Readers Say

Here’s where to find the best bagels in Greater Boston and beyond

Readers recommended 50 spots across Greater Boston.

Readers recommended 50 places to get the best bagels across Greater Boston and beyond. Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

By Kristina DaPonte

3 minutes to read

Bagels are a breakfast staple. The variety of toppings, cream cheeses, and seasonings available is what makes them so versatile. The options fall on a literal scale of plain to everything, leaving hungry customers with a difficult decision to make.

What can be equally as difficult is deciding where to order your bagel. That’s why in a recent poll, we asked readers to tell us their favorite spot for bagels. The top three recommendations from more than 1,000 readers who responded were pop-up Brick Street Bagels, Bagel Guild in Downtown Boston, and Goldilox Bagels in Medford.

Scroll down to explore readers’ top three picks, an interactive map to find the best bagels near you, and bulleted list of all 50 recommended bagel shops.

Advertisement:

Note: Boston.com sifted through over 1,000 responses to determine the three bagel shops that most clearly generated positive responses from readers. Those businesses are listed below in alphabetical order.

Goldilox’s The Just Right bagel with an over-easy egg, American cheese, and ham. – Sheryl Julian for The Boston Globe

The 3 best bagel shops in Greater Boston

Bagel Guild

Bagel Guild, born out of the pandemic in 2020, opened a shop at the Boston Public Market in Downtown Boston two years ago. Their sourdough bagels are a favorite amongst readers, many of whom also praised the Guild’s various bagel sandwiches — JL from Cambridge equated the experience to “God Himself putting his bagel in my mouth.”

“Fast service and lovely staff. You’ll usually see at least of the owners working too!” said Gina C. from Somerville. “Bagels have a perfect amount of chew to them and some fun flavors like Rye and Touch of Salt (just the right amount!). My go-to order is a Touch of Salt bagel with scallion cream cheese or the B-Flat breakfast sandwich.”

Advertisement:

bagelguild.com, Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston

Brick Street Bagels

Brick Street Bagels is known for their weekly pop-ups, usually in South Boston or the South End, according to Boston magazine. Readers are particularly drawn to the bagel’s crunchy exterior and soft interior, and most recommend indulging in the rosemary and sea salt bagel. Bagel pre-orders can be made through their Instagram page.

“The rosemary and sea salt with scallion cream cheese is unreal. The bagels are all warm and fresh, and every bite just melts in your mouth,” said Lisa from South Boston. “The only thing that would make them better is if they were easier to score! Each time I get them I feel like I am winning the lottery.”

@brick.street.bagels, various locations

Goldilox Bagels

In Medford you’ll find Goldilox Bagels, a spot opened by Medford locals Lindsey Gaudet and Ed Thill in 2019. Readers praised not only the quality of their product, but also the owners’ friendliness and happy presence.

“Bagels are wicked good, they donate to charity, they care about their customers so much, and the breakfast sandwiches are indescribably delicious!” said Danielle R. “I used to live down the street but recently moved to Michigan and missed these bagels so much that I drove all the way from Michigan and back to get these bad boys.”

Advertisement:

goldiloxbagels.com, 186 Winthrop St., Medford

Map: Where to find the best bagels in Greater Boston and beyond

Where to get the best bagels in Greater Boston and beyond, 2024

Sign up for The Dish

Stay up to date on the latest food and drink news from Boston.com.

SIGN UP

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile