Whether you’re a cream cheese and lox purist or prefer yours toasted with something eggy inside, bagels are the hole-y grail when it comes to baked, bready vessels. From its perfect golden-ring shape to the slightly sweet flavour and soft, doughy texture, there’s something seriously satisfying about this New-York staple. Here’s where to get your fix in Cape Town.

Goldie’s Deli & Diner (Sea Point)

This popular kosher deli was first established in 1992 by Goldie Wener in her own home’s kitchen. Now a fully-fledged deli-diner, Goldie’s has become something of a legend in the Sea Point area. The bagels are made fresh every day and are sold plain or with classic fillings. Tuck into golden bites filled with the likes of egg mayo, chicken mayo, smoked salmon, tuna mayo, brisket, or 150g hot beef with a side of coleslaw and chips.

Now making 70% rye bagels in addition to our regular white. #boiledbagels #seapoint #kosher #kosherdeli

A post shared by Goldies Deli (@goldiesdeli) on May 22, 2017 at 2:25am PDT

Hard Pressed (City Bowl)

This Bree Street coffee gem does a mean flat white and some great breakfast and lunch options. The bagel selection keeps office dwellers happy with options of scrambled eggs; smoked salmon and cream cheese; pastrami and honey-mustard mayo; avo and tomato; or a spicy sriracha chicken mayo. For those trying to cut down on wheat, there are also rye bagels available.

A post shared by Hard Pressed Café (@hardpressedcafe) on Jun 1, 2015 at 3:13am PDT

Kleinsky’s Delicatessen (Sea Point)

Locals queue out the door here on weekends and with good reason. In addition to killer eggy brunches, their glorious home-baked bagel and schmear selection is a winning solution to breakfasting or lunching on the go. The hand-blended schmears include spring onion and chives, sundried tomato and olive, and even wasabi or roasted garlic, while the more gourmet bagel fillings include the likes of beef salami, mozzarella and lemon-Dijon, or smoked salmon with wasabi and pickled ginger. Classics like pastrami, smashed avo, and chopped liver also feature. The bagels – which range from plain to pumpernickel – are all hand-rolled, slowly fermented overnight and are boiled in honey water before being baked.

A post shared by Kleinsky’s Delicatessen (@kleinskys) on Nov 20, 2016 at 11:49pm PST

Max Bagels (City Bowl)

This tiny New York-style bagel bar offers a handful of classic fillings like our favourites, salt beef brisket, pickle and mustard; or the B.A.T with bacon, avocado and tomato. There are also fillings of smoked turkey with brie and cranberry, or fennel and leek. Bagel choices include plain, poppy seed and ‘everything’, and all include a good smearing of cream cheese. Get here early before they run out.

A post shared by Max bagels (@maxbagels) on Sep 21, 2016 at 2:11am PDT

New York Bagel (Zonnebloem)

Operating since 1940, this New York-style bagel bar has since moved and opened up shop on Harrington Street. Head here for breakfast bagels filled with scrambled eggs or simple marmalade and cream cheese. Or go for one of the heartier versions, which are split into sections of meat, vegetarian and fish. Top choices include the rare roast beef, three cheeses with onion relish, or classic smoked salmon and cream cheese. The bagels themselves are hand-rolled, boiled and baked fresh every hour, and include choices of traditional, poppy seed, sesame seed, onion or everything. You can also buy frozen batches to enjoy at home.

A post shared by New York Bagels Cape Town (@newyorkbagelsct) on Aug 25, 2017 at 11:55pm PDT