Paris is known for many things – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and of course, its incredible food scene. But one thing that often gets overlooked is the city’s amazing cheese shops. Paris has a long and rich history with cheese and today it’s home to some of the best cheese shops in the world. In this post, we’ll explore the region’s connection to cheese, and give you a list of the best cheese shops in Paris.
SEE ALSO: Our archive of the best cheese shops around the world →
Paris & Cheese
Paris is in the Île-de-France region of France, which is in the north-central part of the country. Throughout history, the region has been a hub for trade and commerce, and its position on the Seine River has made it an important centre for transportation.
Cheese has been a staple of French cuisine for centuries, and Paris has played a significant role in its development. The city’s location at the crossroads of Europe made it a hub for trade, and cheese was a valuable commodity that was traded throughout the region.
List of 10 best cheese shops in Paris
Today, Paris is home to some of the most famous cheese shops in the world, and its gourmet traditions continue to thrive. Let’s have a look at the top 10 cheese shops you need on your Paris bucket list.
La Maison du Fromage (7th arrondissement)
La Maison du Fromage is a renowned cheese shop located at 62 Rue de Sèvres. Since the mid 1980’s, the Quatrehomme family have owned and operated this “house of cheese” in Paris. In fact, Marie Quatrehomme became the first woman to win the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the cheese category in 2000.
Currently, the Quatrehomme family own and operate three other cheese shops peppered around Paris in the 9th, 12th and 13th arrondissement. And Maxime and Nathalie Quatrehomme are the fourth generation to join the family business.
While this fromagerie offers an incredible range of artisanal cheeses all year round, you will want to try one of their unique, eclectic concoctions. Some examples include Mont d’Or à la Truffe, Royal Raisin (Brillat-Savarin) and Petit Charolais Fumé au Whisky.
How to get there: 62 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris →
Fromagerie Androuet (5th and 7th arrondissement)
Fromagerie Androuet is a historic cheese shop located at multiple locations across Paris. Founded by Charles Androuet in 1909, this cheese shop has been providing Parisians with high-quality cheeses for over a century. To this day, they specialise in artisanal cheeses from all over France, and their selection includes both raw milk and pasteurised cheeses.
If you’re pressed for time, there are two main locations that we recommend you visit. Androuet Mouffetard in the 5th and Androuet Verneuil in the 7th arrondissement. Mouffetard is located adjacent to the Quartier Latin in the Rive Gauche district. On the other hand, Verneuil is between the Musée d’Orsay and Boulevard Saint Germain.
As well as selling amazing cheeses, Fromagerie Androuet also host cheese workshops and courses for cheese lovers of all levels of experience.
How to get there:
Barthélémy (7th arrondissement)
Fromagerie Barthélémy is a family-owned cheese shop located at 51 Rue de Grenelle. Owned by Nicole Barthélémy, this cheese shop has been in operation since 1959. They specialise in artisanal cheeses from all over France, with a particular focus on raw milk cheeses.
Their signature cheese is Fontainebleau, a fresh cow’s milk cheese with a mousse-like consistency. Actually, there are many different versions of this cheese made around France. But the one you will find at Fromagerie Barthélémy is a secret family recipe. Indeed, it has been passed down from one generation of Barthélémy to the next
How to get there: 51 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris →
Fromagerie Marie-Anne Cantin (7th arrondissement)
Fromagerie Marie-Anne Cantin is a prestigious cheese shop located at 12 Rue du Champ de Mars. Owned by Marie-Anne Cantin, a renowned cheese affineur, this cheese shop has been in operation since 1950.
Since taking over the family business from her father, Marie-Anne Cantin has focused on raw milk cheeses that have been aged to perfection. Indeed, she has her own cheese caves where she painstakingly brings out the best in French classics like Saint-Nectaire, Fourme d’Ambert and Salers.
Since this fromagerie’s specialty is affinage, you will want to seek out two of their best aged cheeses. Indeed, you will be hard pressed to find a better 24-month Comté or Beaufort anywhere else in Paris, France or the rest of the world.
How to get there: 12 Rue du Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris →
La Fromagerie Goncourt (11th and 17th arrondissement)
Our next cheese shop may not have as much heritage as the previous ones, but La Fromagerie Goncourt is just a spectacular. Founded by Clément Broussault in 2013, they now operate out of two locations on Rue Abel Rabaud (11th) and Rue de la Jonquière (17th).
After a 3500 km bike ride through classic French cheesemaking regions, Clément Broussault was inspired to open a shop that celebrates traditional raw milk cheese. As well as tradition, La Fromagerie Goncourt pays very close attention to the seasonality of cheese.
