The Most Flavorful Bagels in Philadelphia

up-RYES Bagel & Deli

★★★★☆ 4 (129) • $

"Upping my review to 5 stars due to the wonderful customer service. This place is now a staple in Bryn Mawr and draws crowds daily. It still gets a bit hectic with the counter ordering system but the line moves pretty quick. No servers here, place your order and pick it up when called. I'm usually on a walk with the pup and we will order online for curbside pickup. Be sure to call them when you arrive so they know you are outside. They have plenty of tables inside and out. I usually grab one before I call for pickup and let them know where I am. It has been too crowded a few days and we would walk to the benches across the street in the post office parking lot. When dining in try to have one person secure a table while another orders. They have ice water dispensers against the wall which I always appreciate. Although most of the time I'm getting a breakfast sandwich, I've had their chicken salad and roast beef sandwich before, both of which were excellent. It's nice that they have a variety of breads to serve it on. This is a great stop for anyone waiting for the train and it gets a lot of foot traffic. On nice days there is generally a crowd with people enjoying coffee, bakery goods, breakfast, and lunch, inside and out. Pupper still recommends the bacon!"

Bart's Bagels

★★★★★ 4.5 (139)

"Born and raised New Yorker here and I declare that Bart's are the best bagels in PHL. Having lived in other cities, I realize it's all relative when it comes to bagels outside NY. But regardless, Bart's is definitely a winner. My go to is an everything bagel with tofu cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. The bagels are perfectly chewy and the tofu cc is solid. As for a bevy, their iced tea is great with a squeeze of lemon. I hear their breakfast sandwiches are amazing too according to my S.O. Pre-order pickup is super easy but delivery is also available. Staff is super friendly. I highly recommend."

Mt Airy Coffee

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"This coffee shop is brand new, and already doing so well. I was there the other day, and it was really crowded, which was great to see. The perfect spot to do remote work in. The staff is great, and the most important part? The coffee and the blueberry tart I had were delicious. I obviously have to come back and try more, but I loved how extensive the menu is. You don't always get several food options from a coffee shop, so this is a huge bonus! I loved my experience here, and I'll be back really soon!Also, P.S. they are open 7 days a week!"

Knead Bagels

★★★★☆ 4.3 (423) • $

"Generally, I liked my experience here.Ambiance: (5/5) there is enough seating for a few people. It is close to the hospital so it is convenient for a lot of people. Price: (4/5) Normal prices are average, but lunch prices are really good. $12 for a bagel sandwich, side and drink. OJ is a slight up charge but it was worth it.Food: (4/5) Bagels are really good for the area, but are not the same as NJ or NY of course. I got the Bahn Mi and it had a great sauce that gave it that Asian twist. The cucumber salad was a great side. It has dill, vinegar, and onions and I would highly recommend.Service: (5/5) Food comes our quick and staff is very nice.In conclusion, I would come here again!"

The Bagel Place

★★★★☆ 4.2 (213) • $

"Everything I've had here was really good. The veggie cream cheese keeps me coming back."

Cafe Walnut

★★★★★ 4.5 (174) • $

"A nice little cafe near Washington Square. Korean and American breakfast/lunch food. Bulgogi, egg, and cheese--about as close to getting a Philly cheesesteak for breakfast, without actually getting a cheesesteak for breakfast. $0.60 credit card fee, which is mentioned on a sign at the register. Biggest downside: their storefront is confusing. They have two entrances. You wouldn't know it by looking at it, but you're supposed to use the basement entrance to get to the ordering area."

Bagels & Co

★★☆☆☆ 1.8 (17)

"The egg bagel was fresh and no skimping on cream cheese!!! Coffee was decent. Also grabbed a variety of sandwiches for lunch and all were good quality, recommend!"

Knockbox Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (136) • $

"Cute little cafe in West Philly with good coffee. I tried their breakfast sandwich, which was a turkey sausage, egg and cheese, on what they call a "Philly muffin" in lieu of a bagel, which was pretty good, but not the best breakfast sandwich I've had. I think I was moreso expecting the saltiness of an everything bagel, and that's why I was a little let down. Still good, but not necessarily what I was expecting.Overall the inside is super cute, they have a nice outdoor seating space, and they have a decent list of coffee offerings, and more than two sizes for drinks. My friends live right around the corner so I'm sure I'll be back!"

