Holy cow, did writing this post on the best Boston-area cheese shops make me crave a gourmet cheese board! Those who know me will tell you that cheese and wine are two of my all-time favorite things. And any time I travel to a new place, one of the first things I do is seek out where I can sample the local offerings.

Specialty cheese and wine shops have been all the rage for a while now. But did you know that the greater Boston area is home to some of the oldest cheese shops in the country? Between the old and the new, the Boston area boasts a great variety of shops offering rare and artisan selections of cheese, charcuterie, wine, craft beer and gourmet items. Some feature only local, Massachusetts-made selections, while others offer the best cheeses from around the world.

The exterior of The Cheese Shop of Salem / Image courtesy of The Cheese Shop of Salem

Whether you’re entertaining at home, heading to a party or just looking for a delicious snack, we rounded up some of the best Boston-area cheese shops below. Regardless of whether you’re local or visiting, stop in, enjoy some samples and tell ’em we sent you!

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: American Provisions (South Boston)

613 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Located right on East Broadway in South Boston, American Provisions has become a staple of the neighborhood. The shop offers a variety of unique artisan cheese, and makes a point to highlight local cheese makers throughout New England. They offer international cheese as well, including cheese from England, France, Italy and Spain. The shop also offers a nice selection of charcuterie, sliced to order, and offers freshly made sandwiches. Pop in and you’ll also find a curated selection of wine and craft beer, along with other specialty grocery items.

Appleton Farms.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: Appleton Farms at Boston Public Market (North End)

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108

Located in the Boston Public Market, diagonal to Q’s Nuts (which are a great accompaniment to any cheese board!), Appleton Farms offers an awesome selection of Massachusetts-made cheeses. In addition to the cheese they produce at their farm in Ipswich, Appleton Farms is partners with the Massachusetts Cheese Guild. The stand offers more than 100 individual cheeses from over 20 different Massachusetts cheese makers. They also offer small selection of crackers, jams and accoutrements. They often have a cart set up to offer samples, and the staff is very knowledgeable about the cheese they offer. After you pick out your local MA cheese, you can pop over to the Massachusetts Farm Winery and Growers Association stand across the aisle to pick some MA-made wine to accompany your selections. You can’t get more local than that!

Bacco’s Wine & Cheese Shop.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: Bacco’s Wine & Cheese (Back Bay)

31 St James Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Just a quick walk from the Boston Public Garden in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, Bacco’s Wine & Cheese is a haven for wine and cheese lovers. Located directly next to Bacco’s Fine Foods (their specialty market), it’s a one-stop-shop for anything you need for your next cocktail party. The shop offers wine tastings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (which always include a featured cheese or two to try), along with beer tastings on Thursdays. The selection of cheese they offer is always changing, and they encourage you to taste before you buy. The shop also offers a large, curated selection of domestic and international wines, along with charcuterie and American-made craft chocolate.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shop: Boston Cheese Cellar (Roslindale)

18 Birch St, Roslindale, MA 02131

The Boston Cheese Cellar is the epitome of a neighborhood cheese shop. The store offers a wide variety of local, national and international cheese and charcuterie, all of which is cut and wrapped to order. Selling both in-store and online, one of my favorite offerings are their nine different Cheese Flights, which each include a ¼ lb of four different cheeses. You can also enjoy the shop’s bulk olive bar, along with the crackers, jams, oils and vinegars and more, which pair nicely with their cheese and charcuterie selections. They also offer a Cheese of the Month Club (which includes a selection of three cheeses per month), along with gift baskets. Lastly, if you’re feeling creative, the shop offers a variety of cheese making classes and courses on pairing cheese and wine. The space can also be rented for private or corporate events.

Cheese selection at Curds & Co. in Brookline.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: Curds & Co (Brookline)

288 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

What’s not to love about a shop with a mission to “bring great cheese and happiness to the people”? Opened in 2017, Curds & Co is a relatively new and welcome addition to Brookline Village. They aspire to provide their customers with more knowledge about cheese, and even their website offers a ton of helpful tips. And they want every person who walks through their store to sample some of their offerings. They are piloting a new curated cheese and pairing box subscription called Curdbox. And they offer a variety of delicious cheese platters and charcuterie trays. The shop offers a fun variety of classes and events, and the space (which features a huge wooden table, perfect for groups) can be rented out for private parties as well.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: Formaggio Kitchen (Cambridge & South End)

244 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 and 268 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Cheese Counter at Formaggio Kitchen in West Cambridge.

