Good bagels take patience, and Washington has a growing crew of shops willing to put in the work. The best ones roll their dough by hand, boil each ring, and bake them fresh so you get that chewy inside and firm crust that supermarket bagels can never match.
From Seattle neighborhoods to Bainbridge Island, these seven spots pull morning crowds for a reason. Grab this list before your next weekend breakfast run, because a few of them sell out early and open on limited days.
1. Backyard Bagel – Fremont, Seattle, WA
New York transplants who have hunted around Seattle for a proper bagel tend to end up in Fremont for a reason. Backyard Bagel rolls, boils, and bakes every batch right in the city, taking the NYC playbook and folding in local Pacific Northwest ingredients.
The lox and cream cheese bagel is the signature order here, and the everything bagel has its own loyal following. It stays simple, with coffee to go alongside your bagel and a quick, no-fuss counter setup.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 1 PM, then 8 AM to 2 PM on weekends, so this is a morning stop. Sunday and Saturday mornings are the busiest stretch, while midweek mornings are your best bet for a shorter wait.
You will find it at 4310 Fremont Ave N a, with free street parking in the neighborhood. It is a welcoming, LGBTQ+ friendly space with free wi-fi if you want to linger.
2. Otherside Bagel Co., Bellingham, WA
Up in Bellingham, Otherside Bagel Co. built its name on two words: hand rolled. Every bagel is shaped and boiled before baking, which is what gives them that dense, chewy texture people keep coming back for.
Beyond the bagels themselves, the menu leans into schmears, sandwich options, and smoked salmon, plus a solid coffee program. The cortado is a favorite for anyone who wants a proper espresso drink with their breakfast.
The vibe is calm and modern, and there is dog-friendly outdoor seating if you brought a four-legged companion. A gluten-free bagel option is available too, and the generous cream cheese keeps things from tasting dry.
Open daily from 7 AM to 3 PM, it keeps longer hours than most shops on this list. Saturdays draw the heaviest crowds from morning into the afternoon.
Look for it at 929 N State St, with both free and paid street parking nearby.
3. Howdy Bagel, Tacoma, WA
Long lines out the door in Tacoma usually mean one thing, and at Howdy Bagel the wait pays off. Every bagel here is hand-rolled and boiled in a small operation, producing that firm exterior with a warm, soft middle that boiling is famous for.
The menu keeps breakfast front and center. Go for the sausage egg and cheese or the bacon egg and cheese, or keep it classic with bagels and cream cheese.
Vegetarian eaters have the Avo Boast to look forward to.
Sandwiches get real attention here, so this is a place where the fillings matter as much as the bagel. Coffee rounds out the order.
One thing to plan around: it is only open Wednesday through Saturday, 8 AM to 3 PM, and closed the rest of the week. Saturdays get packed from morning into afternoon.
Find it at 5421 S Tacoma Way with free street parking.
4. 6th Borough Bagels, Olympia, WA
Traditional method fans, this one is for you. 6th Borough Bagels goes old-school in Olympia, using organic flour and boiling its bagels in water infused with malted barley. From there, they get baked on burlap boards in stone deck ovens, which is about as classic as bagel-making gets.
The whole point is bringing a slice of NYC tradition to OLY, and the shop delivers a nice range of bagel options paired with house-made schmear. Coffee is on offer too.
For a town that waited a while to get a real boiled-bagel shop, this small bagelry filled a genuine gap.
Doors open at 7:30 AM Tuesday through Friday and 8 AM on weekends, with the shop closed Mondays. Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest, while weekday afternoons stay quiet.
It sits at 1617 Harrison Ave NW, with a free parking lot plus street parking.
5. B’s Bagels & Butters, Gig Harbor, WA
Some people drive in from Tacoma just for the sandwiches at B’s Bagels & Butters, and that says plenty. This Gig Harbor bakery and cafe bakes east coast-style bagels in-house, then loads them into breakfast sandwiches and pairs them with a lineup of cream cheeses.
The bagels have the chewy texture that makes them worth eating plain, and rotating specials keep regulars curious. Vegan diners get their own full menu, with the avocado toast a standout pick.
It is a casual, kid-friendly spot with high chairs, a changing table, and dogs welcome on the outside seating. Counter service keeps things moving, though there is usually a wait, especially since reservations are not accepted.
Hours vary by day: 7:30 AM to 7 PM on Tuesday, 7:30 AM to 2 PM Wednesday through Friday, 8 AM to 2 PM on weekends, and closed Mondays. Sunday and Saturday mornings are peak.
Parking at 3308 Uddenberg Ln Unit B is generally easy.
6. Maple Street Bistro, Spokane, WA
Spokane’s east-side bagel fans have a not-so-secret favorite in Maple Street Bistro, a snug cafe where the bagels are old-fashioned and boiled. The bagel rolls made on premise get talked about as much as the bagels themselves.
The kitchen does more than breakfast bagels, though. Look for grilled cheese on soft garlic parmesan bagels, tomato basil soup, breakfast burritos, omelets, and a bench full of baked goods like cinnamon rolls, scones, and chocolate chip banana bread.
Coffee is a strong point here, from cappuccinos to a solid tea selection, and there are full vegan and vegetarian menus. It works equally well as a laptop-friendly morning stop or a quick lunch.
Open early at 6 AM Monday through Friday and 7 AM on weekends, closing at 3 PM daily. Weekend mornings and afternoons pull the biggest crowds.
You will find it at 5520 N Maple St with plenty of parking, plus a drive-through and outdoor seating.
7. Briny Bagels, Bainbridge Island, WA
A quick ferry hop from Seattle lands you near one of the most talked-about bagels on the West Coast. Briny Bagels on Bainbridge Island bakes rounds that are crusty on the outside and springy and chewy inside, without turning into a jaw workout.
The draw here is variety. A large lineup of bagels makes it easy to mix and match with sweet or savory spreads, and the sandwiches deliver too, including tuna and lox versions.
Coffee is available, and the counter has a friendly, easygoing feel that carries right into your order. It is a welcoming, LGBTQ+ friendly space with free wi-fi.
Plan carefully, because this is a weekend-only operation: 7 AM to 2 PM Friday through Sunday, closed Monday through Thursday. Sunday and Friday mornings bring the biggest rush.
It sits at 10255 NE Valley Rd, with a free parking lot and street parking.
Whether you are chasing a proper New York-style ring or just want a bagel that actually holds up to your cream cheese, these seven Washington shops make the early alarm worth it.
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