The Most Flavorful Cheese Shops in Milwaukee

Orchard Prime Meats & Wine Shoppe

★★★★★ 4.6 (31) • $$

"The pizza is amazing! My hubby and I went on a Sunday. The place was packed. Very friendly service. You can only get salad and deep dish pizza for dine in. The pizza is delicious. Ranks up with Lou's. May be better! We got sausage, pepperoni, onion and black olives. The crust does not get soggy. Plenty of ingredients with really tasty tomatoes. The pepperoni on top gets crispy, yum. I think the price is reasonable too. We'll be back!"

Northwoods Cheese

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"My daughter and I stumbled across the spot while driving a back road in the industrial area of our part of town. We are glad we stopped. This is an adorable little shop with very unique gifts as well as cheeses, sausage, sundries, and so much more. It's got a little bit of everything in a small space. They told us they're planning on expanding, staff was very helpful and enthusiastic."

The Cheese Wedge Uncorked

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"This place is the CUTEST! So many cheese options and wine. We even got to sample some wines. Customer service has always been outstanding as well! Highly recommend!"

Decatur Dairy

★★★★★ 4.7 (45) • $

"Every time I have visited Decatur Dairy, I've left with a few pounds of cheese. There's nothing like Wisconsin lactose!Like so many others, when you arrive to this creamery, you pull up to a building that looks like a farm with a small plant in front. They're a handful of parking spots, and apart from modest signage, you wouldn't know you were pulling up to top-notch, third-generation creamery owned by an award-winning, Master Cheesemaker.On my does it yesterday, I was the only one in the shop until another customer walked in. Typically, there can be as many as a half a dozen or more customers in the tiny space. There's nowhere to sit and eat, but if you taste test enough different cheeses, ans maube some regionally-made sausage, you won't leave hungry.The ladies behind the counter are always very friendly and Incredibly helpful. Just as important, they're also very knowledgeable, even Kyli, the youngest of the team who helped me yesterday. I had plenty of tastes, she gave plenty of good recommendations and I left with plenty of cheese.Again, like other Wisconsin creameries, Decatur sticks to regional specialties from brick and bitterkase, cheddar to farmer, gouda to havarti, Muenster to Swiss, and, in my opinion, the awful blue cheese and Limburger varieties. The Stettler family offers variations on all of these categories. Decatur, of course, has a slew of different curd choices.On this visit, I immediately went for a Muenster and was in search of something special. I was offered smoked, pepper, and a few others, and was thrilled with a slightly-aged muenster cheese which I had never seen before elsewhere. I also took home a half pound of Ukrainian cheese, something unique. The last two winners on my visit were the Stettler Swiss family specialty and an eight-year-old cheddar which was just shy of being crumbly and just at the edge of beginning to gain some crystalline texture. The prices are so outstanding I feel like a FIB pirate taking Cheesehead booty!Decatur Dairy sells mostly their own cheeses, but they do sell some from other creameries around Wisconsin and a few from out of state. It doesn't make any sense to me to buy anything but what they produce in house. They also have a half-dozen ice creams from another Creamery, and those are worth tasting and enjoyable to take a scoop out into the parking lot. They are so fresh and flavorful, noticeably better than anything you'll buy in the big box grocery freezer."

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern

★★★★★ 4.5 (174) • $

"Review # 800This restaurant was the highlight of our Wisconsin road trip. I loved the place. It has such nostalgia to it. Every wall, every piece of art/decoration inside the restaurant has historical significance. Service by lively employees was phenomenal. They explained the menu and options patiently. We ordered, interacted with friendly patrons, and within no time our food was ready. We took the food outside, sat at the town square and enjoyed the peace and calm of a chill place!We ordered the following:Ian had a hot dog.Mrs. had a roast beef.I had a Pastrami sandwich.2 amazing desserts to share.Total was $31.65.Food was freshly prepared. You could tell because, it melted in our mouths! Desserts were amazing. Cheese as a topping was unique. I loved it. If you are within 50 miles of Monroe, you should definitely head out here to this amazing restaurant. You will not be disappointed!"

