I'm going to play the New Yorker card here. Why? Because the New Yorker card was invented for a sticky pickle of a contest like this, and I'm settling it:
As a born and lived-in New Yorker who has eaten bagels all over (yeah H&H, A&S, Murray's, Bagelsmith, etc.) I vote Montreal as bagel capital. It's only by a slight margin, but these chewy buttery babes are better. They have more character and are a more slender, more al dente version of our bagel--not so fluffy and bready, more textured and refined--just right with a dip of cream cheese.
Me and my girl brought back 3 or 4 dozen, having feverfits and trying not to eat them all on the 9-hour drive back.