Marin French Cheese Company Reviews

A very Scenic drive from Petaluma. Visited their store. They sell their cheeses along with local area cheeses and many other local food products. The staff was very welcoming.

I have been known to bicycle to this jewel in West Marin County. The cheeses are really good. It is a nice place to have a lazy lunch by the pond and watch the birds and the bees and munch out on their offerings. The set the place up for outdoor picnicking.

My wife and I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and decided on an excursion to Marin County to visit some of the local cheesemakers there. It was a delightful drive through some gorgeous land that offered lovely views. Our first stop in this adventure was the Marin French Cheese Company. The store has a small wine shop, offers crackers and other things that can be paired with cheeses, an assortment of cheeses available to sample, including a small selection of cheeses from other local producers. There is ample parking, and a picnic area outside overlooking a small pond. It is a pleasant place to stop for lunch, although we chose to continue our journey and lunched in Point Reyes.

There is certain to be a cheese that will appeal to you. My wife liked the brie. I preferred the Camembert. Small rounds are available, and there are prepackaged samplers of four cheeses. I bought some garlic quark to have with some potatoes, and enjoyed that combination. Of the three places that we visited, this one had the most “commercial” feel. I don’t intend that to be a criticism. It is just different from say the Nicasio Valley Cheese site, where even a small tour bus would overwhelm the facility. I enjoyed the contrast and the differences in the cheeses that were produced. We ended up ultimately getting cheese from all three places we visited, and there were cheeses at each that we felt stood out and we wanted to buy.

Let me recommend that you also consider going to more than one cheesemaker. The three that we visited were no more than 10 minutes or so apart, and the drive is quite scenic and serene. There are places to picnic at each, with Marin French Cheese Company offering the largest area, and arguably the most scenic. Also pick up the brochure that lists and give addresses for many local cheesemakers. I suspect that this is trip we will repeat at least in part, and perhaps we will go off and incorporate other cheesemakers into our route. Pack a bottle of wine, and things that will round out a meal, and have a lovely day.

We went here a few months ago, after not having visited for a number of years. It is such a lovely location. We bought sandwiches and ate outside looking at their little lake. Their cheeses are delicious and quite reasonable.

Spring is here, the hills are green and wildflowers blooming. This is the perfect place to round out your Bodega/Tamales Bay day trip. If you're not already full on oysters , or don't care for them STOP here!
The Marin French Cheese Company has everything you need for your picnic, not to worry if you didn't pack one. The grounds are beautiful with picnic tables, a pond, resident chicken, geese, grass and clean restrooms.
You can bring your well behaved dog and enjoy family time together in this beautiful setting, just minutes away from Novato and Petaluma.

Come on down, buy some cheese, bread and whatever adult beverages you prefer, and sit down by the pond and have a nice picnic. The cheese here is fantastic and is quite French. There are other things you can buy for your picnic. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Wonderful! We went when there was free jam and cheese tasting for our bachelorette party! It was a sweet little place with a beautiful pond with park benches and lush green grass. I highly recommend visiting here.

This place has some fresh delicious cheese as well some beautiful views. We bought a couple sandwiches and ate by the lake. We missed the tour but I hear it is good. After lunch, we bought some cheese for an afternoon snack, it was great.

Nice countryside park setting with great general store that makes the best cheese in the world. A lake, picnic area and group areas.

Stopped here for lunch and to pick up some cheese for a cheese plate. Tasting is free and they had about six to eight cheese to taste when we visited. Besides their cheese, which are mostly Bree style cheeses, they have Laura Chenel cheeses, which are goat cheeses. Marin French are widely available, but they have cheeses you can only get at their shop. The Ash cheese was wonderfully creamy. They also sell baguettes and other local products. It is a nice setting for a picnic. Their deli has come grab and go sandwiches and salads, as well as some hot sandwiches. I would not go just for the dining, but it is a decent snack. Good spot if you are wanting to taste some cheese in the area.

Every summer we stop here and buy some cheese and picnic.

It is charming and old-fashioned and the surrounding picnic areas are gorgeous.

We always buy the ready to eat now Petite Camembert, which is to die for. Make sure to buy the soft cheeses that are ready to eat now, if that's what you want.

Today we sat in the quiet picnic area on the left. No one was there and it was beautiful.

Then we wandered about the pond and gazed at the birds and plants in the surrounding countryside.

This place is a gem and reminds us of somewhere we visited in Vermont. A good summer tradition.

Browsed store and strolled around the grounds during a day trip to the coast. Did not purchase anything although had heard prices reasonable. Disagreed.

You can buy great cheese and other picnic food right there and eat it by the pond. Pretty and easy to get to

I loved the cheeses and brought several of them home with me. If I were to go again, I would plan on either bringing a picnic lunch or buying the food there. They have a beautiful setting with grass, trees and a pond, which is very inviting. It's a bit out of the way, but we were on our way over to the coast and it made a great rest stop.

Whether you buy the wine there or bring your own and just buy the cheese and crackers or sandwich and chips, this has always been a delightful place to go picnic. You can bring dogs and even fish the pond. I always stop in when passing Marin Cheese Co.

If you are a cheese lover, this is a place you must visit! Their brie is absolutely amazing! Creamy and delicious. There are picnic tables in the garden so plan on a picnic!

Great cheese, beautiful setting, picnic area, and you can buy all the fixings at the store. Have a picnic by the pond, watch the ducks and swans paddling by, relax and enjoy.

Stopped here to pick up some brie and lunch. Was very pleasantly surprised with their Reuben sandwich. Very tasty and was served with salad. Large portion and nicely boxed. Currently, the picnic table seating is off limits due to COVID but it's just a few miles to Pt. Reyes National Seashore's beaches, which was our destination. So, had a great, lovely day at the beach, along with their boxed lunch. The staff was super friendly and helpful.

Plan ahead so that you arrive at Marin French Cheese when you're hungry because they have the fixings for a wonderful picnic, and they even provide the natural setting and tables to boot. Nice selection. I miss that they don't do tours of the cheese making / aging areas, but that's progress. Make a memorable tasty stop, and you'll enjoy! ...

They have a good selection of sandwiches and cheese. Good coffee and drinks. Great picnic area by a lovely pond with plenty of tables. Had a great time.