Babcock Hall Dairy Store

★★★★★ 4.6 (110) • $

"No trip to Madison, Wisconsin is complete without a stop at the Babcock Hall Dairy Store. Located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, Babcock Hall Dairy Store is a must stop. Babcock Hall is home to the University's dairy research program. This restaurant is located in the building, and they make their own fresh ice cream and frozen creations. You can also purchase sandwiches and drinks here. I got a scoop of the chocolate peanut butter ice cream (rich, chocolate ice cream with thick ribbons of creamy peanut butter), while my husband got a scoop of the 175 S'more Years (rich, chocolate ice cream with a marshmallow swirl and graham cracker crunch to celebrate UW-Madison's 175th anniversary). The flavors were rich and creamy. The scoop they give you is HUGE! They are always creating new flavors, so if you go back there is always something new to try. If you are in Madison, I highly recommend stopping by and getting some ice cream at Babcock Hall Dairy Store!"

Bieri's Jackson Cheese & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.1 (19) • $$

"Best sandwiches in Washington County; perhaps the world. Just a few minutes from hey 45 & 60. Currently enjoying braunschweiger on thick cut marble rye, Swiss, crispy lettuce & red onions, and spicy mustard. Old school and great. No room for indoor seating, but ample seating outside if you are hear during our 2 months of annual nice weather."

Oxtail Market

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Love it here. Great products. This is where I get my dairy products and the ingredients are much cleaner than any store around here- not to mention delicious! I love that they include local businesses products too. So glad this addition has been added to our town. Great service too, someone is always willing to help if you have any questions!"

Willow Creek Cheese

★★★★★ 4.8 (4) • $$

"This is the real deal: a rural cheese factory in Wisconsin, selling assorted cheeses and, of course, fresh cheese curds. The shop is just a room off the side of the factory, but they have cheese out for sampling, and it's delicious! There are large refrigerator cases with every variety on display. Other offerings include summer sausage, sausage sticks, and accessories like cutting boards. Prices are good and the clerk on duty was very nice. It's a little out of the way, but worth the drive if you're in the area."

Ehlenbach's Cheese Chalet

★★★★☆ 4.4 (95) • $$

"I wasn't impressed with their cheeses. I bought a lot to take home and we all agreed that the cheese here is just ok. There are too many other places in WI that have better cheese than here."

West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe

★★★★★ 4.6 (355) • $$

"Been meaning to write a review for a while as I have been here many times both in west Allis and at the public market. They have the best bloodys in Milwaukee or possibly the the world. Be prepared to have a small meal attached to it (the special ones at least). And of course a beer chaser. Depending on which location you go to both are inviting. Obviously there is less space at the public market so if you don't mind other people, this is a cool spot and you can check out other places while you're at it. If you go to the west Allis location, there's a good amount of seating inside and outside but does fill up quickly. If you're on a wait, go check out Betcher meats next door. That's another review for another day. I've had the poutine, some breakfast sandwiches and the hotdog. All of them are ridiculously good. This food is rich and very filling. You're not coming here for a light meal. That being said, if you're looking for Milwaukee food. This place is a stable of what Milwaukee is all about. The drinks, the sausage, the cheese! Everyone is friendly. Willing to help and they don't waste time. Space is limited at the market but they somehow work their magic and never lose their cool! I bring out of town guest here and it's ALWAYS a highlight! Love this place, 10/10."

Gibbsville Cheese Co

★★★★★ 4.5 (18) • $$

"This is a small cheese shop connected to the dairy that makes the cheese, so you know it's fresh. I stopped in for some cheese curds. I wound up buying 3 blocks of cheese, some cheese dip, a meat stick, and the cheese curds. There are several different specialty cheeses. One that was particularly interesting was the mystery cheese. This is a combination of whatever cheese was left in the vat before changeover and the new cheese that went into the vat after changeover. I got a block of a white and orange mix. This shop will become a regular stop when in the Sheboygan area."

West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (101) • $$

"Smash Burger Wednesday!!!! What a Delicious Surprise. The Sriracha Melt was also super Delicious! The chicken tenders are solid as well. Thoroughly enjoyed eating at this establishment and the workers are friendly. My new favorite place at the Public Market :)"

Highfield Farm Creamery

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"After seeing the article in the Shopper, stopped in on the season opener to buy some cheese and check out the cows. Lovely couple runs the farm and they make great cheese to boot. Right now cheddar and cheese curds; expect a new creamy blue cheese around 4th of July. Fun for kids to check out how they make it and get to say hello to the cows and calves. Also worth following on Facebook to get updates and see recent videos."

