Order: Everything with Nova lox + plain schmear $4–14
Kettle-boiled, wood-fired, hand-rolled. The most consistently great bagel in the county; owner is a New Yorker.
We use cookies for essential site functions and, with your permission, for analytics and advertising. California residents can opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information at any time. See our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.
Near Gaslamp Quarter
Gaslamp Quarter doesn't have a bagels spot worth a special trip. The closest picks locals drive to are Bagelheads in PB and Wayfarer Bread & Pastry in La Jolla — here's what to order and what you'll pay.
Last updated
Quick answer: Nothing notable in Gaslamp Quarter itself — closest picks: Bagelheads, Wayfarer Bread & Pastry, Nomad Donuts.
Kettle-boiled, wood-fired, hand-rolled. The most consistently great bagel in the county; owner is a New Yorker.
Weekend-only bagels that sell out fast. Widely considered the single best bagel in San Diego when they run them.
Weekend-only bagel program from their laminated-pastry team. Boiled + baked in-house.
Full-service deli with a legit bagel program. Best sit-down bagel experience in the city.
Old-school Jewish deli. The bagel isn't the crustiest, but the lox is the best.
Bagels are a weekend game — Wayfarer and Nomad only run them Saturday–Sunday, and both sell out by 11 AM.
'Kettle-boiled' matters — it's what makes the crust chewy and the interior dense.
Lox platters are the best value: at Elijah's, Milton's, and Bay City Deli, one platter feeds two.
The everything spice is the SD default — most shops sell everything topping by the jar.
For a New Yorker sanity check, Bagelheads is the answer 90% of the time.
From Gaslamp Quarter, the shortest hop for bagels is Bagelheads in PB — worth combining with other errands in that direction.
Not in Gaslamp Quarter itself — nothing there ranks among the county's best bagels. The closest picks are Bagelheads, Wayfarer Bread & Pastry, Nomad Donuts, starting with Bagelheads in PB.
Bagelheads in PB. Order the Everything with Nova lox + plain schmear, priced $4–14. Kettle-boiled, wood-fired, hand-rolled. The most consistently great bagel in the county; owner is a New Yorker.
Expect $4–14 to $5 per person at the closest bagels spots. Prices are current for 2026.
The Sandi Spots Newsletter
New beach finds, hidden taco shops, weekend events, and seasonal guides — once a week from a local. No spam, ever.
One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.