The bagels in Melbourne are near and dear to many hearts. Wood-fired, long fermented, or steamed, there's many a style and flavour across this vast city that you'll want to wrap your hands around and sink your teeth into.
An ideal option for both breakfast and lunch, the brilliance of the spherical bread type is in its versatility—allowing almost anything, sweet or savoury, to be sandwiched in between. Open faced or traditional, a simple schmear or curated fillings. The options are endless.
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We've tracked down the top spots every bagel fanatic needs to try. Here are Urban List's picks for the best bagels Melbourne has to offer in 2025.
Masses Bagels
5 Smith Street, Fitzroy
They do bagels a little differently at Masses Bagels, and the result is one you’re going to want to devour. It started as a beloved Carlton Farmer’s Market stall, and now it’s your new favourite Smith Street hang out. The bagels are made from wholegrain milling flours, wild fermented, hand rolled, boiled, and baked fresh daily. The produce is seasonal, the suppliers are local, and the bagels are served open. Expect fillings like slow roasted celeriac, rhubarb jam, and hot smoked trout.
INSIDER INTEL
- The spiced ginger sugar bagel is seriously underrated.
- We reckon they might have the best gluten free bagels Melbourne has to offer as well.
- The interior is gorg and there’s a decent amount of seating up for grabs.
Lenny’s Fine Foods
636 Inkerman Road, Caulfield
Image: Lenny's Fine Foods | Supplied
This local treasure has been kicking around for over four decades. At the helm of Lenny’s Fine Foods are owners Natalie and Mark Fine, who recently gave the shop a much-needed refresh to usher in a renewed era. What hasn’t changed? The stacked bagels. Some are stuffed with housemade Neufchâtel dill cream cheese and smoked salmon, others are loaded with hot pastrami, mustard and slaw. Either way, they are hands down some of the best bagels Melbourne has to offer for 2025.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bagels are available every day the shop is open, but get in early—these bad boys tend to sell out.
- There's a bunch of other Jewish culinary delights and take-home options that are sure to fill the belly, and the soul.
- Their chicken soup has reached cult-status, in case your bagel is feeling a little lonely.
Bakes & Bagels
Thornbury & Thomastown
Image: Bakes & Bagels Melbourne | Supplied
Bakes & Bagels are serving up some of the best bagels in Melbourne. These bagels have the perfect amount of crunch on the outside and softness on the inside. Not to mention the fillings, which are absolutely stacked. Looking for something substantial? Get the New York style pastrami with American cheese, tomato, lettuce, and mustard mayo. Or try something new like the tuna corn mayo mix with Spanish onion. The gluten free bagels are spot on as well.
INSIDER INTEL
- Plenty of schmears on offer from classics to weird and wonderful creations like Biscoff, banana and salted pretzels.
- The outdoor seating is great for soaking up some rays.
- They have a photo wall with all their four-legged customers. It's adorable.
Mile End Bagels
Various Locations
Image: Mile End Bagels | Supplied
You could argue Melbourne’s demand for bread doesn’t have room for another bagel-specialised bakery, but owners Ben Vaughn and Michael Fee aren’t scared of a little competition. There are no shortcuts here: Mile End Bagels are baked in a wood-fired Canadian stonemason and boiled in honey water for a slightly sweeter aftertaste.
The options are bountiful, the staple being either their smoked salmon number with rich sliced tomato and zesty red onion, or their brisket pastrami with hot and sweet mustard and cream cheese.
INSIDER INTEL
- Not bagel related but bagel-adjacent: get $4 coffees before 9am on weekdays.
- Every month, Mile End sling a new special. Think salami hot honey with provolone, pickled japapeños and tomato butter, or sticky date toffee with sweet cream.
- Now operating in Fitzroy, Brunswick, Richmond and Hawthorn there are plenty of bagels for everyone.
