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.
Reviews describe St-Viateur Bagel as an iconic Montreal staple baked in a wood-fired oven, delivering warm, crisp-on-the-outside and chewy-on-the-inside bagels with rich flavor. The selection spans sesame, poppy, everything, and other classics, with many noting the pleasure of watching bagels bake right in front of customers. The experience is typically grab-and-go, with limited or no seating and cash-only payments at some locations, and lines that can be long but move quickly. Overall, the bagels are praised for freshness and quality, making St-Viateur Bagel a must-visit for both locals and visitors, often regarded as among the best in Montreal despite occasional notes of variability.
Got a fresh hot sesame bagel & I personally thought it was great. I loved the slightly chewy texture inside & the slight crunch outside. There was a line but it moves pretty fast. Pick up some cream cheese or other toppings from the fridges on the side & pay for them in the front with your bagel order. There's another location not too far from this one & I'd probably just go to the one with the shorter line next time. Bring cash!
Jul 9, 2024
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St-Viateur bagels is an overrated tourist trap Honestly do not get the hype. Like sure Montréal style bagels may be worth buying in a grocery store for their potentially unique style / flavour but this store is not worth it. First red flag for me is them being cash only. Now I tend to carry quite a bit of cash & prefer paying by cash many times - way more than the average person; & yet I was taken aback. & sure I get small businesses not wanting to pay potentially exorbitant credit card fees. But these guys ain't a small business - they are an overrated tourist trap. The cash only at this stage just to me screams money laundering & tax evasion (via undeclared income). Heck they don't even have a cash register. They were just scribbling stuff on a pad. Like if I was a CRA / RQ officer & I saw this I'd be calling for a complete audit immediately Second was the lack of service & rudeness. You'd think a bagel shop at the very least would butter it. But no, I asked for bagel with butter & the cashier, in a sarcastic tone said that I can buy (!!) butter (at inflated prices) & that "we don't make sandwiches here" They can't even do basic services of a bagel shop, instead relying on being a tourist trap. Finally, they clearly run an (show) assembly line where bagels are being made. But they are not seeking their fresh ones to customers that is for sure. The bagels did not taste fresh out of the oven at all, despite what talk & assembly line process will have you believe. It tasted meh & a bit stale to be honest
Ask for fresh warm bagel since thay may not be just right out from the oven. Sesame is my favorite. I like the toasted sesame / bake surface / dough. I can taste the sweetness of the flour. I would disagree with someone who would prefer a more salty flavour in the dough.
I had wishlisted this spot in Montreal for bagels since almost 1.5 years. On my visit to Montreal I made sure I get hands on these, but unfortunately couldn't have them fresh due to time constraints, however even though we were getting late to head back to Toronto, we decided to get these bagels & take them home. We visited it at around 9:30 PM & still they were making them fresh. Couldn't get all of their specials as they were sold out, but did get a few of them & they were so good. I got Sesame, Butterscotch, Maple Apple & Whole wheat & they were all really worth the hype.
Jul 1, 2024
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Yummy & delicious bagels!! Lots of different options for bagels & spreads like cream cheese & hummus. Prices were fairly reasonable. While there was a long line, service was fast. However, no seating available & they only take cash.
Store rips off tourists. Cashier didn't give me proper change back & brushed me off & called for the next guest behind me. Would never go back as I don't support businesses that take advantage of tourists who are trying to support local businesses. Better bagels available across the city where they won't steal your money.
I had been waiting to try a Montreal bagel for a while & it didn't disappoint. I got a all dressed bagel with smoked salmon. They didn't go overboard with the capers or onions. Definitely different from a NY style bagel but very delicious. I appreciated the freshness & the slight smokiness of the bagel. Prices were reasonable & the staff were pretty skilled at getting people in & out, managing ordering, etc. I wasn't prepared for a cash-only type of place & they told me where I could find an ATM very easily across the street.
Jun 26, 2024
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This is a true gem. The bagels were fresh & warm. Highly recommend the sesame seed. Bagels didn't age that well, so eat them fresh or seal them in plastic quickly.
