Fairmount Bagel
Bagel shop · Mile End
74 Av. Fairmount O, Montréal, QC H2T 2M2, Canada
Highlights
Hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels, a Montreal classic since 1919
Hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels, a Montreal classic since 1919
"“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
"Fairmount is the older sibling in Montreal’s intense bagel rivalry. And while Montrealers love to dispute which bagel is best, Fairmount’s is the only one to have been authorized by NASA to go into space. (In 2008, the owner’s nephew was one of the astronauts on the Discovery.) This shop has been open since 1919 and operating 24/7 in this Mile End location since 1949. It’s a cozy, compact spot—line up, point to the cream cheese you want, and order your dozen, with a few extra to snack on outside. There’s other great food on the block, too, like takeout gnocchi from Drogheria Fine and summer ice cream from Kem Coba, and it’s not unheard of to make a pilgrimage of sorts out of this trio." - ivy lerner frank
"Fairmount is the older sibling in Montreal’s intense bagel rivalry. And while Montrealers love to dispute which bagel is best, Fairmount’s is the only one to have been authorized by NASA to go into space. (In 2008, the owner’s nephew was one of the astronauts on the Discovery.) This shop has been open since 1919 and operating 24/7 in this Mile End location since 1949. It’s a cozy, compact spot—line up, point to the cream cheese you want, and order your dozen, with a few extra to snack on outside. There’s other great food on the block, too, like takeout gnocchi from Drogheria Fine and summer ice cream from Kem Coba, and it’s not unheard of to make a pilgrimage of sorts out of this trio." - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"A beloved bakery known for its fresh sesame bagels, made in the traditional Montreal style."
"A family-owned bakery in operation since 1949, famous for its slightly denser texture and rich, woodsy flavor. Known for its poppy seed variety." - Ksenia Prints