I love this place. Driving through the countryside to get there is so picturesque. You pass a one room schoolhouse still in use that looks like the ones we have all seen in books. The cheese factory is just as charming. There is a small lake outside with weeping willow trees and picnic benches. The store carries not only their wonderful small batch gourmet cheeses, but they have a full deli as well and indoor seating. There are other local food products in the store as well. Many years ago they used to let people in the cheese production area to see it being made. Maybe they will do it again if enough people ask!

We brought our lunch out to the Marin French Cheese Company to enjoy the pond and the beautiful day. The geese are a fun attraction for the kiddos. The shop is adorable and the selection of cheeses is to be revered. There are samples out for consumers to indulge, we were even lucky enough to experience a chocolate tasting to boot. Of course we brought our favorite cheese home to prolong our fun. One area to note: a red tag area of the cheese case, you can get a discount on cheeses where the enjoy by date is a few weeks away instead of months. They also keep crackers, jams, honey, cookies, different beverages, so if you happen to the location unprepared for your picnic you could gather one up on the spot. We will be headed back the next time we venture through Petaluma.

Marin French Cheese Company is one of our stops heading out to the Pacific Ocean. We love to taste their cheese, buy a couple of rounds of say cambert and triple creme brie, and a bagette, and go for a picnic on a beach, our destination (actually somewhat near home). They offer all kinds of picnic things besides food, including picnic baskets with plates, silverware and glasses in them, lots of fun goodies to try, and they have their own pond you can picnic at the tables or sit on the grass. Easy to find right on the Petaluma-Olema Road.

The variety of cheeses is nice, layout clean an welcoming. My favorite is Marin's Schloss cheese, pungent, creamy and packed with a robust taste. The facility is very nice for a picnic as there are outside tables and a beautiful lake to sit down and enjoy. The store carries wine and other items too. And, there is a deli. So, if you want to experience a moment in time -- imagine being in a small French village, spreading your blanket on soft green grass, sitting, relaxing with a glass of wine and nibbling on cheese all while taking in beautifully romantic scenery... Marin French Cheese Company is your place.

This is a great destination or a lovely stop while driving through west Marin.
The cheese is utterly divine. Pick up some Brie and a loaf of bread, and sit outdoors in the green grass next to the year round pond.
Delightful!

You may well enjoy a visit to this place but you should be warned that their Camembert is pretty vapid. They advertise"robust flavor" but a good butter has more flavor. We let the cheese sit in the sun until it was runny. It was tasteless.

My grand daughters and I went there to sit around the pond, but we went inside first and I bought sandwiches and a cute gift for their parents. The staff was super helpful, the sandwiches were great and the girls took off around the pond over a little bridge to the northwest side and always stayed in eyesight. It was a wonderful and tasty outing for our "memory" book.

This is a fun place to go with with friends or family for a tour of the factory as well as having a picnic. You can bring your own picnic basket or buy great cheese and other goodies right there, with a lovely grassy area around a pond to have your picnic.

I visit here almost every time I go up to see my son. The cheese is delicious and they let you sample quite a lot. The little store is good. We bring a picnic and let the kids run by the pond. There were tons of Canadian geese stopping by on their way south when we visited this year. The drive getting there through the countryside is beautiful and peaceful.

We had looked forward to a bit more than a cheese store. Lovely selection of brie, but almost zero hard cheeses. Those they had were priced around $10 to $14 for a slim slice. We did buy a small round of mustard brie.

Very nice outdoor picnic area, but the temp was over 100 degrees F. Also, there were several dozen middle school children there on an outing.

I've been going here, since the 70's. Great place, to take a break, on your way to Point Reyes, or Bodega Bay. This is an alternative route, out to Highway 1. Marin French Cheese is out in the middle of no where, so very convenient, if you need a break. Triple Crème Brie with Truffles, is one of my top, and Her Ladyships, favorites. I grew up with orange cheddar's, extra sharp, sharp, etc., so it took a bit of coaxing, to get me to try one of these soft cheeses, the first time. Granted, we can't produce a true French brie in the US, because of the ban on using raw milk. Triple Crème Brie, Traditional, and Camembert, appear to be their main offerings. The latter has more earthy mushroom flavor that I find highly appealing. Their are other offerings here too, some made in house, some not. There is a nice size pond, with picnic tables, They offer fruit, wines, beers, deli sandwiches, chips, crackers. I don't remember if they offer a good sourdough french, or if any breads at all. But you can make a picnic right there. Their Brie and Camembert, are also available in many stores now, so if you're curious, I would recommended trying the Schloss, an Austrian style washed rind cheese. See if you might try a sample as it's not everyone's cup of tea, with its very pungent aroma. I was addicted to the stuff for part of my life, and it's very hard to find anywhere else. Also, they offer a Petite Breakfast cheese, which I eat, but would not buy. Her Ladyship likes it. Some in our fridge right now : )They offer tours, when they're making cheese, that area is closed, when not . . . except "She who MUST BE obeyed," was able to sweet talk them, in her best, I'm a poor little old British lady, and they took her back. They really are a sweet group here. A lot of wide open spaces around here, mostly ranches, and farmland, so if that's not your thing, then just drive on past.

The Cheese Company is in a really beautiful setting.On one side there is a pond and picnic tables. On the other side of the store/deli/gift shop is a larger, shaded picnic area. Place to play wiffle ball or badminton.. Good deli but it is kind of overpriced. But you have a beautiful area to retire to so it is to be expected.

My friend and I just had our first annual girls weekend and we found ourselves at Marin! We arrived just after opening and had the best time lingering around the store. We bought sandwiches, tapenade, wine and of course the amazing cheese! What a treat to sit by the pond and watch a turtle sitting nearby, a mama duck and her babies rest on the shore and the variety of birds swooping around. Thank you so much for the courteous shop employees and of course the tasty treats! What a memory!

The cheese is very good - but I only know that from past experience since there are no samples. I guess that’s due to Covid, so I understand. What I don’t understand is why you need a well guarded code to use the restroom. When I asked, I was told it’s on the bottom of my receipt. Since I wanted to use the facilities before buying my cheese & gelato, it required the clerk finding her manager to ask for the code. It just gave me a bad vibe, like they’re too cheap to be welcoming. It’s too bad because the shop and the grounds are lovely.

This is a place i visited a lot as a young girl with my family and for field trips. And when I grew up and had a family of my own we made sure to bring our kids many times on our way to PT. REYES. It's still a wonderful stop on the old Petaluma highway and you can pick up a gourmet lunch as well! Highly recommend!

