The Beginner’s Guide to Buying Cheese in Philadelphia

Two essential elements come together in Pennsylvania to create an exceptional culture of cheesemaking: agriculture (meaning there’s space for wide open farms to graze animals and produce excellent milk) and plenty of interested chefs (since high-end cheesemakers tend to do a lot of business selling directly to restaurants). To help the hungry dairy lover seek out the best that the state has to offer, here are the regional cheesemakers whose names you should look out for — or specifically seek out — and a list of the best cheese purveyors in and around the city.

Cheesemakers

Birchrun Hills Farm, Chester Springs

Helmed by Sue and Ken Miller and their sons Randy and Jesse, Birchrun Hills may be a small dairy operation, but it’s a big name in cheese in Pennsylvania. The creamery has been making cheese since 2006 and is known for its award-winning Birchrun Blue, made with raw milk from the farm’s Holstein cows and aged for months in underground caves, lending the product a depth of flavor with a hint of sharpness and sweetness. Find Birchrun Hills cheese online or at the Bryn Mawr, Headhouse, Kennett Square and Phoenixville Farmers’ Markets. You can also sample the cheese at the farm’s weekly Friday happy hours or book a private tasting event. 1020 Davis Lane.

The Farm at Doe Run, Coatesville

Doe Run is not just a cheesemaker — the team there operates a full organic farm, including cows and sheep that they raise for milk. The farm practices rotational grazing, in which the animals are moved regularly to different areas, resulting in healthier soil and more nutritious grass, all of which makes the milk that much more delicious. The proof is in the cheese: Two of Doe Run’s signature cheeses, Seven Sisters and St. Malachi, have won World Cheese Awards, and this year the former — a Gouda-style cheese with a nutty finish — was among a number of products from the cheesemaker to receive accolades at 2024’s American Cheese Society awards. You can order Doe Run cheese online from Philly Foodworks and Third Wheel Cheese Co., or check the farm’s map to find a supplier near you. 324 Hicks Road.

Perrystead Dairy, Kensington

Perrystead owner Yoav Perry is on a mission to redefine American cheese, one wheel at a time. The Kensington creamery has racked up awards both in the US and internationally for its innovative cheeses. There’s a classic Philly schmear that’s actually made in Philadelphia, plus specialties like Atlantis — a slightly briny, seaweed-dotted cheese doused in North Atlantic waters — and Intergalactic, a soft, creamy cheese coagulated with artichoke thistle that gives it a herby finish. You can shop for Perrystead’s products online and at retailers around the city, or stop by the creamery’s “cheese dispensary” ATM — a Best of Philly 2024 winner — whenever the mood strikes you. 1639 North Hancock Street.

Linden Dale Farm, Ronks

The Mellinger family has been operating Linden Dale Farm for over 200 years. The seventh-generation family business switched from raising cows to goats years ago and now exclusively makes cheeses, yogurt, and milk with its fresh goat milk. Of course, Linden Dale is best known for its cheese and makes several varieties, from cave-aged Tomme and Gouda to mozzarella and Dalençay, a creamy, bloomy-rind cheese made in the style of Valençay from France’s Loire Valley. You can find Linden Dale’s products online and across the region, including at Lancaster’s Central Market, the Headhouse Farmers’ Market, and Riverwards Produce. 127 Herr Road.

Valley Milkhouse Creamery, Oley

This Oley Valley creamery specializes in handcrafted, European-style cheeses made with milk from nearby dairy farms. Among the cheesemaker’s signature varieties, there’s the Blue Bell — a sharp, Stilton-style blue cheese with cracker notes — and the Lady’s Slipper, a nutty, creamy Tomme wrapped in a hard cider-washed rind. Valley Milkhouse’s cheeses are available at its creamery shop, farmers’ markets in Clark Park (every Saturday) and Fairmount (on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month), and a number of regional and national cheesemongers (head here for a full list of places and times). You can also get wedges of Valley Milkhouse cheese through the subscription club Collective Creamery, a collaboration between the creamery’s founder Stefanie Angstandt and Birchrun Hills’s Sue Miller. 92 Covered Bridge Road.

Calkins Creamery, Honesdale

Everything from Calkins Creamery at Highland Farm is made with fresh milk that comes from its herd of Holstein cows. The creamery, owned by cheesemaker Emily Montgomery, churns out a number of cave-aged, European-inspired varieties, including the popular Vampire Slayer — a cheddar-based cheese for garlic lovers, made with plenty of garlic (obviously), onion and paprika — and its award-winning Noblette, a spreadable, Brie-style cheese with an earthy taste and buttery finish. You can find Calkins Creamery cheeses sold throughout the region (its website has a list of vendors) and online. 288 Calkins Road.

