Marin French Cheese Co.

I’ve stopped at Marin French Cheese Co. many times over the years, and it has steadily grown on me. For a long time, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the small, round cheeses with the soft, slightly bloomy rind—but once I finally tried eating the whole thing, rind and all, I was won over. The cheese here is consistently excellent, and their tasting counter makes it easy to find a favorite. Marin French Cheese Co. is known for its traditional brie and camembert-style cheeses, and they continue to produce everything on-site using methods that date back to the 1800s. They’ve expanded their offerings in recent years with seasonal varieties and award-winning specialty batches, and there’s usually something new to sample when you visit. One of the best parts of stopping here is the setting. The pond and picnic area outside are perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Pick up a cheese or two, grab a baguette or some accompaniments from the shop, and enjoy a peaceful outdoor break while watching the ducks and geese glide across the water. It’s a simple, scenic spot that adds to the overall experience. Whether you’re a cheese enthusiast or just passing through on the way to Point Reyes, this is a great place to slow down, enjoy the landscape, and discover a new favorite cheese.

stopped by this cute cheese shop around 5:45pm. the scenery outside is so beautiful and calming surrounded by hills with a little pond to picnic at! they ran out of samples, but with the help of a friendly female staff we got 2 golden gates, 1 breakfast, 1 goat cheese and 1 chocolate soft serve. we are not cheeseheads but i think we are turning ones. we love our golden gates so much!! great to pair with fresh fruits. love this little gem place, love their promotions. definitely will stop by again when we are in the area.

My sweetie took me here—what a delightful little spot for a picnic. It was even pleasant when it was lightly raining. Lots of sweet duckies. If you don’t have all you need for a picnic—just stop in store. We tried a bunch of different cheeses, I really liked the funky Golden Gate cheese! 🧀 The staff were friendly and excited about cheese. They paired their jams skillfully too, and I’m not normally into cheese with jam! I’m excited for us to go back.

Finally able to visit as we headed to the coast. A great stop for picnic supplies (cheese, wine, charcuterie, bread, pastries, sweets) and you can also just sit outside with the ducks and a pond view to enjoy your find. The lovely star is the brie and tastings. Flavorful and rich, I liked the brie infused with truffle although the breakfast brie or jalapeno comes pretty close second. My friend picked up some bread and we ate it as we waited in line for some oysters on the coast, it was great to dip in clam chowder and seafood broth. Service was nice and efficient.

Super knowledgable, friendly and helpful staff. You can sample the cheeses before you buy. Be sure to inquire about add-ons if you're considering buying. Often the more cheese you buy they will throw in an additional cheese or item at no additional cost.

This is the oldest cheese company in the country and has a good selection of different types of cheese, local beers and wine. They also have a small sandwich shop. The picnic table along the small pond outside the building is a great place to have a picnic. We have been visiting here for many years and love it.

Amazing hosts and sampling. We bought a handful of cheeses and had a great lunch by the lake. They have wine, meats, and bread on hand to compliment the cheese. Great place to soak up the sun and good vibes.

I grew up visiting this gem most of my life. After moving away, I returned to show my husband one of my favorite places to stop and picnic. I am so glad it has retained its original charm. The grounds are quaint and quiet. So nice to take a spot by under shade trees by the pond again. Our round was rich and creamy, a perfect stinky bite that paired nicely with a crisp apple. If I wasn't on a road trip, I would have stocked up. We had hoped to purchase a salad at the deli, but the deli person told us they only sold prepared ones from the refrigerator, and one we were interested in was sold out. The person offering samples was very gracious in answering all my questions. If you're in the area, it's a must stop.