Very good selection of cheeses. However, it is on the expensive side as they get a lot of tourists Bring your own sandwich and sit by the lake and enjoy, as the sandwiches there round around $12-$15

On the way back from Point Reyes, we stopped in and picked up some nice goat cheese. Great little shop and perfect place to grab lunch and sit out near the pond. They have a lot of tables and it's just lovely, calm, relaxing out near the pond.

Nice place just outside Petaluma in farmlands. Good amount of cheese to choose from and the cheese was really good. I thought there would be more to choose from though. Seemed about 10 or so in regular and petite sizes. Samples were there but since they were a bit busy some had run out. You can also get sandwiches and good crusty bread and crackers. Nice lake outside to sit by and must be dog friendly because lots of dogs out there. Nice visit if your out that way but I didn't see much else to do beside eat cheese and look at the lake then drive back to town.

The Cheese Shop was a great break in a day of driving up Napa Valley. After a very short stop at the Coppola Winery, we headed to Petaluma and followed the directions to the Marin French Cheese Company. We got fruit, crackers and cheese for a picnic by the pond. Then we bought cheese for our hosts and our house sitters and friends. It keeps well for a few days without refrigeration and it is a really nice gift. There are other foods and even hand-scooped ice cream in cones. Took the scenic road back to the 101 and headed for the Point Reyes lighthouse.

Great country location, outside of town - so beautiful to picnic. And yes the brie is very good! (Also they sell crackers and other items you might need)

We always stop on our way back from a hike in Pt. Reyes for their spreadable cheeses. They have a great variety of food now, but, cheese is the specialty. The best deal is when they have the rounds 5 for $20. Their is a nice lake next to the property where you can sit in the shade with some wine, cheese, and a loaf of bread. After a long day of hiking, it's a good stopping off point.

You cannot travel to the coast and not stop in and get a lunch for the road. They have samples or you can take the tour. They are the inspiration for all the new cheese makers that popped up over the years. Love the product. Especially the formidable "Schloss" cheese.

While there are quite a few newer cheese producers in the region the Marin French Cheese Company is the original. Picnic benches surrounding the picturesque pond make this a great destination. In addition to cheese the store sells bread, sandwiches and an assortment of local gourmet items. You can taste nearly all of the cheeses before making your purchase. If you're on your way to or from the coast this is a great pit stop to assemble a picnic for the beach or a cheese plate to bring home.

This is a really fun place to go. Whether with kids or as a romantic place to relax, this is a great outing. Outside, there are beautiful grounds with a fishing pond, shade trees, picnic tables, and great views of the hills all around. Inside, there are tasty cheeses, with plenty of free tastes, wines by the bottle, drinks, snacks of every kind, sandwiches, breads, etc. What a great place to come, grab some tasty French bread and ripe Brie (whatever is ripe, or at its prime, is sold for half price), and some wine and sit out under a cool tree and relax!

The best place in Marin county for fresh local cheese. If you have time I would recommend taking the your that they offer.

We stopped by here on a busy Saturday. We tasted several different cheeses - the breakast brie was especially good.

The cheese factory sells delicious cheese. It's hard to go wrong when selecting one of their cheeses but you can buy them at almost any store in the area. The real reason to go is to hang out near the big pond on the grass or in the back near the bbqs. The grounds are lovely.

Everything here is delicious but bring a corkscrew if having wine ($5), a knife to cut cheese (they have compostable forks, but not knives?), cups for wine ($1 each for small plastic cups) and a bag (15 cents). For spending $45 on a bottle of wine and a brie en croute you could throw in a little more, on request.

U can relax and eat by the pond. Eitherbring your own or by food in the store. Best part u can always sample the cheese free. Pricing is so much better than u find in stores. Cool place a must see.

Don't go for tour, but to taste (and hopefully purchase) cheese. Tasting available all day, everyday. Bries, and Camembert are the specialties. And if they have Cheeseballs, buy one.
Beautiful picnic grounds with pond to sit and relax awhile. Wine and Beer for sale to drink outside.

We bought sandwiches with side salad and took them down to the on-site lake and sat down at one of the picnic tables. It was just as good as our last visit, maybe even better. They had a great variety of cheese in the store along with other items. I could have stayed all day. If you find yourself in the Petaluma area, Marin French Cheese is a must to visit. Everyone is so friendly.

The brie cheese and french bread are so delicious. This place is so peaceful and relaxing. It brings back some very special memories. I would advise you go and check it out.

We've been coming here since college days. Love picnicking by the pond. My favorite is the breakfast cheese, semi soft but a bit more pungent than the brie. We also love the Camembert. The drive leading up to the Cheese Co. is beautiful and serene. Just make way for the weekend cyclists and you'd be fine.

Fun place to stop at and try a variety of Brie. Nice picnic grounds. Small pond for fishing.. Love the Breakfast Brie! Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, down the road, has a better variety.

This place is a great stop for lunch on the way to the coast. The have a little pond and picnic area. Plus their cheeses are amazing!! We love this place! Make sure to try their triple creme Brie!

The Marin French creamery is set in beautiful surroundings. There are picnic tables around the pond and in the background. You see the rolling hills also. It is the perfect spot for a picnic. Inside they sell homemade Brie and Camembert cheeses Plus they have sandwiches and salads that you can purchase. The cheese was outstanding and the grilled vegetable sandwich that I had with Bree on top was outstanding. The prices are great and it is well worth visiting.

This is an outstanding place to visit. Whether on your way to have a picnic or off to the beaches it's a place of beauty, amazing goat cheese, fruits, crackers and wines, artwork by local artists, a peaceful lake with picnic tables and lush grass to enhance the experience. No matter what your doing it is worth the short drive out of Petaluma.

Over the decades, I've been to Marin French Cheese Company at least fifty times. Whenever we come to Wine Country, we stop off. Did you ever have the desire to buy five wheels of brie or camembert for $20? They have deals like this once a week. Everything is scrumptious. You can try their cheese before buying it. I always ask for a ripe round, otherwise they're pretty poor-tasting (I suspect some of the complaints are from those who had less than ripe cheeses). The Yellow Buck Camembert is my personal favorite along with the Triple-Creme Brie and the Breakfast Cheese. Their cracker selection is a little flat, but this is made up for by an excellent choice of chutneys. Buy a baguette, some cheese -- with some to take home -- and a nice peach, mango, tomato, or onion chutney or comfit to accompany your cheese. Just go relax by the pond, watching the ducks, swans, geese, and gophers, the red tailed hawks and occasional red-winged blackbird go by on one of the most relaxing little stretches of the edge of Wine Country (or, if you're traveling to Point Reyes, this is a great spot to grab your picnic goods en route).

