St-Viateur Bagel

Hyman Seligman, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, established St-Viateur Bagel in 1957, bringing his own take on the traditional Jewish bagel to Montreal. Located just blocks from its older rival, Fairmount Bagel, St-Viateur quickly developed its own loyal following. Like Fairmount, St-Viateur's bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water, and baked in a scorching wood-fired oven, resulting in a unique texture and flavor profile that many consider superior. The bakery became particularly renowned for its 24/7 operation, making it a reliable destination for a fresh bagel at any hour. This friendly competition between Fairmount and St-Viateur has not only fueled the growth of both businesses but has also cemented Montreal's reputation as a world-class bagel city, with passionate debates often arising among locals about which bakery reigns supreme.