The Best London Bagels at Beigel Bake
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After we heard a rumor that Beigel Bake has bagels that rival those in New York City and Montreal, we hit the tube and headed to Shoreditch’s Brick Lane to be the judge of this dubious bagel claim. You see, we’re somewhat bagel-obsessed.
We love bagels in New York, Montreal and even in our home city of Philadelphia. But London? How good could the London bagels really be???
Planning a London Trip?
Book these early. London is a popular destination.
- Food Tours: Borough Market and Southwark Food Tour with Devour or the East End Food Tour with Eating London
- Local Experiences: London food experiences with locals on Airbnb or Devour’s food tour of London’s historic pubs
- Day Trip: Stonehenge and Windsor Castle tour or a small-group Cotswolds tour from London
- Places to Stay: Hotels at all price points or an Airbnb apartment with a kitchen
After entering Beigel Bake’s simple storefront, we got a good vibe right away from the shop’s stereotypical Jewish deli atmosphere. Since plain was the only bagel option, we didn’t spend long picking out flavors.
Instead, we staked our spot at the slim counter and ordered one with smoked salmon and cream cheese and a second with salt beef, mustard and a gherkin. Within just a few moments, our bagel sandwiches arrived ready to eat.
Our bagel with smoked salmon, also known as lox, was straight-up good. On the smallish side, the bagel was less dense than a New York bagel and not as sweet as a Montreal bagel. The sandwich tasted pretty good, and it disappeared quickly into our bellies.
We were mildly impressed by Beigel Bake but still weren’t convinced about London bagels until we bit into the salt beef sandwich. Loaded with devastatingly moist salt beef (similar to corned beef in the U.S.), slathered with mustard and topped with a pickle, this sandwich blew us away with its flavor and size. We took turns eating it until it was gone.
In fact, we would have bought a third bagel to share, but we were low on cash, and the shop does not take credit cards. It’s a shame because compared to New York, Montreal and Philadelphia, London bagels are downright cheap. A bagel with lox in NYC would cost a heck of a lot more than £1.80, that’s for sure. Note: This was the cost at the time of our visit and is subject to change.
Perhaps the best part of Beigel Bake is its hours. This bagel shop is literally open 24 hours a day, making bagels the perfect late-night snack after a session at London pubs. Savvy budget-oriented travelers will want to make a pit stop here before trekking home to one of the best hostels in London.
Although the shop also sells sweets and bread, we recommend sticking with the bagels since they’re so darn good. Just be sure to bring some pounds with you when you go.
Beigel Bake is located at 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB, UK.
🇬🇧 London Travel Checklist
🎥 London Bagels Video
Have we whetted your appetite? If so, watch our YouTube video to see what it’s like to eat London bagels at Beigel Bake.
