The Thoughtful Splurge — worth every penny
Cafe with espresso, coffee, home-made bagels, and elaborate bagel sandwiches. Fresh bagels baked daily. Cozy Harvard Square spot popular for breakfast and lunch.
The Maitre d' Recommends
The Vibe
Black Sheep Bagel brings genuine bagel craft to Harvard Square in a compact space that prioritizes quality over frills. The line moves efficiently, the bagels are made fresh daily with proper technique, and the creative schmears set this shop apart from the bagel chains. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that makes morning routines better.
Comfortable conversation level
Why It's Great
Where Harvard Square Gets Its Bagel Fix
Black Sheep Bagel arrived in Harvard Square with a simple mission: make real bagels and interesting things to put on them. The operation is small but focused—bagels boiled and baked fresh daily, schmears that go beyond plain cream cheese, and sandwiches that justify calling it lunch.
The bagel technique matters here. Proper New York-style bagels require boiling before baking, and Black Sheep doesn't skip the step. The result is that distinctive chew, that shiny crust, that density that separates real bagels from bread with holes. Every morning brings fresh batches that sell until they're gone.
The schmears show personality. Sure, you can get plain cream cheese, but why would you when scallion, everything, and seasonal options are available? The sandwiches stack house-smoked fish, quality lox, and creative vegetable preparations on those fresh bagels. It's not complicated, but it's done right.
Black Sheep Market, their Cambridgeport outpost, extends the brand into a bodega-style grocery where you can buy bagels and fixings to make your own sandwiches at home. Both locations reflect the same ethos: good bagels, served simply, made by people who care.
A warm everything bagel with scallion schmear and good coffee. Start your Harvard Square morning right.
Everything Bagel with Scallion Schmear
The classic combination, done properly
House-Smoked Fish Sandwich
In-house smoked fish on a fresh bagel with fixings
Lox Bagel
Quality smoked salmon with cream cheese and all the traditional accompaniments
Seasonal Schmears
Rotating flavors that keep regulars coming back
Why It's In Our Guide
Black Sheep Bagel provides Harvard Square with properly made bagels and creative schmears. The small space, daily baking, and attention to technique make it essential for bagel lovers.
“Black Sheep proves that Cambridge can do bagels right.”
— Boston Magazine“The schmears alone are worth the trip.”
— Cambridge ChronicleThe morning line tells the story—Harvard Square has adopted Black Sheep as its bagel home. The regulars know their orders by heart.
Insider Tips
Early morning for the freshest bagels. They sell out of popular varieties.
No reservations—it's counter service. The line moves quickly.
Limited seating—most people grab and go. The outdoor area is nice in good weather.
Try the house-smoked fish if available. The seasonal schmears are worth exploring.
Harvard Square parking is tough. Harvard T station is a short walk.
Ratings & Reviews
Based on 887 reviews
567 reviews
Updated 2024-12
320 reviews
Updated 2024-12
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Black Sheep bagels are boiled and baked fresh every morning. They sell until they run out, so popular varieties may not be available later in the day.
Reddit Mentions
Contact Details
56 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Mon-Fri: 7AM-3PM, Sat-Sun: 8AM-4PM
2 min walk from Harvard
RedJulia Child lived on Irving Street. She would have opinions about this.
“She was my Rushmore.”
— Herman Blume, on Cambridge dining