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 is widely praised as an iconic Montreal bagel experience, with bagels hot from a wood fired oven, crisp on the outside and chewy inside, delivering a slightly sweet, classic Montreal flavor. The shop is typically grab-and-go with limited or no seating, cash only in most locations, and an on site ATM; lines can be long but move quickly as staff keep the process efficient. Reviewers enjoy a broad selection of toppings and flavors including sesame, poppy, plain, everything, cinnamon raisin and more, and many appreciate watching the bagels being baked right in front of them. The experience is often described as authentic and worth a trip, with bagels fresh, flavorful, and best eaten warm, though some reports note occasional inconsistency, drier textures, or a lack of cohesion when many hands are involved. Price and value are generally regarded as good for a classic Montreal staple, with suggestions to buy a dozen or more to enjoy later, and to bring cash and a bag for transport. While most feedback emphasizes the positive aroma, tradition, and quick service, a minority expresses concerns about hygiene or seating and one-off cases of variability, but overall the consensus remains that St-Viateur Bagel offers a quintessential Montreal bagel experience.
If I were allowed to listen to one piece of music for the rest of my life, it'd be the Brandenburg Concerto. If I were allowed to eat one kind of bread for the rest of my life, it would be the sesame bagle from St Viateur of Montréal.
There are very few things in life more enjoyable than taking a couple of fresh out of the oven St Viateur seasme bagels up to the Mont Royal lookout or to the steps of Saint Joseph Oratory & just sit there looking down at my favorite city & eating my favorite bagel. If you time the bus schedules just right (55 southbound to Mont-Royal transfer to 11 up hill) you can achieve arriving at the lookout with bagles still warm!
It's a religion. One has to have experienced it to believe it. But once hooked, there is no going back.
Whenever we visit Montreal, we always make a stop at St-Viateur Bagel-it's a must! They're hands down the best bagels I've ever had. Each one is hand-rolled & baked in a traditional wood-fired oven, which makes all the difference.
The staff are always friendly & patient-likely because there are so many bagels to choose from. The bagels come out warm & incredibly tasty every time. Our favourites are the sesame seed & poppy seed bagels-we absolutely love them!
Chaque fois que nous visitons Montréal, nous nous arrêtons toujours chez St-Viateur Bagel - c'est un incontournable ! Ce sont, sans aucun doute, les meilleurs bagels que j'ai jamais mangés. Chacun est roulé à la main & cuit dans un four à bois traditionnel, ce qui fait toute la différence.
Le personnel est toujours amical & patient - sans doute parce qu'il y a tellement de variétés de bagels au choix. Les bagels sortent chauds & sont incroyablement savoureux à chaque fois. Nos préférés sont ceux au sésame & au pavot - nous les adorons absolument !
Mar 31, 2026
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For Newyorks bagel is sacred, but if there is anything taste or feel like fresh, just right texture, bite, warmth. - then this is it. Its heaven, all flavors are great, my personal favorite is sesame, onion, everything, rosemary & maple-apple. Now New York bagel will never taste the same.
If you're visiting Montreal & want a truly authentic local food experience, St-Viateur Bagel is an absolute must. This iconic spot has built a reputation that goes far beyond hype.
The moment you walk in, you're greeted by the comforting aroma of freshly baked bagels. What really sets this place apart is that the bagels are almost always warm-often straight out of the wood-fired oven. That warmth isn't just a detail; it completely transforms the experience. The outside has a slight crispness while the inside remains soft, chewy, & subtly sweet, thanks to the traditional honey-water boiling method.
Watching the bagels being made right in front of you adds to the charm. Whether you go for a classic sesame or poppy seed, or try something like cinnamon raisin, every bite tastes fresh & satisfying.
Pros:
- Consistently warm, fresh bagels straight from the oven
- Authentic Montreal-style bagels with a unique slightly sweet flavor
- Open 24/7, making it perfect for late-night cravings
- Affordable pricing for high-quality, handmade products
- A true local experience with visible traditional baking methods
Cons:
- No seating on this location, this is more of a grab-&-go spot
- Can get quite busy, especially during peak hours
- Cash-only at times
- Limited menu if you're looking for a full café-style experience
Overall, St-Viateur Bagel isn't just a place to eat-it's an experience. The combination of tradition, quality, & that signature warm bagel every time makes it unforgettable. If you're in Montreal, skipping this spot would honestly mean missing out on one of the city's most beloved culinary traditions.
best bagels i've had by FARRRRRR. you have to try these. you can't go wrong with everything bagels i tried a few but they were sold out of onion 💔 so i just ended up getting everything, poppy seed, sesame, & rosemary salt? i think that's what it's called. if i had to say my least favourite was the rosemary salt. it was too dense. the everything bagels on the other hand. they were crispy & salty on the outside & warm & soft & slightly sweet on the inside. amazing. i have to try onion next time. but yeah im definitely okay with only ever having the everything. it was just too good. most of the cream cheese options were decent but the kiri cream cheese is the best. go home toast your everything bagel & get some kiri cream cheese & slice some cucumbers & it might be the best thing you've ever had. thank me later.
