Excellent bagels at a decent price. The bagel dogs are even better. Plan to stand in line for a few minutes unless you order ahead.

My favorite breakfast sandwich in town especially after a good night out. NY style bagels and great staff. Late arrivals will wait in a long line, but it moves quicker than you expect and worth it.

Probably the best bagel place in Rochester! The staff is super friendly and they have a ton of options for everyone. I love how they have so many bagel and cream cheese flavors. The soups have been excellent and they give you bagel croutons. It does get super crowded so get there early! Ive had better bagels (in NYC and Syracuse) but definitely not in Rochester.

Best bagels in Rochester hands down. The extensive options for both bagels and cream cheese is just phenomenal, haven’t had a single bad experience at Balsam.

I used to absolutely love this place! I went pretty regularly. Unfortunately, they require masks even for those who are vaccinated. If that is the case, they should be providing masks as you enter their establishment. This is a bagel place, not a medical facility. I don’t understand the issue of not having a mask on. You really can’t eat inside as there isn’t much space to do so, so it’s not like people are lingering in the building. It would be nice if they could catch up with the rest of the state and drop the masking for those who are vaccinated.

I have lived in rochester my whole life, and it wasn’t until two summers ago that I found balsams. Honestly blown away by the quality and variety. They have many gluten free and vegan options. And don’t even get me started on all the different cream cheese spreads they provide. (There are like 20 mouth watering flavors... savory, sweet, salty, spicy etc) During the pandemic they have accommodated all the needed precautions and I am always impressed with their service.(Photos via take out)

Sooo yummy - love their cream cheese. Bacon scallion is my fave!! Also loved the Buffalo bills bagels ;)

Gluten Free and Vegan available!!Great Bagels and cream cheeses!Great selection of both!

The bagels are incredible!! The bagel breakfast sandwich (bacon, egg and cheese) on the other hand left me wondering what happened. The bacon was thin as was the egg. I got it on a plain bagel. Ill definitely go back for bagels but recommend skipping the sandwich.

Love that they have plenty of vegan options beyond just a vegan cream cheese. Friendly staff.

Good bagels, etc. Very popular, Covid etiquette enforced. Some outside seating but parking is pretty tight and weekend lines are frequent. Be patient and you will be rewarded.

Just moved to Rochester and everyone said to go here. I always thought, why the heck would I go somewhere to buy a bagel? Sounds like a waste of time. I finally know why everyone loves it.Their bagels are hot and delicious and their cream cheese is one of a kind. Flavor combinations I never thought I could make before. French toast bagel with raspberry jalapeño cream cheese is awesome. And their mushroom barley soup is the bomb. The people there were so nice and helpful to us. They seemed to genuinely love what they do. There was a little line outside and it moved fast.They only do breakfast right now, and they do it very well. The service alone in there made me want to tip generously.

Excellent place to go if you are looking for a bagel breakfast sandwich. Many options along with vegan too.

The staff is friendly, foods good bagels are better then brueggers bagels. Just my opinion.Its a bit pricey but I am never disappointed in the products they serve.This the place to go if you want a top notch beagle.

Probably the best bagels in Rochester. Are they as good as New York bagels - meh, no. But they have fun flavors and vegan options which was needed for our dining companions.

Oh my gosh, this was absolutely the best bagel experience Ive had. The French toast bagel with maple bacon cream cheese was just perfection. Cant get bagels like this in the south! Clean facility and super friendly staff!

I have a hard time imagining a bagel shop could possibly be anything better than Balsam.

Love their bagels and the service is some of the best. They have an awesome selection and the prices are reasonable too.

OMG! These bagels are to die for. They have so much flavor, perfect texture, and layers of taste. The cream cheeses are equally fine. If you are accustomed to chain restaurant bagels, your first taste of Balsam Bagels will awaken your taste buds and blow your mind with the quality of flavor.

Easily the best bagels in Rochester. Very similar to NYC style when it comes to textures and those really light background flavors that separate an excellent bagel from something more basic. Excellent service, selection, and a great vegan menu as well including vegan and vegetarian cream cheeses. Absolutely will be going back. Most likely tomorrow. You should too.

