Excellent quality of bagels. We got bagel with lox…read more Fresh and tasty. Very recommended

I am a carb enthusiast so of course I had to try a real Montreal bagel. As an American who has…read moreaccess to good New York style bagels, I was unfortunately not impressed. Like it's a good bagel, but nothing I was super excited about. I did love the amount of sesame seeds on this thing, being able to see the bagels coming right out of the oven, and the service. But the biggest highlight of my visit was seeing how many options for cream cheese and toppings there were inside for purchase. Like so many cream cheeses it was beautiful. We got a garlic and chive one and it was soooo good, def carried the bagel.

I am no bagel connoisseur, but even I know the ongoing battle that exists between two institutions,…read moreSt-Viateur and this equally famous purveyor, for the title of Montreal's Best Bagel. Jamie W and I didn't waste any time trying this one. It was a bus ride away from our hotel, and we were anticipating a long line when we arrived in the morning. Surprisingly there was a queue but not for Fairmount. It was for the obviously popular gnocchi next door at Drogheria Fine. Lucky for us we walked right in and didn't really have a chance to think about our order. The no-nonsense order takers were not up for chit-chat, so we impulsively decided on two C$1.40 Sesame and one C$1.50 Cinnamon & Raisin (Photo 8) plus a couple of C$0.80 mini-packets of Philadelphia cream cheese. There wasn't much to our interaction, so we took our haul across Boulevard Saint-Laurent to Parc Saint-Michel where we found an open picnic table. We immediately noticed how much softer they were than the ones we were used to. They were also a bit smaller which we didn't mind at all. The sesame bagels were nicely aerated, and the cinnamon and raisin one had a sweetness beyond the raisins. It turned out the cream cheese was somewhat superfluous, even though we ordered it more out of habit. As it turned out, we did end up trying a bagel from St-Viateur later that day, and I'm here to report that we are Team Fairmount. There wasn't a huge difference between the two, and St-Viateur has the advantage of showing how they make their bagels, but flavorwise, Fairmount has the slight edge. FOOD - 5 stars...chewy, sweeter, and nicely aerated AMBIANCE - 4 stars...small shop set up for takeout SERVICE - 4 stars...very much all-business, fast transaction TOTAL - 5 stars...Montrèal's best bagel?...could be RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/jmMWXoPbnE

This may get my New Yorker card revoked but ... Montreal Bagels are better than New York Bagels…read more There, I said it. That is strictly based on preference ... If you're preference leans towards less carbs, more flavor, welcome to the Montreal Bagel Lovers - NYC Chapter. Fairmont was the most pleasant mistake I've made recently. I thought the line was for gnocchi but instead I ended up with the best bagels I've had in years. The bagels are fresh and packed with flavor. The Pina Colada bagel is life changing. The wait is well worth it and I highly recommend that Fairmont be your first stop in Montreal during your visit.

I'm a huge fan of Somebody Feed Phil, and after watching Phil rave about St-Viateur Bagel Café--and…read moreeven do his signature happy dance over the bagels--I knew I had to try it for myself. I've eaten bagels my entire life and honestly never thought they were anything that special. But when we had the chance to visit Montreal, this was one of the first places on our list. When we arrived, there was a long line, and we waited about 35 minutes. Normally, that would make me question whether it's worth it, but this time it absolutely was. I ordered the smoked salmon with fig jam on an everything bagel, and it was incredible. The bagel was perfectly fresh, with a chewy interior and just the right amount of crispness on the outside. Combined with the smoked salmon and the sweetness of the fig jam, it was one of the best bagel sandwiches I've ever had. I rarely say this, but it was 100% worth the wait. My only disappointment is that I didn't have enough time to try their famous competitor so I could compare the two. I guess that just gives me another reason to come back to Montreal!