We had a beautiful time and the dogs we're happy...... bought some cheese and had a beautiful picnic.....
Great place to relax

Cute spot to stop and buy some cheese, wine and bread and picnic which is exactly what we did. The cheeses they produce, Brie and Camembert weren't remarkable but were nice nonetheless. We tried the Jalapeno and the Breakfast Bries. The Jalapeno was not very peppery at all sadly, but the Breakfast Brie was very delicious.

Service was non-existent. We were not greeted upon entering and there were only 2 other people in the store. After perusing the cheese case for a while, the gal did tell us to let her know if we had any questions. We were expecting that they would be excited to tell us about their cheeses and their cheese making process(es). Sadly this was not the case. So big thumbs up for the picnic experience next to the beautiful duck pond, and big thumbs down for service.

We love coming here as a place to start our bike rides counterclockwise to Marshall/Tomales Bay/Pt Reyes/ Nicascio Reservoir and back to the "Cheese Factory".

We then buy taste cheese sampling a, buy lunch and picnic on the spot by their beautiful pond!

Friendly staff, great prices on some cheeses, and pre-made sandwiches. Their cafe was closed today but I bought a couple of locally homemade jams as a gift for a friend. They were pricey but as a gift I thought they would be special.

We love to take an afternoon trip out to the Marin Cheese Factory..
Not only is the Cheese Fantastic , you can buy a bottle of wine and have a picnic on the grass in the beautiful pond area.
Our children love to bring a fishing line and catch and release a few blue gill for some fun.. this is always a great afternoon!

My family has been going to the Marin French Cheese Company for about 50 years. It is one of those special places that brings people back generation after generation. With local wines and breads to compliment their fantastic cheeses, sandwiches, drinks and other local foods, Marin French Cheese Company offers a local touch, a beautiful little park and, obviously, fantastic cheese.

This is always a stop on the way to Pt Reyes National Seashore to get the fixings for a family picnic and we can't imagine a trip without them! So whether you're out for a Sunday drive, or out bicycling through Marin County, this is a fantastic stop and definitely worth the time!

This place is a beautiful drive from Petaluma and the cheese is fantastic. It is a lovely setting and could be a nice spot for a picnic. As well as their own cheese, there is a small deli with cheese (of course), sandwiches and muffins and coffee., etc. We bought cheese, crackers, sandwiches, coffee and took it all outside to a picnic bench.
Relaxing trip for adults. Not much of interest for kids.

What better place to say cheese! On a quick stop tasted a variety from subtle Petit breakfast to strong slouched purchasing several units to enjoy slowly and pairings unwinding after a workday . The place would have been perfect for a picnic pr slow lunch but I was not vacationing, only working day in the area. I will go back on another occasion!

As many others have said this is a great place for a picnic. The location is nicely rural, while being easy to access. This is not a place for fancy, boutique cheese, however. They have four main kinds of brie-type cheese then some variations on those. They also have lots of other food items to buy to round out a nice picnic. A great place to visit for some basic cheese and some tasty items for lunch.

We enjoy cheese and this is always a fun place to visit. The staff is friendly and there are plenty of great selections to sample. We always find great items to purchase at great prices

We go out of our way to stop here when in the Petaluma or Point Reyes area. Samples of the available cheeses are plentiful. The prices are amazing, there are interesting gift items available, and you can even put together a picnic lunch here. Nice pond out front with geese and such, picnic tables and restrooms.

We stopped here on our way out to Point Reyes National Seashore and glad we did. It was a very cute little store with lots of goodies...wine, cheese, gifts and also a little deli which was perfect to grab a sandwich to go for our afternoon drive. They also have a little pond and lots of tables to sit and relax while you nibble on your purchases. Glad we stopped!!!

Great place to taste cheese and have a picnic. Charming location, friendly staff, and the price is just right -- Free!!

Enough cheese choices to try, a bit on the expensive price, but with that location...the money for maintenance has to come from somewhere. Nice little lake for the kids to play, some romantic couples enjoying the sun and grass areas.

Every time we return to the Bay Area for a visit we make sure to make a visit to Marin French Cheese. We first started going there more than forty years ago when we lived there. They make and sell great Brie and Camembert. at their factory store at prices that are well below the cost of their cheese in stores. The setting is out in the country with a pond and picnic tables. On a nice day it is a great place for an impromptu picnic. They also sell sandwiches, baguettes, wine, etc.

We started our Sonoma Cheese Tour here, and it was a good place to start. It is a cheese market of their French cheeses, which is better than the French cheese that is imported here.

We also picked up sandwiches and snacks for a picnic, which we ended up eating at one of the wineries. All in all delicious and practical.

I particularly liked the Camembert and the Truffled Brie. They have big and small sizes and we're having a special on the small sizes. So we bought several of the small ones, which you can freeze and can be used on an ad-hoc basis.

I will see how they come out once they are unfrozen, but the ones that I didn't freeze are lovely.

Excellent spot to stop and have a picnic lunch. They have a small pond with picnic tables and shade trees to enjoy. Breakfast cheese is the best!

This place is an amazing spot for picnics and family outings and just relax with good food wine and good company

This place has fantastic cheeses, the make them there, they have tastings for all of them so you can see if you like it or not, they do have picnicking and a lake with ducks, very pleasant setting

On a nice day, this is a great place for a picnic. Lovely grounds, grass, pond, etc. Also with a shop for some delicious cheese and other treats.

Place was excellent as you could buy charcuterie, cheeses, bread and have a picnic in the immaculate garden by the pond.
Was disappointed at the variety of french cheeses as I was hoping to get some blue cheeses but they had none of those.

We have been coming here for years and have always enjoyed having lunch and sitting outside by the pond. This last trip was a disappointment. We ordered sandwiches and there was barely any meat in them. We will not be getting lunch here again.

The shop has everything you need for a nice picnic on the lawn near the pond, including wine! The picnic tables we saw were in need of replacing and even dangerous or I would have given it a 5. We were there on Mothers' Day and it was pretty busy but the shop was well stocked. Was a little shocked at the $50 for a reservation for a picnic table though, especially since some looked like they would fall apart if you sat on them.