I have never once had a complaint about Marin French Cheese Co. I remember when I first visited, there were maybe three cheeses: yellow buck camembert, a classic triple creme brie and a third that I cannot remember the name of. But now the flavors of this creamy, buttery French cheese have expanded and even dipped their toe into trendy flavors (everything bagel seasoning, jalapeno, garlic herb) so there is something interesting for everyone to try. The breakfast (and BIG breakfast) cheese are great for people who like a creamy cheese minus the rind: think cream cheese with more of a buttery finish. Earlier tonight I made pasta and finished it with some creamy cubes of breakfast cheese. It melted down into a luxurious Alfredo-esque sauce. I've also cubed this cheese on top of salad and crumbled it onto tacos in place of queso fresco. It's pretty versatile. At the time I visited, there was a 12 for $40 deal on their mini wheels of cheese. Usually, just four mini wheels could be somewhere around $30-35. So of course I had to get the 12 wheels and stock up my freezer. I also walked out with a free wheel of the big breakfast cheese because I spent over $10. What a lucky day. The service was friendly and they were generous with the portions. Make sure to pack picnicking gear so you can enjoy the beautiful outdoor area. Also, you probably won't have any cell phone service but it looks like they might have wifi (best to ask them about a password though.)

I like the large selection of artisanal cheeses here. Most are Brie, but they also sell a few other local cheeses, like Laura Chenel chevre. The shop also sells local sausages, jams, and pate. If you come here, I highly suggest you buy items that are not available at chain stores. Hint: It's usually cheaper at the chain stores. For example, one petit wheel of Brie is $7.99 here vs. four petit wheels (Triple Creme, Truffle Triple Creme, Breakfast, and Camembert) at Costco is only $14.74. I like their Truffle Triple Creme the best. On our latest visit, they were showcasing their Supreme Brie, which contains even more cream than their Triple Creme Brie. I didn't think that level of cream was necessary. We ended up picking up a brined Brie called Golden Gate; the brininess added more flavor to their already flavorful Brie. If you are here during lunch time, be sure to order a toasted sandwich. We got the three-cheese toastie and it was delicious. We also got a pesto chicken sandwich and the chicken was very flavorful. After lunch, we got the Straus soft-serve -- we can definitely taste the remarkably fresh cream. There are picnic tables with bathrooms near a nice pond on-site. My only gripe about this place is that the picnic tables are dirty with lots of bird poop. The outdoor bathrooms are dirty too; one unit did not even have toilet paper. It doesn't seem like the outdoor areas are regularly cleaned and maintained (1 star off). The view is beautiful. I would definitely spend more time here if the outdoor premises are cleaner.

Grounds are beautiful and there is a lot of space around d the small lake with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs to use. My guess is that because there is no charge to use the grounds, the price for the Toma cheese is double than what you would pay in any other market. I bought the Toma cheese based on a fellow Yelp reviewer who had suggested this cheese can only be found here at the factory, but it can be found in many other markets.

We are so fortunate to have people who are experts in producing exquisite Camembert and Brie!

Came here right before closing and appreciate how many parking spots there were. Since it was end of the day, there were not a lot of cars left. Walked in and went straight to their cheeses. I'm really surprised by their lack of cheese options. I thought there would be cheddar and other cheeses, but all they had is brie. I didn't realize they only made brie. They were only sampling 2 flavors, but did have sales going on. We took advantage of that. The store, grounds and even the restrooms were spotless. They have other items like jams, ice cream and wine. A great place to stop and have a picnic and enjoy the tranquility of the lake.

This is such a cute spot to stop by and have a picnic. They of course have plenty of cheeses to choose from and they offer generous amounts of samples. They also had beer tasting as well. The staff were informative and helpful. Personally the food selection isn't so great so I would purchase some cheese and other snacks and bring your own food if you choose to have a picnic. They also have a good selection of wines and beers.

Great little cheese store. I was going to describe how delicious the cheese is although I would not do it justice. The location is a bit out of the way and that only increases the attraction of this location. The staff are all very professional and quick. Plenty of parking and I am sure this location gets super busy on the weekends.

I have been wanting to visit here for years because I loveeee Marin French Cheese, but I live in San Jose and the drive is about an hour and a half to two hours to drive to Petaluma. I finally got my chance on Memorial Day to come here and I was very very happy. It is a beautiful place for a picnic or a day outing with the family with the picturesque pond surrounded by grass and picnic tables. There is plenty of spaces for a picnic blanket and plenty of picnic tables in sun and shade. Their visitor shop has an everything from cheese to soft serve ice cream to drinks. My favorite is the truffle Brie and the jalapeño Brie and they serve Laura Chenel cheese too! I definitely recommend coming here if you're ever in the area, I promise you regret it!

