Madison Food Guide: The best cheese shops

When you think of Wisconsin, you might immediately think of cheese. To be fair, Wisconsin is one of the leading dairy producers in the US, so it’s not too farfetched to associate Wisconsin with cheese. Many folks from Wisconsin do feel strongly about cheese, so it’s not a surprise that when the votes for our Madison Food Guide were cast, people had strong takes on cheese shops. These three cheese shops are considered the best in Madison, and it’s not hard to see why. 

Brennan’s Market

Photo courtesy of Brennan’s Market

Brennan’s Market originally opened as a fruit stand in Monroe, Wisconsin in 1942, and by 1967, it had expanded to Madison with the opening of Brennan’s Market. The market closed in 2017, but a team of current and former managers banded together to save the store. Brennan’s Market reopened in December 2017 and the store continues to carry on founder Frank Brennan’s vision. Now, it’s our readers’ favorite cheese shop in Madison.

Of course, Brennan’s is best known for its cheese, but you can also grab fresh fruit, meats, and other specialty items. Pro tip: don’t forget to try one of their grilled cheese sandwiches.

Fromagination

Fromagination was founded in 2007 by Ken Monteleone, owner and general manager. Monteleone is passionate about Wisconsin’s cheese-making heritage, and Fromagination feels strongly about food being experiential. The store encourages a sensory experience when it comes to cheese: seeing, tasting, and smelling the offerings. The European-style shop slices cheese daily, but you’ll also definitely want to try one of their sandwiches.

Babcock Dairy Store

Babcock Dairy is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, producing dairy products that emphasize the school’s focus on research, teaching, and outreach. While the store sells ice cream and sandwiches, they also have a variety of award-winning cheeses. Even better, the cheese is all made by student employees (all supervised by licensed cheesemakers!). If you stop in for ice cream, be sure to try the orange chocolate chip!

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