Whether it's for breakfast, lunch or even after "last call", come and have a bagel of your choice with or without cream cheese and/or smoked salmon, ready to take out.
Fairmount Bagel Bakery is described as an iconic Montreal staple, with wood fired ovens delivering warm, chewy bagels that are best enjoyed fresh and often taken to go. Reviews celebrate a broad lineup of flavors from sesame and everything to blueberry and sun dried tomato, with many calling the sesame bagel the standout and consistently excellent. Readers note the aroma and the hands on experience of watching dough being shaped and boiled in honey water before baking, which adds to the charm. The atmosphere varies in tone from warmly praised staff to occasional comments about slow or uneven service, and some notes about unfriendly moments. A common caveat is that the shop is cash or Canadian debit card only, with some posts noting no seating and lines that move slowly at peak times, but many still say the wait is worth it for the quality. Several reviewers declare it among the best bagels in Montreal if not the world, often preferring it to competitors and NYC comparisons, while a few say the quality can vary and freshness fades later in the day. Overall, the reviews paint a picture of a beloved institution where fresh, warm bagels, classic toppings, and a straightforward takeout experience define the visit, and where the ritual and taste keep locals and visitors returning.
Fresh bagels getting pumped out! Little disappointed they didn't warm it up, but maybe I was supposed to ask ? Nice variety & liked the taste a bit better than St. Viateu
Always the best sesame bagels in the city… St viateur is good too but these ones seem to always last longer.
Try a pretzel too & the blueberry bagel. Can't go wrong !
Today's bagel is a sesame bagel from Fairmount in Montreal. This was decent… I really wish it was toasted with the cream cheese, or fresher because it had the potential to be amazing. I was going to get some to bring home so I could try but I won't be in that area again unfortunately. The bagel had a light interior but I felt it could have had a better crisp around the outside. Flavour was nice with a subtle sweetness but the eating experience left something to be desired. I had another untoasted bagel from St-Viateur after this & the texture was way more enjoyable. Seeds fell everywhere which I didn't appreciate. I'm sure these bagels are very good when you prepare them at home & I know that's really their specialty. For my eating experience, 7.7/9 bagels.
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Feb 21, 2025
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Finally tried Fairmount bagel. It lived up the hype. The store is tiny yet full of character. The staff were nice & friendly. The bagels are delicious! We had St Viateur's bagels before. So we were wondering which one tasted better. We bought st viateur's bagels (which is around 5 min walk) to do a blind test. :D Fairmount's are slightly sweeter & firmer. They are also slightly smaller compared to St Viateur's. Eventually st viateurs won 2:1 after our voting :) but that doesn't mean fairmount bagels are worse. They are both good with their own characters. We will continue to get both bagels & debate which one tastes better for the foreseeable future:D
Having visited St-Viateur for a comparison on a prior trip, for my taste, Fairmont wins hands down. IMO, better overall flavor. It's a little chaotic inside so be prepared with your order. Depending on the day, might also be a line but it moves fast.
Having grown up in Ville St Laurent, I frequented Fairmount Bagels often. Now that I've moved away to California, where I can only get the likes of Noah's or Costco bagels - which to a long time Montrealer like yours truly, that's nothing more than a bunch of dough baked in the shape of a donut! That's NOT bagels, Fairmount Bagels which has been around for more than a century - how many restaurants can make similar claims, same recipes at the same tiny hut on Fairmont Avenue at Blvd St-Laurent still unable to meet daily demands of its customers as the stacked up bagels all the way to the ceiling can attest. I bought a dozen the first week at St Viateur (because my sister is busy & can't drive me to Fairmount), so I settled & their bagels - though still Montreal-style & made similarly, they were absolutely horrible. When it comes to bagels, Montreal or New York, there's only one - FAIRMOUNT Bagels - ask anyone who used to live in Montreal & moved away what they want when someone is visiting them from Montreal? YES, can you bring me FAIRMOUNT Bagels!!!‼️‼️‼️👅👅👅👅🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Jul 23, 2024
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Another tasty bagel, personally found it a bit drier than St. Viateur & not as warm (prob just a timing thing) but the seasoning on the outside was delicious. Line moves pretty fast & the inside of the shop is cozy, you're just surrounded by shelves of bagels which is great haha. Suggest you bring cash!
Alright no bagel expert here so I will give them a 5 stars based on them being the first bagel shop (1919) in Montreal. Came to this very smallish original store on Fairmount Ave, the most popular sesame bagel is 1.25CAD. WARM, smaller compared to US bagels, slight sweetness. Not bad. Then I went on to the other Montreal biggie St Viateur which personally I think it's better. BTW my hotel also serves Fairmount (6 in a plastic bag) which needed to be toasted to taste good.
Hot bagel thrown at you as fast as you can pay. We got both Fairmount St. Viateur sesame bagel & taste tested them & I'm giving an ever so slight win to Fairmount. If you're visiting MTL go & get hot fresh bagel.
Fairmount Bagel Bakery est une icône de Montréal pour les bagels. Bien qu'il y a beaucoup de fabriques de bagels à Montréal, on se range derrière certains fabricants Fairmount, St-Viateur, Bagels Factory etc... pour moi c'est Fairmount Bagels Bakery.
St-Viateur vs Fairmount? Forget that. No questions asked. Fairmount Bagel WINS by 10 miles. I have been a fan of their bagels since I was a kid & while I have eaten bagels from different companies. Fairmount bagels has the best texture. It is always an absolute privilege to visit the place of origin of my favorite bagels. I will always give this place 5-stars.
