Finding a truly great bagel in Missouri used to feel like a scavenger hunt. A lot of what passed for bagels around here were really just round bread with a hole in the middle.
That has changed in a big way, and a handful of shops from Springfield to St. Louis are now boiling, baking, and schmearing bagels that even East Coast transplants rave about. If you care about a chewy crust, a soft middle, and cream cheese made in-house, these seven shops belong on your weekend plans.
Save this one for your next early morning road trip.
1. Big Baby Bagels, Springfield, MO
Be a baby, have a bagel. That playful motto sums up the attitude at this Springfield shop on East Cherry Street, where the bagels are baked and boiled fresh every day.
The texture is the headline here. Expect a chewy outside and a soft inside, which is exactly what a proper bagel should deliver.
Homemade smear is the other big draw, and the chive cream cheese has a serious fan base. For something heartier, the bacon, egg, and cheese on an asiago bagel makes a filling breakfast.
Plan around the schedule, since the shop is closed Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 7 a.m.
Wednesday through Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday, with everything wrapping up at 1 p.m.
Prices stay friendly, usually landing between $1 and $10 per person. Free lot and street parking make grabbing a dozen for the office an easy errand.
2. Goldie’s Bagels, Columbia, MO
Moms making bagels and pastries from scratch every day. That is the simple idea behind Goldie’s, and it has turned this downtown Columbia cafe on South 9th Street into a college town favorite.
The shop has a proudly Jewish identity, and the menu shows it. Rugelach, challah, and a tzitzel bagel sit alongside house creations like a blueberry bagel and the signature Goldie.
For breakfast or lunch, the Dilly Lox and the Pastrami Egg and Cheese on an Everything Bagel are standout picks. There is also a Just Egg and Cheese for vegetarians and a vegan avocado toast.
A quick tip for challah fans: show up by Friday afternoon, because it tends to sell out. Goldie’s opens at 7 a.m.
Tuesday through Sunday and closes Mondays.
The cafe is LGBTQ+ friendly and welcoming, with coffee, dine-in seating, and takeout. Street parking is available nearby, with paid lots close by too.
3. Meshuggah Bagels, Kansas City, MO
A line out the door on a weekend morning is usually a good sign. At Meshuggah Bagels on West 39th Street, it has become part of the routine.
The shop leans hard into New York style, and plenty of former New Yorkers in Kansas City consider it the closest thing to home. The bagels come out chewy, soft, and properly crusty.
Lox on a sesame bagel with cream cheese and capers is the classic order. Bialys are on the menu too, which is a rare find in the Midwest.
Weekend mornings get busy, so Tuesday or Thursday is the smarter move for a relaxed visit. Hours run 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
With most orders under $10, wi-fi, and coffee, this cozy spot works for a quick bite or a slow morning.
4. Luca Bagel Brookside, Kansas City, MO
Gluten free bagel hunters, take note. Luca Bagel in Brookside bakes NY style, sourdough, and gluten free bagels, so nobody in the group gets left out.
The NY style bagels come with seeds on both sides, a small detail that bagel purists notice right away. Flavors include sesame, pretzel, and pumpernickel everything.
Breakfast sandwiches are a big part of the appeal. Build your own, or go with the sausage sandwich, and add lox or one of several schmears.
Buying in bulk pays off, since bagels are discounted per unit when you grab six or twelve. The Big Box of Bagels makes brunch hosting easy.
Early risers get a head start, with doors opening at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Saturdays run until 3 p.m. and get busy, and there is a free parking lot.
5. Baked & Boiled Bagels, St. Louis, MO
The name tells you the process, and the process is the point. Baked and Boiled gives its bagels a salty, malty water bath before baking, which creates that classic chewy texture.
This woman-owned shop sits in Soulard, one of the most historic neighborhoods in St. Louis. It is an easy stop before exploring the area.
The Rosemary Sea Salt Bagel is a signature, and it happens to be vegan. For a savory classic, try the Everything with Lox and Scallion Cream Cheese.
Feeling adventurous? The everything bagel with prosciutto, fig, and goat cheese is a creative favorite, and honey butter makes a simple, sweet upgrade.
Watch the calendar, since the shop is closed Tuesday and Wednesday but open Monday. Weekend mornings draw the biggest crowds, and free street parking is available.
6. Lefty’s Bagels, Chesterfield, MO
Suburban St. Louis finally has a bagel shop that East Coast transplants brag about. Lefty’s, on Olive Boulevard in Chesterfield, serves NY style bagels with a crisp outside and a chewy middle.
The lox sandwich on an everything bagel is a top order. Pastrami Lox and a Nova Lox Schmear give salmon fans even more options.
Breakfast sandwiches here come stacked with thick bacon or sausage, egg, and cheese. The cream cheese is spread generously, and the salt bagel has its own loyal following.
Convenience is a real strength. Lefty’s offers curbside pickup, delivery, free wi-fi, a gender-neutral restroom, and plenty of parking.
Doors open at 7 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and close at 2 p.m.
The friendly staff are happy to walk first-timers through the menu.
7. Bagel Union, Webster Groves, MO
Hot tip before anything else: grab a number the moment you walk in. The line at Bagel Union in Webster Groves moves, but it fills up fast on Friday and Saturday mornings.
This boiled bagel specialist is famous for its everything bagel, loaded with seasoning and a good hit of salt. Pair it with the scallion schmear for a classic combo.
The DeLox sandwich is the showstopper. It stacks salmon, capers, dill, lemon oil, red onion, and scallion schmear on a Chihuahua cheese bagel.
Gluten free bagels are available, which is still rare in the St. Louis area. Tubs of lox cream cheese are sold to go as well.
Catering is another strength, with orders ready on time for parties and office breakfasts. Hours run 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday through Sunday, so come early.
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