If you follow Tampa restaurant news (and our sister site That’s So Tampa), you know that bagels are having a moment on the other side of the bridge. While all those new spots get the headlines, we wanted to take a moment to bask in the flavorful glory of our locally-made bagels here in St. Pete.
The bagel scene has blown up a bit in St. Pete over the last several years, too, though it has done so with a decidedly more mom-and-pop feel. This isn’t a list of every single spot to get a bagel in town, but rather a grouping of our top spots among the I Love the Burg team. Call it a schmear campaign.
From old school to new school and even gluten-free, you can find the good stuff all over town. If we missed a deserving spot, shoot us an email at info@ilovetheburg.com so we can add them to the list.
The Hot Babe Bagel Sandwich by Bagel Babe
Top bagel spots in St. Pete
1942 1st Avenue South
Don’t think of this spot as just a gluten-free option. Adieu-glu is an outstanding bakery that just so happens to also be gluten-free. Their team has mastered the art of dough working, “bringing bread to the people” on a daily basis. The bagels, as they should be, are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. You won’t miss the gluten at all, we promise.
515 22nd Street South
This is my personal go-to for a breakfast sandwich, and also what I consider one of the most underrated places in town. As part of The Foodie Labs, Bagel Babe makes true NYC-style, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled and fresh-baked bagels that are a delight even eaten plain. My go-to sandwich is the Hot Babe: deli ham, eggs, American cheese and hot honey drizzle on your choice of bagel. You will make a mess, and you will love it.
7100 Central Avenue
This West St. Pete star is one of those If You Know, You Know spots. Everything at Bella’s (including the everything bagel) is drool-worthy, but the NYC bagels are the star. Freshly-baked and available with rotating house-made schmears, these are the kinds of bagels people write songs about. Plus, they’re the perfect stop on the way to or from the beach.
Inside Bella’s intimate West St. Pete Cafe, the aroma of pastries and bagels fill the air as soon as you enter
5236 16th Street North
Donuts may literally be the name of the game here, but breakfast sandwiches on a bagel at Fray’s are a longstanding tradition. Not only is Fray’s a classic, but it is supremely affordable, with all their bagel sandwiches checking in at under $6. Plus, where else can you get a bagel sandwich with a side of Maple Bacon Crazy Donuts?
2619 23rd Avenue North
JO-EL’s is to kosher eats what Mazzaro’s is to Italian fare (making them fitting neighbors). The entire shop is worth wandering through, but the deli is where the action happens. You can get your bagels with any of their housemade spreads, or go all out with hand-sliced nova, salty lox belly or whitefish salad, among other sandwich options.
2361 1st Ave S
Pete’s is slowly becoming the Kahwa Coffee of local bagels, and we couldn’t be happier to see it. From humble roots at Round Lake, they’ve grown to become a star throughout Tampa Bay, as evidenced by the lively cafes every morning. The fresh-baked bagels have a cult following in St. Pete, and now you can even get them in a drive-thru. They’re a star for a reason and have long been a go-to on the I Love the Burg team. Don’t miss their new spot, Seymour’s, in downtown.
7043 4th Street North
The OG bagel spot in St. Pete is a fitting finale to this list. Ask any local and they’ll tell you they grew up on the New York-style bagels and donuts. Their claim as “home of Tampa Bay’s Best Bagel since 1987” is backed up by being voted as Tampa Bay’s Best Bagel Shop for 13 years in a row. The club sandwich served on a bagel here is one of my favorite sandwiches in all of St. Pete no matter the time of day.