We happened to come across this cheese factory on our way up to Mendocino. Picked up some wine and cheese in the store and had ourselves a fantastic picnic on the benches outside in front of the pond of ducks and geese. It was a perfect afternoon having their camembert cheese and crackers and chocolate mint wine!

Go to the correct address! The Marin French Cheese Company is located on Point Reyes/Petaluma Road. (Red Hill Rd is just their mailing address). This is a lovely spot to taste and buy the wide and interesting varieties of fantastic Brie and Camembert cheeses this company makes. The store and deli are also full of gourmet items to make a divine picnic, stock your pantry, or give as gifts. You can picnic on the bucolic grounds, or take your treasures back home with you. We take out-of-town guests here and they always love it. It can be your sole destination, or a waypoint in an exploration of west Marin.

A wonderful selection of made there cheeses (the breakfast jack is to die for) Good selection of wines. There are tables by a pond to have lunch of you can sit on the grass. They also have made to order sandwitches A must see on the way to the coast

Cheese was good. They were very accommodating in helping us for our picnic. We got some wine. Some cheese and crackers and had a nice picnic outside along the banks of their little pond. Very nice time there. Will return.

If you like Brie do not miss this stop. The property is in the country in a quaint setting on a pond. Great to get out and stretch and let the kids have some fun. There are restrooms and a wonderful cheese shop. Brie is offered at huge discounts and lots of tasting is available. You may want to bring a cooler for your cheese purchases. It is hard to not buy while there. Employees are friendly. Enjoy some of the best cheese Nor Cal has to offer.

We enjoyed our visit and we will plan for picnic next time. Very generous cheese tasting and extremely friendly staff who knows much about the area. Great clean facilities and a for sure stop.

Worth the trip just to see miles of stubby pasture turn into a cheese company by an oasis. And the cheese is delicious. Grab some for a wine country picnic or your beach trip. A must see for cheese lovers.

We stopped on our way to Point Reyes National Seashore. We are glad we did. I had packed a very bland lunch. After sampling the cheeses, we bought goat brie, goat cheese in a little crock that was marinated in olive oil and herbs, and crackers. They have a nice deli, and a cafe, and gift shop. Nice parking lot. Pond surrounded by green grass and maybe 10 picnic tables surrounding it. You are to go into shop and request use of the tables. Clean restrooms in small outbuilding. I was impressed with the gentleman offering the tastings. We took a nice 3 mile hike to the beautiful beach, and we enjoyed our upscale picnic. Great stop. No RV parking unless a small motorhome.

I've been going here for 30 years or so. Good cheese selection. Wines too. Other drinks and sandwiches could be better. Nice place for a picnic after a drive to the coast.

Great place for picnics and to bring the kids. I love their cheeses. Not sure if they still do the cheese tours but that would be interesting to see.

Dropped in based on the TripAdvisor rating and recent reviews -- honestly, you'd miss this place rushing by if you didn't know you were heading there, but what luck if you stop in! I took some time to read the website ahead of visiting, so I already knew they no longer give tours, and I was somewhat educated on Brie and Camembert and the "life span" of cheese (like, if you are not a fan of the rind, focus on Petite Breakfast cheese, which is "young" and has either less rind or none). That only added to the experience, nice to have some knowledge going in. Also, the website gives the address to use for your GPS, it's NOT the "main" address that your GPS may know. Oh and of course, you can gather what you like at the store and find your own favorite place to picnic, there are lots of choices in Petaluma! Lots of bicyclists here, it's on a nice bike ride route and would serve as a terrific break spot.

The lake and picnic area is rather tiny, but such a lovely little oasis, you can get completely immersed in it and forget the rest of the landscape (for the most part, it's just a little dry around there). The tables ALL said "Reserved" on them, and directed you to speak with someone in the sales shop, but many were not being used. We picked one far from the water (basically in the parking lot) and no one bothered us, not sure what happens if you talk with someone in the sales shop about them, but we'll find out next time. We also spotted an entirely separate picnicking area on the opposite side of the sales shop, on our way out. LOTS of room. The bread and cracker choices were stellar, and there's also a cafe that sells sandwiches and soup and a few other items, with indoor seating. Looked like an excellent set of wine choices as well, though we don't drink. Lovely, lovely time, and we will be back!

We make it a point to stop here on our way to Point Reyes. Something about the smell of rotting cheese tantalizes the taste buds. We spend time looking for the softer, more ripened cheeses to take with us.

Fresh off the Boat, I used to buy imported French brie or camembert but these days I buy it from Marin French Cheese (when I’m not splurging on Cowgirl’s Mt. Tam, that is). Marin brie is not as fantabulous as Mt. Tam, but when it’s fresh it can give it a run for its money – especially considering it’s about half the price. Their triple-cream brie won the only gold medal at the World Cheese Awards in London in 2005 – this was a kind of the cheese-equivalent to the “bottle shock” of Napa wine back in the day. I’ve bought their brie and camembert several times and I’ve learned that it’s important to do a little prodding to ensure that it’s soft – that’s the way I like it, anyway. According to their site, buying it 6 weeks before the ‘Use By’ date is best for those who prefer it on the runny side. (Now I have to watch Monty Python’s Cheese Shop sketch!) Stopping by their creamery (on a snowy evening) is a nice way to see their whole cheese range and choose your desired level of maturity; Dark Moon, their newest ash-rinded brie, is getting awards and good reviews. Their store is not snazzy like a Sonoma winery – it could do with a re-organization, but it’s functional enough and the wine section is nicely laid out. The pond and picnic tables are very cute and make for a nice place to eat before or after a Pt. Reyes hike. It’s of historical interest too as oldest creamery in the US that’s still in operation – in 1865 their breakfast cheese was transported by steamboat to the SF docks where workers had it for breakfast, washed down with Steam Beer. Breakfast of Champions!

For social and environmental impact I think Marin French Cheese deserves 4/5 “green stars.” No, it’s not made from organic milk (like Cowgirl’s Mt. Tam) but it is made from grass-fed Marin cows and they use vegetarian rennet. Jim Boyce bought the creamery back in 1998 and is credited with encouraging sustainable practices amongst the growing number of cheese makers in Marin. He was an environmentalist, an organic farmer, and built his own solar energy facility. Their sister creamery (Laura Chenel, who make goat cheese) was awarded LEED Gold status for energy efficiency - they get most of their power from solar and recycle all their water. The most common 8 oz. cheese rounds come wrapped in cellophane and then placed in a little wooden tray (made from poplar) and the whole thing is wrapped in thin plastic. I’m not sure that the tray and plastic wrap are needed really, but I usually find a good use for the wooden tray (e.g., plant saucer) and the cellophane that covers the cheese is biodegradable. And I agree with them (check out Cheese 101 on their site) that wrapping cheese in cling film or plastic is just nasty. At the store you can pick up cheese without the wooden tray and outer plastic wrap.

