There are grocery stores with good cheese sections, and then there are cheese shops—the places where buying a wedge of something you’ve never heard of can become the highlight of an afternoon.
The best cheesemongers do more than stock impressive cases. They know the farms and producers behind the wheels, understand how a cheese changes with age and season, and can point you toward something that will make a picnic, dinner party or bottle of wine considerably better.
Across the Northeast, a remarkable collection of independent cheese shops has turned fromage into a destination. From historic Philadelphia food halls to tiny village storefronts in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley, these are 10 places worth seeking out.
Concord Cheese Shop — Concord, Massachusetts
In a region full of excellent specialty food stores, the Concord Cheese Shop remains a destination in its own right.
The shop has been part of downtown Concord since 1967, and its compact space is packed with an extraordinary range of cheese. At any given time, you’ll find roughly 150 to 200 cheeses, with more than 1,000 different cheeses passing through the shop over the course of a year. Perhaps more importantly, the shop’s philosophy is simple: don’t buy a cheese you haven’t tasted first. Samples are part of the experience.
The selection ranges from European classics to American artisan cheeses, with charcuterie, wine, prepared foods and all the accompaniments needed to build a serious cheese board. It’s the sort of place where you should give yourself time to browse rather than rush in for one wedge and leave.
And when you’ve made your selections, order a sandwich for the road.
Best for: Serious selection, knowledgeable guidance and an old-school cheesemonger experience.
Formaggio Kitchen — Cambridge, Massachusetts
Formaggio Kitchen is practically synonymous with serious cheese in New England.
The Cambridge institution has built its reputation around an exceptionally curated collection of cheeses and specialty foods, with a selection that ranges from small American producers to some of Europe’s great traditional cheeses. But the appeal extends well beyond the cheese counter: charcuterie, bread, wine, preserves, chocolate and other carefully selected provisions make it possible to assemble an entire feast in one stop.
For travelers, the original Huron Village location is particularly fun to explore. It feels less like a conventional gourmet supermarket than a neighborhood food emporium that happens to have an extraordinary cheese department.
Come with an appetite and a little curiosity. You’ll probably leave with more than you intended.
Best for: Food lovers who want to build an entire meal around great cheese.
Sissle & Daughters — Portland, Maine
Portland’s food scene is full of reasons to visit, and Sissle & Daughters is a particularly good stop for travelers who like to take a piece of the city home with them.
Originally opened in 2018 as The Cheese Shop of Portland, the business rebranded as Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers & Grocers in 2024. Owners Mary Chapman and Will Sissle continue to focus on carefully selected cheese, charcuterie and specialty foods, with products chosen for quality and the people behind them.
The shop also hosts tastings and classes, making it more than a place to simply buy cheese. Pick up a selection of Maine and New England products, add some bread and accompaniments, and you’ve got the makings of an excellent picnic along the Maine coast.
The shop now has a second Portland location on Forest Avenue as well.
Best for: Maine-made provisions, picnic supplies and discovering new producers.
Fairfield Cheese Company — Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield Cheese Company takes the idea of the neighborhood cheese shop and gives it a distinctly educational twist.
The shop specializes in artisan and farmhouse cheeses, with a particular emphasis on American cheesemakers as well as traditional European cheeses. Its cheesemongers don’t simply cut pieces from a wheel; they talk about the farmers, cheesemakers, traditions and techniques behind what you’re buying.
That philosophy extends to the company’s Cheese School and events, which make Fairfield a particularly good destination for anyone who wants to move beyond simply knowing that they like brie.
There are also plenty of charcuterie, pantry goods and accompaniments to turn a cheese run into dinner.
The company now operates both Fairfield Cheese Company in Fairfield and Greenwich Cheese Company in nearby Cos Cob.
Best for: Cheese education, American artisan cheese and building an exceptional board.
Bimi’s Cheese Shop — Chatham, New York
One of the best things about Bimi’s is that it feels like exactly what a small-town cheese shop should be.
Located on Main Street in the Hudson Valley village of Chatham, Bimi’s has been assembling a carefully chosen collection of regional, American and international cheeses since 2014. The shop also carries charcuterie, crackers, condiments and other specialty provisions, with an emphasis on small producers and thoughtfully made food.