Cafe Square One

★★★★☆ 4.4 (28) • $$

"Cafe Square One provides a cafeteria-style feel with a wide selection of food and drink offerings. You order from a kiosk which I believe has pictures of all the various offerings. Grab a menu if there are a few people ahead of you as they offer tons of breakfast and lunch items. My go-to has been the Swedish Fish!There are plenty of seats to go around, however, it does get busy at times. You'll grab your own seats and pick up your food once it is ready. Please try to clean up after yourself once you wrap. It is a regular stop for me and recommend you consider it for your rotation as well!"

South Street Philly Bagels

★★★★☆ 3.8 (277) • $

"I'm glad I ran into this little spot. The bagels are enormous and the choices are so tasty. They also serve coffee and have various types of sandwiches here but the portion sizes are quite generous!"

The Original Bagel

★★★★★ 4.5 (88) • $

"Bagels!!Coming from the NYC area I love myself a good bagel. This place did not disappoint. They also hadBagel sticks which were tasty. Plenty of parking in this strip mall Friendly staff I'll be back"

Four Worlds Bakery

★★★★★ 4.6 (74) • $

"I called in ahead of time to order some sourdough baguettes for a meeting.Walked into the door and was just brushed over the nose with the fresh smell of bread. I really love how each baguette was single wrapped without me even asking. I selfishly wish this place expanded into a cafe so I can sit here for an hour while getting some work done, and smell bread all day lol"

Bagels & Co

★★★★☆ 4.3 (4)

"This bagel store is conveniently located near 11 and market bus stop and by Jefferson area. The gentleman who took my order was very nice and courteous. I only ordered bagels untoasted with side of cream cheese so I assumed it would take a short time to get it. To my surprise, I had to wait a while for my order. It turned out my bag of bagels had been sitting on the counter, just waiting for another staff to call my name. There should be a more efficient way to expedite orders. To my disappointment, they forgot my cream cheese."

Green Line Cafe - Powelton Village

★★★★☆ 4 (81) • $

"Cute cafe! Has all your essentials. Was going to go to Madi's but it was closed. Mind you this was New Years Eve morning so be aware that the street is basically all closed! However, this little gem was perfect! Fiancé got coffee and I got matcha latte which was just right! They have a table of all the additions if you'd like to add to your drinks. Simple place but gets the job done for your early morning coffee needs!Also, the barista was super nice. Since this was the only coffee shop open, it got pretty packed but she was just super friendly and not cranky like how some other baristas are early in the morning! Lol"

Kismet Bagels Luncheonette

★★★★☆ 4.2 (31)

"I had heard a good deal about Kismet's Luncheonette, and had watched them convert the longtime Gin Za Japanese Restaurant space, making it their own. After the excitement of opening passed, I decided to stop in one day while running errands. I came in during the 'in between' time for breakfast and lunch, so it was not nearly as crowded, which is fine by me. The space is beautifully changed into a 1960s/70s feel restaurant, with bright clean lines, a dining counter and some tables in a 'dining area'. They've added windows too. The whole effect is of a retro space with tons of light. This is a quick-serve place. There is no table service. I looked over their menu above the order counter, choosing a chicken salad sandwich and an order of a 1/2 dozen bagels. As it was past the morning rush there were some bagel varieties sold out, however two of my three favorites were not, so yay! The staff were friendly and efficient. I waited only about 10 minutes for my sandwich. As I was running errands, I took my lunch with me. The chicken salad was good, lots of chicken in the salad, and the bread was soft. I felt it was a wee bit bland, nothing that s & p could not handle though. The bagels were ... interesting. This is the first time I've seen bagels with seed topping all over the roll - top, bottom, sides - and quite densely. These are definitely NY style - smaller, denser, chewier than what passes for a bagel elsewhere. I thought they were good, though not quite good enough to buy from them vs. my favorite bagel place on City Ave. I found the complete coating of seeds to be...messy. Parking was easy, they have a private lot and good access to Montgomery Avenue. They had a small part of the lot blocked off for outdoor dining, and since my visit I believe they've added late afternoon/early evening soft serve ice cream to their offerings. I would visit again, more for the sandwiches than the bagels. They're a welcome addition to our local dining scene."