What a lovely setting for a cheese company! First, Petaluma is a friendly little town with a great personality, but the drive to the cheese company was so relaxing. As you arrive, just beyond their parking area, you will see a beautiful pond with water fowl paddling peacefully. They have picnic tables where you can eat lunch. Bring some fruit and enjoy it with their cheese & crackers. Inside their store the have delicious Brie, Camembert & their Breakfast cheese for tasting. I tasted all three. They offer a young Camembert which was so mild & creamy. Their service people were friendly & answered all of our questions. They even had some bargains so if you bought one cheese, you got one of another free. A nice drive, delicious cheese and a pretty setting.

This is located in the middle of the Marin County Dairy farm area. I live near the cheese factory and love to stop in and get a wheel of Camembert from time to time. The staff behind the counter will tell you which cheeses are ripe and ready for consumption if you ask them. Do this - it does make a difference.
Tours are also available for those who are interested.

They have a variety of food to purchase, along with their wonderful cheese. You can make a full picnic here at this pretty spot.

We had never been here before, but the road leading in and out is a breathtaking, beautiful road with rolling hills and beautiful sights. The cheese is all great and they make sandwiches and sell lots of olive oils, spreads, wine country good, etc... There's a small lake outside where you can eat your lunch and chill out in the grass. Can't wait to go back...

Best brie ever! I eat a lot of cheese and I love brie and triple cremes! This store has flavors and textures I've never had before. While good cheese is always expensive, this cheese it totally worth it and it's not crazy expensive. In addition, they have great sales, which I was early enough to take advantage of, so I was able to get $80 worth of cheese for only $30! My two favorites are the Supreme, it's almost as creamy as soft butter! Also the Triple Crème Brie with Urbani Italian Black Truffles, was so rich and such a deep flavor, YUM! They do sell in some grocery stores, but my store doesn't carry the more exotic, like the truffle, but at least I can get it when I can't get to Petaluma.

Everytime we head to our family home in Inverness we take a minor detour to the CHEESE FACTORY, aka Marin French Cheese Company. I beautiful little shop, with tiny lake, picnic tables, good wines for pairings and incredibly friendly staff. A must visit to get your Point Reyes Blue and lots of others!

I love riding out here on my bike and relaxing on the lawn before my ride back. Beautiful and relaxing

My son goes to school in West Marin and 3 days a week his grandmother picks him up from school, travelling the Petaluma - Pt. Reyes road throughout the seasons observing green hills in the winter, massive explosions of California wild flowers in the spring, and the brown hills of the fall. No matter the time of year they have adopted the ritual of stopping off at the Cheese Factory where he picks up one of the petites or a slice of brie, a few crackers and while sitting next to the small lake has a snack and does his homework before completing the journey home. The little shop, the pond, the surrounding hills create a quiet, nature centric oasis that is inviting and accessible.

He absolutely loves the 'petite breakfast' cheese (the leftovers often become filler for next morning croissants!) and over the last 5 years has become a bit of a cheese snob, assuming brie or camembert are real cheese and everything else I try to throw on a piece of bread is my attempt at subterfuge. I wholely blame the French Cheese Factory for educating the palate of my youngest son, spoiling him so no cheddar, provolone or gouda will satisfy his desires and Oh, by the way, he is graduating with honors this year thanks to the attention his homework has gotten :)

A lovely little shop and picnic area in the middle of the hicks valley, if you ever get a chance, pull in and create enduring California memories of your own.

We had been given their cheese while staying at Cavallo Point in Sausalito, so we decided to visit, since we were in the area. It's a small, quaint cheese shop located within lovely park-like grounds. Their Brie cheese is fantastic and the food you can order from the gift shop area is very tasty (both to eat on-site or as a take-away). They also have a great selection of merchandise to purchase. If you have the time, it's a great stop to make.

My wife and I went to the Cheese Company on a Tuesday. We've been there before, and decided to try it again. Since it had been a few years, we packed up a picnic basket with all the goodies: bread, meat, wine, dessert, etc. We decided not to take cheese, for obvious reasons.

Then we got there. They had everything we had packed. We could have purchased a freshly-made sandwich there. The cheese was exceptional, and they had everything else we had packed. We ended up buying a dessert (a cheesecake round with pecan frosting), as well as a bunch of cheese.

If we had it to do over again, we just would have bought everything there. LIve and learn!

It is a beautiful setting to have lunch. There is a medium-sized pond, with only one duck for some reason. Usually, there have been a lot of water fowl there, but today only one. I guess they worked all weekend and were tired on Tuesday.

There are benches, and a large grassy area if you want to bring a blanket to sit on.

However, they no longer give tours of their cheese-making area, which detracts from the overall experience. Otherwise, they'd get five circles.

It's a great place to stop for lunch on your way to the coast. We ended up driving to Pt. Reyes, and the weather was perfect - in the low 70's. I'd recommend this place for stopping, enjoying and eating.

We love going here. Their cheeses are great. We took a tour before. They are very helpful explaining about their cheeses. You can taste too. They usually have some kind of special. They have a great pond and park to sit in and enjoy your lunch or snacks.

We really enjoyed the visit to this cheese factory and store. They make brie and bamambert cheeses. We enjoyed the sampling and the friendly help. It is a great small place to visit!

Just a great place to go, and if you want have Picnic it’s a great place to do that to so I would pack picnic lunch and go enjoy your self

Nice little store with a lot to offer.
They have wines from Napa, Sonoma and from local wineries which is a nice selection.
They also have FREE Brie samples that are wheels of a few select cheeses and you aren't limited to how you slice your samples.
They also have shirt/jackets and other souvenir items available.
Outside are picnic tables beside a lake; just very pleasant.
We have been here a few times and will be back

The shop is divided into three primary rooms. The main room is dominated by the cheese coolers along the back wall. The remainder of this room has numerous gourmet items along the sides and front. There is a small wine shop to the left. And on the right side is a café, offering sandwiches and flatbreads, which of course feature the Marin French Cheeses.
 
All of the cheeses are available for tasting (there were more than 10 on the day of my visit). All of the varieties are soft to semi-soft; with the triple crème brie with truffles being my favorite.