Beautiful outdoor space for picnics. Inside, the staff is friendly and offers free samples of their signature Brie cheeses. We sampled all of them and bought some to take home. Very unique experience and definitely will return.

This is a super cute spot that's a bit of a drive out into the countryside from the city center. You'll find a sizable gravel parking lot & building by a pond with picnic tables. Inside you'll discover a large variety of items to browse--cheese (of course), wine, crackers, honey, spreads, olives, sweet confections, artisan & local products, housewares, picnic baskets, books, merchandise, apparel, postcards, dry pasta, & more! You can order food & beverages from their Deli-Cafe menu, which includes items like sandwiches, salads, pastries, soft-serve, & espresso. There is a small nook area detailing the history & accolades of "The Country's Oldest Cheese Company". A short video plays on loop. The staff we interacted with were friendly & informative. We were able to sample a few cheeses, which were enjoyable. The pond picnic area was peaceful, though a little buggy. We didn't see any ducks or geese while we were there.

This place is so pretty! Picnic tables surround a lake, which is perfect to eat their delicious goods from the store. Inside, they sell an assortment of cheese, jams, pastries, sandwiches, and ice cream. I loved trying the different types of cheeses, and the lady gave us a great deal. Parking on site.

Marin French Cheese Company is an outstanding cheese maker and has a fabulous shop between Petaluma and Novato. I've been coming here since I moved to CA in 1994. It used to be Rouge et Noir, but I like their new image and name. All of their cheeses are great! If you come to the shop, there are samples of every variety and always some specials that make it worth the drive. (The drive would be worth it anyway because it's beautiful; rolling hills with gorgeous rock outcroppings and gnarly oak trees. ) There is a lovely pond and picnic area where you can eat cheeses or food that you purchased or BYO picnic. We got a fantastic deal of 8 wheels of cheese for $40! Now, we head home to eat our cheese haul. Bon Appetit!

We were traveling between Novato and point Reyes station and this cozy cafe was right in between on our way! What an adorable outdoor picnic area to enjoy with pets or kids. The cheeses inside are absolutely divine- my favorite was the brand new black truffle cheese the prospector- the layers of depth and indulgent creaminess were unreal. Unfortunately it was only available as a 16 oz so I bought the petite triple cream truffle instead but I was seriously tempted. The cheese samples are hefty and generous and the staff are super nice! There is also a cafe on premises and we tried the lasagna soup which was incredibly comforting. You will not regret visiting this delectable cheese shop with interesting flavors and creamy Brie goodness.

Enjoying their delectable Brie varieties next to a bucolic lake surrounded by lush, rolling green hills - you'd be forgiven for mistaking this gorgeous California countryside for French cow country lol! Their cheeses here are just lovely - and not surprisingly, since they've been making them for 155 years or so. The triple cream bries from Marin French are my absolute fave Brie varieties in the world. Mild, delicate, and luscious hot OR cold - can't go wrong on any of their flavors. The Breakfast & Jalapeño minis are my go-to choices. And luckily I don't have to travel far to find them! They've started popping up at some of my local stores here in SoCal! But I do so love visiting their flagship store in central California - the setting is just beautiful and their Brie en Croute is some of the best I've ever had (even versus the ones I've had in France)! Their staff at the main store have always been welcoming and helpful and the prices for this quality cheese are justified- but still very reasonable. They've been making cheese at their home-store since 1865 and were locally owned most of that time. The current owners are a long-established, French cheese-making family (the Laiteries H. Triballat family) - so it's still "family owned" and they pride themselves on sourcing all their dairy from local farmers! I always make sure to stop by when I'm in the area - and when I'm not, I pick up my fave cheeses from local stores when I find it - most often at Howie's Market in San Gabriel - they have the most varieties. Highly recommend any of their Brie flavors!

If you love handmade cheese in the heart of the country, MFC co. If you're jam! Not only is this spot have amazing views, cute, quaint, peaceful, part of it is on the water, it's a gem in the North Bay. You are in the Petaluma countryside upon visiting here, also minutes from amazing view points as well. And yes, it's a lovely date spot to celebrate anything big or small. We tried two cheeses; the Triple cream Brie and the havarti . The Brie was my favorite and it's a triple cream, so it's super fresh and filling. We made our own picnic, brought the pup and enjoyed our chill vibes! Ohh.. and on your way out be sure to get a handmade waffle cone with fresh Straus Ice Cream!

