Where to Find the Best Cheese in Madrid

Cheese
Cheese | © AlexKlen / Pixabay
Jessica Jones

Madrid is a great destination for cheese lovers, with everything from artisanal cheese shops to fondue restaurants. We take a look at some of the best cheese places in Madrid.

Poncelet Cheese Bar

Restaurant, Spanish, French

Poncelet Cheese Bar
© Poncelet Cheese Bar

This temple to all things cheese just north of the centre is a must-visit for serious cheese lovers. The wide-ranging menu features main courses where cheese is the star ingredient, as well as fondues and raclettes. There is also a special cheese menu, from which diners can construct their own bespoke cheese boards. The glass-walled cheese room holds hundreds of varieties just waiting to be sampled. If you fancy even more of the good stuff, there’s a cheese shop next door with 150 Spanish and over 200 European cheeses.

Casa González

Deli, Restaurant, Bar, Spanish

Casa González
© Juan Antonio Segal / Flickr

This cosy neighbourhood deli-meets-bar in the literary neighbourhood of Barrio de Las Letras has been open since the early 1930s when it was a neighbourhood shop. These days, it offers a great selection of Spanish cheeses, charcuterie and wines by the glass. Try the strong Basque variety, Idiazabal or a plate of the classic Manchego. There are also hot and cold tapas, including toasts topped with different cheeses.

Casa Gerardo

Bar, Spanish

This atmospheric tavern features an old bar, wooden tables and original earthenware vats that would have originally held the house wine. There is lots of cheese to sample, from smoked varieties from the Balearic Islands to pleasingly strong goat’s cheese. There is also a menu of tostadas (toasts) topped with cheese, fish and meat.

La Fondue de Tell

Restaurant, Swiss

56-3665374-14336973419cf8e89dfa3d4b48938ff2d841764317
© 663highland / WikiCommons | © 663highland / WikiCommons
Spanish-Swiss couple Marlene Tellenbach and Mariano Rodríguez run this quaint Swiss restaurant in the heart of Malasaña. The wood-lined restaurant, with its beams, cowbells and cuckoo clocks, could have come straight from the Swiss mountains. Their traditional fondue is a rich mixture of gruyere, emmental and appenzeller, served with chunks of bread to dip in the delicious melted cheese. Other fondue varieties include cheese and tomato, cheese and truffle and the fondue Bourguignonne, which substitutes the cheese for oil (diners cook meat directly in the oil).

Quesería Cultivo

Farm Shop, Spanish

This hip, artisanal cheese shop in the cool neighbourhood of Conde Duque is the place to go for tasty cheeses from across Spain. Staff are knowledgeable and passionate, and run promotions like the ‘cheese of the month’ to highlight more unusual varieties. The shop was founded by several cheesemaking families and today, is one of the best gourmet food shops in the capital, offering activities like cheese tastings (check website for details).

Mya Valdalos

Cheesemonger, Market, Spanish

A good place to sample some Spanish cheese right in the tourist centre of Madrid, Mya Valdalos is located in the busy Mercado de San Miguel, a converted indoor market that has become one of the city’s most popular gastronomic hotspots. The stall has a great range of cheese tapas, from plates of varieties like manchego to creative tapas like brie, sardine and tomato jam.

Fogg Bar

Bar, Spanish

Fogg Bar
© Lernestorod / Pixabay

This cosy bar, with wooden walls and tables that give it a distinct pub vibe, does two things extremely well: cheese and beer. It specialises in craft beers, both homegrown and international, with several rotating brews on tap. At the end of the bar is its little haven of cheese, where punters can order bespoke cheese boards depending on what kind they like.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article