--- title: "It's Bagel: Why 2026 is Melbourne's Year of the Bagel (Brekky Time & Beyond)" description: "": 2025 is the year of the bagel, I'm calling it now 🥯💕"" — that's a Melbourne food TikToker in January 2025, standing outside **It's Bagel** on Queen Street, ..." keywords: "restaurant Melbourne, dining, Rating, Accessibility, Moderate" date: 2026-03-15 tags: [Bagels, Breakfast, Melbourne CBD, Trending, Cream Cheese, New York Style] --- # It's Bagel: The Queen Street Bagel Boom Melbourne Can't Stop Talking About "2025 is the year of the bagel, I'm calling it now 🥯💕" — that's a Melbourne food TikToker in January 2025, standing outside **It's Bagel** on Queen Street, holding a loaded Brekky Time bagel. Fast-forward to March 2026, and they were right. It's Bagel has become the CBD's go-to breakfast destination, with two locations slinging fresh-baked bagels from 7:30 AM daily. If you haven't tried a warm, chewy sesame bagel stuffed with smoked bacon, egg, cheddar, hash brown, and smoky tomato relish, you're missing Melbourne's hottest breakfast trend. ## The Signature: Brekky Time Bagel **Viral Dish**: Brekky Time Bagel ($16.50) This is the one everyone orders. Smoked bacon, egg, cheddar, crispy hash brown, smoky tomato relish, all packed into a fresh sesame bagel. It's generous, it's messy, it's absolutely worth it. "The Brekky Time bagel had really good tomato relish. The hash brown was crispy. A lot of bacon. Very generous," raves one Google reviewer. "Bagel was great too. We waited about 25 mins for the food but it was exactly how long the staff said." But here's the thing: It's Bagel isn't just riding the Brekky Time wave. They've got **11 signature bagel sandwiches**, **9 bagel flavors** baked fresh every morning, and **6 cream cheese varieties** — plus the option to build your own. ## What Makes It's Bagel Different **The Bagels**: Baked fresh daily. Choose from plain, blueberry, olive, onion, basil spinach, black pepper cheese, poppyseed, sesame, and "everything" (New York-style with seeds, salt, onion, garlic). **The Sandwiches**: - **Urban Lox** ($17.50) — smoked gravlax salmon, caper spring onion cream cheese, lemon tartare (reviewers call it "super refreshing" with "so much salmon") - **Fig** ($16.90) — mortadella, smoked ham, cream cheese, pistachio, red wine fig compote (sweet and savory perfection) - **Gentle B** — plain cream cheese, smoked salmon (a simple classic done right) **The Cream Cheese**: - Spiced Honey Macadamia (a fan favorite: "what a great combo, something light and sweet") - Blueberry (not too sweet, just right) - Plain, Caper Spring Onion, and more One food blogger who visited twice summarized it perfectly: "Priced well at $7-17.50, they really load them up. You definitely get bang for your buck. All the combinations went well and the bagels themselves weren't overly dense or heavy." ## The Social Proof - **4.8-star Google rating** from hundreds of reviews - Two Melbourne CBD locations (Queen St and Exhibition St) - Featured on TikTok with videos hitting 500K+ views - Uber Eats 4.6-star rating: "As country vic girls, these bagels filled all our needs and more! Amazing!" - Consistent praise for fresh bagels, generous portions, and quick service "2025 is the year of the bagel" was a prophecy. By 2026, It's Bagel is the breakfast destination. ## The Viral Hook: Fresh, Chewy, Loaded **The Trend**: New York-style bagels have finally landed in Melbourne. Authentic chewy texture, proper boil-and-bake method, loaded sandwiches that require two hands. It's what Melbourne's been missing. **The Viral Moment**: TikTok and Instagram exploded with It's Bagel content in early 2025. Food bloggers posted the Brekky Time, the Urban Lox, the Fig — all plated beautifully, bagels split open to reveal layers of fillings. The algorithm did the rest. **The Experience**: It's Bagel makes bagels approachable. You're not intimidated by a pretentious menu. You see photos, descriptions, and prices. You order. You wait (they call your number). You eat. It's simple, satisfying, and delicious. ## The Arlo Standard: Sensory Experience **Noise Level**: Moderate. It's a busy breakfast spot, especially on weekends. Expect chatter, espresso machines, staff calling out orders. But it's not overwhelming. **Rating: 6/10** (manageable with manageable stimulation). **Lighting**: Bright and welcoming. Natural light from large windows, warm overhead lighting. **Rating: 