If you’ve never met a cheese you didn’t like, you’re in the right place. Others may not understand why you’re passionate about provolone, gaga for gorgonzola, hooked on halloumi – but you get it. (You probably even have this cheese site bookmarked.)
We get you, though. We’re here to help you get your cheese on. You’re a cheese lover through and through, and, like us, you’d go through great lengths to get your hands on some precious burrata.
Here are our picks of gourmet shops in Singapore that are #sogouda.
Culina
This restaurant/grocer in Dempsey may have price tags on the high end, but stepping into the brightly-lit space is like entering a cheese paradise. Its selection offers more than 60 cheeses from France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK – most of which are happily displayed in the glass counter for you to ogle over.
If you prefer to savor those creamy bites at the store, create your own platter ($6 prep fee) with dried fruits and crackers – plus a bottle of wine, while you’re at it.
#01-13, 8 Dempsey Rd, 6474-7338. Daily 11am-11pm.
Huber’s Butchery
Don’t let its name mislead you – the gourmet store also showcases racks upon racks of artisanal cheeses on the second floor of its butchery and bistro. That means apart from good grub and quality meat slabs, you can bring home Australian, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Swiss brands in varieties like camembert, brie, gruyere, pecorino romano, and the perennial favorite, burrata.
22 Dempsey Rd, 6737-1588. Butchery: Mon-Fri 9:30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am-7pm; Bistro: Tues-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am-10pm.
Jones The Grocer
At this point, it sure looks like all you have to do is make a trip to Dempsey and hit up three stores to stock your kitchen – because here’s another grocer (this time an Australian one named Jones) that’s crazy for cheese. But what we love about this place is its walk-in specialty cheese room. A cold little nook at the corner of the restaurant, this space reeks to high heaven with the scent of glorious cheeses from across the globe, and you can take your time to browse through its ever-changing varieties – from the easily enjoyable truffle brie to aged manchego curado.
If you’d like to chill for a bit at the eatery, get the cheese board ($48/one, $79/to share) of three seasonal cheeses accompanied by bread and nibbles or go for an order of burrata with grilled olive bread ($57). In case you haven’t noticed by now, prices here are rather steep – but oh so worth it for an occasional indulgence.
Two locations, including #03-03/04, 9D Dempsey Hill, 6476-1518. Daily 8am-11pm.
La Petite Boutique
Tucked away in Serangoon Gardens, this fine foods store is known for its wines, breads, organic goods, and cheeses made from the milk of cows, sheep, goat, and buffalo. If you’re into creamy cheeses, try the Brie de Meaux (which you can pair with a red Bordeaux) or the triple cream Brillat-Savarin affine (goes well with champagne).
Otherwise, let your adventurous side get the best of you and sample Herve a la Biere, a Belgian soft cheese with a beer-washed rind, or Red Pesto Tomme, studded with red pesto, tomato, and garlic.
4 Kensington Park Rd, 6717-1849. Tues-Thurs & Sat 8am-7pm, Fri 8am-9pm, Sun 8am-6pm.
The Cheese Ark
Nestled nicely in its doubly spacious Queenstown store – after moving out of PasarBella at The Grandstand this year – The Cheese Ark now resides at the ground level of the country’s oldest HDB flats with its extensive array of cheeses and wines.
Partnering with about 20 boutique artisanal farms from Switzerland to Italy, Holland to Sweden, the owner – who left her corporate job to delve into the world of cheese – sources for her own cheese and brings in the best of every season. The space also houses an affinage room, where it ages its cheese to produce more complex flavor profiles. If you’re intrigued enough to find out more, arrange for a private tasting or pairing session ($48/person) and abandon yourself to the cheese life.
#01-489, 49 Stirling Rd, 9175-0090. Tues-Sun 11am-9pm.
The Cheese Artisans
An elegant marble and gold gilded spot in Bukit Timah, The Cheese Artisans houses shelves of the good stuff, along with ripening rooms to mature cheeses and create unique flavors. More than 80 types of European artisanal varieties feature here – from soft to hard cheeses, goat milk to buffalo milk, organic to pasteurized. Think truffle gouda, barrel aged feta, a berry-topped camembert “sweet surprise” spread with quince paste, and the hickory smoked Yan Xun Wei, aged in Chinese black tea.
If ever you feel overwhelmed, just ask for assistance and they’ll be more than happy to introduce you to something that suits your palate.
18 Greenwood Ave, Hillcrest Park, 6463-2711. Tues-Fri noon-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm.
The Cheese Shop
The Joo Chiat shop house brings cheese to the East, along with charcuterie, pâté, wine, crackers, chutney, and other gourmet foods such as meats, condiments, jams, teas, and coffees. If you’re planning a cheese party at home, feel free to gather up all the varieties you want – from Applewood Smoked Cheddar to Cambozola Black Label to Colston Bassett Stilton.
#01-01, 267 Joo Chiat Rd, 9069-3471. Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm.
Hungry for more? Check out these stories:
Best Pizzas in Singapore: Where to get pepperoni, wood-fired crusts and all that cheesy goodness
The cheapskate’s guide to wine on a budget in Singapore
Get cheesy: 9 cafes that satisfy your grilled cheese sandwich cravings
