Bagel Etc. has been fuelling Montreal mornings since the 1940s, back when it was Cookie’s Main Lunch. These days, it’s a well-worn institution on the Main where regulars squeeze into booths or take their chances with the mirror-lined bar, and Leonard Cohen’s former seat remains a quiet relic. The neon glow and Formica tables may have aged, but the breakfasts—huevos rancheros, buttery bagels, and eggs with house-made hollandaise—have stayed timeless.

It’s a spot that runs on routine. The same faces return day after day, from judges to students to parents who once sat in highchairs here themselves. On weekends, the place is packed, a low hum of conversation rising over coffee cups and plates of eggs. The menu hasn’t changed much, because it doesn’t need to—Fairmount bagels, hearty omelettes, and diner classics hold their own.

The charm is in the details. A hot sauce collection that’s as much a dare as a condiment selection. A lineup of daily specials scrawled on a board. Servers who know your order before you do. Bagel Etc. isn’t just about breakfast; it’s about the ritual of showing up, taking your seat, and being part of something bigger than just another meal.