Having enjoyed all of the cheeses, I decided to make this my lunch stop and enjoyed a grilled panini in the café. Overall, a nice diversion if you are in the area.  

We stopped at this location while following the cheese road along the upper California Coast. The people working there were very friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable of their product. We got to sample a number of cheeses and even bought some to take home. I recommend this facility to anyone travelling along the Cheese Road.

Popped in on the way to Tamales Bay. Great location. Just not as appealing with zero interaction and no tastings. Bought a couple different types. They are great and help support this business. Bonjour!!

Very good cheese and beautiful pond and picnic tables outside. We bought a fresh, pre-sliced baguette to go along with our cheese-what a great idea! Fresh marinated olives topped it all off.

Have been back to this place multiple times- love sitting out on park benches outside by the pond, enjoying the countryside in good weather. The cheese sampling is fun and the deli sandwiches are delicious. A good place to bring children.
Warning: wear suitable shoes for the grassy areas as geese congregate there and you might find yourself stepping on "stuff"

On way to Point Reyes found this little gem and stopped! This is part of the Cheese Trail in California and they have a small deli inside free cheese tasting, cute little souvenirs and a beautiful outside picnic area! So glad we stopped!

Besides the plentiful samples, this place always have something special to offer. Their small packed brie that cost $3.75 each is offered at 12 for $20. That becomes $1.66. Who can eat 20 pieces of brie? You can split with a friend and them them home. That is just an example. There are other specials for the hungry cheese lover. There are other items to buy like jams, bread, crackers and gift items.

They also have tours. On weekends, they close at 4 so better hurry and get there.

I live in Petaluma and have been stopping in at the Marin French Cheese Factory for years. They no longer offer tours, but a nice place to picnic by the lake or just make a brief stop on the way to Pt. Reyes. Sample their cheeses, and buy fresh cheese. Often they have special pricing on some cheeses.

We had driven out to the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse which was unfortunately, fogged in. Did enjoy seeing all the historic still-working dairies on our way back. Thought we would drop into the Marin Cheese Company and purchase some picnic items and in particular, a nice selection of Cow Girl Creamery cheeses. To our great disappointment, every single Cow Girl Creamery cheese was sold out! A real bummer!

I would still recommend this beautiful, bucolic little stop because of its lovely picnic grounds and small lake, but feel staff could do a better job of keeping popular items
like the Cow Girl Creamery products in stock.

The store name ("Marin French Cheese Co.") points to a sophisticated experience. The customer service dispels this illusion and reveals what this place is: a low-level tourist trap.

I visited together with a guest on Saturday 03/13 around noon and then on our way back around 4:45 PM. I talked to the manager during our second visit.
There are two buildings: the store and a separate pavilion for the toilets. The toilet doors have coded locks, which are an efficient way to restrict their use to paying customers—nothing out of line here.

The good part is that the management is very strict about Covid protocol.
The bad part is that the gatekeeper who keeps the number of in-store customers to the accepted level needs some serious training on exercising her freshly acquired powers. She is propped on a tall chair, facing an obedient and long line of masked customers waiting alongside the store's entry ramp. The gatekeeper cuts quite an impressive figure with an Instagram-able, freshly colored hairstyle and an autocratic demeanor, a bit at odds with her young age.

The line was long, and I was very pressed to use the toilet. I asked the gatekeeper if I could have the toilet door codes assuring her I intend to come back and visit the store afterward. She answered with a hint of irony that the toilet door codes are on the receipt I get after making a purchase. I pointed to the long line and the urgency of the situation, and I reiterated my intention to buy the piece of French cheese that would grant me the privilege of using their toilet. The gatekeeper frowned and said sternly: "This is store policy." After that, to my incredulous eyes and ears, she turned to the people in line and told them: "Don't worry, you get to use the toilet."

I pondered the situation for a second and decided to avoid making a scene. The store was on our way back from Point Reyes, and I decided to talk to the manager just before the closing time when the customer numbers decreased. Dolores (the manager) was very defensive, kept mentioning that she never had any customer service complaints in her 20 years of employment. She agreed to talk to the employee assigned to manage the customers' entry.
All in all, she was tone-deaf about the reason why I insisted on meeting her.

Maybe this explanation will allow her to understand:
Selling French cheese while surrounded by the sublime landscape of West Marin doesn't necessarily make you the lord of the land. You should strive to live up to the privilege of working in such a pleasant environment and train your employees to be polite, courteous, and friendly. They should have a basic understanding of a delicate situation. If they don't, the owner will save money replacing them with a mechanical turnstile or a vending machine with the same if not better results. I hope this note gets the proper reception and improves a store that lucked up such a fantastic location. If not, it will continue to break the spell of a perfect Northern California landscape.

Nice place, get a tour of the factory. Fresh cheese. Deli & wine and eat outside by the lake. Good value.

If you enjoy world-class brie, camembert, schloss, or breakfast cheese, you don't need to travel to Europe to enjoy them. Just take a ride out D Street in Petaluma, which becomes the Petaluma-Point Reyes Road; it's about half-way on that road southwest.

If you'd like to picnic there, they have a lovely lake and picnic tables, and they sell bread, crackers, drinks, and so on. So, go, enjoy!

I stopped by while on vacation in the area, and despite there being an open sign on the door, the door to the store was locked. I walked around the grounds a bit and was going to leave, but then a couple other people arrived shortly after me and started knocking on the door. Their persistence paid off and someone did unlock the door.

They had a number of types of cheeses out for customers to try, but no one seemed very interested in talking about their products. The truffle cheese was amazing, and the Brie and Camembert were delicious as well. I was hoping they'd have an option of getting a wine and cheese plate or something, but they don't; they only had a counter for sandwiches and that was closed.

This is strictly a store, not a place that does tours or provides places to eat on site. There are picnic tables but they must based on others' reviews, must be reserved for a fee.

Since it was a hot day, and I didn't have a cooler to get cheese back to my motel, I didn't buy anything. Their cheeses are excellent, but are sold at many stores in the area, so I'd suggest skipping this store, and just buying the cheese closer to wherever you are staying.

We took a day with friends to do Cheese tastings in Sonoma County. This was the best of the 4 shops we visited. You can taste each of the cheeses that are highlighted that day and if this is your only stop, buy the cheese and walk outside to the beautiful pond and have a picnic on their tables. We however bought triple onion quark, quark garlic and schloss A, which was more than any other of the wine shops on our tour.

