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.
St-Viateur Bagel ( as La Maison du Bagel), founded in 1957, original shop is located in Montreal's Mile End neighborhood & is Montreal's longest-established bagel shop.
Bagels are a quintessential Jewish traditional food, their history deeply intertwined with the migrations of the Jewish people. Bagels originated in 17th-century Jewish communities in Poland. At that time, bagels were given as gifts to postpartum women, their circular shape symbolizing'life cycle' &'eternity.'
In the early 20th century, with the large-scale migration of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, bagels were brought to cities like New York & Montreal. St-Viateur Bagel was founded in 1957 by Myer Lewkowicz, a Polish Jewish Holocaust survivor. He had dreamed of having a loaf of bread while in a concentration camp, & after his rescue, he established the shop in Montreal, continuing the traditional wood-fired baking method.
The combination of bagels, cream cheese, & smoked salmon is a classic brunch setup for North American Jewish families.
Mar 15, 2026
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Une petite virée un soir en passant avant Noël pour une commande de bagels iconiques de Montréal.
Accueil un peu froid, communication en français limité mais bagels inégalés 😉
Never a disappointment here. Find a parking spot & you're good to go to enjoy the best bagels, no matter the the flavor. They have cream cheese for immediate bagel consumption.
Mar 8, 2026
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Une adresse incontournable reconnue par tous. Il y a une file d'attente, mais le service est rapide & l'attente n'est pas longue. Laissez-vous séduire. Je recommande +++
These are my new favorite bagels! Soft texture & great flavor! I treated myself to 4 or 5 bagels & just snacked on them throughout the afternoon. You should definitely stop here if you're visiting Montreal!
It felt like there was magic all over Montreal, Quebec.
I think it was my second day there when my friends wanted to try this bagel shop. When we arrived, we were stunned by how popular the place was - there were people from different provinces & even other countries who had come to visit. Everyone had the same chill, natural manner. Despite the cold & the long line, I noticed a vintage shop next door that added even more charm to the scene.
I have to say, everything related to Quebec seems so stylish & unique.
Finally, we got inside the store. Newspapers & photo memos were pinned to the wall like butterfly wings. The staff moved around constantly, almost like they were part of a well-rehearsed dance. That's when I realized this place only sold bagels, & you could choose your own toppings or sauces to make them yourself 😋 - a truly authentic experience. We ordered every kind of bagel to try, along with some root beer. Of course, we couldn't finish it all.
I have to admit, they offered more variety here than any other bagel shop I've been to. However, only the most popular bagel was served warm - the rest were cold & hard. The garlic & herb cream cheese was okay, but not great.
Still, I'd say this was more of an experience - almost a social experiment for me.
The parking situation was an impossible mission. We drove for almost an hour trying to find a spot - but there were none. In the end, we took a chance & parked in front of an apartment building 🫢. By the way, there was a lot of snow on the streets at the time, & the shop was in an ethnic neighborhood. It almost felt like being in another world 🔮.
Cash only! ATM on site that charges about $4 in fees. They help people really fast & the line moves fast! I got a variety of bagels & they were patient & courteous helping me out.
