Atlanta’s bagel scene has grown substantially over the past decade, moving from a city with limited authentic New York-style bagel options to one with multiple dedicated bagel operations that produce hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels with genuine crust and chew. The city’s bagel culture is shaped by its population of transplants from the Northeast who brought demanding standards to the local market and by entrepreneurs who have applied serious craft to a category often dominated by commercial mass production. Emerald City Bagels in East Atlanta Village built its reputation at the Piedmont Park Green Market before opening a permanent location in 2018, and Brooklyn Bagel Bakery has operated as a neighborhood institution for nearly twenty-five years. The General Muir at Emory Point produces hand-rolled kettle-boiled bagels as part of its modern Jewish deli operation.
When evaluating a bagel shop in Atlanta, the proper New York-style bagel process is the quality benchmark. Authentic bagels are hand-rolled from high-gluten flour dough, allowed to ferment slowly for flavor development, boiled in water with malt syrup or baking soda to create the characteristic crust and chew, and then baked at high temperature. The result should have a glossy exterior crust that provides resistance when bitten and a chewy, dense interior that differs fundamentally from soft, bready commercial bagels. A proper bagel should not compress flat under hand pressure like soft bread. Cream cheese should be full-fat and applied in sufficient quantity. Lox and smoked salmon should be sliced fresh from whole sides rather than packaged pre-sliced product.
Top Bagel Shop Companies in Atlanta
1. Emerald City Bagels
Address: 1257 Glenwood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Website: https://www.emeraldcitybagels.com
Services:
- Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled New York-style bagels
- Full schmear and cream cheese selection
- Bagel sandwiches and open-face preparations
- East Atlanta Village neighborhood location
- Morning and early afternoon service
- Catering and large orders available
About: Emerald City Bagels began as a mother-daughter operation selling from a stand in Cabbagetown before gaining significant recognition at the Piedmont Park Green Market, where the quality of its hand-rolled bagels built a dedicated following that eventually led to a permanent location in East Atlanta Village in 2018. The shop’s bagels are consistently described as the best in Atlanta by local food media and diners who compare them favorably to the New York standard, with the proper chew and crust that distinguishes genuinely kettle-boiled bagels from commercial soft alternatives. Emerald City Bagels scores 117 out of 120 on ThreeBestRated’s evaluation criteria, one of the highest scores in the Atlanta bagel category. The East Atlanta Village location serves the surrounding neighborhood and draws destination visitors from across the metro area.
2. Brooklyn Bagel Bakery & Deli
Address: 1277 Collier Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (Ansley Mall); additional Johns Creek location
Website: https://www.brooklynbagelbakery.com
Services:
- Scratch-made, preservative-free New York-style bagels
- Full deli menu with breakfast and lunch
- Bagel sandwiches and deli preparations
- Midtown Ansley Mall and Johns Creek locations
- Morning through early afternoon service
- Catering available
About: Brooklyn Bagel Bakery & Deli has operated as a neighborhood institution for nearly twenty-five years, first establishing itself in Johns Creek before expanding with an Ansley Mall location in Midtown Atlanta that brought the scratch-made, preservative-free bagels to a more central audience. The bakery’s fans describe its bagels as achieving the New York standard of exterior crunch and soft interior chew that most Atlanta alternatives fail to replicate. Despite the volume of customers that regularly fill both locations, staff maintain efficient service while preserving the quality of each batch. The multi-location presence and nearly quarter-century track record make Brooklyn Bagel Bakery one of Atlanta’s most enduring dedicated bagel operations.
3. The General Muir
Address: 1540 Avenue Place, Suite B-230, Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: (678) 927-9131
Website: https://www.thegeneralmuir.com
Founded: 2013
Services:
- Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels made in-house daily
- Classic and specialty schmear preparations
- Bagel sandwiches with house-smoked salmon
- Full breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner service
- Full bar and espresso program
- Emory Point location
About: The General Muir produces its bagels daily by hand-rolling and kettle-boiling, a process that maintains the integrity of the New York-style bagel tradition within a full-service modern American Jewish deli format. The bagels are served with house preparations including smoked salmon cured in-house, making them part of a complete deli experience rather than a standalone bagel shop visit. The Avenue A preparation, featuring smoked salmon with grapefruit, avocado, red onion, cucumber, dill, and schmear, represents how house-made bagels elevate the surrounding ingredients when executed at this level. The General Muir’s 2013 founding and consistent critical recognition have established it as one of Atlanta’s most important restaurants across any category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes a New York-style bagel different from other bagels?
A: A New York-style bagel is hand-rolled from high-gluten dough, fermented slowly for flavor, kettle-boiled in water with malt syrup or baking soda before baking, and finished at high heat in a deck or rotating oven. The kettle-boiling process gelatinizes the exterior starch before baking, creating the characteristic glossy crust and chewy texture. Commercial bagels skip the kettle-boiling and slow fermentation, resulting in a soft, bready product that lacks the crust and chew of the authentic version. Atlanta bagel shops including Emerald City Bagels and Brooklyn Bagel Bakery both follow the traditional hand-rolled, kettle-boiled process.
Q: What are the most popular bagel orders at Atlanta bagel shops?
A: Plain, everything, sesame, and poppy seed bagels with cream cheese represent the core of most bagel shop orders. Lox or nova salmon preparations, featuring cream cheese with cured salmon, capers, red onion, and tomato, are the most classic deli-style bagel combination. Egg and cheese bagel sandwiches are popular at morning rush periods. At The General Muir, specialty preparations like the Avenue A with smoked salmon and grapefruit showcase the full range of what house-made bagels and in-house-cured fish can produce together.
Q: What does a bagel order cost at Atlanta bagel shops?
A: A plain bagel with cream cheese at Atlanta bagel shops typically runs $4-$7 depending on the establishment. Lox and smoked salmon preparations are $12-$18. Bagel sandwiches with egg, cheese, and meat are $8-$14. At The General Muir, the more elaborate preparations and restaurant service model push prices to $14-$22 for breakfast and brunch items. At Emerald City Bagels and Brooklyn Bagel Bakery, the focused bagel shop model keeps prices in the lower range with straightforward cream cheese and deli topping options.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s bagel shop scene is led by Emerald City Bagels in East Atlanta Village, Brooklyn Bagel Bakery’s nearly quarter-century of scratch-made bagels, and The General Muir’s artisanal hand-rolled approach within its full deli format. Each represents a genuine commitment to the kettle-boiled bagel tradition in a city where the category has grown significantly in quality and availability. Contact these establishments directly for hours, catering inquiries, and large order availability.