Kaplan's New Model Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (71)

"5 starts just for passing the 100-year mark! They must be found something right for that kind of longevity.They bake their bread fresh on site daily. Come here for rye (seeded or not), pumpernickel, challah, or old-fashioned white bread. They also have cookies, Danish, tea biscuits, knishes, coffee cake, and even a few slices of tomato pie.Staff are friendly. Cash is preferred."

Philly Style Bagels

★★★★☆ 3.8 (216) • $$

"Really great fresh bagels! They never disappoint. Can get a little crowded especially on weekends so I recommend ordering ahead when possible!"

260 Bridge Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (14)

"We dropped by 260 Bridge Cafe this weekend and it's a nice bakery and coffee shop.They have a good selection of bakery items and coffee drinks. The store is clean and bright, so we got carried away a little and bought 10+ bakery items. The ones we tried are all pretty nice.Now some not-good parts, when we got in there is already a long line and it was moving pretty slowly. The ordering process is not efficient, as you can see from the photo, the food display is on one side but you need to order on the other side. So if you are ordering a lot of items, it's hard to remember all. And someone else will be bagging your item, which can introduce the wrong items. The price is also a little on the expensive side...."

Schmear It

★★★★☆ 4.3 (38)

"They don't advertise the many varieties of gluten free bagels nearly enough (IMHO). Almost all the bagel bases are available as GF which was a welcomed surprise. They offer can't-remember-the-name local boutique brewed coffee, too. I made the tame/lame choice of getting the lox and cream cheese (Penn) bagel for my first visit and has me wanting to try their more unique signature options.Wishful thinking: really wish they offered a breakfast egg/bacon type option but alas they do not. Also: theres swings/ open table seating right outside the door in the "alley," -- appreciated given Schmear's interior is efficient (v. small)."

Slice & Schmear

★★★★☆ 3.6 (5)

"I was lucky that when I arrived there there were some jalapeño bagels left because a couple of minutes later they were gone. Actually I wanted cheddar jalapeño bagels but I had to wait 15 more minutes because they weren't ready. Mind you that I went there around 9 so I had the expectation that all of the bagels were ready.The lox sandwich is delicious. Generous amount of lox topped with thinly sliced red onion. I also bought sesame and everything bagel. The everything bagel was still warm. Both have nice crusts and the inside is light like regular bread so it's not dense like the ones in the supermarket. They were pretty busy that day. My sandwich was ready in 15 minutes. There was a guy with big orders, two bags of sandwiches."

Schmear It

★★★★★ 4.5 (69) • $

"Walked .5 Mile in search of some delicious breakfast bagels and this place did not disappoint! While the dining area is nothing to write home about per say, it is clean and more than sufficient for a largely take out venue. The excellent service and delicious food certainly makes up for any lack of dining ambience. I ordered both the Loxsmith and the Dragon and both were absolutely fantasticBagels were fresh and the fillings were plentiful and delicious. Will definitely come back the next time we visit Philly."

Jiggy Coffee

★★★★★ 4.9 (74) • $$

"I ordered something called a dirty sesame latte. It was milk, black sesame paste, and a shot of espresso. It was delicious. There's not much seating here, so I'd recommend you get your drink to go like I did since the few c seats were filled on my visit. They were cool about using my travel mug, which I appreciate. The space is simple and focused on serving up good coffee for the neighborhood. I like it."

Kismet Bagels

★★★★☆ 4.2 (88)

"It's hard for me to walk by a place that has a line out the door, which is music to the business' ears I'm sure!I wanted my standard poppyseed bagel with cream cheese. The bagel was way more dense than I expected, and different than the airy ones I tend to lean towards. However, in its own way it's really good. It left a bit of a rock in my gut but, hey, I skipped lunch. ;)"

Kismet Bialys

★★★★☆ 4.3 (30)

"I've never heard of a bialy before! It's a "flat roll with a depression in the center typically seasoned with an onion and poppy seed mixture." Kismet has so many flavors, I wish I could try them all!I tried the BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) and the lox/salmon (not on the same day.)Both were delicious, filling, and unique. Love the small business--service felt like family. I hope they keep on flourishing (and I think they are--they started out as a pop-up, and now have multiple physical locations!)"