Bricklane Bagels
South Melbourne, Melbourne CBD & Prahran
The open-faced bagels at Bricklane Bagels are outstanding. Whether you’re after a lighter spread or more hefty filling, you’re in for a fresh and satisfying meal. Favourites include the smoked salmon with cream cheese, dill and capers, or the pastrami with mustard, swiss cheese and pickles. If you’re looking for the best bagels Melbourne CBD has to offer, head to Bricklane Bagels.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get your bagel toasted on those cold or rainy Melbourne days, it hits the spot.
- The cream cheese with cucumber is the ultimate refreshing snack.
- Their coffee and matcha are brewed to perfection.
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Bowery To Williamsburg
16 Oliver Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image: Bowery To Williamsburg | Supplied
If you require a hump day morning boost, make a beeline for Bowery To Williamsburg. Home to creations like the B.E.C. featuring 14 hour slow roasted beef brisket, a fried egg, American cheese and pickles. DIY bagels like the “everything” bagel or cinnamon and raisin are also available, with a wide spread of schmear options.
INSIDER INTEL
- Need a caffeine hit? Get espresso or bottomless filter coffee.
- Dogs are welcome, great for a weekend bagel date.
- The vego bagel option involves grilled mushrooms and halloumi.
Bagels Baby
36 Derby Street, Pascoe Vale
Bagels Baby, the tidy outfit in Pascoe Vale, has been quietly amassing a dedicated bagel following. The venue is minimal in design, recognisable by the light-filled store with white-washed walls. On the menu here you'll find a collection of staple options from a classic cream cheese schmear to their more explorative numbers like the sizable chicken Katsu bagel filled with a Panko crumbed schnitzel, Kewpie mayo and Tonkatsu sauce.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bagels just got cosy. They’re doing a soup and bagel combo over winter that will warm your soul.
- They do gluten free bagels here, and there’s plenty of vegan options.
- The coffee is goood. So good you’d stop in for a cup even if there weren’t bagels (thankfully there are though).
Huff Bagelry
Various Locations
Image: Huff Bagelry | Supplied
Open every day and with stores speckled across Melbourne, Huff Bagelry is the reliable bagel joint you need in your life. There’s a massive range of house-made bagels and tons of ingredients to throw on them. But still, they keep it pretty simple in the best way possible. Specials involve variations like roast veggies with herb feta, ham and egg with beetroot relish, and grilled tuna with cheese. You'll never go wanting after a visit.
INSIDER INTEL
- You'll find stores in Fitzroy, South Melbourne, Carnegie, Bentleigh, and Mentone.
- Have something specific in mind? You can build your own bagel.
- They do mini bagels if you're not super hungry.
Schmucks Bagels
Various Locations
Image: Schmucks Bagels Melbourne | Supplied
While America may be obsessed with bagels, these circular baked goods are widely considered to have origins in Jewish bakeries back in 17th-century Poland. For traditional Polski bagels, head to Schmucks Bagels. They steam their bagels for a lighter texture and well-rounded flavour. All bagels come toasted with your choice of almond butter, nutella, freeze dried berries, cream cheese or butter. Plus there’s a huge range of breakfast and all-day bagels on offer stuffed with fresh and delicious fillings.
INSIDER INTEL
- Get the Schmuck Monsieur, or Hippie-Slicker for plant-based foodies.
- There are two stores in Melbourne CBD (on Collins Street and Guests Lane).
- Their bagel boxes are great for feeding groups.
Aviv Cakes And Bagels
400 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick
This Elsternwick institution has been kneading and baking bagels for decades. Their range of perfectly dense and chewy bagels are right up there with the best bagels Melbourne has to offer. Aviv's new-look store offers a staple range of plain, poppy, and sesame seed-topped bagels. Sometimes simplicity is bliss.
INSIDER INTEL
- Arrive early in the morning and your bagels might just still be warm, straight from the oven.
- If you love bagels, there’s a good chance challah is up your alley too. Aviv bakes it fresh every Thursday and Friday.
- They’re open every day from 7am.
Main image credit: Mile End Bagels | Supplied
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