It’s an especially good stop during a Hudson Valley road trip. Chatham is the sort of town where you can spend a few hours wandering shops and galleries, have lunch, and then leave with enough cheese and provisions to make your evening at a nearby inn considerably better.
The shop also serves breakfast and lunch, making it possible to turn your cheese pilgrimage into a meal.
Best for: A small-town food stop with a strong regional focus.
Murray’s Cheese — New York City
Murray’s is the heavyweight on this list, but it earns its place.
The Greenwich Village institution dates to 1962 and has become one of America’s best-known specialty cheese retailers. Its flagship shop on Bleecker Street is the place to go when you want extraordinary breadth, knowledgeable staff and the chance to explore cheeses from around the world.
But there’s something particularly appealing about visiting Murray’s in person rather than simply ordering online. You can ask questions, taste selections, build a board and discover something you wouldn’t necessarily have chosen yourself.
And if you need further convincing, the shop also offers classes, tastings and other educational experiences.
For a cheese lover visiting New York, Murray’s is less a shopping stop than a pilgrimage.
Best for: The full-scale cheese experience, from everyday favorites to rare finds.
Di Bruno Bros. — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia’s Italian Market is one of the Northeast’s great food destinations, and Di Bruno Bros. has been part of it since 1939.
The original 9th Street location is known as the “House of Cheese,” an intimate shop packed wall-to-wall with specialty foods and an expansive cheese selection. The company’s larger Rittenhouse Square location adds even more room to explore, including a cheese cave, charcuterie, prepared foods and a café.
What makes Di Bruno particularly compelling is the combination of history and expertise. This isn’t a generic gourmet retailer that happens to sell cheese. Cheese has been central to the company’s identity for generations.
Visit the Italian Market location, buy a few wedges, grab some cured meats and continue exploring the neighborhood. That’s a Philadelphia food experience in itself.
Best for: Italian cheese, Philadelphia food history and an iconic market experience.
Saxelby Cheesemongers — New York City
For travelers particularly interested in American cheese, Saxelby offers a different perspective from some of the city’s more European-focused cheese shops.
The company opened in 2006 as New York City’s first shop dedicated solely to American farmstead and artisan cheese. Today, its Chelsea Market shop works with more than 50 producers and keeps more than 100 cheeses in stock.
The selection showcases the extraordinary variety of American cheesemaking, from Vermont cheddars and washed-rind cheeses to blues, soft cheeses and creations from small farms around the country.
And there’s another reason to stop: the shop makes grilled cheese sandwiches using the very cheeses it sells. A visit can therefore serve as both lunch and research.
If you’ve always thought of American cheese as something that comes individually wrapped, Saxelby is an excellent place to reconsider.
Best for: American artisan cheese and cheese lovers who want to discover small producers.
Edgewood Cheese Shop — Cranston, Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be tiny, but it has an impressive cheese culture, and Edgewood Cheese Shop is one of its standout destinations.
The Cranston shop carries a carefully selected mix of local and imported cheeses, along with charcuterie, specialty foods and gifts. Its relatively intimate scale makes it easy to browse without feeling overwhelmed, while staff can help steer you toward something new.
Edgewood also leans into the social side of cheese. It offers tastings, events, cheese clubs and ready-to-go boards, making it particularly useful if you’re putting together a picnic or entertaining at a nearby coastal rental.
For a state where a great food stop is rarely far from the ocean, Edgewood makes an excellent addition to a Rhode Island weekend itinerary.
Best for: Rhode Island road trips, entertaining and cheese-board provisions.
Wasik’s Cheese Shop — Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wasik’s is the kind of independent shop that rewards repeat visits.
The Wellesley cheesemonger has built a reputation around a deeply curated selection and exceptionally personal service. Rather than simply choosing from a refrigerated case, customers can talk with staff, sample cheeses and get recommendations based on what they already like—or what they’re trying to discover.
That makes Wasik’s especially good for the cheese curious. You don’t need to walk in knowing the difference between a washed rind and a bloomy rind. Tell the cheesemonger what you’re serving, what you’re drinking or what flavors you enjoy, and let them take it from there.
It’s also an excellent place to assemble a gift or a dinner-party spread.
Best for: Personalized recommendations, entertaining and discovering something unfamiliar.