Bagelry has been making bagels the old-fashioned way in Santa Cruz since 1977—boiled and baked in a hearth, everything done from scratch. Walking in, you’ll smell that distinctive yeasty warmth that tells you these aren’t the mass-produced kind. They rotate through a solid lineup of flavors, and the cream cheese and topping options give you plenty of room to build exactly what you want.

The shop sits in a good spot for a quick stop, whether you’re heading down to the beach or just need breakfast before exploring Santa Cruz. The bagels themselves have real substance to them—chewy on the inside with a slight crust—which is what happens when you actually boil them properly instead of cutting corners.

What matters for dogs: there’s outdoor seating where well-behaved dogs are welcome. You can sit out there with your bagel and coffee while your dog hangs out beside you. It’s not a huge spread, but it’s enough to eat without feeling like you’re in the way. The setup is straightforward and casual, no pretense about it. Since this is Santa Cruz, mornings can get busy, especially on weekends when people are grabbing breakfast before heading to one of the nearby beaches or trails. If you’re planning to eat outside with your dog and want a spot without a wait, going on a weekday morning is smarter than a Saturday at nine.

The bagels hold up well if you need to grab them to go and eat somewhere else—say, at one of the nearby parks like Walnut Avenue or down at the water. Just keep in mind they sell out of certain flavors once they’re gone for the day, so if you have a favorite, earlier is better.