The Best Bagels In London Guaranteed To Satisfy Your Cravings
It’s fair to say that bagels are having a moment on socials right now, with #bagels raking in over 1.5 million hashtags on Instagram alone. If, like us, you’re itching to get your hands on the doughy delight, we’ve rounded up where to find the very best bagels in London.
From Papo’s Bagels viral NYC-style favourites to the two rivalling Brick Lane bagel institutions, here’s where to head.
Papo’s Bagels
You’ve probably seen this one circling your TikTok and Insta feeds over the last few months, but we can confirm: it’s worth the hype.
Set up by two diehard New Yorkers, Georgia Fenwick-Gomez and Gabe ‘Papo’ Gomez, the pair saw a hole in the London market for proper NYC-style bagels. You’ll find the couple working tirelessly to prep, boil and bake bagels that any New Yorker would be proud to try.
The bagels are made fresh every morning, featuring flavours like salt, onion, sesame, poppy seed, cinnamon raisin and, of course, the everything bagel. Choose your weapon of choice, packed with their classic smoked salmon, cream cheese, onions, tomato and capers filling. You won’t be disappointed.
73-75 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB
B Bagel
When we smell a waft of freshly baked bagels from the street, we can’t help but venture inside anytime we go past one of B Bagel’s locations. With over 35 years of experience in bagel baking, the team uses family recipes that have been passed down by generations.
There are a whole host of tasty bagels to choose from. Go classic with smoked salmon and cream cheese, get your chops around the hot salted beef with mustard mayo, pickles and sauerkraut or try the vegan shawarma packed with plant-based chicken, houmous, tahini, tomato, pickles and parsley. The sweet blueberry cream cheese option is well worth trying if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
Various locations
It’s Bagels
Serving up classic New York-style bagels, It’s Bagels is another joint doing the rounds on TikTok and for good reason – they are packed with carby goodness.
From garlic and everything seasoning to pumpernickel options, there’s a bagel for every occasion. Load it up with your filling of choice, from tuna fish salads to the ultimate hangover cured – fried egg and cheese.
If you’re looking to get your hands on the viral rainbow-style bagels, this is the spot for you. Available on the weekend, you can enjoy this colourful combination loaded with your favourite fillings.
65 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 8XD
Beigel Bake
Needing little introduction, Beigel Bake is arguably one of the best-known takeaway joints in the capital.
The royals of the bagel world, the team has been serving up their legendary baps since 1974, and it’s become famed for its salt beef beigel with giant pickles and English mustard.
Open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, you can get your fix no matter when the hunger pangs erupt.
159 Brick Lane, E1 6SB
Paulie’s Bagels
Previously known as The Bagel Guys, you’ll find husband and wife duo, Paul and Jordan, serving up their New York-inspired bagels at Netil Market.
Drawing inspiration from the bagel shops, delis, bodegas and pizza slice vendors across NYC that Jordan grew up eating, the pair now serve up delicious delights at their small shop.
You can buy the bagels loose, alongside lox pots and whipped cream cheeses, or you can let the experts go to town with one of the housemade options. Choose between the Schmear, a classic cream cheese bagel with your choice of flavours, from scallion to jalapeno; the Egg & Cheese, bursting with a bodega-style folded egg and melted American cheese topped with mildly spicy house sauce; or the BEC featuring streaky bacon, bodega-style egg, melted cheese and mildly spicy house sauce.
Netil Market, 13-23 Westgate Street, E8 3RL
Carmelli’s
Golders Green dwellers will already know about this gem, but for those who don’t, Carmelli’s is a kosher bakery famed for its delicious baked goods. Having been operating since 1987, it’s one of London’s best Jewish bakeries, offering everything from flaky pastries and cakes to bread and more.
Of course, we can’t forget the bagels which are made in-house fresh each morning. Load up your bag and take home a bundle of bagels to enjoy at home.
126-128 Golders Green Road, NW11 8HB
Dirty Bagels
If it’s meaty stacked bagel filled to the brim that you’re after, Dirty Bagels ticks all of the right boxes. Located in Spitalfields Market, this foodie vendor has been doing the rounds on socials thanks to its slow-cooked pulled pork bagels that are topped with melty cheese.
Priced at £9 per portion, these brioche bagels are completely piled with the filling and you can add extra toppings – from mustard to spicy sauce, jalapenos to crispy onions – for free.
These might not be easy to eat but they are well worth the sampling if you’re in the area.
Old Spitalfields Market, Horner square, E1 6EA
The Beigel Shop
Another Brick Lane institute, The Beigel Shop, is London’s original Beigel bakery, dating back to 1855. The family-run favourite has been using the same traditional recipe for over 150 years and the queues outside the storefront are proof that they are good’uns.
Open 24 hours a day every day of the week, customer favourites include the hot salt beef with English mustard and sweet and sour gherkins; salmon and cream cheese with cracked black pepper and a drizzle of lemon; and the roast chicken salad with a squeeze of mayo.
155 Brick Lane, E1 6SB
Bagel Time
Bookmark this one for the next time you are in Camden Lock Market as these baps are seriously stacked and devilishly delicious.
You’ll find three delicious options waiting for you. Choose between the New York-style Reuben, filled with pulled beef, homemade burger sauce, grilled cheese and sauerkraut; East London Classic with pulled beef brisket with mustard and pickles; or the L.A. Chick, loaded with grilled chicken thigh marinated in salsa verde, homemade aioli and fresh rocket.
Camden Lock Market, Unit WY-18, NW1 8AF
Rinkoffs Bakery
Rinkoffs Bakery has been a family favourite since opening its doors in 1911. Over a hundred years later, they are still serving up flavour-packed baked goods and their now famous crodough – a croissant pastry fried like a doughnut, it’s definitely worth trying.
On the bagel front, however, you’ll always find an assortment of options, from the moreish poppy seed to the Insta-worthy rainbow bagel. Fill up your bag and serve these up at your next breakfast get-together.
224 Jubilee Street, E1 3BS
79 Vallance Road, E1 5BS