Since 1957, St-Viateur Bagel has been a central part of the culture and daily life of Montreal. Its legendary landmark bagel shop operates 24/7 and sells over 1,000 dozen bagels a day. St-Viateur Bagel was founded by Myer Lewkowicz who brought his now famous recipe from Eastern Europe. The art of bagel making means hand rolling each one and baking them in a wood-burning oven. The current owner, Joe Morena, with over 45 years of experience in the bagel business, ensures that the traditions at St-Viateur Bagel continue to be respected. Over half a century, this family business has grown to include 4 bakeries and 2 Bagel Cafés in Montreal. Come and visit us soon or order online today. St-Viateur Bagel & Café Mont-Royal is located in the bustling "Plateau". The avenue is lined with trendy cafés, restaurants and specialty food stores, which contribute to the district's European flair. The café menu offers a number of bagel sandwiches, salads, and a wide variety of specialty coffees.
St-Viateur Bagel & Café is widely praised for fresh, Montreal-style bagels that are warm and chewy with a crisp exterior, often served with simple, flavorful toppings and a range of bagel sandwiches made on site from a wood-fired oven. Reviewers note the quality ingredients and favorites like sesame, poppy, rosemary and sea salt, with classics such as smoked salmon on sesame and egg or bacon bagels. The atmosphere is cozy and bustling, with friendly, efficient staff and quick service despite long lines that move steadily; seating can be limited and the space feels tight, and payment is usually cash only or Canadian debit, with international cards not always accepted. Overall sentiment frames the place as an iconic Montreal institution that often meets or exceeds expectations and is considered worth the wait and hype, though a few find it pricey or not as exceptional as expected. The takeaway is that this spot remains a must-visit for bagel lovers and visitors to Montreal, offering a memorable, hands-on bagel experience with strong flavors and a distinct local character.
A beloved Montreal institution! St-Viateur is home to perhaps Montreal's most famous culinary creation, the Montreal-style bagel. You'll definitely encounter a line, but it moves quickly, & the ordering process is smooth. It's fun to see the boisterous bagel production factory right in front of you as the shop is constantly pumping out hot, wood-fired bagels. I got the Traditional on their most popular flavor, the sesame. The bagel itself was fresh out of the oven & so crunchy. The inside was soft & fluffy with a bit of sweetness from the honey water these bagels are boiled in. The salmon, cream cheese, & veggies all tasted fresh as well. I assure you if you're a bagel lover, you will crave St-Viateur long after your trip to Montreal!
The person who greeted us was exceptionally kind, whereas the person taking my order was the total opposite. She wanted me to go pay at another counter before I even uttered a word, & then she repeatedly mistook what I was asking for, despite the fact that it was a very simple order & I made it as clear as possible.
Anyways, now onto the food. The sesame bagels are always incredible here. In contrast, the poppy seed bagels were cold, chewy, & had almost no seeds on them.
Maybe it's just a location issue. If you ask me, I'd rather spend my money at the original spot.
Mar 31, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
The last time I visited St Viateur was over 20 years ago when I was working in Montreal. I'm happy to see this old friend still making the best bagel I've ever tasted just like before. & it seems they are even more popular than before. The old oven behind the counter is still there & so is the open store front on Mont-Royal.
I ordered my old standby the traditionnel avec bagel tout garni. It tasted wonderful & otherworldly as it had decades ago & brought back many happy memories. Others may not agree with my choice of bagel (most people get the sesame ones) but the ever present long line in the front confirms we all agree this is the best bagel to be had.
Café de quartier d'une légende montréalaise qui propose une pause café bien cozzy!
Mention spéciale à leur huile de sésame fait maison sur place avec les graines de sésames non utilisées!
A must-visit for anyone looking to experience Montreal's iconic bagels. This small, stylish shop is well worth the trip-we enjoyed it so much we went out of our way to visit twice during our stay.
The bagels are excellent across the board, but the standout was the toasted rosemary & sea salt with butter-simple & incredibly flavourful. We also tried plain, sesame, & cinnamon raisin, & picked up extras to go. Even dining in felt thoughtful, with small touches like fresh fruit on the side.
Expect a lineup, especially before lunchtime, which speaks to its popularity. There's a separate, faster line if you're just grabbing bagels to go. Street parking can be limited, so plan accordingly.
Located on Mont-Royal Avenue, Montreal, this spot is walking distance from Ojeux-a nice bonus toy shop stop with Jellycats if you're exploring the area.
Overall, a classic Montreal experience-fresh, flavourful, wonderful staff & absolutely worth going out of your way to experience.
The BEST bagels in MTL! Great choice of sweet or savoury options. Very friendly staff. Small little place, so it gets very busy. Well worth the trip or any wait time. Best to go early. If you go closer to closing, (as we did on 2nd visit) they may be out of bagels (except in take out bags), & serving individual sandwiches on regular bread instead. You *want* the bagels! We loved both the cinnamon raisin, toasted, with strawberry cream cheese, & the lovely steak & caramelized onions on a sesame seed bagel. You get cantaloupe slices on the side, which is a nice touch. Very, very filling, & so good you'll want to come back for more!