If you like wearing a mask still this is the place for you. Thought we would try Balsam for the first time ever and I was told I couldnt come in without a mask. No thank you. Headed right to Brueggers bagels on Panorama trail and bought the best bagels ever!

The bagels here are so freaking good and the their selection is amazing. I highly recommend you give them a try. They have an awesome selection and the staff are super friendly too.

Closed today, on a Sunday. For Memorial Day, which is tomorrow. How did I find this out? By checking the hours on Google? By checking their website? Nope. Both said open. Had to see it at the store. Awesome job.

Fresh delicious bagels. You won’t be disappointed.

During my visit to Rochester just happened to stop by to get some breakfast but boi… there were almost 50 to go orders lined up by the entrance. A wide range of bagels and 30+ types of cream cheese to choose from! Also on menu you’ll find sandwiches and wraps that are equally yum. Must try place if you live in Rochester or just visiting.

Friendly and professional staff, incredible selection which never disappoints

Hecking great bagels! Their house made cream cheese is also great!

Always packed because the bagels are made there each morning and sooo good. Good look finding parking.

Clean, efficient, great food. Balsam Bagels are a staple in my home. They keep pretty well in the fridge. Coffee is OK. Bagel selection and cream cheeses are stellar. My favorite are the bagel breakfast sandwiches; thats my go-to at Balsam.

Best place to get bagle sandwiches in the city. Would reccomend.

I always choose Balsam over any other nearby bagel. Great Olive Pimento cream cheese on bagels, crackers…I just wish going through the register had a more “spirited” pace…

Bagels are delicious but still need mask as of 6/12/2021. I didn’t have one with me so a little disappointing.

The most amazing bagel Ive ever had. They have a full menu of Vegan Options. I HIGHLY recommend the vegan lox sandwich with chickpea salad on the side. So good 😍

Fantastic little bagel joint with ample vegan options. The vegan lox hit a unknown craving. Could not be happier. The staff were so happy and seemed to know the locals by name.

I liked that they had vegetarian friendly options. However the bagels themselves werent very desirable. They were not fluffy or airy, felt and tasted like they could have came from a package, did not seem to be handrolled/made fresh which is my preference. Im from long island and am living in NYC where we tend to have strong opinions on bagels, so keep that in mind, but there is room for improvement.Also, they got our order wrong (switched one of our bagels with the person in front of us). And the cucumber dill cream cheese on my bagel had all dill no cucumber, and my boyfriends had large pieces of cucumber.

Rochesters all-inclusive bagel shop... and more! From gluten free to vegan, they have it all. Muffins, wraps, bagels, etc.! FINALLY a local breakfast option for vegans! Love their tasty foods.

Balsam Bagels has some of the best tasting bagels Ive ever had. Always fresh, incredible variety and they also have a cooler case with a broad assortment of freshly made cream cheese. Highly recommended.

Quick and easy curbside pickup. Bagels are fantastic and the cream cheese selection is great.

Hot dog bagel the best. Spicey veggie cream cheese too. Very fast service. Love the place!

Definitively in the top three for bagels in Rochester. The Russian pumpernickel is our favorite.

The bagels here are freaking amazing and I highly recommend you try them out. Great way to start the morning, believe me on that!

Absolutely the best bagels around! Great, ever changing selections and customer service. Excellent covid precautions also.

The bagels were always taste amazing and the service is always great here. I do recommend checking them out, its a great way to start the morning with.

Excellent service great bagels fresh & warm.

Hands down best bagels outside of NYC. A little small, so it can feel crowded when busy if you’re not really a people person like me, but 1000% worth it!

Love ❤️ it.

Best bagels. Definitely use the on line ordering to save yourself the wait in line. Worth the wait!

As an NYC-transplant, Balsam is the only place in downtown Rochester with the best bagels -- and I know a thing or two about good bagels 😜

The bagel selection and cream cheese selection were great. Although Im not a vegetarian, I loved all of their vegetarian and vegan options. The outdoor seating was lovely. The day we went was very warm and the wait inside was very long. It was a little exhausted because we had been out walking already that morning. That was the only part I didnt enjoy. Otherwise it was a nice visit and a great bagel breakfast sandwich. Id love to try more options especially now that the weather is a little cooler.

