Learn even more about the area’s best bagels on the Arch Eats podcast.
For decades, this Hill institution has been known for its signature sandwich, an Italian-style sub garnished with a signature zesty dressing and piled onto delicious bread. It’s synonymous with the shop, though if you dig deep into its history, you find out that it was founded as a bread bakery, not a sandwich shop. Recently, they’ve been leaning into their bread-making heritage by adding bagels to the mix, which are freshly baked every day and come in a variety of the expected flavors, plus more specialty flavors like blueberry, cheddar jalapeno and cranberry walnut. 5390 Southwest.
A New Jersey native who grew up eating really good bagels, co-owner Giti Fredman parlayed her passion for bagels into a hobby, then a company called Just Bake It which offers baking workshops for corporate events, parties and more. Her partner in business, co-owner William Goldmeier, has a background in kitchens at both a yeshiva in Israel and the now-shuttered Kohn’s Deli. Together, they’ve created a delightful University City institution that is quickly becoming the area’s go-to for New York style water bagels. They sell out fast, so make sure to get in line as early as possible. 8151 Delmar, University City.
St. Louis’ bread authorities, Ted Wilson and Sean Netzer of Union Loafers, knew they were on to something when a bagel pop-up they put on a few years ago sold out before it was open. Taking that as a sign that post-Bagel Factory St. Louis was hungry for a quality bagel, they opened their Webster Groves shop as a bastion of quality boiled bread. Bagel Union has all the standards, plus a few creative varieties, and offers a wide array of excellent bagel sandwiches, including the outrageously delicious salmon roe version. 8705 Big Bend, Webster Groves.
Alex Pifer turned a personal quest to find a great bagel into one of the most popular stands at the Tower Grover Farmers Market and now, one of the area’s favorite brick and mortar destinations for the boiled treats. Known for a style that is quintessentially New York, her bagels are good enough with just a bit of schmear, though her sandwiches – especially the one with Volpi prosciutto, fig and goat cheese – are extra delightful. 1801 South 9th.
The St. Louis location of the national bread bakery has an important claim to fame: It’s the bakery that supplies bagels to the venerable Jewish delicatessen, Protzel’s Deli. That ringing endorsement rings true when you taste the bakery’s excellent New York style bagels, which come in everything, plain, poppyseed and sesame seed. You can find the bagels at Colleen’s as well, or head down to Breadsmith’s Kirkwood location. Just be forewarned that they sell out quickly, so calling ahead, especially for larger orders, is encouraged. 10031 Manchester, Kirkwood.
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
Social enterprise Bridge Bread Bakery is much more than a delicious source for bagels. The nonprofit bakery serves as a resource for people experiencing homelessness by providing them with employment and transferable skills, as well as financial assistance for housing. This alone is reason to patronize the business, but their wares are just as delicious as their mission is important. Bridge Bread’s bagels are done in the traditional New York kettle boiled style and come in classic, cinnamon, blueberry, everything and pretzel. Good food for a good cause – it doesn’t get more delicious. 2639 Cherokee.
Local baked goods powerhouse Companion has been a consistent source of quality bagels over the years and is found in some of the metro area’s most popular cafes, including Meshuggah, Kaldi’s and Companion’s own Ladue bakeshop, which stocks several varieties. Its steamed style results in a firm exterior and pleasantly chewy interior that is the perfect canvas for schmear, lox or – at Meshuggah – deliciously verdant pesto. 9781 Clayton, Ladue.
Folks flock to this Kirkwood mainstay for its excellent soups, salads and those incredible Mountain Cookies, but the bakery is also known for its delicious bagels. Softer than the traditional New York style, these steamed bagels are perfect for sandwiches and come in varieties like asiago, everything and cranberry oat. 11719 Manchester, Kirkwood.
Chef and restaurateur Ben Poremba’s Deli Divine is more than a restaurant – it’s a transportative experience that celebrates New York Jewish deli culture, as well as St. Louis’ own Jewish heritage. The bagel is a major part of that story, so Poremba took pains to get the absolute best New York bagel possible, sourced from a bakeshop based in New York City that are exactly what you’d get if you were in a Big Apple deli. Shiny-shelled on the outside, firm and chewy underneath, Deli Divine’s bagels are perfection of the form. 5501 Delmar.
An IT professional by trade, Scott “Lefty” Lefton scoured the St. Louis area for the bagels he fell in love with while working in Chicago and Los Angeles. Though he’d found good versions, they never quite hit the exact spot he was looking for, so he took matters into his own hands, partnering with his brother in law, Doug Goldenberg, and founding Lefty’s out of an incubator space in Chesterfield. The overwhelming respons to their wares led the pair to open a brick and mortar, which has become more than a place to get delicious bagels and accouterments; it’s a community gathering place. 13359 Olive, Chesterfield.
Coffee lovers know of Teleo Coffee as one of the area’s premier destinations for high-quality specialty coffee. Bagel aficionados are starting to know of Teleo as a must-visit destination for the boiled and baked bread. The shop makes their bagels in house by hand and currently offers two varieties: plain and everything. You can enjoy them on their own or as an excellent sandwich with both composed or build-your-own options. 132 West Monroe, Kirkwood.
