Best Bagels In DC
Lifestyle
DC isn’t just home to monuments and politics — it’s also the backdrop for some of the hottest bagels the East Coast has to offer.
Whether you’re craving a quintessential lox and salmon combo or a new-age breakfast sandwich, here are the delis and restaurants at the top of our list today.
#1 Bagels ‘n Grinds: Owner Adam Greenberg takes his bagels seriously, adhering to a tried-and-true 10-step process that involves a proprietary water treatment facility and New York-style baking techniques. Order online for pickup.
#2 Bread Furst: In addition to dishing out baguettes, croissants, and cookies, James Beard Award-winning baker Mark Furstenberg makes bagels at his Van Ness shop. Call ahead for bagels, or order online for pickup or delivery.
#3 Ellē: This stellar all-day cafe and bakery in Mount Pleasant also dips its hand into the world of bagels, serving them with butter, cream cheese, jam, or even beet-cured salmon.
#4 Call Your Mother: This mashup hit deli from DC native and owner Andrew Dana has expanded considerably since the pandemic, now serving its wood-fired bagels to an impressive swath of the DMV area. While the Georgetown location first drew national attention back when it received a visit from President Joe Biden’s motorcade, these days, Call Your Mother is best known for its bacon (or pastrami) egg and cheese along with funky combinations like mashed avocado plus Fritos. Other innovations to try? Their Thunderbird, Tuna Melt, and Boca Club sandwiches are all at the top of our list.
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#5 Buffalo & Bergen: The bagel dough at this old-school soda counter is made with New York City water, then shipped down daily for proofing, dressing, and baking on-site. Bagels form the base of offbeat sandwiches with fun names like the Original Sinner and the Mountain Shiksa — but they also have a pretty epic Bloody Mary that you don’t want to skip. Order online for takeout and delivery at both locales, with outdoor seating options too.
#6 Pearl’s Bagels: Chewy, plump bagels that rise with the assistance of sourdough starter come from this small shop in Mt. Vernon Triangle with roots harkening back to New Jersey. Dress up classic bagel flavors with honey butter or a jalapeno cheddar spread, and sip on old brew & drip coffee that come from beans supplied by Small World Coffee in Princeton. Order here for pickup through 1 PM.
#6 Bullfrog Bagels: Bullfrog has grown from a cramped bagel counter inside an H Street bar to a wholesale purveyor with multiple shops. Order online for same-day/future pickup or delivery.
#7 GW Delicatessen: George Washington University students flock to this iconic 75-year-old GW Deli, otherwise known as Leo’s. Breakfast sandwiches are the move here, and New Jersey expats will be pleased to find Taylor pork roll bagels. Walk in to choose from several varieties of bagels.
#8 Bagel Uprising: What was once (at various points) a hit farmers market stall and a nomadic Del Ray pop-up, Bagel Uprising is now a bagel destination in its own right — storefront and all. Stomping Ground chef Nicole Jones partnered with lawyer-turned-bagel maker Chad Breckinridge to bring this vision to life. The output? Classic rounds elevated by innovative spreads like lingonberry jam or smoked whitefish salad that comes with a bright ring of red roe. Order online for same-day pickups until 1 PM.
#9 The Chewish Deli: This relative newcomer to the scene now has two locations. In the time since the first shop’s inception, founder Gregg Linzey went from hobby baker to pop-up purveyor to restaurant owner, offering traditional flavors like poppy, sesame, everything, and much more. There are even build-your-own bagel sandwiches, too!
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