Just seeing this place from the road the outside seating area looked so serene and relaxing. Upon entering we were instantly immersed into a cheese tasting. The lady was so happy and felt like my mom was feeding me. All the cheese we tasted was so delicious. We then sat outside and enjoyed our treats on the chairs by the pond.

Cheese is golden. We decided to spend the day on the cheese trail. Our first stop landed us at Marin French Cheese Co. for a picnic. We found it to be a charming spot for a quick stop-cute pond and lovely views. The shop had a nice selection of cheeses available for purchase, and we enjoyed the sample tasting offered. However, I was hoping for more of an interactive experience or a place to relax and enjoy the scenery while tasting cheese. Overall, it was a pleasant visit, but more emphasis on the tasting experience would have enhanced the atmosphere visit.

We ran across this little cheese company on our way to visit the Cypress Tree Tunnel. It is the oldest cheese company in the United States. We were greeted immediately and offered help and samples. The samples we received were Breakfast, Prospector and Golden Gate. My favorite being the breakfast, it was like a smooth expensive cream cheese. The Golden Gate was too strong for me but my friend loved it. The Prospector is a middle of the road, like a Brie and was their newest. They have been in business since the 1800's. While they no longer give tours, they have a wonderful video. There is also a wine selection, a sandwich and coffee shop, along with local crafts and trinkets. The outside is beautiful mountains and tables for enjoying your lunch. Do not miss this treasure on your trip to the seashore or trees.

This is a beautiful, secluded cheese company in Petaluma. Driving here takes a while from the Bay Area but it is sure worth a visit. I came on a Saturday and I was able to catch the cheese tasting. I was able to try 3 of their cheeses and everything was delicious and creamy. The shop offers books, wine, beer, snacks, and everything you need for a picnic. There are many picnic tables by the pond and it seems like this is a stop most cyclists make on their journey. Overall a beautiful place and even better cheese.

They had a beautiful place where to sell their products. there's a nice pond where you can have a picnic with your family. The lady was so awesome at customer service. It wasn't even funny. She was kind, gentle, generous, and as soon as she was done, providing you with samples, she would turn around and wait on other customers that needed to check out. You can buy wine, cheese, and other delightful product.

We love to visit here in the warm summer days and sample their delicious cheese offerings and grab some goodies to go eat outside on one of their many picnic tables by the large pond and watch the small fish jump and listen to the frogs. By goodies I mean cheese, bread, deli meat, micro beer and local wine. They also have a deli where they make hot and cold sandwiches and gourmet salads and the like. You can purchase Knick knacks and Marin French press apparel too. The staff is always friendly and they're make sure to ask which cheese you'd like to sample. The drive through the country roads to get there makes going there even more appealing.

We were so excited to try this little store. We requested an expresso with cream and sugar. It was supposed to be a double expresso and it was not. We asked for milk and they handed us cold milk and would not steam it. We purchased the heirloom chips which tasted great but the bag was impossible to open and ripped. For $15 a bag you would hope that they would can get better packaging. Then we had to wait to pay as everyone was in the back room. I hope their customer service gets better.

Super cute cheese company on the backroads where you would least expect it. They have a vast selection of wines, cheeses, pastries, coffees, and sandwiches. I even saw some desserts and candy scattered around the store. I loved all the options and was sad I couldn't buy it all. They have somebody behind the counter giving out cheese tastings and explaining what they pair with. In the corner of the cheese coolers, there is a bunch of different types that you can buy 6 of for $40. We got two hot sandwiches, the veggie grilled cheese and the turkey. Both were good and the side salads were delish! The property itself is pet friendly and we brought our dog. We kept her on leash and ran around with her in the empty field. The drive to this place is GORGEOUS and I would come here again for the drive alone. 4 stars because the staff kept complaining about being short staffed (which I would have never known otherwise) and I wish they had half splits of wine bottles. The only variety in a can was Chardonnay which leaves you with very little choice. I would have LOVED to have a glass of wine outside while I enjoyed my cheese and baguette.

