Minnesota may be famous for hotdish and walleye, but the bagel scene here has quietly grown into something worth bragging about. From the hills of Duluth to the prairie town of Marshall, small shops are boiling, baking, and schmearing their way into regular morning routines.
Some are full cafes with drive-throughs and loose leaf tea. Others are tiny weekend operations that sell out early and only open a few hours at a time.
What ties them together is a real commitment to doing bagels right, with chewy crusts, creative cream cheese, and sandwiches built to fuel a busy day. I pulled together seven shops spread across the state, so whether you live in the Twin Cities or are planning a road trip up north, there is a good chance one of these spots sits along your route.
Save this list for your next breakfast run, and maybe send it to the friend who always complains about grocery store bagels.
1. Bean & Bear Bagels, Duluth, MN
Trail snacks in Duluth just got a serious upgrade. Bean & Bear Bagels was built around the idea that breakfast should fuel an adventure, whether that means the Superior Hiking Trail or a trip to the park with the kids.
The shop sits at 202 S 26th Ave W in West Duluth territory and focuses on fresh-baked bagels and hearty, from-scratch sandwiches made with real ingredients. The bagels come out fluffy inside with a good chewy crust, which is exactly the balance a bagel fan hopes for.
Coffee is on the menu too, and the cold brew holds its own next to the food. Free Wi-Fi and a gender-neutral restroom make it easy to linger for a bit.
Plan ahead on timing. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from 6:30 AM to 2 PM and closed Monday and Tuesday.
A free parking lot keeps the stop quick, which matters when the trailhead is calling. I would grab a sandwich to go and eat it at the first scenic overlook.
2. Bagels & Brew, Marshall, MN
Not many bagel shops in Minnesota offer a drive-through, and that alone makes this Marshall cafe a handy one to know. Bagels & Brew sits at 1221 E College Dr, close enough to campus that college students make up a big part of the crowd.
The menu stretches well beyond a plain bagel with cream cheese. You will find bagel sandwiches, paninis, pastries, espresso, smoothies, and a loose leaf tea selection that stands out in a small town.
There is a full vegetarian menu as well, so mixed groups can order without any fuss. The dark roast coffee has a robust style that pairs well with a classic bagel and schmear.
The setting is casual and quiet, with Wi-Fi that makes it a natural spot for laptop work or solo lunches. Kids are welcome, and parking is usually plentiful between the free lot and street spaces.
Hours are generous for a bagel shop: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, 7:30 AM to 5 PM Saturday, and 7:30 AM to 2 PM Sunday. Sunday mornings get busy, so evenings are the calm window.
3. Tandem Bagels, Mankato, MN
Cream cheese gets the spotlight in downtown Mankato. Tandem Bagels specializes in bagels with a rotating variety of schmear flavors, and the chewy bagels give those spreads a sturdy base.
Breakfast sandwiches are a big draw here. The egg and cheese bagel and the sausage, egg, and cheese bagel are straightforward picks that come together fast.
Coffee fans should watch for the monthly drink specials, which give regulars a reason to check back. The space works well for a quick lunch or a study session.
You can find it at 200 E Walnut St, open 6:30 AM to 2 PM on weekdays and 7 AM to 2 PM on weekends. Delivery and in-store pickup are both options if you are short on time.
The shop is known as a welcoming, transgender-safe space with a gender-neutral restroom. Free lot and street parking make downtown errands easy to pair with a bagel stop.
4. St. Paul Bagelry, Roseville, MN
Few bagel counters come with a soundtrack, but St. Paul Bagelry spins records while it serves. The record player has become part of the shop’s personality, and the music gives the fast-casual room an upbeat energy.
The menu covers plenty of ground. Lox on Everything is a classic order, breakfast sandwiches are popular, and pizza even shows up as a menu highlight.
Sweet-and-savory fans will appreciate that the staff will happily toast a cinnamon bagel. The coffee program features Dogwood Coffee, along with smoothies for anyone skipping caffeine.
The shop is at 1702 Lexington Ave N in Roseville. Hours run 6 AM to 2 PM on weekdays and 7 AM to 2 PM on weekends.
Weekend mornings bring the biggest crowds, so a Tuesday through Thursday visit tends to be calmer. Delivery, pickup, and Wi-Fi round out the practical perks.
5. ElMar’s NY Bagels (a pop-up at ElMar’s NY Pizza), Plymouth, MN
Set an alarm for this one. ElMar’s NY Bagels runs as a pop-up inside ElMar’s NY Pizza, and the window is short: 7:30 to 10 AM Thursday and Friday, 8 to 10 AM Saturday, and 9 to 11 AM Sunday.
Those limited hours are part of the appeal. The bagels are hand rolled and kettle boiled, the traditional New York method that gives a bagel its signature chew.
Egg sandwiches anchor the savory side of the menu. For a simple order, a toasted everything bagel with scallion cream cheese is a strong choice.
Find it at 15725 37th Ave N, Suite 5, in Plymouth. Coffee is available, and you can dine in or take your order to go.
It is a fun twist to see a pizza shop moonlight as a bagel bakery in the morning. I would save this stop for a weekend treat when you can plan around the clock.
6. Rise Bagel Co., Minneapolis, MN
Organic flour and a brick-walled North Loop space set Rise Bagel Co. apart from the crowd. The counter-serve shop at 530 N 3rd St has a clean, minimalist look and an ordering system that keeps lines moving.
The bagels are artisanal, fresh, and chewy, with onion and poppy among the menu staples. Cream cheese comes in a variety of flavors and can be bought by the tub to take home.
Two combos worth knowing: an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, or a plain bagel with salted maple. That second one is a fun sweet-savory pick.
Bagel sandwiches use local ingredients, and there is a vegan gluten-free bun for guests who need one. Drinks include cortados and an iced strawberry matcha latte.
Hours are tight, from 7 AM to 1 PM Tuesday through Sunday, with Mondays off. Weekend mornings fill up fast, so weekday afternoons before close are quieter.
7. Asa’s Bakery, Minneapolis, MN
Seeds on both sides. Asa’s Bakery coats its everything bagels top and bottom, a small detail that bagel purists notice right away.
The south Minneapolis bakery at 5011 S 34th Ave turns out New York-style bagels in plain, salt, sesame, poppy, and everything, all vegan. The onion bialy is another highlight and a rarer find in Minnesota.
Schmears lean classic and seasonal, with options like whitefish, salmon, and scallion dill cream cheese. Breads, scones, and pastries fill out the case, including a cheddar scallion bread.
Prices land in the budget-friendly range, often under ten dollars per person. Ordering is takeout only, so plan to enjoy your bagels at home or a nearby park.
The bakery is open Thursday and Friday from 7 AM to 2 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 2 PM. It is known as a welcoming, LGBTQ+ friendly spot that is thoughtful toward immunocompromised guests.
Seven shops, seven very different styles, and one shared love of a well-made bagel. Wherever you are in Minnesota, a great breakfast is closer than you think.
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