On our way from Brighton to Geelong — with stops in between — I was excited to stop off at a place that was considered to have the best bagels in Melbourne with their “special boiled bagels”. It is located in the Jewish community of Balaclava — which itself reminds me of the pastry dessert called baklava even though the suburb of Melbourne was actually named after the Battle of Balaclava on Wednesday, October 25, 1854.
I Tried “The Best Bagels in Melbourne” in Australia.
Glick’s is a family owned business which has three locations — not counting its head office — in the greater Melbourne metropolitan area is renowned for manufacturing quality breads, cakes, and fine foods for both the retail market and for the wholesale market. The street on which it is located reminded me somewhat of a typical street in Brooklyn or Queens.
“Glick’s was founded in the late 1960s by Mr Mendel Glick OBM in a small retail shop on Kooyong Road Caulfield”, according to the official Internet web site of the bakery. “In its early days, the shop offered a selection of cakes and biscuits until Mr Glick revived an old European recipe and method for boiled bagels. The product was an instant sensation and word quickly spread throughout the Jewish community. Local milk-bars and delis sought a piece of the action too. Many shopkeepers recognised the bagel’s appeal, particularly with the development of Sunday trading. The Glick’s bagel began to replace other bread items in many homes and Melbourne eateries, making the exclusive Glick’s boiled bagel a crowd pleaser since its inception.”
Okay. We were hungry and in the mood for a nosh. Two bagels were ordered.
The garlic bagel had some — but not much — flavor; and the pumpernickel bagel was rather bland. Both bagels seemed rather plain and uninspiring. The bagels were overpriced for what they were, as each bagel cost two Australian dollars for a total of $2.53 in United States dollars for both bagels.
Final Boarding Call
I had thought about getting a dozen bagels; but after trying those two bagels, I decided against it. They were not terrible; but they were disappointing. They were not as big or as flavorful as a bagel from New York — Glick’s does not sell bialys — and the texture was not quite right.
Perhaps I am simply spoiled as a person who was born and raised in New York, as maybe they are the best bagels in Melbourne. Did I choose the wrong location? Should I have tried something else there? Would a different store have had better bagels? Maybe the bagels from Glick’s were better years ago than they are today? Who knows?
We finished our bagels and moved on…
Glick’s
330 Carlisle Street
Balaclava, Victoria 3183
Australia
03 9527 2198
Operating Hours
- Sunday: 5:30 in the morning through 6:00 in the evening
- Monday through Wednesday: 5:30 in the morning through 6:30 in the evening
- Thursday: 5:30 in the morning through 7:00 in the evening
- Friday during summer: 5:00 in the morning through 6:00 in the evening
- Friday during winter: 5:00 in the morning through 30 minutes before sunset
- Saturday: Closed
Parking is available on the street.
All photographs ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