We were in the area to do some cheese tasting, but arrived a bit late (tastings ended at 4pm). Still we were so captivated by the entire shop and environment that we knew we had to stay a while. The cheese shop offered so much more than just cheese, from diverse chocolates to quirky gift items. They even have a small cafe here, though it was closed during the late afternoon on a Sunday. The workers were very knowledgeable about the different cheeses available for purchase, and we ended up getting a block of the breakfast brie, which I absolutely loved, a light and creamy flavor, closer to hard cheese. Outside, there is a beautiful lake surrounded by flowers, trees, greenery, and picnic tables and benches, as well as other beach style seating. Lots of space to give couples and families the feeling of privacy while enjoying their savory treats. On top of that, visitors can appreciate the views of cows grazing in the field and grassy hills further in the distance. Such a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere! Even though there's no cell phone service out here, and lack of gps signal while driving, it's hard to miss the signs along the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road to find your way to this cheese oasis. And parking is plentiful in the dedicated lot.

My fiancé and I decided to stop by after a beach trip. Great experience! The last time I've visited I was a kid and my fiancé had never been here before so it was so nice to finally have the chance to come by. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. One lady was giving out different samples of brie and explaining each one and which ones she liked most, it was so sweet because she offered the samples before you even think to ask! My favorite was the breakfast brie and my fiancés favorite was the truffle. We decided to pick up a pack of 4 and a couple sodas to enjoy by the duck pond. Such a good experience. I definitely recommend :)

I have driven by the Marin French Cheese Co (oldest cheese company in the country, since 1965) a few times over the years while going to Point Reyes and Point Reyes Lighthouse, but have never stopped in here. This time on my way to Point Reyes, I made time to stop in here for some cheese tasting, but to my surprise this place had way more to offer, including hot sandwiches paired perfectly with their cheese, coffee, drinks, salads, charcuterie, cold grab-and-go sandwiches, wine, gifts/souvenirs, etc. There is also chocolate tasting. There is ample parking and a large picnic area with many picnic benches that surrounds a pond. They had a good selection of cheese to taste and they have specials for cheese purchases. We ended up purchasing their Brie and Camembert cheese in addition to sandwiches for lunch. The hot sandwich's are made to order and comes with a nice salad with ranch dressing. The sandwiches and salads were delicious and decently priced at $16.99. We really enjoyed both cheese that we bought as they had excellent consistency and flavor. Their jams were also very tasty. We will definitely be back for their cheese, sandwiches and picnic around their pond.

Absolutely delicious cheeses and stunning location! Beautiful drive towards the coast with a picturesque scenery. Pay inside and post up at a picnic table to enjoy the views and company. Definitely a regular stop! Bring your friends or a date!

This is a great spot to stop for a picnic and get some delicious cheese! My favorite is the breakfast Brie, but the staff were eager to let us try anything we wanted! This was our first stop on a little cheese tour around Sonoma and Marin counties. There are lots of picnic tables and benches around the lake, there's also plenty of parking.

The place is obviously beautiful and as a local I have loved coming here for years and years. Unfortunately situations do happen with the internet/registers/credit card processing at businesses- that part is understandable- but what matters is HOW a company handles these situations. The goal should be to make it as easy on the customer as possible, and that definitely did not happen. I would BE CAREFUL using your credit card here because if there's a mistake you can't even get ahold of them! I was the first of a bunch of customers on 6/13/25 who attempted to use a credit card and they kept on saying it was not going through, so we kept trying multiple times and with multiple cards (something I've learned to never do again). Turns out it was a system failure so I ended up paying cash and left. After I saw the charges in my CC app I called.... And called.... And called.... Left messages with no response.... And I ended up having to drive 20 mins each way back out there to talk to them. I then proceeded to spend the next HOUR there while the employee dug through their system to look up the charges- BUT as she was digging through, if a customer wanted to purchase something she would go back to the main screen and lose her spot on the search in order to check them out. There were other employees there- why they could not check them out on a different register is beyond me!! So then she would have to start from square one to go back to the date of my non credible credit card charges. (Also what system doesn't allow you to plug in a date to see the charges? Yikes.) I asked her to please not lose the spot again after 2 times of this happening. Hence why I was there an hour.... (Soooo glad I sent my kid to a 3 hour camp that day only to waste 2 of them on this.) She finally found the date of my transaction, but only saw 1 of my 3 charges on her end, so that's all they could refund at that time. I also had to get my cash payment receipt to show the bank I paid cash. Then I had to spend another hour on the phone with my credit card company to get these charges reversed. The general manager, Dolores, then finally decided to call me back to discuss the issue. It was just messy, and time consuming, and definitely put a sour taste in my mouth about this place. I even originally said I would be willing to accept a store credit since I go there often, but she would not oblige. Needless to say, I'll still be going to enjoy the lake and picnic tables and grounds, but only after going to Trader Joe's first to buy the same exact cheese and wines at literally half the price. Too bad, I love supporting local small businesses, but even after talking with the GM she truly had a low desire to be helpful and get MY money back to me let alone care about all the time I wasted on their system failure. If I were Dolores I definitely would have thrown a wheel of cheese or literally anything the customer's way for having to waste so much time due to their faulty credit card system- which they admitted to this happening in the past. So here is your warning to be careful (especially out of towners!) when using your credit card here!!

