The 38 Best Restaurants in Montreal, Canada | Eater

"“What’s your favorite bagel?” can ignite a fiery debate in Montreal. The answer is usually a toss-up between Fairmount and St-Viateur. Both are great, but Fairmount has a few things going for it: It’s older (opened in 1919), it’s still open 24/7 (unlike St-Viateur, which scaled back during the pandemic), and it was the first bagel launched into space. Run by the grandchildren of founder Isadore Shlafman — a Russian immigrant who opened Montreal’s first bagel bakery — Fairmount keeps the tradition alive with bagels that are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water for signature subtle sweetness, and baked in a wood-fired oven. In the early days, poppy seed was the only option, but now the shop sells over 20 varieties, from sesame to all-dressed (the equivalent of everything). The best option is whatever’s warmest from the oven. Know before you go: If the plan is to pick up a dozen to stock your freezer, grab a couple extra for the road — it’s near certain they won’t all make it back home." - Valerie Silva