B Bagel

B Bagel is a bagel bakery and takeaway on the Strand, the wide thoroughfare that forms the southern edge of Covent Garden and runs from Trafalgar Square towards the City. The Strand shop is one of a growing London group that also trades in Soho, on Tottenham Court Road, Camden High Street, New Oxford Street, Fulham Road and in Highgate, and it sits close to Charing Cross on a stretch busy with commuters and visitors.

The company describes itself as a contemporary celebration of bagels and sets out four principles behind the business: people, quality, generosity and good vibes. In practice that means bagels freshly baked on site and made to order, with no preservatives, additives or colourings. The group also runs a wholesale arm, a platters service for offices and events, and a loyalty app, The Bagelhood, where stamps earn free bagels.

Bagels on the Strand from early morning

For bagels on the Strand, the draw is the bake itself: dough made in-house and baked through the day rather than delivered in from elsewhere. Fillings run from classic cream cheese and smoked salmon combinations to more generous hot and vegan options, and the shop opens early enough to catch the breakfast commute into Charing Cross. Allergen, ingredient and nutritional information is published in full, which is useful for anyone ordering for a group.

What to expect on a visit

Expect quick counter service and a steady queue at breakfast and lunchtime, with Deliveroo covering those who would rather order in. Charing Cross station is a couple of minutes to the west, Embankment is a short walk south, and the Covent Garden piazza lies just to the north. It is one of the more useful takeaways in Covent Garden for an early start, and anyone comparing the city's freshly baked bagels can try Bagel Factory on Long Acre for the other long-running London bagel name.