I really liked the bagels, they are different from New York bagels & not really the same type of thing, but tasty nonetheless. However keep in mind there is no place to sit & you can't get them to put anything on the bagel, although they do have cream cheese & salmon for purchase.
Best bagels in the world. I'm from NYC & I will stand by this statement till my grave. I first visited Fairmount when visiting in 2017 & when returning in 2025, I made sure to visit again. I was so excited by the warm fresh bagel that I didn't even put cream cheese on it. It was delicious on its own!
went on a montreal trip w my team & holy moly these guys would not SHUT UP abt these damn bagels 😭😭 some of them legit went & got a pack of like 2 dozen to snack on for the week & ate them for breakfast each day & then they finished it all early & set out to make the 40 min commute all the way there again just to be able to get more like it was insane 😭😭😭 so i was like um these genuinely better be the best damn bagels ive ever had in my life if we're going out of our way for these
wait ill keep going in a bit i have more to say
open 24/7 too which is super neat
After hearing countless glowing recommendations-hundreds, perhaps thousands-I finally made my way to one of Montreal's most beloved bagel institutions, tucked away in a modest, no-frills corner of the city. From the moment you approach, the warm, sweet scent of freshly baked dough draws you in like a beacon. This isn't your average bakery-it's a tiny, bustling hub of bagel-making magic, with trays of golden rings stacked high & ovens firing in full rhythm.
We picked up a variety of bagels: everything, garlic, onion, & the intriguingly named'Bozo'-each one a unique expression of this iconic Montreal staple. There's no indoor seating, so we took our warm paper bag, along with tubs of cream cheese & jam, & enjoyed it from the comfort of our car parked just outside. Honestly? It only added to the charm.
Now, let's talk about those bagels. They were soft, chewy, & still warm to the touch-the texture right where you want it: dense without being heavy, with just the right bite. The garlic bagel quickly emerged as my personal favorite, unapologetically bold & aromatic. Yes, it left me with a garlic-forward breath, but let me be clear-it was absolutely worth it. The everything bagel offered a perfectly balanced medley of seeds & seasoning, while the onion had a subtle sweetness & deep flavor that grew with each bite. The Bozo was a bit of a wildcard-mysterious & slightly sweet, possibly cinnamon-spiced-surprisingly delightful.
There's something wonderfully nostalgic about standing in line with locals & tourists alike, all eagerly waiting for that fresh dozen, watching the bakers work in full view. It's not polished or fancy, but that's exactly the point. This place doesn't need bells & whistles. It's pure, authentic, bagel perfection.
Final word: If you're in Montreal-whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth-do not leave without making a stop here. Yes, there's a line. No, there's no seating. But take it from me: one bite, & you'll understand why people keep coming back for more. It's the kind of experience that reminds you how simple food, made with care & tradition, can be absolutely unforgettable.
