New York City might be the unofficial capital of the bagel, but London is no slouch when it comes to this boiled doughy delight.
And so, when you have a hankering for a bagel and cream cheese in London, look no further than this guide for the 7 best bagels in London.
A quick history about the best bagels in London’s humble beginnings
Despite being repeated through the ages, Bagels were not created after the Battle of Vienna in the 17th century in honor of Polish monarch John III Sobieski. Neither were they invented in the Middle Ages because antisemitic laws in Central Europe made it verboten for Jews to bake, so they began boiling their bread instead.
Then how were bagels invented?
- Bagels emerged around the 13th century in Central Europe—in what is today Poland—when Jewish bakers began selling bread outside of the Jewish community. During Lent, for example, Christians began favoring the consumption of bagels for their simplicity.
- But the heyday of bagels began when Poles and European Jews began migrating to the United States in the second half of the 19th century. For decades the bagel remained as something closely associated with the Jewish community in the United States, particularly in East Coast cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. The same goes, though on a much smaller scale, for cities like London.
- In the 1960s, though, the first bagel-making machine appeared in the United States. And soon enough, mass bagel manufacturing appeared. Delis began pairing bagels with food that Scandinavian immigrants brought with them: lox (smoked salmon) and cream cheese.
And with that the bagel, as we know it in the 21st century, was born.
By the turn of the new millennium, bagels began the leap outside of the United States, materializing once again back in Europe where it all began. These days, you can eat a bagel for breakfast everywhere from Krakow to Prague to London.
Bagel King
South London’s Bagel King happens to be a favorite with pub hoppers, late-night partiers, and rave-goers. That’s not only because it’s near the clubs but that it is open 24/7. So, if you’re in the area and you’re hungry, particularly for a bagel, this is the spot.
Bagel King specializes in creative fillings, such as Mexican-spiced tuna, peri peri chicken, plantains, minted lamb, shredded jerk chicken, and chicken tikka, among many other varieties.
The Bagel Guys
Inspired by the bagel shops, delis, and corner bodegas of New York City, the Bagel Guys was founded by husband-and-wife team Jordan and Paul. Long Island-born Jordan moved to London in 2017 and quickly developed a homesickness for proper New York bagels.
And so, the Bagel Guys was born. Located in the Netil Market in London Fields, the Bagel Guys makes a variety of different types of bagels and they also have a menu of bagel sandwiches, including the BEC (bacon, egg, cheese), a New York City deli classic.
Roni’s Bagel Bakery
With 6 locations to choose from around London—Belsize, Brent Cross, Hampstead, Muswell Hill, Swains Lane, and West Hampstead—you hopefully don’t have to go far to get your bagel fix from Roni’s Bagel Bakery.
Roni Avital has been churning out high-quality bagels since 1989 and also making topnotch cream cheese. The bakery also serves great chicken soup, as well as falafels and salads.
Beigel Bake
Since 1974, Beigel Bake has been churning out lovely bagels—or beigels, as they prefer to write it the old way—in Brick Lane.
People associate the street with Indian restaurants but before the Bengalis started setting up shop, it was actually home to a sizable Jewish community, making Beigel Bake, and a few other bagel shops, something of a beloved artifact.
They make a small selection of bagels, including the ever-popular everything bagel, as well as various bagel sandwiches with everything from tuna to hummus to Nutella.
Panzer’s
Located in St. John’s Wood, Panzer’s was founded in the 1940s by two immigrants from Austria and the country formerly known as Czechoslovakia. Panzer’s is essentially a gourmet food market that also happens to sell prepared foods and excellent made-to-order sandwiches.
And oh, they make bagels too. Excellent homemade bagels at that. Here you can choose between a large selection of different types of bagels and what you want with it—go for the works with bagels and smoked salmon.
Rinkoffs Bakery
With two locations in and around Whitechapel, Rinkoffs Bakery is a neighborhood institution. Begun (and still owned by) an immigrant Ukrainian Jewish family, who opened the bakery in 1911, Rinkoffs makes sourdough loaves, challah, hamburger buns, and even their version of the cronut, which they call the “crodough.”
And, of course, they make a fine bagel. Varieties include poppyseed, everything (mixed seeds), and the weird rainbow-colored bagel.
The Bagel House
If you’re anywhere near Stoke Newington and have a hankering for a bagel, point yourself to the Bagel House.
The place stays open late, so if you’re out drinking and want to forego the usual kabob, Bagel House has some interesting varieties: jerk chicken, tuna and cheese, and chicken, among the usual types like cream cheese and lox.