Hill Valley Cheese Shop & Cheese Bar

★★★★★ 5 (13)

"Very cute little shop with an amazing staff. Great choice of wonderful cheeses and you can taste before you buy. My new obsession is the herb cheese will be back when in the area!"

Edelweiss Cheese Shop

★★★★☆ 4.2 (9) • $$

"I stopped here after breakfast before leaving town in hopes of finding some meat sticks on my quest to try all the different meat steak I can find.The place is small with mostly cheese and some meat offerings and next to no meat sticks with just two offerings, neither one appealing to me so I looked a little harder. YES YES they have venison summer sausage which I will take. I didn't try the cheese because I have enough cheese at home. The venison summer sausage looked and smelled good but how would it taste. The venison summer sausage was good but not the best that I have ever had and I liked it.Any one who visits New Glarus should definitely stop by and check them out."

Wisconsin Cheese Mart

★★★★☆ 4.4 (229) • $$

"The Wisconsin Cheese Mart is a tourist destination with a nice selection of cheese in Downtown Milwaukee. Their cheese can be pricey depending on what you get. I enjoy the sample section near the middle of the store allowing you to try before you buy. During our visit in July 2024, they were selling fresh cheese curds. We picked up a bag of Malcore's brand cheddar flavored cheese curds. When we got home and cracked into the bag we could tell the curds were fresh as we chewed away into its waxy shell enjoying the mild cheddar flavor and it's squeaky texture. We enjoyed this cheese curd purchase from the Cheese Mart. It made for a tasty snack making it one of our favorite food souvenirs from Wisconsin."

Bell's Liquor & Deli Store

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"I have to say, they have quite the beer selection in the back, and when you are in wisconsin staying at a house that generally only has wine, this is a good thing.Nothing against wine, but when in wisconsin, they say..."

Cheesers-Gourmet Foods of Wisconsin

★★★★★ 4.9 (30) • $$

"Two hundred and twenty types of cheese. Award winning cheese, cheese curds, cheese by the pound, cheese gifts, cheese samples, blueberry cheese logs...coupled with a staff that can answer questions and help you make cheese decisions. They had a great selection of local sausage rolls to slice and serve and meat from a local source. Throw in Starlight blackberry whiskey and Huber wines from my favorite winery and distillery in Indiana and this place has a charcuterie board and dinner party wrapped up! This was worth the drive from the interstate."

Saxon Creamery

★★★★★ 5 (5) • $$

"On my last visit to Wisconsin, I went out to see the Saxon Creamery. The creamery is located in Cleveland, Wisconsin. It was started by the Klessig and Heimerl families, who brought in Neville McNaughton, Pat Knowles and Dan Strongin as consultants.Not only do I love cheese, but I grew up in Cleveland and went to grade school with the Klessigs, so I was very interested and excited to try their cheese.After 15 years of planning, the first milk was delivered and a vat of cheese was made on August 24, 2007. I had some of the cheese during the winter holiday -- and they are now ramping up for national distribution. Look for their cheese at Whole Foods in the DC area in July -- and they will be rolling out nationally in the coming 6 months.They have 3 core cheeses -- Green Fields, Big Eds and Saxony. I have only tasted the prototypes, they were all delicious and are worth seeking out. You can contact the creamery at their website to get additional information about where to purchase their cheese.Green FieldsA semi-soft cheese that is carefully tended then wrapped in a special breathable paper to protect Green Field's sophisticated flavor during the journey from our creamery to you. Made from whole raw cow's milk, and unpressed cooked curds, with a washed rind ripened a minimum of 60 days -- at its peak at four months with a shelf life of six months.Big EdsYoung, mild, but full of flavor, with a buttery body. Enthusiastic, like Ed Klessig, whom it was named after, it hugs you back, never offends, and is great both for first time tasters and afficionados.A "clean rind" cheese made from raw cow's milk formed into cooked, pressed curds and ripened 120 days, with a shelf life of six months -- clean rind cheeses are meticulously wiped to keep them clean, cultivating a nearly perfect rind.SaxonyA sophisticated cheese with a nutty flavor and a supple-body, as comfortable in the kitchen as it is on the table. Cooked pressed curds from whole raw cow's milk with a light, dry, washed rind ripened a minimum of 90 days, peaking at 150, with a shelf life of 9 months."