When we're ever in Montreal, we have to make a stop for St. Viateur Bagels! The shop sits along the 80 Avenue du Parc North bus line & is just a minute from the bus stop, making it easy to reach by public transit. It operates as a grab-&-go storefront with no seating. If you don't have cash, an ATM is located near the entrance. Our friends & family love St. Viateur Bagels & can't wait to come back again to make a large pick up when we are ever in the area!
Their bagel selection sticks to the basics & expands into a broader range, including the classic Sesame, Poppy, & Plain, alongside more varied options like All Dressed, Cinnamon & Raisin, Rosemary & Sea Salt, Whole Wheat, Blueberry, & Pumpernickel. The pricing is available per single, half dozen, or full dozen, which helps us plan quantities for take-home consumption. Their bagels are constantly made fresh, & the store can get really busy, being so popular with long lines at different times throughout the day.
The store also offers merchandise such as t-shirts, tote bags, bagel chips, oils, all-dressed seasoning, pucks, & mugs, as well as refrigerated items like spreads & dairy products. The packaging provided for bagels is a brown paper bag, but they offer plastic bags for storage afterwards. The staff suggests slicing the bagels in half before freezing to preserve freshness. Lastly, make sure to bring a bag to carry it all home!
There's a comfort in returning to a place that gets it right every time. St?Viateur has that steady, unmistakable rhythm - the wood?fired oven working nonstop, the air warm with sesame, & trays of bagels coming out with that signature crisp exterior & chewy center.
Whether you stop in early in the morning or later in the day, the experience stays consistent: friendly, unpretentious, & focused on the craft. The sesame bagel remains the classic, but everything that comes out of that oven carries the same quiet confidence.
It's the kind of spot you find yourself revisiting without thinking - a small Montreal ritual that never disappoints.
Sweet baby Jesus these are good bagels. They said sesame was their most popular, I vote the everything. It was amazing. I don't know how they make it so all the goodies don't fall off the bagels.
One tip I didn't know, that my wife should've relayed, as she did the research for this place is that it's only cash, though they do have an atm in the shop.
We also took advantage of the coffee shop two doors down that was pretty good too!
Nothing beats a bagel fresh out of the oven at St-Viateur Bagel. My favourite bagels in the world. Grabbed 18 sesame bagels ($1.25 each) on a late weekday evening. Cash only.
Nov 16, 2025
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Take-out only. Always a line, but it moves quick. Worth it. Sesame is recommended- they're popular enough that when I bought mine, they were still warm; fresh out of the oven.
I visited St-Viateur Bagel in Montreal & absolutely loved the authenticity! If you're visiting the city, this is a must-try spot for breakfast. The sesame bagel & everything bagel are both amazing fresh, warm, & perfectly chewy. Grab one & head over to Café Olimpico (or your favorite local café) for a coffee the combo is perfect. Highly recommend this Montreal classic!
Visite fin de journée malheureusement donc je n'ai pas trouvé assez de choix mais j'ai pu prendre 3 bagel = au sésame, au bleut & à l'oignon ! Meilleur quand c'est chaud certe. J'ai goûté à l'oignon il été bon. J'ai gardé le reste pour réchauffer le lendemain & le manger au pdj.
I ordered half a dozen bagels (assorted) as it was my first time trying Montreal style bagels! I wish I asked for their fresh bagels as it definitely made the difference. The fresh sesame bagel I got was pretty tasty (8/10) & I bought a small size of butter to try it out. This location was cash only so ensure you have cash in you - or use the ATM located near the entrance.
Sep 25, 2025
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Took the kids here to try montreal bagels for the very first time. There was no line even though, it is supposedly one of the most famous icons in the area.
We ordered a half dozen each of the all dressed & sesame bagel with a smoked salmon spread.
The bagels are supposedly fresh but when we tried cutting it & schmearing the spread to try, we find the bagels to be a little too hard & definitely have a good chewy texture but just not that great tasting. Is the place over-rated???
Should we have gone down the street & try out its rivalry bakery? The line was super long for that establishment.
Perhaps, we may just have to go try out that bakery on our next visit to Montreal.
In summary, we definitely felt a bit disappointed by the qualtity & taste of the bagels from here. We may try it again once we visit the'other' bagel shop. :D
Delicious! Hands down the best bagel I've ever had in my 43 years! The selection in the evening is not that big. However, you are able to get a wider selection earlier on in the day. The pretzel salt bagel is delicious, but so is the rosemary & salt, as well at the sesame seed bagel! Delicious with cream cheese or plain! Highly recommend!