Conebella Farms, Elverson

This award-winning dairy farm in Southeast Pennsylvania has been in the Gable family for over 100 years. Today, the Gables send the milk from their on-site Ayrshire cows to a Lancaster County cheesemaker, who turns it into a number of delicious varieties, including 14 cheddar and colby cheeses infused with flavors like jalapeño, garlic and chive, and more. Conebella’s products can be found at markets, stores and restaurants throughout the region (there’s a handy map on its website), and they ship directly to online customers between October and April. During the rest of the year, Conebella sells at farmers’ markets in the area (check the farm’s website for a calendar of upcoming events). 337 Chestnut Tree Road.

The Farmstead Table, Shoemakersville

Steve Dougherty’s small-batch Berks County cheese operation specializes in making European-inspired varieties with a unique spin. Ingredients are ethically sourced and supplied by local farms that adopt responsible agricultural practices and raise their cows and goats without hormones or antibiotics. The result is delicious cheese such as The Farmstead Table’s signature OK Bloomer, a creamy variety with mushroom notes that takes after Camembert and Brie de Meaux. The creamery sells its cheese at retailers throughout the region (there’s a list on The Farmstead Table’s website), online (customers can message the cheesemaker to schedule a pickup), as well as at the Chestnut Hill, Wrightstown and Media Farmers’ Markets on select Saturdays. 233 Main Street.

Cheese Retailers

Riverwards Produce, Old City and Fishtown

Riverwards Produce is known for its specialty produce, but it applies the same care in sourcing all of its other groceries, including cheeses. The grocer partners with over 100 cheesemakers, including local small-batch operations like Perrystead Dairy and Valley Milkhouse Creamery. While you can get cheese from both Riverwards locations, the Old City store has a larger selection to choose from, with everything from Gouda to Tomme. 146 North Bread Street; 2200 East Norris Street.

Di Bruno Bros., multiple locations

The most famous cheese shop in Philadelphia really needs no explanation. With over 100 cheeses on offer, from Brie to Provolone, they’ve got the best variety, the most knowledgeable cheesemongers and the most historic spaces. Di Bruno’s multiple locations are open daily, and you can order online through the store’s website. 930 South 9th Street; 1730 Chestnut Street; 834 Chestnut Street; 375 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne; 120 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore.

Herman’s Coffee Bar, Pennsport

Herman’s not only has a thriving coffee-roasting operation but also an excellent food market that includes a small but robust selection of regional cheeses with wedges from the likes of Birchrun Hills Farm. Go for coffee, and leave with a bag full of local cheeses, meats, jams and more. 1313 South 3rd Street.

South Philly Food Co-op, South Philly

South Philly Food Co-op is a small but intentionally stocked neighborhood market with a particular focus on local products, including quite a few Pennsylvania-made cheeses (as well as others from farms scattered across the Northeast). In terms of regional stock, the store carries some cheese from The Farm at Doe Run, Di Bruno Bros. and more. Open daily, you don’t need a membership to visit. 2031 South Juniper Street.

From Marjorie, anywhere in Philadelphia

All of the sourcing and pairing is done for you when you order from From Marjorie (a play on the word fromagerie), a local company that will deliver beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards to your door. The company specifically partners with smaller cheesemakers that aren’t available at spots like Di Bruno, so you can have a lovely meal and discover a new cheese. You can also place orders for pickup at select locations around Philly. Online.

Third Wheel Cheese Co., Cedar Park

Third Wheel works with cheesemakers across Pennsylvania and the Northeast to sell their cheeses directly to consumers via online shopping, while supplying cheese to over 130 restaurants, caterers, stores and other businesses through its wholesale operation. The supplier also has a retail location in West Philly, which is closed while the company is in the process of expanding with a new shop set to open next door. Slated for a September 5th opening, the small store will have a cut-to-order cheese case plus an open-air fridge for smaller cheeses, with a wide array of local and regional artisan wedges and wheels on offer. There’ll also be plenty of jams and preserves, crackers, and other cheeseboard essentials. Third Wheel owner Ann Karlen says she plans to serve panini-pressed, grilled cheese sandwiches once the new shop is up and running, too. In the meantime, of course, you can shop online, where you can take your pick of a number of award-winning cheeses that might be hard to find in other places. 707 South 50th Street.

Claudio Specialty Foods, South Philly

The wheels of cheese hanging from the ceiling and dotted around this Italian Market staple should be your first clue that you’re in good hands at Claudio. The store is known for its vast selection of imported cheeses from Italy, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It also carries a few American cheeses, including some of its own house-made varieties like smoked provolone and mozzarella. 924-26 South 9th Street.

Downtown Cheese Shop, Center City

This cheese purveyor in Reading Terminal Market carries artisanal varieties from both the US and around the world, offering everything from Parmigiano Reggiano to Manchego. While you’re there, you can find everything else you need to build a cheese and charcuterie board. You can also order online via Mercato. 1136 Arch Street.

L. Mancuso & Son, East Passyunk

This East Passyunk grocer has been around for more than 80 years and has become known for its mozzarella, made fresh in-house with a decadent, creamy texture. The store also sells a variety of other Italian cheeses, including homemade ricotta, alongside an assortment of pantry items. And if you visit around lunch, expect to join a line of locals picking up hoagies. 1902 East Passyunk Avenue.