We stuffed ourselves with baked brie, Golden Gate cheese, breakfast cheese, jalopeno cheese, salami, fresh baguette, crackers and wine. All were delicious. For cheese lovers, how delightful. We found a table on the side of the lake and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The weather was peffect. With a blanket to lay on to sulknuo some sunshine, it could not have been any better. The service was great. The woman giving free cheese samples was very nice. She made sure everyone that was interested had samples of all of their different cheeses.

The Marin French Cheese Company. Is a unique cheese shop, deli, and on-site cheese producer. The picnic tables and small pond nearby, combined with the shade trees make a picturesque destination for a picnic lunch. The gift shop has greatly expanded and contains an abundant selection of cheese and cheese related gifts. My fav is the truffle brie. I took my girl's Brownie Scouts here many years ago and they got to watch the cheese being made (no longer possible now, probably due to health regs). You can still look through a window into the cheese making area. It's just a mile to downtown Nicasio if you are looking for a cold beer or a full restaurant.

We stopped here on our way to Santa Rosa since my husband and I love cheese. We were so happy to spend about two hours here. We sampled variety of cheese and also purchased some more cheese and sandwiches to have a picnic by the pond. I absolutely loved the jalapeño quark, never had one before and couldn't stop eating it. We purchased a loaf of baguette and enjoyed our cheese right by the water. They sell wine and beer, cookbooks, crackers , charcuterie and lot of gift items The grounds are beautiful, lots of picnic tables and green grass area. Saw some kids running around and enjoying the outdoors. Overall a great place to stop by for lunch or snack when in the area. ... we loved it -***customer service needs some improvement.

A weekend getaway out of the city. I just love everything about this store! Brie Cheeses were amazing! Staff were nice! Ambiance's and surrounding area were nostalgic, peaceful and calming!

Marin French Cheese Company is the oldest cheese maker in a California. They go back to 1865. The retail shop, in Petaluma, CA, offers a variety of cheeses, snacks, souvenirs, branded merchandise, local jams/jellies/honey/wines/chocolates, and a sandwich & coffee counter. The counter sells Strauss dairy soft serve ice cream. Strauss is a local organic dairy farm. The shop is beautifully designed and thoroughly sleek and modern. They even have an on-site pond and two picnic areas with a generous green space complete with gorgeous views of the local landscape and mountain backdrop. The cheese counter staff offers free samples and will happily answer your questions. I luv the 4 ounce petite size offering. The 4 oz are priced from $5-7 or 4 for $20. This mildly lactose intolerant gal luvs quality cheese and can not stay away long. Even though my favorite cheese shop is another local shop down the street, I do like to drop in here to check out some of their selections. My two favorite cheeses from Marin French Cheese Company is the breakfast Brie and Golden Gate washed rind. The breakfast Brie was the very first cheese they made way back in 1865. It is a mild tasting, semi firm Brie. I appreciate that they have it in the 4 oz petite size. The Golden Gate washed rind is part of their newer artisan collection. I like to eat it young so it is still a mildly firm soft texture with a bit of tanginess. The flavor kicks in after the first chew. Mmmm. If you let it age a bit and do not eat it until closer to the best date (printed in the package) it gets to an oozey creamier texture with a wickedly delicious smellier savory taste. They have two picnic areas. One is next to a pond. Very picturesque with the rolling hills as the back drop and big beautiful oak trees. There are some picnic tables scattered around the pond. All are first come first serve, no reservations. The other picnic area is behind the shop towards the left. It does not have a pond. It will have less duck and geese poop. The restroom codes are printed on the shop receipts.