If you’re to walk away from this shop with only one cheese, we highly recommend that you choose a Tome des Bauges from Savoie.
How to get there:
Fromagerie Griffon (7th arrondissement)
Claire Griffon, daughter of Champagne farmers, made a career change into cheese thanks to renowned French artisans like Marie Quatrehomme and Xavier Thuret. Since 2012, in her shop near the Hôtel des Invalides, she showcases nearly 200 cheeses from around the world, with carefully controlled ageing.
Her establishment has gained a growing word-of-mouth reputation, attracting a loyal and discerning clientele. The establishment also supplies exquisite dining experiences in Paris, including the three-Michelin-starred chef Eric Frechon’s restaurant.
If you make it to Claire Griffon’s beautiful shop, you should try to get your hands on one of her unique creations. Our top three recommendations are Le Cherry Bibi (Fourme d’Ambert and Griottes), Camembert aux Pommes and Oeufs de Mimolette aux Éclats de Pistache.
How to get there: 23 bis Av. de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 Paris →
Laurent Dubois Paris (4th and 15th arrondissement)
When entering one of Laurent Dubois’s five cheese shops in Paris, you discover a magnificent universe of diverse and varied cheeses. As the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2000, he is undoubtedly the most renowned French cheesemonger abroad. And this is evident by the number of tourists flocking to his shops.
Laurent, his wife Carole, and their teams pay meticulous attention to every aspect of their craft, from sourcing the products to ageing, presentation and expertise. As an ambassador of raw milk, this cheesemonger offers a wide range of cheeses that will satisfy even the most discerning connoisseurs.
While you can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, we recommend a Brie Parisien (aged in Parisian caves), Bleu du Nil or a Tomme de Brebis Fermières d’Estive.
How to get there:
Au Lait Cru (18th arrondissement)
Emmanuel Carbonne, Vice President of the Association Fromages de Terroirs, has been dedicated to promoting raw milk products for over 25 years. In July 2019, he opened a shop that primarily focuses on two distinct yet complementary farmhouse origins: Bretagne and Great Britain.
In his shop on Rue Ordener, he showcases notable traditional British cheeses such as Stichelton or Highfields and unique award-winning Cheddars. However, the real surprise comes from the collection of around twenty organic Breton cheeses made from cow, goat, and sheep milk, including some exclusive gems available only here.
To complement the cheeses, Emmanuel has curated a small range of artisanal products “made in Breizh”. Some great examples are organic soups, Orgé coffee, tisanes from L’Amante Verte, buckwheat chips and cider.
How to get there: 114 Rue Ordener, 75018 Paris →
La Laiterie de Paris (18th arrondissement)
Originally a goat technician before becoming a cheesemaker for various establishments, Pierre Coulon had the somewhat crazy idea of making his own cheese in the capital. For the past five years, he has been sourcing organic cow and goat milk from Normandy and Ile-et-Vilaine.
Indeed, La Laiterie de Paris might just be the only cheese shop in Paris that actually makes its own cheese. Each week, Pierre and his team produce 800 cheeses, which they carefully age before selling them in the adjoining shop.
In their shop, they also offer delicious yogurts, several rice puddings, a version of Halloumi and Labneh. In addition to their own products, they also sell a selection of meticulously chosen cheeses from other artisanal producers.
How to get there: 74 Rue des Poissonniers, 75018 Paris →
Taka & Vermo (10th arrondissement)
Taka and Vermo are the first syllables of the last names of founders and shop owners, Laure Takahashi and Mathieu Vermorel. After a previous career in consulting (for Laure) and in the wine trade (for Mathieu), they trained under the best in the profession before opening their own shop in October 2015.
Located in a neighbourhood known for its social diversity, Taka & Vermo offers over 150 varieties of “living” cheeses, with 99% made from raw milk. These “New World” artisans prioritize small-scale producers and respect the seasonality of products.
In addition, they offer a carefully curated selection of food and drink items that complement their cheeses. Some of our top tips from this shop are Saint-Clément (organic Chèvre) and Ol Sciur (raw goat’s milk cheese from Bergamo, Italy).
How to get there: 61bis Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris →
Summary: Old World meets New World Cheese
Without a doubt, Paris is home to some of the best cheese shops in the world. From cheese heritage (Androuet) to new world hipster charm (Taka & Verma), there is certainly something for everyone in this city.
Whether you’re looking for a specific cheese or just want to explore the world of French cheese, the cheese shops on our list are definitely worth a visit. Don’t forget to pair your cheese with a delicious baguette and a glass of wine for the full French experience!
What’s your favourite Paris cheese shop? Let me know in the comments below.
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