8/10** (sensory-friendly, not harsh). **Accessibility**: - Ground floor location on Queen Street - Limited seating (a few tables and chairs) — "gets crowded, probably better to takeaway" - Clear menu boards and photos - Staff are friendly and clear with wait times - Order at counter, collect when called **Crowd Management**: Busiest on weekend mornings (8:30 AM - 11 AM). Visit mid-morning or early afternoon for a quieter experience. Expect 15-25 minute waits for food on busy days, but the staff communicate this clearly. **Autism-Friendly Notes**: It's Bagel's straightforward ordering process and clear communication make it sensory-friendly. The noise level is manageable, lighting is good, and staff are patient. Takeaway is a great option if the indoor seating feels crowded. ## The Menu Highlights **Signature Bagels**: 1. **Brekky Time** ($16.50) — smoked bacon, egg, cheddar, hash brown, smoky tomato relish 2. **Urban Lox** ($17.50) — smoked gravlax salmon, caper spring onion cream cheese, lemon tartare 3. **Fig** ($16.90) — mortadella, smoked ham, cream cheese, pistachio, red wine fig compote **Cream Cheese Flavors** ($7-9): - Spiced Honey Macadamia - Blueberry - Plain - Caper Spring Onion **Drinks**: - Iced coffee (reviewers call it "good") - Strawberry Matcha (refreshing and popular) - Lemonade (super refreshing) **Build Your Own**: Choose your bagel, your fillings, your spreads. Want plain cream cheese and smoked salmon? Done. One reviewer summed it up: "Awesome place for bagels and coffee. $16-17 for a bagel I thought wasn't bad given the generous size and the ingredients. We were a group of 6 and ordered a variety — our favorites were the Brekky Time and the Fig." ## Why It's Bagel is Trending Right Now **The Bagel Boom**: Melbourne's been missing authentic New York-style bagels. Sure, there were cafes with "bagels" (really just bread rolls with holes), but It's Bagel brought the real deal: boiled, baked, chewy, slightly crisp on the outside, soft inside. **The Loaded Factor**: These aren't sad sandwiches. These are *loaded* bagels. The Brekky Time is so stuffed you might need to eat some fillings separately. The Urban Lox has so much salmon reviewers joke about taking some out. **The Consistency**: Fresh bagels every morning. Quick service. Generous portions. Fair prices. It's Bagel delivers on the basics, and that's why people keep coming back. ## Local SEO Snapshot - **Location**: 2/50 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000 (also Exhibition St location) - **Cuisine**: Bagels, Breakfast, Sandwiches, Coffee - **Price Range**: $ ($7-18) - **Best For**: Breakfast lovers, bagel enthusiasts, quick CBD lunches, takeaway - **Nearby**: Melbourne Central, QV, Bourke Street Mall - **Parking**: Limited street parking; public transport recommended ## The Verdict **Viral Factor: 8.5/10** It's Bagel isn't just a trend — it's filling a gap Melbourne didn't know it had. Fresh, chewy, authentic bagels with generous fillings and fair prices. Whether you're a Brekky Time devotee, an Urban Lox stan, or a cream cheese purist, It's Bagel delivers. The service is quick, the staff are friendly, and the bagels are consistently excellent. Yes, it gets crowded on weekends. Yes, there's a wait. But as one reviewer put it: "Would come back!" — and that's the ultimate endorsement. **Pro Tips**: - Visit on weekdays or early mornings to avoid crowds - Try the Brekky Time (it's the signature for a reason) - Don't sleep on the Fig — mortadella and pistachio is a revelation - Order the Strawberry Matcha or Lemonade for a refreshing drink - Bagels are big — split between two if you're not super hungry - Takeaway is your friend on busy weekends **Accessibility Note**: It's Bagel is sensory-friendly with good lighting and manageable noise. Limited seating means takeaway might be more comfortable for those who prefer quiet environments. --- **Find It's Bagel on FoodScout**: [View full menu, photos, and location details](https://foodscout.au/venues/its-bagel) **Address**: 2/50 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000 **Hours**: Mon-Sun 7:30 AM - 3 PM **Phone**: (Check website for contact) **Instagram**: [@its_bagel_au](https://www.instagram.com/its_bagel_au/) --- *Craving more Melbourne CBD breakfast trends? Explore our guides to [Patricia Coffee Brewers](#) for standing-room-only coffee rituals and [OMI 380](#) for matcha jasmine desserts.*