From Lox to Loaded: The Must-Try Bagels in Christchurch

Handmade and freshly baked every morning, Downtown Bagels inside Riverside Market is crushing the bagel game in Ōtautahi. If you’re wandering around the market, the scent of their bagels will draw you in initially, and once you see them, you’ll immediately want to place an order. Choose from their menu of filled options, including a classic Lox and the ever-popular BLT, or keep things minimal and stick to one of the spreads and choose your bagel vehicle of choice. From plain, sesame, rosemary and rock salt to an everything bagel, they have all tastes covered. If you’ve just eaten elsewhere and are walking by, never fear, you can also order unfilled bagels to take away, and they make for an excellent weekend brunch (or any day for that matter!)

There’s no denying the name Grizzly is synonymous with bagels in Christchurch. Stacked fresh in the cabinet before the morning rush, you’ll find the classics such as plain and poppy seed bagels, alongside in-house specialities like the Everything Bagel. Each day, there is a selection of filled bagels on offer with an array of delicious fillings, or you can opt for the schmear route. There’s also the option of grabbing several bagels in their just-baked form to complete your breakfast or lunch spread at home. Grizzly very handily has three locations around the city; Buchan Street, The Welder and Cashel Street, and they’re at the Christchurch Farmers Market every Saturday.

Ozone Coffee on Walker Street sure knows how to roast and brew an excellent cup of coffee. Something else to add to the list of things they ace… making a filled bagel that is *chef’s kiss*. Starting with an incredible Grizzly bagel base, the team at Ozone have created combinations that elevate beyond your started salmon and cream cheese. Additions like house pickled onions, tomato tapenade and beetroot hummus put the cherry on top and will have you adding a bagel to your coffee order every time you come in.

Yes, you did read that correctly, Airstream Icecream has some of the best bagels in town. Known for their real fruit ice cream, this food truck with a permanent home on Hereford Street just opposite the Botanic Gardens, also happens to have an extensive bagel menu - 18 different topping options in fact! They are in the perfect location if you’ve been exploring the gardens and need a quick snack, perhaps it’s too cold for ice cream, or you’re feeling something savoury - bagels it is.

Bagels Beyond has quickly gained a cult following in Addington, and this small bagel shop packs a powerful punch when it comes to producing some of the best in the city. All their bagels are hand-rolled and made in-store, and you can choose from a range of spreads. Or opt for one of their bagel sandwiches, these are epic - generously filled, they’ll leave you feeling satiated and ready to take on whatever else you need in your day.

If you’re in the vicinity of Woolston village, keep your eyes peeled for a brick building on the corner of Ferry Road and Catherine Street, home to Three Bagels Bakery. To say that the team here take precise and extra care when preparing their bagels is an understatement! They are all about hand rolling and fermenting their bagel dough at a low temperature to ensure they achieve the best flavour and that chewy texture you want from a bagel. They have an incredible range of flavoured bagels, including some you won’t find elsewhere, we’re talking beetroot, caramel walnut and earl grey. Not to mention flavoured cream cheeses that take things to another level. So branch out from your regular order and try something bold and new.