Union Star Cheese Factory

★★★★★ 4.8 (38) • $

"This was my 2nd trip to Union Star Cheese Factory. Both trips netted terrific cheese, cheese curds, fresh butter, sausage sticks, and a couple of experimental purchases, like Limburger. This trip it was cheese curds, goat cheese, feta, a Wisconsin washed rind cheese, and baby Swiss. I'm always a hero when I get back to Indiana with cheese from Union Star!"

Weyauwega Star Dairy

★★★★★ 4.8 (10) • $

"Wisconsin beers, cheese, meats, snacks, chocolate treats, provisions, packer items and more.Lots of street parking. Busy with locals picking up their evening remedies for the day.Friendly staff. CC accepted."

Artemis Provisions & Cheese

★★★★★ 4.8 (5)

"Cute little place that is still developing. It has the bones to be great and a lovely location. They seem to specialize in cheese, charcuterie and all the supplies needed to host on your own, but there's also a place in the back that looks ready for expansion which is exciting. I was pulled in by the cheese samples which were delish and easily led me to purchase. The prices were pretty reasonable and the special order boards looked delish! I I look forward to returning and seeing this place grow!"

Megz Country Cheese

★★★★☆ 3.8 (8) • $$

"It may look like a gas station in the middle of nowhere, but it's really the premiere cheese, sandwich, and ice cream shop located conveniently near the Lake Summerset community. When we get the hankering for a deliciously creamy Cedar Crest ice cream cone or a sandwich on our way home this is our favorite stop. The dining area is tiny with only a couple of tables, but it is decorated in cheery red and white and has a country charm. The girls who work here are friendly and love to chat and get to know all their customers. I've always come here for the ice cream cones (loved the Graham Central Station flavor with graham flavored ice cream with graham cracker swirl and chocolate coated candy pieces!) but they advertise that they carry over 70 kinds of cheese! Now that's pretty cheesy!"

Hill Valley Dairy

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Highlights1) Nice Ambiance2) Generous Portions3) Fun/Unique PlaceWhat a great addition to the neighborhood! Stopped in with a group of 4 on a week night and was able to snag a table right away. The ambiance is really nice and there is seating at the bar, couches or tables. There is also a cheese shop where you can pop in for grab and go cheese.We all did the wine flights and cheese pairing. The portions were very generous. The servers explained everything in detail about the wine, cheese and why they paired them together. We had a fun time and I look forward to being back!"

Cheese Counter and Dairy Heritage Center

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Great little cheese shop with plenty of choices. The space is really cool with dairy history and a display. My favorite part is their soup and sandwiches! Excellent!!! Highly recommend to eat in or get takeout from the cheese counter. Been going once a year for several years now and it's super consistent. Also it's tucked into a Main Street with nice little shops on the block ."

Kingston Creamery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9) • $

"I've been a fan of Salemville's blue cheeses since I was a chef in Chicago, so when I realized that, when I moved to Wisconsin, I was only about 35-45 minutes away from where it was made.Salemville is a cheese co-op for many of the local Amish dairy farmers, and I believe exclusively uses only milk from these farms. And it really shows in the quality of their cheese, which I feel make a decent showing against some of the best blue cheeses in the world. While their cheeses might not quite achieve greatness, at it's price point it is one of the best values out there. They make 3 types of blue cheese, Amish Blue, Gorgonzola and a smoked blue cheese. I also believe that they have added a "Reserve" blue to their line up. And of course, you can purchase all of their cheeses at their retail shop along with a small selection of other high quality cheese.It's definitely well off the beaten path, but if you find yourself in Wisconsin Amish country it is worth making a stop."

Market Square Cheese

★★★★☆ 3.9 (51) • $$

"Large store with not only a variety of cheese but lots of souvenirs. They had both lines open and moved the line fast. Nice selection of items."

