6 of the Best Local Bagel Shops to Try
Richmond is a bonafide beer-and-coffee scene, but in recent months, it seems like it’s going through a bagel boom, and we love to see it. The options around town are truly hole-y.
Baltik’s Bagels
There’s a full menu of mouth-watering options here, but personally, we’re still thinking about the plain cream cheese we ordered with our bagels, last time; it had a hint of saltiness that we just can’t quite get over. Otherwise, if you’re in the sandwich mood, the Smokeshow seems like as good a contender as any — fresh-cracked scrambled eggs, bacon, melted smoked Gouda, hot pepper cream cheese, chipotle mayo, and hot honey on an everything softie bagel.
Location: 6801 Forest Hill Ave (Forest Hill)
Hours: Found here
Chewy’s Bagels
Chewy’s Bagels opened in Carytown a few years ago, and the ~hot~ (and slow-proofed, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled) commodities have been flying out of their bagel baskets ever since. In the past, we’ve even seen someone compare them to NYC’s iconic H&H Bagels, and considering the drool-worthy menu options, we understand why. Our go-to is the Lox Sandwich — open-faced with plain cream cheese, lox, tomato, red onion, cream cheese, and capers. And BTW, if that’s your thing, too, the spot also sells a Lox Box, which includes up to 13 savory bagels, three housemade schmears, one pound of fresh lox, and all the fixin’s (dill, red onion, tomatoes, capers, and fresh lemon slices).
Location: 3138 W Cary St (Carytown)
Hours: Found here
Julio’s Bagel Shop
Julio’s comes to us from the brains behind Pizza Bones, and that fact alone is enough to indicate its deliciousness. But we’ve given it a taste-test, too, and can officially confirm it’s worth looking for an excuse to stop by every week. The spot has bagels, spreads, and sammies, including its Pizza Bagel (but of course).
Location: 114 W Brookland Park Blvd (Northside)
Hours: Found here
Nate’s Bagels
Nate’s Bagels MAY be our one true love when it comes to the bagel scene here (or anything in our lives, TBH), and *now* the Richmond favorite has two locations for us to fix our ever-present hankering for their sea-salt bagels. When you’re going for something heartier, we also love the Lox with the Works (lox, capers, tomato, red onion, cream cheese), The Glamper (two eggs, wilted spinach and arugula, feta, and herbed aioli), and the Ol’ Virginny (sausage, egg, local tomato jam, caramelized onions, and cream cheese).
Locations: 21 S Allen Ave (The Fan) and 1219 Highpoint Ave (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Sunday Bagel
If you’re looking for some spontaneity with your bagel order, scope out Sunday Bagel’s next pop-up. The spot sets up shop all over town — and at Birdhouse Farmers Market every Tuesday — and it’s know for its small-batch, naturally fermented bagels with crispy-but-airy sourdoughy features.
Location: Varies
Hours: Varies
Cupertino’s NY Bagels
When we’re talking the Greater Richmond bagel option, we’re talking Cupertino’s. It’s the area’s oldest continuously operating New York-style bagel shop, specializing in kettle‑boiled, NYC‑like bagels with a hard crust and soft, chewy interior, using a traditional Jewish‑Austrian recipe. What’s more, a whopping 75% of its business comes from repeat customers, according to Richmond magazine. How could it *not* be in regular rotation for Richmonders from all over, you know?
Location: 3621 Cox Rd (Ridge)
Hours: Found here
For more eats (& drinks):