Bagels on par with the best bodegas in NYC. I could eat here every day.

The bagels here are amazing and I love the service is one of a kind. I highly recommend you give them a shot.

The employee who took my order and the cashier were very friendly and did a great job.

Balsam Bagels making the best food ever. All the times I have come to or ordered from Balsam Bagels there wasn’t even one time that I left not satisfied. Great people and food. ✅

Best bagels in town, always warm and super fresh.

Balsam never disappoints. Best bagels Ive ever had and their cream cheese, in a variety of flavors, is very good too. Balsam puts Einsteins, Brueggers, Panera, etc yo shame. A surprising array of vegan options too, if youre into that. Try the French toast bagel!

Classic bagels and great for an in and out experience

The best bagels and cream cheese selections!

Very cozy with friendly staff. We get the dozen bagels and freeze them for an easy breakfast when we need it, always taste fresh.

Incredible food and service! Staff was attentive and ready to provide service once I was done observing the menu. They asked questions to make sure they were preparing my custom order correctly. I observed another staff member checking with a customer to make sure the bagel was toasted to their liking. The staff taking my order complimented me on my choice of sandwich toppings and gave a pleasant smile and eye contact while handing me my food. The food was fresh and incredible tasting, down to each individual ingredient. Even the coffee tasted amazing. I will definitely be returning and bringing others along with me.

I got a pumpernickel bagel for $1.25. I planned on waiting until I got home to eat it but I felt it and it was still warm so I ate the whole thing before I even arrived at home, no butter, no toasting, just the bagel by itself, it was great.

Great service! Friendly staff. Excellent bagels. Adherence to social distancing guidelines.

Large variety of Bagels, cream cheeses & sides & toppings. Other pastries & drinks too.

My favorite place to get bagels in Rochester. Love going on the weekend and getting a sandwich. The staff is really nice and the bagels are so tasty! Love all the local products in the beverage cooler as well!

Disappointing that they do not serve lunch AT ALL. Maybe because of CoVid but they had a lot of people in line there so it seems they are making a big mistake. They certainly get the business for it. The two gentlemen in front of us left because they wanted lunch. I think these guys are missing out huge by not serving lunch even though theyre busy enough to 👎🏻 Good bagels, poor management decisions.

My favorite place to get bagels or a breakfast sandwich. Highly recommend!!!!!

Best homemade,authentic bagels in Rochester. No dairy and boiled like they should be. Great selection of pastries as well. Love it here.

Much better than brueggers, not skimpy with the toppings, lines move fast!

This is the place to go for perfect bagels. Plus the vegan desserts like the salted pretzel​ brownie bar will make you come back for more.

The best!

Beat bagel in town super clean

Bagels were delicious and the staff was very sweet! This was the first time wed ever been and enjoyed hearing the staff tell us about how busy they get over the summer. I really loved all the various vegan options! Im not vegan but we did have a vegan friend in our group and she was very impressed! I did buy a vegan coconut cake slice and it was very good! We will defiantly be back again. I subtracted one star due to the small building. We went about to eat there, because they only have 4 large tables for parts of 4 or 5 and 2 small tables for 1-2 people. It was extremely cramping and the line certainly wrapped inside the store. Part of that deduction was because yes, while the food was delicious, we waited probably 20 - 30 min just in line to order our food. It was chaotic and cramped for sure.

The bagels are always fresh. So many choices with cream cheese made locally. The staff is always friendly and service is quick. Dont be fooled by the long line, it moves quickly and the bagels are well worth the (short) wait!

I am originally from Queens, NY. I remember getting bagels from bagel shops in the morning on my way to high school. I always ordered my favorite bagel: cinnamon raisin bagel with honey walnut cream cheese. I moved to Massachusetts for nearly a decade and if there was one thing I missed from NY, it was their bagels. It’s just not the same anywhere else. I recently moved to Rochester and one of the first things I looked for was a bagel shop.I found Balsam Bagels and gave it a shot on a Saturday morning. The line was long, but while waiting you can actually see the bagels being made. When I saw one of the bakers take out a batch of bagels from a giant vat of boiling water, I could not contain my excitement. I felt like a kid waiting on line to see Santa Clause when you still believed in him. I always tell people not from NY that if the bagel isn’t boiled first, it’s not a NY bagel. I’ve been disappointed over and over again by bagel shops around the country claiming to be “NY style.” I ordered my favorite bagel and got home and quickly ate it. It was delicious and everything I hoped the bagel was going to be. I will check out other spots in the area but Balsam Bagels is definitely worth the wait!

