A Guide to STL’s Bagel Boom

Just a few years ago, St. Louis felt like a bagel wasteland as boiled bread enthusiasts mourned the loss of the beloved Bagel Factory, and with it their access to respectable versions of the form. Today, we suffer through this bagel-shaped-bread era no more thanks to a bagel renaissance that, over the past few years, has brought excellent options to the metro area. On this episode of Arch Eats, George and Cheryl walk listeners through the St. Louis bagel scene, sharing their favorite picks from some of the city’s essential shops, and offering tasting notes and insider tips on everything from lox to schmear to a certain chef’s famous egg salad. Whether you’re a die-hard bagel enthusiast or the occasional dabbler, they’ll let you in on everything you need to know to get the most out of your bagel experience. Listen and follow Arch Eats on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available.

This episode of Arch Eats is sponsored by Cardinals Nation and supported by South Grand. Get game-day ready with the Cardinals Nation pre-game party! Before every home game, enjoy a DJ-hosted, pep-rally style party featuring a full buffet and an all-inclusive bar. Get your tickets today.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Yellowbelly, 4659 Lindell, CWE, no phone.
• Jinzen, 8113 Maryland, Clayton, 314-354-8086.
• Songbird, 4476 Chouteau, The Grove, 314-781-4344.
• Bagels and Bliss, 8151 Delmar, U City, no phone.
• The Bagel Factory
• Bridge Bread, 2604 Cherokee, Gravois Park, 314-296-3077.
• Lefty’s Bagels: 13359 Olive, Creve Coeur, 314-279-0959 (Coming in June 2025 to Covenant Center, 8 Millstone Campus, Creve Coeur)
• The Daily Bread, 11719 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-909-0010.
• Straubs, Multiple locations
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