Fav Cup

Fav Cup is a bagel café in Canberra, and the focus is clear from the first look at the menu: New York-style bagels with gourmet Asian-inspired fillings, served alongside coffee. The Thai influence runs through the whole offering, which is why people here talk about it differently from a typical brunch spot.

The bagels are the main event. Locals rave about the softness of them, and even a simple one with cream cheese gets praise for being generous and well made. The savoury side is where the fusion shows up: the tom yum prawn bagel is the one people say you won't find at another café, and the bacon and egg bagel and the beef roast burger come up too. There are sweeter bagel options for dessert, and the menu goes beyond bagels, with a Thai basil chicken rice dish, Thai milk tea toast and a beef brioche bun all getting a nod. We've also heard gluten-free diners are well looked after, with a gluten-free bagel good enough that you'd never pick it.

On the drinks side, the coffee gets good words, and so does the matcha. One local was taken with a Sakura foam coconut drink and said the staff were lovely to chat to. Helpful staff are mentioned again and again, with people describing service that is patient and courteous.

It works for dining in, takeaway, delivery and catering, and there is outdoor seating as well as indoor. Vegetarian and vegan options are on offer too.

One person felt some of the fillings and bagels seemed bought in rather than made fresh, and found a beef salad underwhelming compared with the photos. Parking has also been a bit awkward lately with building work out the front, though the carpark is close by.

They're open every day, with slightly later starts on weekends, so check the hours before you head in. If bagels are what you're after in Canberra, this is the place to try, and the tom yum prawn is the one to order first.