When it comes to bagel culture, Seattle is no Montreal or New York. But several local purveyors know their trade well enough to satisfy even spoiled savants from the bagel capitals of the east. Here’s a look at the best bagels you can find in the Seattle area.
Bacco Cafe
If you like your lox, make it a point to try Bacco Cafe. In addition to classic bagels with lox, Bacco serves smoked salmon omelettes, smoked salmon Benedict, and smoked salmon hash. Other Pacific Northwest inspired cuisine is on the menu as well at this downtown breakfast and lunch spot, a mile from AMLI’s South Lake Union apartments.
Bagel Oasis
Seattle may have accurately been described as a bagel dessert prior to Bagel Oasis’ opening in 1988. In addition to 13 bagel flavors, this Ravenna cafe is known for its espresso beverages and homemade lox cream cheese.
Blazing Bagels
According to TRIPPING Magazine, Blazing Bagels serves the best bagels in Washington state. Owner Dennis Ballen prefers to think he’s serving the best bagels east of New York. Either way, Blazing Bagels’ dough rings are worth trying. Blazing regulars are especially fond of the bagelry’s breakfast sandwiches. The original Blazing Bagels is in Redmond, but the regional micro-chain also operates bakeries in Seattle’s Industrial District and in Bellevue. The Bellevue location is a 15-minute walk from AMLI at Bellevue Park.
Bean and Bagel
This U District sandwich shop bakes fresh a variety of bagels, pastries, and other goods. Blueberry, parmesan, and jalapeño cheddar are among Bean’s most popular bagels. This shop also scores points for its locally roasted coffee and exceptional vanilla chai. Bean and Bagel is just over a mile from AMLI Wallingford.
Eltana
Before Eltana’s Capitol Hill bakery opened in 2010, there was nowhere to find a wood-fired bagel in Seattle. Eltana’s hand-rolled bagels are boiled in honey-sweetened water before being baked in a wood-fired oven. The result is a distinct and delicate crumble that makes Eltana popular with transplants from Montreal and New York. Eltana’s original location is just under a mile from AMLI Arc. Additional locations serve Eltana’s signature wood-fired bagels at Seattle Center and in Fremont, a 15-minute walk from AMLI Wallingford.
Java Jahn
The bagels are good and the espresso even better at this Ballard coffee shop, a 15-minute walk from AMLI Mark24. Drop in for some Lighthouse roasted beans and your choice of bagel, bagel sandwich, breakfast burrito, or scone. Demand is usually fairly high for Java Jahn’s asiago and pizza bagels.
Roxy’s Diner
This popular Fremont eatery is the closest you’ll come to finding a New York-style Jewish deli in Seattle. Roxy’s menu includes latkes, knish, matzoh ball soup, Reubens, and bagels. Owner Peter Glick is a native New Yorker with high standards for the bagels his staff serves. Try one at this Fremont breakfast institution, a 15-minute walk from AMLI Wallingford.
Seattle Bagel Bakery
There are a handful of plausible explanations for why New York bagels are so delicious. One widely accepted theory is that New York City’s water contributes to a flavor and texture than cannot be replicated elsewhere. Seattle Bagel Bakery does its best, kettle-boiling its bagels in New York-style water before baking them. The results have satisfied both Seattleites and visiting patrons to SBB’s Tukwila outlet and downtown Seattle bagel counter.
Three Girls Bakery
Three Girls was the first business licensed to a woman in Seattle. It’s also the longest continually operating business in Pike Place Market. For more than 100 years, the aroma of fresh bread has emanated from this historic bakery. You may find the temptation of Three Girls’ flaky pastries so strong you opt not to get a bagel. But this Seattle bakery has some of the best bagels and lox in town.
Westman Bagel and Coffee
Seattle was once a bagel desert. Now it’s almost lush with quality bagel offerings. The most recent arrival on Seattle’s bagel scene is Monica Dimas’ Westman, a New York-style bagel counter in Capitol Hill. Space is limited at the 1509 East Madison bagel shop, the former home of Baguette, Little Uncle, and Manu’s Bodegita. But Dimas knows how to use it. Make a stop for some of the best bagels, breakfast sandwiches, schmears, and lox in town. Westman Bagel also serves Caffe Vita espresso.
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