Arch Eats: Best Bagels in St. Louis

Just a few years ago, St. Louis felt like a bagel wasteland as boiled bread enthusiasts mourned the loss of the beloved Bagel Factory, and with it their access to respectable versions of the form. Today, we suffer through this bagel-shaped-bread era no more thanks to a bagel renaissance that, over the past few years, has brought excellent options to the metro area. On this episode of Arch Eats, George and Cheryl walk listeners through the St. Louis bagel scene, sharing their favorite picks from some of the city’s essential shops, and offering tasting notes and insider tips on everything from lox to schmear to a certain chef’s famous egg salad. Whether you’re a die-hard bagel enthusiast or the occasional dabbler, they’ll let you in on everything you need to know to get the most out of your bagel experience. Listen and follow Arch Eats on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available.

”I think you and I have both looked at this episode as almost a user’s guide, which is why we are putting all these bagels out here. What do you think we have here? Fifteen bagels in front of us, at least. We really wanted to let people know what they taste like, what the differences are between all these wonderful places.” —Cheryl Baehr

This episode of Arch Eats is sponsored by Cardinals Nation and supported by South Grand. Get game-day ready with the Cardinals Nation pre-game party! Before every home game, enjoy a DJ-hosted, pep-rally style party featuring a full buffet and an all-inclusive bar. Get your tickets today.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Yellowbelly, 4659 Lindell, CWE, no phone.
Jinzen, 8113 Maryland, Clayton, 314-354-8086.
Songbird, 4476 Chouteau, The Grove, 314-781-4344.
Bagels and Bliss, 8151 Delmar, U City, no phone.
The Bagel Factory
Bridge Bread, 2639 Cherokee, Benton Park West, 314-296-3077.
Lefty’s Bagels: 13359 Olive, Creve Coeur, 314-279-0959 (Coming in June 2025 to Covenant Center, 8 Millstone Campus, Creve Coeur)
The Daily Bread, 11719 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-909-0010.
Straubs, Multiple locations
Deli Divine, 5501 Delmar, West End, 314-987-3354.
Baked and Boiled, 1801 S. Ninth, Soulard, 314-571-9017.
Bagel Union, 8705 Big Bend, Webster Groves, 314-320-7556

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About The Hosts

George Mahe

George Mahe has spent most of his life immersed in the restaurant industry, owning and operating establishments before delving into food journalism. He began reviewing restaurants for St. Louis Magazine 35 years ago under the pseudonym “Arnie Boye” (a tribute to his dog) and became the magazine’s first dining editor in 1992. His fair and balanced approach spawned a local restaurant consulting company, and further ventures in ownership. In 2006, he returned to SLM. George spearheads the magazine’s dining coverage, curates the weekly Dining Out newsletter, and co-hosts the Arch Eats podcast. George lives in University City with his wife, Suzi. Send your dining questions to [email protected].

Cheryl Baehr

Cheryl Baehr has been telling the story of the St. Louis dining scene since 2013, drawing upon her decades-plus experience in the industry and her passion for food and the people who make our city so delicious. A graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis and the University of Denver, Cheryl left a career in government in Washington, DC to return to her hometown to write about food, first as longtime dining critic for the Riverfront Times and now as a staff writer, co-host of the Arch Eats podcast, and editor of the Dining In newsletter at St. Louis Magazine. When she’s not celebrating the St. Louis food scene, you can find this proud Florissantonian and recent University City expat sipping on coffee at her home in Wildwood with her daughter, Coretta, her partner, Nick, her step-dog, Van, and her beloved Great Pyrenees, Chloe.