St-Viateur Bagel

St-Viateur Bagel is a bakery in Montreal, Quebec, that bakes bagels in wood-fired ovens and hand-rolls each piece before coating it with seeds. The shop sits on its original location and produces handmade bagels daily using traditional techniques.

The bakery opened in 1957 and has operated from the same location on St-Viateur Street since the beginning. It became part of Montreal's long handmade bagel tradition rooted in the local Jewish community.

Montreal bagels differ from New York versions by being smaller, made with honey-sweetened dough, and covered with seeds on both sides.

The shop opens early and operates throughout the day, giving you a chance to watch bakers at work as they shape and bake bagels. Fresh bagels taste best right after baking, especially when purchased on-site.

Many visitors don't realize the bagels are boiled in honey water before baking, which gives them their signature texture and slightly sweet taste. This boiling step is a hallmark of the Montreal method and not common in all bagel shops.