The bagels are good but the wait is always long.

So yummy, and lots of vegan options!

Bagels are amazing and the cream cheese tastes super good too!

Need to stay open past 1pm closing that early makes no sense!!! Brownsteins and Bagel Land are open later but not located in my neighborhood!!

Best bagels in town, great selection and LOVE the breakfast sandwich menu, quick but safe service during COVID -- an absolute institution in Rochester, I usually avoid on weekends because of the crowds but if Ive got time on a weekday afternoon Ill stop by for sure.

Best bagels in town!

Just great bagels always and they’ve made it safe and easy during COVID. They even have a curbside service. A little know secret—their other baked goods rock too!

Always chaotic during the weekend, but hands-down the best bagels in Rochester. The variety of specialty bagels and cream cheeses means theres something for everyone.

This is my favorite bagel store in the Rochester area. They make everything from scratch and it is wonderful and creative! The staff really takes pride in their work as well. Also very affordable! They have a huge selections of cream cheeses and bagels that are basic and very unique. I would tell anyone to come here.

Great local bagels and good service.

Great place with excellent service

White people love bagels. They will wait for long long time for their bagels. I mean they will wait wrapped around a building for their bagels. The bagels were alright but no plain cream cheese to go tho so thats weird other than that Im sure they make slamming breakfast sandwiches cause all these white people were waiting mad long for that.

The best vegan breakfast sandwich in Rochester. Wish they delivered to me but thank his they exist.

Dont go here! I prefer a smaller line.

Excellent Service during this Covid time. Excellent setup for take out or eating outside under Umbrella. Vegan Bagel Dog ~ Delicious! 🍊

Simply the best bagels in Rochester and its not even close!

Fantastic bagels with a large selection. Would highly recommend the honey Sriracha cream cheese

Balsam Bagels is my favorite place to get bagels.Everyone is very friendly and they provide excellent customer service.Love the place.

ALWAYS GREAT....GOT A MONTREAL SESAME/EVERYTHING BAGEL THATS THE BEST....FRIENDLY STAFF...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Literally the only gripe I have is that theres a line.... Because their bagels are so damn good! All different types, amazing veggie cream cheese... This place is a gem and I dont hesitate to drive out there for these tasty bagels!

Awesome bagels and variety of cream cheeses. I love my French Toast bagels.

This is an update review for take-away during the COVID-19 pandemic. We ordered our food online and were able to pay there, too, which meant the transaction was almost entire touch-free. When I arrived to the restaurant, everything was ready on time, and our order was complete and piping hot. Theres a doorbell you ring, as part of a plexiglass partition that separates you from the server. You communicate with the masked server thru the plexiglass, and then a little window is lifted, and your bag of amazing goodness is passed to you. It was sanitary, protocoled, easy and **DELICIOUS!** Also, our portions were huge so we got almost three meals for two people out of what we ordered -- well be back for SURE! We ordered Chicken Fried Rice, Ginger & Garlic Stir-Fried Chicken, Wontons in Chili Sauce, and Ma Po Tofu.

The bagels here are amazing and the service is spectacular. They have some great vegan options.

Balsam Bagels is the best place to get bagels in the Rochester area! Lots of great vegan options, too! Its always pretty busy in there, so they developed and ingenious way to let people who just want bagels in a bag bypass the line: look for bagel in a bag signs on long polls by the doors. Its great to see a business close to where I grew up doing so well. 😁

Great bagels, sandwiches, and bagel dogs!

Love this place, great bagels good coffee good service.

Expected to be better. Outside of bagel, perfect texture. Cream cheese was on the light side, even when asked for extra. Taste was as expected for cream cheese. Asked for toasted to just warm, came out crispy.(could not have been more clear) Inside of bagel was not chewy enough. Maybe better next time.