Cheese Box

★★★★★ 4.6 (99) • $$

"The Cheese Box is your one stop shop for cheese souvenirs. The shop sells local food and drink. They also provide samples of their featured cheeses. We picked up a mix of muenster, smoked cheddar and fruit filled cheeses. For a quick bite, they sell custom made sandwich boxes to go and their soup of the day. Don't miss the Cheese Box. It's a nice little side trip if you're in the area."

Wallenfangs of Green Lake

★★★★☆ 4 (2) • $$

"At Wallenfangs, you will find the best cold pack cheese ever. They have many wonderful varieties (sharp cheddar, swiss almond, port wine, garlic, bacon, horseradish). They specialize in gift baskets with all their goodies, too. You will find local honey, ice cream toppings, lots of candies, salsas and relishes. It is all top quality for very fair prices. They also sell antiques and ice cream. Friendly service and a lovely atmosphere, too."

Frannie's Market

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

"Riding a wave of trends, Sarah and her market are offering substantial and gimmicky things to wow your guests at table or around a charcuterie board. Many who want to follow this trend may find everything they want and more here. If one already knows what he/she is going to lay out on the "board," you can get the meats and cheese much cheaper at your local grocery store. But Sarah is hospitable, friendly and knowledgeable and can even cater an event for you. The market is a fine contribution to Cedarburg's long avenue of shops."

Cedar Grove Cheese, Inc

★★★★☆ 4.4 (8) • $$

"When you think "Wisconsin" you automagically think "Cheese!" and this factory store says it loudly and clearly!I first learned of this award-winning cheesemaker when it was featured on an episode of Wisconsin Public Television's series, "Wisconsin Foodie". I decided then and there I had to find this factory.It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from my house, straight across the state on Wisconsin Highway 60. (West of Sauk City, follow Cty B to Mill Road to the store. It's signed.) My first attempt got me here about 15 minutes after the store closed. :( My second attempt got me here in plenty of time!The variety of cheeses available here makes it difficult to choose. Regular dairy cheese, along with sheep and goat milk cheeses are here. (There are some specialty cheeses available from other makers, such as bleu cheese.) I opted for my favorites, Colby and Swiss, an took a chance on a block of garlic cheddar. You'll also find a wide selection of accessories. I purchased a wire cheese slicer with dual widths, thick and thin. There are refrigerator magnets, t-shirts and logo ball caps.Large windows allow you to watch cheese making in progress, as long as you're there early in the day. When you arrive late in the afternoon, as I did, you'll see sparkling clean, stainless steel cheese making equipment.If you arrive after closing time, you can find their product in Plain at the Shell station and at Straka Meats in Plain. (You should visit Straka Meats, anyway, for another gastronomical adventure!)Oh, yes. The garlic cheddar was delicious!"

Alp And Dell

★★★★☆ 4.3 (46) • $

"I love checking out the areas that I'm in for the meat and cheese shops and not really for any of the cheeses but more for the meats and meat sticks. I jumped on yelp and found this place in the area and they were open on a Sunday because most are closed on Sundays. The building had the Swiss theme that can be found in the area which I was not expecting but very cool. I was greeted by an older gentleman as I walked in and I looked around the store and it is mostly cheese and very little meats. They had the regulars like wine, beer, condiments, clothing, lots of cheeses, sausages, pizzas, frozen sausages etc etc. After looking around I noticed they had very little meat sticks but I did find spicy beef sticks which had beef as the main ingredient. The veal brats were a no brainer since I love veal and once again veal is the main ingredient so I grabbed them because how often do you see veal brats.This is really a cheese shop first and foremost with some other products on the shelves but still a nice find because of the veal brats if nothing else."

Silver Lewis Cheese Factory

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Great cheese selection! The best habanero farmers cheese! This is a great place to get cheese. The people are also fantastic. It is worth the drive out to get some good cheese."

Mousehouse Cheesehaus

★★★★☆ 4.2 (112) • $$

"Great place to stop for gifts and to stretch your legs after a long trip. This place is awesome, it's filled with every sort of cheese you can think of and they have legitimate hot combos here so be careful! You can also have this place ship cheese to relatives in other states. You can give them a little piece of wisconsin by shipping them great tasting cheese varieties. I asked about shipping to California and you must have a minimum of 30.00 in cheese products. There are other items here also worth looking at, there is something for everyone here."