A bagel can be a great snack on its own – but with a great schmear, as well… it’s no surprise this dish is an American favorite. While there’s no shortage of bagel shops around the country, a local single-location establishment in Colorado Springs happened to get national recognition at the 2026 BagelFest West event held in Los Angeles last weekend.

Among eight categories judged with three award-winners each, Bella’s Bagels out of Colorado Springs ended up being the only Centennial State spot to get a nod. In fact, it was just one of two bagel shops outside of California to win an award among 24 award-winner picks (Hey Bagel out of Seattle got two awards as the other out-of-state champion).

While many winners got awards for their bagel options, Bella’s Bagels ended up winning first prize in the ‘schmear of the year’ category for its ‘Pueblo Green Chile Cream Cheese’ schmear variety.

Located on the northeast side of the city, Bella’s Bagels as a strong 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews, known for its long list of diverse New York-style bagel options. The spot has also won ‘Best of the Springs’ awards in the past, too.

While it’s certainly worth visiting this spot for its Pueblo green chile schmear, their sandwiches – like the pastrami reuben – are hugely popular. There’s also a ‘bagel hugged’ hot dog and ‘bagel pups’ (breakfast sausage, egg, and cheddar wrapped in bagel dough and brushed with maple syrup) on the menu, as well.

There’s no doubt about it – Bella’s Bagels is worth checking out.

Find the full list of BagelFest West winners here and plan a trip to Bella’s Bagels here.

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