cheddar, or a sesame with turkey and pepper relish. Coffee is sturdy and the vibe unpretentious. It is an easy morning win before the rest of the day kicks in.
18. Nashville, Tennessee – Booming And Buttery
Nashville’s bagel scene grew alongside its restaurant boom. Properly boiled bagels meet Southern charm through pimento cheese schmear, hot chicken riffs, and local honey. The crust shines, the crumb pulls, and the bites feel indulgent without going overboard.
Try a sesame with pimento schmear or go bold with hot chicken on an everything. Live music vibes without the noise hangover, and plenty of seats for lingering. You will leave smiling, maybe humming.
19. Atlanta, Georgia – Big City Bagels
Atlanta’s bagel scene is varied and exciting. Classic deli shops sit next to creative bakeries, and both respect the boil. Expect thick seeding, tidy shaping, and spreads that range from scallion to seasonal fruit.
Grab an everything with lox, or a sesame with whipped ricotta and peach jam for a local wink. Service is quick, lines are long, and the payoff is real. One bite and your morning wakes up.
20. Miami, Florida – Sunshine And Schmear
Miami breakfasts feel sunny and playful, and the bagels join in. Shops boil right, bake golden, and dress with bright flavors. Think lox with avocado, cilantro lime schmear, and tomatoes that taste like summer.
Order sesame with citrusy cream cheese and capers. Sip a cafecito and let the salt and acid dance. The room hums with conversation, and the bagel disappears faster than planned.
21. Washington, D.C. – Deli Roots, Cafe Polish
D.C. brings deli lineage and cafe precision. Kettle boils are non negotiable, seeding is assertive, and schmears lean clean and bright. The result is a bagel that handles sandwiches without sogging out or crumbling.
Get an everything with whitefish salad or a sesame with scallion cream cheese and tomato. Espresso is solid, seats are scarce, and conversation buzzes. It feels like a good day before noon.
22. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Sandwich Masters
Philly understands bread and sandwiches, so bagels thrive. Expect serious crust, deep seeding, and a chew that begs for fillings. The shops here stack lox and veggies with precision, making every bite balanced and bold.
Order an everything with scallion schmear, lox, and extra onion. Or grab a salt bagel because Philly likes salinity. Service is straightforward and friendly, and the sandwich leaves you blissfully full.
23. Boston, Massachusetts – Classic Comfort
Boston keeps it classic, with careful boils and a fondness for simple, perfect combinations. The crusts are shiny, the crumb properly chewy, and the spreads lean toward scallion and plain done right. Lox plates are generous and tidy.
Grab a sesame with scallion schmear and tomato, or go plain with butter for nostalgia. Coffee is dark and comforting, lines brisk, and staff witty. You will feel at home quickly.
24. Providence, Rhode Island – Small But Mighty
Providence punches above its weight with careful baking and friendly service. Shops here aim for balance tight shaping, strong seeding, and crusts that sing. The chew is present but never exhausting, perfect for a quick campus breakfast.
Order a sea salt or sesame with chive cream cheese. Add tomato and pepper if you like crunch. It is efficient, satisfying, and surprisingly memorable for such a small footprint.
25. Baltimore, Maryland – Regional Deli Strength
Baltimore taps into the region’s deli DNA for standout bagels. Proper boils, assertive seeding, and excellent fish all show up. The crust gives a clean snap, and the crumb supports layers of flavor without collapsing.
Try an everything with whitefish salad or a sesame with lox and tomato. Maybe dust the edge with Old Bay for a local wink. Friendly counter staff keeps things moving and warmly personal.
26. New Jersey – Garden State Pride
New Jersey does not need New York’s shadow. The state has its own bagel culture, fiercely loved and proudly executed. Expect big seeding, real kettle boils, and sandwiches like Taylor ham, egg, and cheese that feel essential.
Order an egg everything with American cheese and a peppery edge. The line is fast, the coffee hot, and the conversation lively. These are everyday bagels, perfect and dependable.