It's a Marin staple since 1865 - Marin French Cheese Co, with its own pond and benches, grassy areas to enjoy your fancy cheese in the midst of a Bike ride or a road trip. I remember a school tour here when I was a wee lass at West Marin Elementary- we toured the curing room and the process of cheese making was taught- a taste for Marin Cheese Co Breakfast Cheese (the mildest) was instilled. I return to this day for the treats and the experience to share with visiting family/friends. Bring apples and a loaf of sourdough from Brickmaiden or Good Earth to pair with your cheeses, and enjoy!

Cheese cheese and more cheese! Their selection is excellent. We got a a lot of cheese to take home and spread it on our favorite baguette. The best part is their brie cheeses can be frozen, say whaaa! Yeah, freeze and save for later. The grounds are very nice too, if it wasn't so cold the day we visited it would have been nice to set outside by the little pond and enjoy some cheezines.

Love love love this place! The staff is so friendly and offered for me to try just about anything I wanted. They asked what my preferences were and what other types of cheese I normally like, then made recommendations from there. They told me about their current sales but not in a pushy way, but in a friendly way to actually find what I like for cheap. I like that they also had the cafe and premade foods rather than just the cheese. Another bonus was it was only about an hour from SF and really close to Sonoma. Will 100% be coming back.

We're visiting family who took us to this pretty cheese factory. Inside they were selling their own soft cheeses- oh so good bries and camemberts! Nice selections of small sizes in the cold case so you can grab a couple to sample. Also offered are ready-to-take cold sandwiches, salads and snack packs with grapes, baby carrots, portion of their cheese. We got the hot sandwiches instead. Nice selection- was hard to choose! Really liked the beet salad too! We took our food and picnicked at one of the tables near the lake. What an idyllic lunch! This is a must stop for visitors

My wife and I have been coming here for years, usually in our way to, or from the coast. We usually end up just spending a few hours by the lovely pond enjoying delicious cheese and fresh baked bread instead of continuing our journey out to the coast, or forego dinner on the way back and just enjoy a snack here. The staff is always extremely kind and knowledgeable about everything in their quiet, unassuming, but oh-so-amazing store. There are tons of samples handed out by the friendly folks there always with a great description of the cheese and what to best pair it with. We always plan to just spend a few minutes there and buy 1 or two things, but always end up leaving with way too much and spending a ton of time there. Definitely a great place to bike to if you enjoy biking, a great pit stop to stock up on some calories before your ride home. The pond is always perfectly shaded by gorgeous trees so even on unbearably hot days, it feels like a nice oasis and escape from the heat. Don't forget they have amazing local wine, beer and cider to perfectly accompany your cheese selection. Don't walk, run here, as fast as you can!

This is a great stop to break up a long drive. We ordered a few sandwiches to enjoy outside and they were all very good. An employee offered some cheese samples while we waited; the breakfast Brie was my favorite. They have a great selection of local goods, snacks, and beverages as well.

We stopped in here since my husband remembers coming here as a child for field trips and tours. Of course it's a lot smaller than he remembers and they no longer do tours the guy said. They have a small shop with some pricy cheese and goodies for sale. We got a few cheeses and a few mini cheesecakes. All were delicious. They have a nice pond with tables for a picnic but we just grabbed some stuff on our way to Point Reyes. Kinda cool they are the oldest cheese factory in America still working. Must get busy during the season but it was nice and empty when we came through so the pond was serene while we waited for them to open at 10am.

Stopped by on our way out of Point Reyes. Kids got the Straus soft serve ice cream. Delicious. I wanted a sandwich but the staff wouldn't accommodate warming the meat on their ready made sandwiches as their cafe closed 30 minutes prior (I am pregnant). Overall, staff seemed annoyed with customers and like they couldn't wait to clock out.

