The Best Bagels in Johannesburg

If you’re looking where to find the best bagels in Johannesburg, your search is over. The American in me is very picky about two sorts of bread: bagels and sourdough (but that’s a whole other story). Bagels are part of a quintessential morning no matter where you are.

Joburg has its fair share of bagel spots and I’m still on my way to add to this list of the best bagels in Johannesburg. We struck gold the first bagel spot we attempted (Bird’s Bagels) and although that has thwarted our interest in trying out new spots, we’ve managed to find some contenders.

Updated Aug 2023

An ode to bagels

My love for bagels starts with my grandparents and mother. My grandpa would coordinate our trips to the grocery store to get bagels when they popped out of the bakery and onto the shelves. I learned to do the same. We’d make stops at Einstein Bros Bagels (an American bagel and coffee chain) with my mom for everything bagels and hazelnut coffee.

Some of my favorite mornings working in DC were having a bagel with coffee as I opened my email and hoped for a lazy day. Sometimes, the office would have an event and staff would be able to eat the leftover mini bagels (SO CUTE)… If you’re ever in DC, Bagels ETC is the gold standard for bagels. Anyway, enough about me.

Bagels are a vessel. And if the vessel isn’t made right, the whole experience is gonna sink. Bagels are good for just about anything: pastrami, smoked salmon, veggies, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, and (of course!) cream cheese. My favorite bagel is an everything bagel, topped with onions, garlic, sesame, and poppy seeds. Slather on an insane amount of Philly cream cheese and… the end, breakfast complete.

#1 Bird’s Bagels

Hands down, Bird’s Bagels has the best bagels in Johannesburg.

Aug 2023 edit: It’s true. After more than 2 years of living in Joburg, I reconfirm that Bird’s Bagels are the best in the city and it’s run by the NICEST people ever.

Why?

• They are consistently delish.
• Each bagel has enough (read: a lot of) toppings.
• There are fun combos for bagel sandwiches, but even the cream cheese is great.
• Frozen options are available so you can have fresh bagels all week long.

Just LOOK at the everything bagel of my dreams.

ALL bagel options are amazing. Besides the classic sesame, everything, and poppy bagels, get yourself a Za’atar bagel, topped with the popular middle eastern spice. Though you can’t go wrong with cream cheese, you can also get a hummus bagel or smoked trout with capers, and plenty more.

About Bird Bagel’s

Bird’s Bagels is located in the Mr. Pant’s Wine Bar space Saturday- Sunday from 8 am until the bagels run out (or 12 pm). This spot is super popular with early morning bikers and runners so jump out of bed and head straight here (or send your love to do it for you, hehe. I usually only wake up by the time Wilhelm’s back from biking to get the bagels).

There are a few tables around to eat at or you can take your bagels and walk along the Spruit Trail. There are plenty of benches facing the stream and you can work up a little appetite before enjoying the bagel.

Oftentimes, we end up bringing them back home.

You can also WhatsApp (0799914174) them for collection. Check their Instagram for the latest timings.

Hi from me, enjoying a sesame smoked salmon bagel at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. We took our bagels to go and ate them in the gardens.

Check out 2Summers blog post about Bird’s Bagels if you need more convincing!

Oregano Catering and Patisserie

Oregano Catering and Patisserie has freshly baked NY-style plain bagels. This mother-daughter bakery is so cute and you probably won’t be able to resist buying a couple of desserts too. They also sell great bread. Order a smoked salmon breakfast bagel to eat there or on UberEats. Fresh bagels pop out of the oven at 8 am!

Bazel Zone

With two locations in Joburg, Bagel Zone is doing something right. They have all your classic flavors, in addition to rye, chocolate chip, cinnamon & raisin, and a health bagel! Bagel Zone also offers bagel sandwiches and platters, including a mini bagel platter! Check them out here. I’ve been to the Benmore location. The bagel sandwiches are really good and filling. Eat in the cafe or take it away for later.

My Deli

My Deli— Right around the corner from Bird’s Bagel is My Deli. The bagel was good. However, the quiche and side salad were amazing and the place is super cute. I deff recommend it for breakfast and then a walk along the Spruit Trail.

Why yes, we did order three mains so that we could try both the quiches and the bagel.

Jacks Bagels

I’ve been meaning to go to Jack’s Bagels for a while! Located in Greenside and Randpark Ridge, Jacks Bagels has so many bagel sandwich options. Get a quirky South African biltong bagel, a veggie bagel, or your classics with cream cheese and avo. Check out the menu.

Kleinsky’s Delicatessen

Kleinsky’s Delicatessen, one of Cape Town’s favorite bagel spots opened up in October 2021 in Joburg’s Birdhaven neighborhood in association with the coffee pop-up Get Bird. Unfortunately, they closed the shop a year later but you can still find their bagels in the frozen section of many grocery stores. Whenever I’m in Cape Town though, I always go to Kleinsky’s for bagels. I think it’s worth including because fresh bagels are the best and if you don’t have time to go get bagels every morning, then you need a good pack of frozen bagels on hand.