Great visit to St-Viateur! Note that it's cash only, but they do accept both USD & CAD. The sesame bagel with cream cheese was excellent, perfectly crunchy on the outside & lighter than typical U.S.-style bagels, making it a great quick bite. The setup is well organized with separate lines for bagel sandwiches & for bulk bagel orders to go, which helps things move efficiently even when it's busy.
Jan 19, 2026
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
We went on a weekday around 10am & the place was pretty empty. We got the traditional on sesame & it was amazing. Definitely better than any bagel you can get in Toronto.
I stopped by St-Viateur Bagel for breakfast & went straight for their popular smoked salmon on a sesame bagel- & it was the perfect introduction to why this place is so beloved in Montreal.
The sesame bagel came warm & fresh from the wood-fired oven, with that unmistakable Montreal-style texture: slightly crisp on the outside, soft & chewy inside, & just a hint of sweetness. It paired beautifully with the smoked salmon, which was rich, flavorful, & balanced nicely by the cream cheese & traditional toppings capers & onion.
What I loved most was the simplicity done right. No frills, no over-complication- just incredibly fresh, well-crafted ingredients that speak for themselves. The staff was friendly, service was quick, & despite the constant stream of customers, everything felt smooth & welcoming.
If you're visiting Montreal or just craving a top-tier bagel breakfast, the smoked salmon on a sesame bagel at St-Viateur is a must-try. It's a classic for a reason, & I'd absolutely come back for another.
Love these bagels! Shop is cash only, so come prepared. Coming from Chicago (& USA in general) we're used to NY-style bagels, but Montreal-style bagels are so much better. Chewy, slightly sweet, delicious. We ordered a sesame to savor, & also two bagel sandwiches- one BTL & one smoked meats. Amazing. Will return! The staff was efficient & welcoming & clear about what types of payment are accepted. Merch is so cute, we bought several things, including gifts for friends.
Oct 25, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
Amazing Bagels- a must do when in Montreal. Expect a bit of a queue, but it moves quickly. My favourite is the sesame seed bagel, toasted with plain cream cheese. Perfect texture & just a kiss of sweetness in the dough. Perfection!
I prefer this location to Rosemont location, because it takes debit card as well as cash & has bagel sandwiches💯 there was a long queue during summer, but this time afternoon, no queue & fast serve!
& finally got sesame oil this time !!
Bagels itself doesn't charge extra tax unless it's a sandwich. LOVE IT ❤?
& somehow all dressed (everything) bagel is always warm hahah
Best bagels i have ever had.. loved the club sandwich & sesame bagel with cream cheese.. staff was very friendly & welcoming.. had a really good eat in experience .. worth the wait & long queue..
Aug 27, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
I was here on Saturday noon, & there was a long line reaching in front of BMO. This is the line for both dine it & take out. Then at the door they separate you into left or right; left for sandwiches & right for take out/buying bags. By the way I waited 45 minutes before I got to the cashier.
The cashier recommended traditional on sesame bagel $14. I searched previous reviews for anyone who's tried Courage Bagels in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, but no one seemed to have mentioned them. I absolutely LOVE Courage Bagels, so I was really excited to try Montreal-style bagels here. My hot take is the salmon lox at Courage tastes better than the traditional one at St Viateur. My reason is Courage Bagel uses a lot more seasoning, especially on the salmon. The salmon here is like barely salty, but it is very soft. The bagel itself is wonderful. (The line at Courage is atrocious.)
The other bagel I got to try is the smoked meat bagel on all-dressed bagel $14. This was one great with the mustard, but I added a bit of extra cream cheese from the salmon bagel, & it tasted even better! If I were to get it again, I would ask for cream cheese on this one.
Servers are nice & spoke English & French.
Indoor & outdoor seating available
Bathroom available
No wifi
CASH ONLY
I got there early enough on a Sunday morning the the line wasn't too long - I only waited a few minutes before I was able to go inside. There is a person who comes out to greet everyone & coordinate where to sit if doing dine-in. I dined in but didn't get anything fancy. I just got three bagels (everything, sesame & poppy) & a small tub of garlic & herb cream cheese. This was my first time trying a proper Montreal bagel & I gotta say they are pretty amazing. I tore a bit from each bagel & dipped it into the cream cheese. Good move. Probably the best move I made that morning. The bagels are crunchy light & creamy all at the same time. I'm from New Jersey so I'm used to bagels being chewier. These bagels are delicious & I will be back soon! Probably tomorrow!
There is a line at the door, but it moves fast. The staff are friendly & direct everyone to keep the flow moving. The bagels are fresh & flavourful, just on their own. Can add to make a sandwich based on your preference. We tried the all-dressed with cream cheese, the traditional on sesame & the rosemary & salt. A stop to try if you're in Montreal & take some to go as well !