My friend told me that I needed to come here and try the famous Montreal bagels. I like bagels,…read moreI've never been told that a bagel is a must try in any place. Though, I do come from California and we are not known for bagels. I got here around noon on Monday and there was a substantial line out the door. One of the workers asked if I was getting takeout and when I answered in the affirmative and that I was only getting plain bagels, she escorted me to the counter. Amazing that I didn't have to wait in the same line for dine in and sandwiches/with spread! I was leaving Montreal that day and decided to get some for my mom and also my partner. I got 4 blueberry bagels and two maple apple. Came out to $9. I don't have a photo of the maple apple because I devoured it on the plane. I enjoyed the sweetness of the blueberry and the maple apple bagels. The honey taste in the dough really came out, delicious! I will have to come back next time I'm in Montreal! I can't speak to the ambiance because I was very in and out, loved how quick it was!

This classic bagel chain business is locked in a decades-long battle with Fairmount Bagel. Perhaps…read moreit's like "Heated Rivalry" where they present themselves as public arch-enemies in the fiercely competitive world of bagel making while conducting a clandestine affair behind the ovens. OK, maybe I'm just speculating, but the rivalry story worked on Jamie W and me. It wasn't even an hour after eating the Fairmount bagels that we found ourselves here. If I was to judge the two competitive shops on optics and friendliness, St-Viateur would win hands down. The moment we opened the front door, we were dumbstruck by the sea of freshly baked bagels laid out to be picked up by the cashier. Behind the bagels, a couple of the more seasoned staff were taking bagels out of the huge brick oven (Photo 5). None of that was visible at Fairmount nor was a smile. Here the cashier was really friendly. He also happily accepted a credit card for payment. In a way, it wasn't a fair fight because we bought three bagels at Fairmount and had room for just one from here. We chose the C$1.50 Maple Apple Bagel (Photo 7) and noticed it had a slightly crunchier crust than the similar Cinnamon and Raisin from Fairmount. It was also not quite as sweet, but then we didn't bother getting cream cheese. We slightly favored Fairmount, but it was close to a dead heat. FOOD - 5 stars...I favor Fairmount slightly, but this one was very good, too AMBIANCE - 5 stars...exposure to the vintage bagel making process makes this more unique SERVICE - 4.5 stars...really friendly here TOTAL - 5 stars...the "Heated Rivalry" of bagels, right? CORRESPONDING REVIEW Fairmount Bagel: https://yelp.to/n11Ufv8rER RELATED - Exploring Montreal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/f2zPmmAzV5

I love St-Viateur bagels. They are one of the most famous bagel places in Montreal. The…read morecompetition is Fairmount, which I have not yet tried, but because I like St Viateur so much, I have had no need to check out the competition. I went in and got a few bagels to go. Some of the ones I got were still warm in the paper bag I received....and many of these bagels are only about $1.50 CDN. What a steal. I got a few flavors, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin and Blueberry. Check out their factory and get some bagels to go.....they sell cream cheese and other spreads on site.

There's not much to say, hands down one of the best smoked beef I've had so far in my life. There's…read morea reason why I come back every time I'm in Montréal. Service is fast paced, fast food like but the taste, texture, is everything you'd expect from a store with a legacy. That first bite into the sandwich is so fulfilling. Pair it with a side of pickle to cut through the richness and it's simply perfect. I guess if I were to nitpick, the bread use is a bit perfunctory.

Was really craving a late-night poutine and ordered it via Uber Eats. The gravy and cheese curd…read moreratio was perfect but sadly the fries were cold and a little soggy. The cheese was fresh and had the right amount of saltiness for the gravy. It truly hit the spot. They did not include utensils even though I requested them.

Oh my gosh, these bagels were phenomenal! They were not as doughy as traditional bagels that you…read morefind in the US, and the cream cheese was fresh and not too thick. I came back twice during my stay and they were both consistently great, toasty, and perfect! Everyone was very friendly working too. Would 1000% come back for another!

This is listed as the Ste-Catherine location but I see some pictures of the one in Montreal Dorval…read moreAirport, which is where I was. Surprisingly good bagels for an airport food court restaurant! Very fresh and very tasty smoked salmon. Friendly service!