The Kettle Black

★★★★★ 4.6 (115) • $$

"My husband was the one who actually visited the shop but I was the one that enjoyed the food :) He got there around 7:40 to wait in line and was 3rd in line. We wanted to get their 4/20 special but $7 for a bagel and cream cheese was too much. What I ended up getting was the black everything bagel with scallion cream cheese which is $4. It was lightly toasted and warm. Next time I would ask for a double toast (not sure if they do that). What I believe is a normal amount of cream cheese is applied which might not be enough for some people but I loved it. The bagel was very flavorful and I would definitely get them again. There was a long line for at least an hour after opening on a Saturday. I think it's worth the hype!"

Philadelphia Java Company

★★★★☆ 4.2 (114) • $

"I waltzed in here hungover af after a night out on Sansom St. It was the worst kind of hangover though. One of the sneak hangovers. The type of ones where you wake up and are like "damn I'm not even hung...I might just be like that..." then when you're walking down the stairs to go get a coffee you're like wow that hangover that heard me talkin all that mess. One of those hangovers where it so cunningly waits until you are planning your whole day out in your head of all the things you are going to get done, only to wait until both feet touch the earth to say "you sure about that buddy?" It's like the Sly Cooper of hangovers. Only real ones, my fellow PS2 players, will get that reference.All this to say, that hangover SNUCK me on the way to Java Company. I was just going to get a coffee, but knew I needed some sort of bread to help me fend off the sneak.We arrived and saw ample outdoor seating with beautiful, rustic chairs and tables. The quality of chairs and tables really can make or break a coffee shop.This place is what you think of when you think "cute coffee shop," I loved it. Upon approaching the order stand, I was debating what to get to fill up my tummy. My Lil Cuzzo suggested I get the Labneh as "it's really good.""The Lab-wha?" the Croatian Orangutan responded. She began to explain that it was some kind of yogurt spread on bread with cucumbers on top, and then saw my look of dire confusion and just pointed to it behind the little glass."That looks and sounds horrendous right now," I said. I meant that from my soul too it really did.I ended up getting an americano with oat milk and a plain multigrain bagel, Little Cuzzo ended up getting a dirty chai latte and the Labneh ahahahahahahaha.We sat in the corner and after some time, the waitress came with our items and shook my americano, as it looked black as TON 618, the most massive blackhole in the universe, and said "There is oat milk in there it just doesn't look like it." What am I supposed to say to that ahaha.There is still some debate to this day among Philadelphians on whether or not there was any oat milk in that americano. It is a chicken or egg scenario at this point.I tried Lil Cuzzo's Labneh, because I'll try anything once, and it was GAS. I had to eat every last word. I should have got the Labneh smh. I also tried her dirty chai latte and that was hittin too! I was sitting there with my arms crossed, staring at my plain bagel and americano with alleged oat milk and was like damn, I should have just got her order. Could never tell her that though you feel me? Lil Cuzzo's ego be crazy already!!I loved this place. GET THE LABNEH!IG @jnov_Tiktok @jnov__"

Philly Style Bagels

★★★★☆ 3.6 (28)

"Just before I moved to Old City, Philly Style Bagels opened a location near my new digs. The gods must be smiling upon me. I don't have to trek up to Fishtown for my bagel fix.The bagels are just my style: chewy, dense, and delicious. I don't bother with a sandwich anymore--these bagels were meant to be enjoyed simply. Butter or jam is all I need to enjoy them. And really, I don't even need that. They are good on their own.Online ordering makes it a breeze. I order as I walk out my door, and by the time I arrive at the shop, my order is ready. What more is there to say? Philly Style Bagels, and their new Old City location, make me very happy"

