Where to Taste and Buy Cheese in Montreal

Jean-Talon Market

At 7070 avenue Henri-Julien in Little Italy. The cheese counters are the Fromagerie Qui Lait Cru, which focuses on raw-milk cheese, and the Chèvrerie du Buckland, a goat cheese maker. Hours are Monday to Saturday 8:00 to 18:00 and Sunday 8:00 to 17:00. The market moves indoors as winter approaches in October and the outdoor aisles return toward the end of April. From June to October the aisles close to cars Thursday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00.

Getting there: metro Jean-Talon or De Castelnau, buses 51, 55, 92 and 93, 150 bike spaces, and a 410-space car park.

Atwater Market

At 155 avenue Greene, near the Lachine Canal. It has three fromageries: La Fromagerie Atwater, a family business now serving its third generation of customers with about half its stock from Quebec; Fromagerie Hamel; and Le Paradis du fromage. The market opens Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00 and weekends 9:00 to 17:00, summer and winter.

Getting there: metro Lionel-Groulx, buses 35, 36 and 108, 200 bike spaces and 440 outdoor parking spaces.

Cheesemaking Classes

Les Ateliers Fromagers, running since 2016, teaches small-group homemade cheese classes in Montreal. Upcoming sessions listed in autumn 2026 were cheddar curds on 11 November and mozzarella and burrata on 16 December, both $99.

Tips

Ask for Quebec raw-milk cheeses and fresh curds, which most counters cut to order and let you taste. Weekday mornings are quieter than Saturdays. For cheesemakers outside the city, the Abbaye d'Oka is an hour west and the Eastern Townships about 90 minutes east.