Taking a Look at Beijng’s Best Bagel Spots

Beijing's Best Bagel Spots – And a New Addition to the Lot

Katie Coy | Aug 8, 2022 3:36 pm | Add a comment | 627 reads

Another bagel shop has landed on the scene in Beijing, taking the city another step closer to making New Yorkers feel a little more at home and filling their bellies with the satisfaction that only boiled-and-baked dough can afford.

It seems like just a few years ago that there remained a hole in the heart of Beijingers that could only be filled, ironically enough, by an ample supply of the most hole-ey of breads. Now, with the arrival of Movie Bagel, we count at least five spots that whip up bagels worthy enough to make the following list of must-tries.

Movie Bagel

This newest addition to Beijing’s bagel scene recently set up shop in, of all places, a movie theater – specifically, the Four Season's Hotel cinema. They offer a range of bagel sandwiches, each adorned with an on-theme name. For a hearty meal with your viewing experience, try the Morning Director (RMB 58), garnished with egg, kale, bacon, tomato and cream cheese sandwiched together between a whole-wheat bagel. Or you can go for a lighter option with one of their “Tea Break Bagel Sandwiches,” which is their term for a bagel paired with any of the available cream cheese varieties, including Matcha Cream Cheese (RMB 30) or Coffee Cream Cheese (RMB 30).

Movie Bagel
3F Star Classic Cinema, Four Seasons Hotel, 48 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路48号北京四季酒店3层星典影城内

Green Cow City Cafe

Behind a green door on a nondescript street just off the Liangma River lies this hidden gem that harbors arguably the best bagels in Beijing. Using organic and locally sourced products, many of which come from their own Green Cow Organic Farm, they have a multitude of different bagels on offer. A must-order has to be the classic smoked salmon and cream cheese (RMB 60-80) that comes served up with a slice of tomato, red onion, capers, and a wedge of lemon on the side. For a less traditional but equally delicious experience, their Green Cow Pizza Bagel (RMB 35) with sausage is also great.

Green Cow City Cafe (closed on Mondays)
Bldg 13, Third Street, Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang District
朝阳区酒仙桥三街坊13号楼旁侧院

Daily Bagel

This New York-style bagel shop specializes in classic and toasted bagelwiches with a range of signature and traditional fillings on offer. A personal favorite of mine is their Herb Roasted Chicken (RMB 52), which features arugula, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes, and ginger lime aioli in addition to the meat. For steak lovers, a great option is their Love From Philly (RMB 80) which has beef steak, onion, house-made cheese whiz, provolone, and pickled jalapenos just to add a little bit of spice. If you’re looking to pair your bagel with a coffee they also have some great combo deals available on Meituan Waimai.

Daily Bagel
39 West Maizidian Street (1/F of FX Hotel), Chaoyang District
朝阳区麦子店西街39号富驿时尚酒店一层

Catch Bagel

Here's another relatively new spot where you can grab some great bagelwiches or keep things simple with a bagel and a choice of topping. For the toppings, there are plenty to choose from with classics such as Cream Cheese (RMB 36) to more unusual toppings like Low-Cal Black Tea Sauce (RMB 33).

For their bagelwiches, a few of the meatier options are flattened on a grill, which is a nice touch. We are particularly drawn to the Philly Hunks (RMB 69), which is essentially a Philly cheese steak on a bagel and is as delicious as it sounds. Then there is the eye-catching California Pink (RMB 56), a vegetarian option featuring apple, Italian slow-roasted beetroot, cream cheese, and sweet onion. At the moment they’re also offering a limited-edition Peach Bagel (RMB 48) with cream cheese in time for China's peach season.

Catch Bagel
1 Fangcaodi Beixiang, Chaoyang District
朝阳区芳草地北巷甲一号

The Bake Shop

Unlike the above options, The Bake Shop is not dedicated solely to bagels, and as such it offers fewer options compared to the other places on the list. That said, the bagels and bagel-based meals they do offer are top-notch. My go-to order has to be the Bacon Bagel Benedict (RMB 88) with avocado and burnt butter sauce, or if you want to keep things classic, they offer Salmon Lox and Cream Cheese (RMB 98) as well.