It's been a couple of years since I came this way, but I had to wrap up a camping trip by stopping here for lunch and to purchase some of their lovely cheeses. The grounds are always beautifully maintained for leisurely picnicking. Their shop is nicely stocked with some necessities for a successful picnic lunch or snack. Plus a few luxurious extras. For me, the luxurious extras this visit were 2 lovely blacksmith-forged cheese spreader knives that were only $6.99 apiece! Durable, beautiful, and a nice memento of my stop here. I have a hard time passing up their special this week: all orange-tagged products located on the far end of the cheese counter are 6 items for only $20! Such a deal! I already had an orange, a beef stick, and crackers left over from my camping trip, so I had all the necessities to enjoy a creamy black truffle goat cheese midday meal before driving back home. The woman working in the shop was so sweet and welcoming. It's truly a pleasure to come here and support their shop.

This place was a real treat! I've driven by here many times, but I never stopped until the other day. There were so many options to choose from to eat. You could order a sandwich to go (food comes as is - no substitutions) & you could either eat inside or outside by the pond. They were also offering cheese tastings & the day I went they also had a wine tasting going on. The staff was friendly & the inside of the building was super cute with goodies to take home - my friends & I may have gotten some chocolate, a baguette & jam...yumm!!

LOVE their cheeses! Can't go wrong with any of them and they often have samples and even sales in the store. And to visit their store is such a fun experience with their beautiful picnic area with the pond. The store itself is beautiful with an amazing assortment of food and drinks to pair with their cheeses for the perfect picnic. If you're not staying there for lunch, it's a perfect place to get food on the way out to Pt Reyes and a beautiful drive in the countryside. Just up the road is an adorable farmstand with honey and an old fashion gumball quarter machine setup to feed the chickens! Great weekend spot to take the family. The staff in the store are always friendly. We go in there often and it's always a good experience.

This is an outstanding place to have a picnic or just pickup some delicious cheese, bread and meats. If you are feeling it they have a good selection of wine. Highly recommend this place

I was happy to find that this was on the way to to our destination. Marin French have been producing cheese since 1865- the country's oldest cheese company, so I trust that they know what they're doing. The deal of 5 cheeses for $20 was a steal, and I was able to enjoy a variety of their 4oz petite cheeses. The person behind the counter was nice and even threw in two pot de cremes, which is why they deserve that 5th star. After making your purchase, they have a lovely outdoor picnic area next to a pond where you can enjoy your goods. I definitely recommend this place if you love cheese and find yourself nearby!

I've come in for years with my family. But recently I had an experience that soured the whole experience. I was on the road and I thought "hey I'll stop by my cheese place on the way" and when I got there I really had to use the restroom. Like ancy in your pants bad. So I thought ok let me go to the restroom like I've always had. And then the restroom had a keypad with another guy confused as well. So I walk inside and ask the employee, "hey what's the keypad to the restroom?" and she responded, you can only use after you buy. I said "I really have to go" and instead of giving me the keypad she referred me to another employee. I said the same thing to asian lady and the conversation when the same. But now I was in front of audience, and you could tell she understood what I was going through, and she reluctantly obliged, but before doing so confirmed again, "you'll come back and buy something?" I was so pissed off at point that I left. The attitude was so much "I don't care about you, just your money" that I would hate to support this business in the future. There used be a time of respect/generosity in Napa (free wine samples no joke!), that era is gone and so will your customers.

This quaint cheese shop is a fun drive away from civilization. Their sign is very cute when you see it on the side of the road. Inside, there were a considerably large selection of things in this small store and they even had picnic sets for ~$7 (I think). We opted out for a petite breakfast Brie, a petite Camembert, wine jelly, a san pellegrino, a grab & go sandwich, and a boylan's root beer, which came out to about $30. I'm not a cheese connoisseur, but I do LOVE putting cheese on everything (burgers, sandwiches, noodles, potatoes, you name it) and let me just say that the Camembert cheese is so deliciously creamy and velvety, I was blown away. The breakfast Brie is a slightly harder cheese, but wow the Camembert cheese is something I highly recommend trying if you love ooey gooey cheese!!! Sitting outside the pond was very peaceful while eating our food and it was fun watching the ducks beg for food; where we were sitting, there was even a hummingbird that flew about 6 feet from us... so peaceful.