Montréal’s best cheese shops
Gastronomy
To sample some incredible local artisan cheeses as well as great imported cheese from all over the world, we’ve listed a few fabulous fromageries (or cheese shops) here below where you can satisfy that cheese craving and discover new favourites.
There’s nothing more comforting than biting into a grilled cheese sandwich, tucking into a gooey mac and cheese or indulging in a stringy raclette. Cheese has a way of satisfying the soul that other foods don’t quite match.
Long gone are the days when Québec’s production was modeled after European cheeses and mainly made up of cheddar and cheddar-like products. The rise of the local food movement of the past years has also seen the rise of artisanal cheese making from small producers all over the province. From cheese curds to the finest mouldy creations, the world of Québec-made fine cheese has boomed in the last 30 or 40 years with new varieties being created every day. In fact, Québec is the largest producer of cheese in Canada with more than 800 varieties available.
Fromagerie Marché des Saveurs du Québec
Le Marché des Saveurs du Québec is a family-run business that was founded 25 years ago with the express mission to help their clientele discover Québec’s incredible artisanal products. This mission includes a cheese counter that offers almost exclusively cheeses from all over the province with a few exceptions that the team couldn’t resist. The cheese shop staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the products they carry so don’t be shy about striking up a conversation or asking for a sample. And if you’re feeling peckish, you can have a grilled cheese sandwich on the premises.
280 Place du Marché-du-Nord, Jean Talon Market
Bleu et Persillé
Open since 2015, Plateau Mont-Royal’s Bleu et Persillé has become the cheese destination for people in the know. Here you can go on a cheese tasting adventure in store with the passionate employees and discover a new favourite cheese every week. Their ready-made planchas – charcuteries, raclette, local and international cheeses – are gorgeous and delicious, so are their excellent picnic boxes named after surrounding parks. In addition to a wide variety of cheese and charcuterie for sale, Bleu et Persillé is also a delicatessen with a great choice of well curated items from local Québec artisans such as wines and beverages, spices, preserved goods, condiments, canned fish, and more.
1475 Mont-Royal Avenue East
BREBIS – Fromagerie
Founded in 2023 by two friends who had previously trained with cheesemaker Max Dubois at l’Échoppe des Fromages, this unpretentious Mile End shop is a veritable showcase for Québec cheese producers. BREBIS (sheep in French) offers a selection of Québec cheeses made from cow's milk, goat's milk, buffalo milk and, of course, sheep's milk (the owners' favourite)! Their aim is to highlight Québec cheese and offer alternatives to the classic, well-known European products. You can get great lunch boxes, apéritif platters, gift packages and bread from Automne Boulangerie.
21 Fairmount Avenue East
La Baia dei formaggi
Founded in 1973 by Francesco Occhiuto, a man passionate about fine Italian products, La Baia dei Formaggi holds over 400 Italian cheeses and 80 varieties of salumi (Italian charcuterie). Occhiuto was the first to import Italian prosciutto di Parma in Montréal, an accomplishment that we are all thankful for today. This family-run business is the destination place to stock up on Italian specialties such as homemade pasta, Italian olive oils and vinegars, coffee, canned goods, beverages, jams, antipastos, panettones, and more. It’s also the place to go for an excellent, all dressed, Italian panino.
1715 Jean Talon Street East
La Fromagerie Hamel
Founded in 1961, La Fromagerie Hamel is one of the oldest cheese shops in Québec with 4 boutiques located in Montréal. Shopping at Hamel is always a pleasure thanks in part to the highly skilled staff and the warm and friendly atmosphere. The exceptional offer of this family-run business includes over 350 cheeses, some of which are imported by planes. They also offer a range of specialty products, including charcuterie, fine products like jams, condiments, beverages, Québec ciders and wines, dairy products, spices, chocolates, and so much more. The cheese accompaniments they have in store include crackers, bread, Marcona almonds, quince paste, and pickles. La Fromagerie Hamel has installed storage cellars at some of its Montréal boutiques where cheese lovers can check out the new arrivals with as much enthusiasm as unveiling a gift. Their “Le Pic” range includes cheeses that are selected, aged and signed by their team. They’re almost guaranteed to be exceptional.
Several locations including the Atwater and Jean Talon markets
Yannick Fromagerie
Established in 1975 in Saint-Jérôme, Yannick Fromagerie opened their first Montréal boutique in 2003. Cheese master and owner Yannick Achim is involved in all aspects of the cheese world, both in Canada and internationally, as a judge in prestigious competitions and an educator. Yannick Fromagerie’s mission is to feature Québec cheese and more specifically, emerging artisan cheesemakers who do not benefit from a distributor. They also work directly with artisan cheesemakers to develop new cheeses. They carry a large variety of international cheeses with privileged access to several producers around the world. Yannick Fromagerie’s carefully selected cheeses are chosen according to several factors including seasons, types of ripening, aromatic characteristics, the typicality of the milk where it was produced and the variety of textures and colours. You’ll also find some complementary products at Yannick, including olive oils, wines and ciders from Québec, preserves, jams, crackers, chocolates and some cheese cutting tools.
1218 Bernard Street & 1001 Beaubien Street East
Fromagerie Anne et Frères
Anne and François are the owners behind Anne et Frères, a neighbourhood cheese shop in Villeray. With a “mixed experience of half Québécois and half French” they offer a variety of about 200 cheeses from Québec and around the world. Expert advice, know-how and a curated list of beloved products is at the heart of this fromagerie that also carries several fine products and Québec wines and ciders. Their gooey and cheesy sandwiches are excellent, as are their ready-to-eat cheese and charcuterie platters accompanied by fruit, dried fruit, quince paste, herbs, and more. Anne et frère also carries the largest selection of raclette cheeses in Montréal with a variety of milk types, intensities and origins hailing from Québec, France, Switzerland and Austria.
738 Jarry Street East
La Fromagerie Atwater
Often considered as the best cheese shops in Montréal, La Fromagerie Atwater has been in operation since 1976 and has since expanded to 4 times its original size. This third generation, celebrated family-run business houses over 850 varieties of local and international cheeses. Their friendly staff receive an extensive training and are an infallible source of knowledge and passion. La Fromagerie Atwater also offers carefully selected deli items, gourmet food and a large selection of Québec microbrewery beers and ciders for the perfect pairing experience.
Atwater Market & 1269 Ontario Street East
Fromagerie Copette & Cie
Verdun’s Copette & Cie’s aim is to offer customers a wide selection of fine, artisanal cheeses with a particular focus on local Québec cheeses while holding some international classics. Open since 2008, the gourmet neighbourhood shop has an in-house bakery and pastry department as well as a fine gourmet store. The friendly atmosphere and knowledgeable staff make Copette a lovely and charming neighbourhood boutique that has become a staple on Wellington Street.
4650 Wellington Street
Mayssam Samaha
Mayssam Samaha is a food and travel writer and blogger and the founder behind the blog Will Travel for Food. She travels the world in search of the next culinary discovery. From Iceland to South Africa, she’s already visited over 36 countries and there’s nothing she enjoys more than wandering around a farmers’ market in a foreign city. She is also the founder of the SAISONS intimate dinner series highlighting Québec products and chefs.