Where to Find the 7 Best Bagels in the Twin Cities (Local's Opinion) | Discover The Cities (2024)

Nothing hits quite like a bagel in the morning…

I know, I know. The coffee addicts are readying their pitchforks, but what can I say?

I’m a bagel lover.

Thankfully, the Twin Cities have some great options for awesome bagels. Sure, it’s not quite NYC, but we do we pretty well for ourselves as a midwestern city.

Without further ado, here are my 7 favorite spots to find the best bagels around Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Map of the Best Bagel Shops in the Twin Cities

My personal favorite: Rise Bagel Co. (Minneapolis)

Rise Bagels in North Loop Minneapolis has a cult-like following, and you can count me in that group.

Every day, these folks make their dough from scratch and then churn out some of the most delicious, simple bagels you’ve ever tasted. Their recipe is a mash-up between New York City and Montreal bagel styles, and you can get them in a variety of flavors from salt to onion to rosemary, with plenty of flavored cream cheeses, to boot. (The rosemary + honey rosemary cream cheese schmear was one of the best things we ate in all of 2021, by the way.)

While we were sad to see their unique sandwich-style bagels drop off the menu (R.I.P. to that crunchy wonton bagel…) what’s left is still plenty delicious, and the crowds don’t lie.

Pro tip: Don’t sleep on Rise… literally! They open at 7 AM and routinely sell out of bagels, then turn into a coffee shop until their 1 PM closing.

• Address: 530 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401
• Website: Rise Bagel Co.

The best old-school deli: Cecil’s (St. Paul)

If you’re looking for a Jewish deli that would make New York City proud, Cecil’s is the best in the Twin Cities.

Cecil’s claims to be the oldest deli in Minnesota, and considering this family-run business has been going strong for four generations, it’s easy to see why. Originally opened in 1949, Cecil’s is actually best known for their legendary reuben sandwiches. (Ranked by DiscoverTheCities.com some of the best sandwiches in the Twin Cities)

But like any authentic NY-style deli, Cecil’s also serves a mean bagel, including the classic lox and and a great bagel & egg sandwich.

• Address: 651 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116
• Website: Cecil’s Deli

The most popular neighborhood bagel shop: Asa’s Bakery (Minneapolis)

Asa’s has quickly become a staple in the Nokomis neighborhood of Minneapolis, thanks to some incredible bagels and bialys.

What are bialys, you ask? They’re like bagels, except they’re not boiled before they’re baked, and they also have a little dent instead of an entire hole in the middle.

In any case, both the bialys and the bagels draw on the owner’s New York roots, and the result is fantastic. One bite in, and it’s easy to see why this farmers-market-tent turned local brick-and-mortar is so beloved by the neighborhood.

• Address: 5011 S 34th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
• Website: Asa’s Bakery

The only place for Turkish bagels: Cafe Ceres (Minneapolis)

Most of the menu at Cafe Ceres revolves around the usual coffee-shop-style staples – think pastries, croissants, and cakes – but there’s a secret bagel gem hiding on this menu: the Turkish Bagel.

These beauties come out perfectly golden brown and covered in sesame seeds, and you can either get them by themselves with lebneh and za’atar (a yogurt and herb sauce) or as a full salmon/caper/onion sandwich.

And if you needed any more credentials, know that Cafe Ceres is part of Daniel del Prado’s incredible Twin Cities restaurant empire that includes such acclaimed spots such as Martina, Sanjusan, and Rosalia.

• Address: 3509 W 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
• Website: Cafe Ceres

For a popular St. Paul favorite: St. Paul Bagelry (Minneapolis & St. Paul)

St. Paul Bagelry has been an institution in the Como Park neighborhood for years, and you can even find their popular bagels and cream cheeses in dozens of grocery stores and co-ops all over the state.

(Interestingly, despite the name, this little business has also expanded to Minneapolis with a new Nicollet location.)

Either way, if you’re looking for a classic bagel done right, you can’t go wrong with St. Paul Bagelry. As a bonus, they also offer the biggest variety of bagels in town; they’re rocking nearly 20 different bagel flavors plus another 20 or so cream cheeses. I was never a math superstar, but I’m pretty sure that means you’ve got somewhere around a bajillion bagel combinations to choose from here.

• Address 1: 1702 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
• Address 2: 5426 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
• Website: St. Paul Bagelry

The best vegan + gluten free bagles: Hark! Cafe (Minneapolis)

Of all the bagel shops on this list, Hark! Cafe in downtown Minneapolis is the only one that’s 100% vegan and gluten free. Their case is packed full of freshly made tarts, treats, and of course, bagels, all in a very cute and airy space downtown.

• Address: 430 N 1st Ave Ste 150, Minneapolis, MN 55401
• Website: Hark! Cafe

For a convenient chain: Breugger’s Bagels (Twin Cities + Suburbs)

Sometimes you just need a bagel and you need it quick. When that emergency strikes, (we’ve been there) chances are you’ll be near Breugger’s.

This reliable national chain as a handful of locations all over the Twin Cities, so whether you’re in Minnetonka or Roseville, a Bruegger’s is never far away. The bagels are actually pretty solid too, and they come in a number of different flavors, cream cheese toppings, or even sandwich-style.

• Address: Multiple Locations
• Website: Breugger’s Minnesota