Where to find the best bagel in Brussels

A good bagel is recognisable first by its crust: slightly shiny, a touch crisp, achieved by boiling it in water before baking. That step, often skipped by industrial versions, is what gives a bagel its signature texture — chewy inside, firm outside.

At Holy Bagels, every bagel is hand-shaped every morning at our café on Rue Armand Campenhout in Ixelles. We top them with ingredients sourced primarily from Belgium: smoked salmon, seasonal vegetables, local cheeses.

Ixelles, and the Chatelain area in particular, has become one of the best spots to brunch in Brussels over the past few years. Between shaded terraces and cosy little addresses, it's a neighbourhood made for a watch-free Sunday.

Our tip: come early on the weekend, grab a terrace seat, and treat yourself to our Julie bagel (smoked salmon, cream cheese, dill) alongside a flat white.