When I moved to Boston, one of the things I missed most about New York was Murray’s Cheese in the West Village. But then I discovered Formaggio Kitchen. With locations in West Cambridge and the South End (and another outpost in Kendall Square opening soon), Formaggio Kitchen is a cheese lover’s dream.

The West Cambridge location is their flagship, which has been in business since 1978. The shop serves everything from coffee and pastries from their bakery in the morning, to delicious sandwiches at lunch. They even offer dinner options as well. You’ll also find an in-house florist, and a specialty market for your grocery needs. All in addition to their amazing selection of cheese, charcuterie, rare wine and craft beer. The staff is super friendly and helpful, and they are always happy to help you find the perfect cheese. There are always samples set out to try, and there is always a fun variety of classes offered either at their retail location or their classroom annex. I especially recommend taking the tour of their underground cheese caves – fun, educational and delicious!

While the South End location is a bit smaller, it’s no less phenomenal. The employees are always knowledgeable and helpful, and they almost always have a variety of cheeses set out to sample. They have a fantastic rare wine selection (mostly from small production vineyards), in addition to specialty groceries. They often offer free tastings of wine, chocolate and other items that the store carries. Don’t leave without adding a few of the amazing caramels at the register to your order.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: The Cheese Shop of Salem (Salem)

45 Lafayette St, Salem, MA 01970

I know people who travel from Boston up to Salem just to visit this gem of a shop. Boasting one of the most extensive cheese selections in New England, I could happily spend all day in the store. They offer complimentary samples of all of their cheeses, and offer a variety of specialty cheese collections that can be purchased in-store or online. The shop offers free wine and beer tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, with a 10% discount on featured offerings.

Classes are also offered once or twice a month, and are a lot of fun as well. They offer a Cheese Club for those who enjoy trying new things on a regular basis. And perhaps best of all, they offer an Epic Grilled Cheese pop-up on Saturdays. If you haven’t experienced it, just take a look at their Instagram, and you’ll be sold! (If you go, see more things to do in Salem in my Insider’s Guide!)

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: The Concord Cheese Shop (Concord)

Cheese counter at The Concord Cheese Shop.

29 Walden St, Concord, MA 01742

Walking into The Concord Cheese Shop is a bit like stepping into the past – a very delicious past! In business for more than 50 years, the shop has an undoubtedly old fashioned charm. Offering anywhere from 150-200 varieties of cheese at a time, most cheese are available to sample from the knowledgeable staff behind the counter. The shop offers wine tastings on Saturdays, and has a wonderful selection of affordable wines available all the time. They also offer one of the widest selections of hard ciders that I’ve found in the area. They have fresh bread delivered daily from Iggy’s in Cambridge and Nashoba Brook Bakery in West Concord.

The shop is a popular lunch spot in town on weekdays. It offers an awesome selection of made-to-order sandwiches, homemade soups, a variety of salads and more. I especially enjoy their homemade refrigerator pickles! (And if you do go to Concord, be sure to check out my guide to exploring the Concord’s literary history!)

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: The Wine & Cheese Cask (Somerville)

407 Washington Street, Somerville MA 02143

A wine shop that happens to also sell an incredible selection of cheese, The Wine & Cheese Cask is a great place to come if you’re looking for ideas on wine and cheese pairings. With more than 2,000 varieties of wine, and more than 250 varieties of beer, this shop offers a ton of choice when it comes to options to imbibe. They offer a ton of awesome Vermont cheeses – including Jasper Hill and Blue Ridge Creamery – along with cheese from around the world. They make a point to offer both raw milk and pasteurized cheeses, along with specialty foods. The shop has fresh bread delivered daily from Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline, which they use to make their famous made-to-order sandwiches.

Best Boston-Area Cheese Shops: Wasik’s The Cheese Shop (Wellesley)

61 Central St, Wellesley, MA 02482

Cheesemongers since 1964, Wasik’s operates one of the oldest full-service cheese counters in the country. Family owned and operated, Wasik’s offers cheese, charcuterie, wine and a variety of gourmet items. Wasik’s also has a large on-site ripening cellar, ensuring all cheeses are served in prime condition. The shop offers tastings of wine paired with cheese and charcuterie on Saturdays. And they also offer a number of classes throughout the year. The shop prepares custom cheese boards, while all cheeses and meats are also offered a la carte.

What is your favorite cheese shop in Massachusetts? Do you have a favorite local Massachusetts cheese? Let us know in the comments below!