Talia's Grille

★★★★★ 4.7 (299) • $

"This place is such a hidden gem! I had been going here for a while for my morning bagel and coffee and the owners kept telling me to come for lunch some time... I'm SO GLAD I did. Against what I would normally order I got the falafel, shrimp with tomato and basil pasta, and the baklava with pistachios. All of it was amazing the shrimp were huge and the red sauce they came in was so good. The baklava was some of the best over ever had. Would rate 1000 stars if I could! And the husband and wife who run this are so kind to their customers, they appreciate every person who comes in the door"

Green Engine Coffee

★★★★☆ 4.2 (166)

"Super cute interior with two gender-neutral bathrooms, tons of outlets, many seating arrangements, fast wifi, fast and friendly service, and tons of natural lighting. The space is ideal for meetings or working on a laptop. Foodwise, they have a great selection of breakfast items, bagels, burritos, pastries, and excellent coffee (Rival Bros) and tea. Prices seem right. There are absolutely no complaints here! Probably my new favorite work spot in the area."

Kismet Bagels - Rittenhouse

★★★★☆ 4.1 (66)

"First meal in Philadelphia. My coworkers were looking for a bagel and the Californian in me was like oh no carbs, I'm going to get fat! Just kidding. Half kidding. There was a line out the door when we arrived so we knew it was a good decision. The space was cramped inside prior to ordering and waiting for your order. Service was straightforward. When you arrive at the front, they take your phone number. I wondered why since it wasn't explained but they send you a text when your order is ready. My coworkers got The Egg ($8) and The Spicy ($11). I also ordered The Spicy ($11) on an Everything Bagel. It had farm fresh eggs, bacon, house pickled jalapenos, a spicy everything schmear. It wasn't too spicy, but it was too big. I ate less than half of the bagel and tried to finish the insides. My coworker and I both looked back like dang we should have shared. Lessons Learned for the next spots. A pretty strong meal to start the day. The wait was worth it."

Bagel & Co

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (16)

"Okay so I tried Bagel & Co twice, same location (Brewerytown), one month apart. You know, for quality control reasons I didn't want to love it. Their prices are way too expensive. I wanted it to be a lucky day on the first try. But nah, it slaps. I'm talking Jersey quality-- like good good. And now I'm addicted. My usual-- bacon egg and cheese, toasted on a French toast bagel, saltpepper ketchup was delicious. Delicioussss.My first visit, when they first opened-- the doors were open. It was muggy and flies were everywhere (with bagels out in the open, like a true bagel shop...). On my second visit, doors closed and AC blasting. Much improved!"

Fitzwater Street Philly Bagels

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (193) • $

"Two visits and while I haven't sampled a wide variety of the offerings, I had the bagel and as a highlight of the establishment. Bagels are darn good and I say as a NY'er. We're the self-professed champions of bagels. I had a basic cinnamon-raisin bagel with light cream cheese. My partner had a whole wheat bagel with lox, veggies and onions. Customer service took and processed our order swiftly albeit on a super rainy day. Keep in mind that the store is tiny and can only hold about 5-6 people at a time. The overall vibe is grab and go. We devoured half the bagels in the car. Bagels never made it home. That's all the review you need. Get the bagels and move on."

Gryphon Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (51) • $

"Spontaneous morning. Decided to just randomly ventured out my vicinity and counted on Yelp for a good cup of jo. The Mister was a bit skeptical, but we both ended enjoying our coffees. For sure met our expectations better than we both had anticipated. Light roast with hint of sweetness and not too overly heavy with their flavor syrups. Lavender was a hit for me! Cafe was very clean and with simple decor atmosphere. Love the displays of local artworks hanging on the walls. A little kink on customer service as it was quite busy. However, non the less will be patronizing again."

Piccolo Joe Coffee Bar

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"Gourmet coffee accompanied by great service. Surprised by the quality at this gas station!"

Bagels & Co

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (89) • $

"Sadly, I went in an hour before closing so my options were limited,, but that's good for the company. The whole wheat, everything bagel stayed fresh until the next day along with the white fish salad that I purchased. At home I made a white fish salad sandwich with the bagel, toasted, lettuce, tomato and slices of onion. Delicious.! The store was organized and clean. All of they staff members I encountered were friendly and very. I receive my order promptly the price was fair, considering what I ordered.When I return? Yes I would!"