Until this trip, I'd never heard of a "Montreal Bagel". This a thinner, more dense bagel than I'm…read moreused to in NJ, and is also made in a wood fire oven. The consensus from my wife and I is that we loved them! There is a world where we can enjoy bagels outside of NJ after all. We both had sesame bagels with cream cheese. The strawberry cream cheese was delicious! We found this place on Yelp and followed directions here. It's busy on Saturday mornings, but worth the wait! Seating right outside in the court.

By far the best bagels here. Crisp and the right density. Love that you can watch the bakers do…read moretheir business at the front of the shop. - Such fresh bagels - we watch them come out of the oven! - Tasty spreads - Great sandwiches Coffee was great. All around, win-win There was a piece of the original Berlin Wall not far from here. Very unexpected and amazing

We had already gotten bagels from a nearby shop, and pastries earlier in the day. We were looking…read morefor a bakery with breads in this neighborhood, and Guillaume has a wide variety! Also appreciated that they offer Demi-loaves, not just full ones.

Boulangerie Guillaume caught my eye unexpectedly. I did not have this place on my list of bakeries…read moreto try while in Montreal, but as I was walking in the area I noticed many people holding their distinctive yellow bags. I was intrigued, and since I can always go for some carbs I decided to head in and check this place out. Unlike most bakeries I visited, Boulangerie Guillaume has a much more modern look, and is larger than a standard bakery. Walking in, I was immediately greeted by stairs which led up to the main production area. All of the bakes were arranged on the back-wall perimeter of the space separated from the pedestrians by a glass wall. The color scheme was mostly black to contrast the bright yellow of the bags and signage. The arrangement of the bakes, combined with the color scheme and modern aesthetics, resulted in a stunning, visually striking presentation. I wasn't too hungry, but I can always go for some sweets and their date square looked good. I went with that, along with a cappuccino. The square was delicious - the dates were high quality, and the crust underneath was moist while maintaining its integrity. The cappuccino was also good, a great complement to the bake. Service was efficient, and overall I had a great experience at Boulangerie Guillaume. I definitely want to return to explore more of their menu - I noticed they had some savory items so perhaps for some lunch. Definitely one of the best bakeries I visited in Montreal.

St-Viateur one of the best, if not the best bagel in the Montreal area. We've got one traditional…read moresesame bagel with cream cheese and one with smoked salmon. We also took a dozen of fresh hot bagels. The bagels are made on the spot in a wood oven. The bagels were still hot out of the oven and they're very tasty and full of flavors. Service was quick and professional. There is a small standing area where you can eat your bagel on the go. It would be nice if they have a larger sitting area where you can enjoy your bagels. This location in Laval in the northern suburbs of Montreal is a mostly industrial/commercial area.

A birdie recently told me that Montreal bagels are better than New York's (where I am from), so…read morewhen I visited Montreal during an extended weekend, I gave bagels from St-Viateur a try. Holy crappola... they were unbelievably good! The portions were not thick and ginormous like some of the ones I've had back home. They were the perfect size, not too thick and still soft and chewy inside with a toasted exterior. My entire family wanted sesame bagels with cream cheese, except mine had additional lox and capers. We enjoyed them so much we are planning to return for more tomorrow morning!

The everything bagel and cream cheese were perfection. Generally, not enough cream cheese or oozing…read moreout all over, the ratio here was just right.

After having tried Montréal's iconic bagel places, was eager to go for a bagel at Kettlemans, the…read moreOntario chain's first Montréal location that happened to be (1) opened 24 hours and (2) a relatively short walking distance from my hotel. With large picture windows, seating, and bagel production able to be watched, it ended up to be a good choice. Chose Kettlemans Pumpernickel Bagel with Light Cream Cheese, a Cinnamon Puff, and a Coffee. The friendly attendant provided a pager while he prepared my baked goods. Kettlemans house coffees happen to be Lavazza, so selected the Dark Roast option. The great, super fresh Bagel also was half coated in Sesame. All was perfectly delicious at Kettlemans - plus sitting there enabled me to see one of their bakers rolling bagels, people watch, and charge my phone! Noted they had other enticing specialty treats that, had I not been on vacation with a full agenda, would have tried. Might consider next time trying their Sesame Bagel Dog! Definitely would recommend checking out this Kettlemans!