Best Bagels in Bloomington, Indiana

Looking for a great bagel to go with your morning cup of joe? Bloomington, Indiana has numerous coffee houses, and they're great for a good brew, but their selection of bagels is limited to plain and blueberry. Not to fear, though. There are just as many bakeries that specialize in any variety of bagel that fits your fancy.

Bloomington Bagel Company was Bloomington's first made-from-scratch bagel shop. They offer a large selection of bagels, with over twenty varieties from which to choose. These come plain or as a "schmear", various assortments of cream cheese that are as thick as the bagel itself. With just as many varieties of schmears, you can mix and match bagel and filling to your heart's desire. I recommend a garlic bagel with light roasted red pepper parmesan schmear. They also offer "flagels", flattened bagels, and bialys, which are flattened bagels with gourmet toppings. With just as many options for coffee, latte, and expresso as a coffee shop, BBC can easily be your one-stop in the morning. Bagels here aren't limited to breakfast--stop by at lunch for a bagel sandwich, your choice of bagel with a meat and cheese. BBC has three locations around Bloomington, including N. Dunn Street, N. Morton Street, and S. College Mall Road, so you can enjoy their wares wherever you are in town.

Panera Bread, located on S. College Mall Road, is also a great place for bagels. All of their bagels are sourdough-based, and all are equally amazing. From the kicking jalapeno and cheddar to the sweet cinnamon crunch, you're sure to find something tantalize your taste buds. They also offer your choice of delicious spreads to top off your choice. If a bagel isn't what you crave, try any of their amazing baked breads or tempting pastries to start off your day. They, too, offer a lunch menu, with salads and sandwiches served on their own freshly-baked breads. Delectable breakfast, lunch and dinner options, combined with free wifi, make Panera Bread a great place to eat any meal of the day.

The Scholar's Inn Bakehouse, located downtown on N. College Avenue, also has a nice assortments of bagels and toppings. Their pumpernickel bagel is good enough to stand on its own, but add spinach artichoke cream cheese and it becomes a masterpiece. If you're craving something sweet, try a chocolate chip bagel with strawberry cream cheese--it will definitely hit the spot. Their lunch menu includes a wide variety of sandwiches served on fresh Bakehouse breads. They also offer catering, so you can have a pastry and bagel platter at your next office meeting.

Whether you're needing breakfast on the go or lunch on the slow, these are all great places to try. From bagels and pastries to soups and sandwiches, you can satisfy your hunger any time of day.