Weavers Way Co-op, multiple locations

In the dairy section at Weavers Way, you’ll find a good selection of regionally made cheeses selected by the store’s cheesemongers. The store prides itself on carrying wedges from cheesemakers in the area, such as Valley Milkhouse Creamery, The Farm at Doe Run, Birchrun Hills Farm, Conebella Farms and more. 559 Carpenter Lane; 8424 Germantown Avenue; 217 East Butler Avenue, Ambler.

Collective Creamery, multiple locations

Collective Creamery describes itself as a cheese CSA (or “Cheese-Supported Agriculture”) and is the brainchild of two women making excellent cheese in Southeast Pennsylvania: Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills Farm and Stefanie Angstadt of Valley Milkhouse Creamery. Sign up, and you get a box of local cheeses every month available for pickup at several locations throughout Philly and the surrounding area. A monthly cheese share contains four types of cheese (six to eight ounces each) with a mix of raw and pasteurized varieties and options ranging from halloumi to emmental. Everything is handcrafted by Birchrun Hills, Valley Milkhouse and guest cheesemakers from across the Northeast. Online, with pickup locations across Philadelphia, Southeast Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Best Cheese Retailers in the Philly Suburbs

The Board Housewife, Doylestown

Emily Keane started her cheese and charcuterie business from her Doylestown home in 2020. The cheeses in her boards and boxes are sourced from a range of regional farms — including Calkins Creamery in Honesdale, Keane’s favorite local maker — as well as cheesemakers in California and Europe. While you can place orders for custom boards online for delivery and pickup, The Board Housewife also has a shop at Doylestown’s Coterie Commons where you can buy grab-and-go boxes of cheese, crackers, and a spread to feed two. 72 North Main Street.

The Grand Fromage, Skippack

At The Grand Fromage, there are over 100 domestic and international varieties available, with everything from Stinking Bishop to Swiss raclette on offer. The specialty shop also carries regional cheeses from places like The Farm at Doe Run, Birchrun Hills Farm and more. And if you’re entertaining or want to impress a dinner party host, the store sells platters that can help make an impression. 3910 Skippack Pike.

Talula’s Table, Kennett Square

Talula’s Table may be known for its tasting dinners, but it’s also an excellent place to shop for cheese with a rotating assortment of local and imported varieties. The market sells a Cheese Geek Box, a selection of fromage and snacks curated by Talula’s cheesemongers and offers custom cheese boards, available to order over the phone. 102 West State Street.

The Forager, Bristol

At the Forager, you won’t find any cheeses from big-name makers. Instead, its carefully curated selection is focused on small-batch, artisan cheeses from both domestic and international suppliers, including plenty of locally made varieties. You can stop in for more than fromage as well, with a plethora of supplies to complete a cheeseboard, from cut-to-order charcuterie to luxury pantry items. And in the near future, The Forager plans to offer cheese education classes, along with other events like olive oil tastings. Stay tuned for updates on the shop’s Instagram account (at the time of writing, its website is under construction). 300 Mill Street.

The Cheese Company, Narberth

At this neighborhood shop, you can find a number of cheeses from around the world, with plenty of options from France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Portugal and more. There are also American varieties, including a local cheese made with raw cow’s milk in Merion Station. The store also sells gift baskets and party trays. 217 Haverford Avenue.

Haddonfield on Board, Haddonfield

When it comes to bountiful charcuterie boards overflowing with quality meats and cheeses, South Jersey locals hit up Lauren Laigaie at Haddonfield on Board. Her whimsical spreads with salami roses, cute cookie-cutter cheddar shapes and jelly-filled brie make these edible centerpieces perfect for any occasion. In addition to selling delectable boards and hand-held charcuterie cones, Laigaie hosts classes where you can learn to make your own, from where to source high-quality ingredients to tips on irresistible flavor pairings that will have your guests coming back for seconds. Online.

Bonus: Best Cheese Resources

Philly Cheese School, Bella Vista

Philly Cheese School founder Julia Birnham started her business to educate fromage lovers with a whole roster of classes focused on cheese history, pairings (there’s one dedicated to cheese and potato chip combinations), and queer-friendly meetups. And of course, there are cheese and wine tastings. The cheese school’s curriculum is so comprehensive that it landed a Best of Philly 2024 win. Interested in furthering your own cheese education? Check out the school’s calendar of upcoming events. 701 South 9th Street.

Tenaya Darlington

There’s no separating Philadelphia cheese culture from Tenaya Darlington, a.k.a. Madame Fromage. She’s a creative writing professor, cheese blogger and partner with local cheese shops like Di Bruno Bros. and Tria (where she’s also cheese director), creating boards and pairings. Her Instagram is chock-full of cheese education, as is her latest book, Madame Fromage’s Adventures in Cheese: How to Explore It, Pair It, and Love It, from the Creamiest Bries to the Funkiest Blues. For those willing to travel for great artisan cheese, Darlington also partners with Cheese Journeys to host tours. Learn more about her here.
Guide updated August 12, 2024

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