The best fresh French Brie cheese I have tasted! A beautiful location on huge rolling mountains with a pond and picnic tables to share a lunch! Free samples inside and lots to buy for cheap! A great side trip if two allows.

We stoped for a an hour or so and enjoyed their fresh cheese. After a bunch of samples, we purchased a few and went outside to enjoy. They have a bunch of picnic tables by their pond to sit and enjoy your purchase.

They also sell alcohol if you partake.

It was a nice stop with fun people working there.

I grew up going here so I am a little biased. The cheese factory was the place to ride our bikes to grab some lunch and relax. I loved it then and it still has a place in my heart. Good cheese and a relaxing setting.

Fresh cheese, cold cuts and sandwiches. Grab that baguette some cheese and a salami (Salume in California) and hit the coast for a day of sun and sand.

The GF and me were on an outing in Marin County. We happened upon the Marin French Cheese Factory. The factory is just off the highway and has a pond with picnic tables and restrooms. There is a factory cheese store that sells food, drinks ,other things, and of course there is cheese for you to taste. The factory specializes in brie and has won many awards for this which are displayed on the wall in a alcove. Also in the alcove they play a short movie about cheese production.
The factory is a an ideal repite with all the things you need to put together a quaint picnic near their pond. When I was there 2 people were fishing. No guarantees there are fish to be caught.
Easy in and out parking.

Great place to bring your kids for a picnic. If you enjoy Brie then this is your place. If like me you enjoy hard aged cheese you will not find their cheese to your taste. Lots of good wine for sale at $15 to$25 a bottle.

No tour available when I was there and that is why we went. Friendly helpful staff.

Any time we drive out to the coast, we stop at Marin French...free samples and good deals on excellent cheeses. Also a good place to hang out and have a picnic.

This is a great place to stop of the road from Highway 101 to the coast and it's not just for the cheese. The deli has a wide selection and there are picnic tables near their lake. You can even bring along some wine which goes well with the sandwiches and cheese.

Great place to stop & have lunch or pick up a picnic on the way.
Their signature sandwich, half bottle of Chardonnay and you are all set. We choose a Picnic table by the pond in the shade.

A must is some great cheeses for later. When we are in the area this will be on our list for lunch.

The first of its kind- pre- Cheese Trail. Still stands up next to the best boutique producers. Stop in for a picnic. Friendly staff. Tours also.

I've been stopping by this place off and on for 20 years and the tour is always suspended due to renovations. I suggested they take down the tour sign once and they got a little testy. Don't let any of that deter you though the cheese is fantastic. Lots of samples. Great clean picnic area with a beautiful pond. Bring an ice chest as you'll want to take some cheese home.

Marin French has some of the best cheeses around. Award winning for a reason...all of the cheeses we tried were delicious. Absolutely worth the trip. It is a small store and a bit of a drive to get there, but well worth going. You will leave with a smile on your face and a lot of wonderful cheese to take home. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We lived in Marin County many years ago and took our kids to the French Cheese for picnicking. It's so nice to still see it there and that cheese is every bit as good as it ever was. Take the beautiful drive out. You'll be glad you did.

Stop by on the way to Pt. Reyes or make it a destination. Marin French Cheese is a great place to sample and buy the greatest cheeses and other foods and beverages. My favorite is their Brie. Lovely area to picnic or just relax surrounded by the gorgeous rolling farmlands. Clean bathrooms.

Stopped here on the way to Pt. Reyes National Seashore during a weekend in Sonoma. We did not take the tour. The employee who greeted us and let us sample cheese was very very good. I just like artisanal cheeses, and the cheese at Marin (Rouge et Noir) was really below par considering it is made on site. Tasted very mass produced to me. If you stop here to get supplies for a picnic or hike in the national park, get the Pt. Reyes Bleu (a family owned dairy that makes bleu cheese nearby but doesn't have a tour). The petit blue I bought from Marin was absolutely terrible and had no semblance to a bleu cheese. They do have all the supplies needed to grab a picnic to-got from crackers to bread to wine...

After our visit, I couldn't resist a purchase. Now the suitcase is stinky from the flight back to Texas!
I visited the cheese company on a Saturday morning. Learned about French cheeses. Sampled six types. Took our purchases out onto the scenic grounds. Could see those California happy cows in the distance.
I took a chance taking my friends out on this rural drive, but was not disappointed. The folks were friendly, the cheese was delicious, and the scenery was gorgeous. Make a lunch stop. You can buy sandwiches, or buy things there to make your own. There are a few picnic tables with a view.

You can get a tour of the factory which is very interesting. There is a shop where you can purchase cheese, bread and wine for a lakeside picnic. The lake has duck and geese. The kids love that.

The cheese is wonderful and locally made. The location is beautiful. The staff is super helpful and welcoming. Will be back!!

The Brie with truffles is fabulous and a great value. Get a piece of cheese from their great big display case and some bread and head over to the pond for a great picnic spot. It's a great way to enjoy the sunshine in late summer. When you finish it's easy to try a new flavor by buying a couple of 4oz pieces.

Very nice place to stop by. Have lunch, they make great sandwiches, or pick up cheese, wine and all you need for a picnic at Bodega Bay.

I was used to Wisconsin cheese factories - which are typically larger and with a great deal of variety. Marin French cheese is smaller and specializes only in french-style soft cheeses with rinds (Brie, Triple Creme Brie, and Camembert), with very high quality. There are several flavors including Jalapeño and Truffle. There a samples, and helpful counter people who don't mind if you taste several different ones, and even have seconds if you are having a hard time deciding. There is no pressure to buy, but the cheese is so smooth and delicious that you want to buy. The petite cheeses are a good way to take home a variety, and I got several of those. I love Jalapeño, and the Marin cheese did not disappoint. It had the bite of the pepper, but the heat did not overwhelm the cheese itself. It's a perfect mixture. I would also recommend the Petite Breakfast cheese.

Another surprise was that there is a nice wine room off to the side, with quite a variety of local and imported wines. It was an impressive selection, and a great idea to sell wine to go with your cheese.

There is also a small deli, which I did not try, and a small gift shop.

I can't wait to come back with more time (and to take a tour- only M-F 11 and 2) for a picnic by the huge pond! Only 9 miles from Novato and Petaluma it feels like 100 years ago in the green cow-filled hills and is home to an historic French-style cheese factory. Plenty of shade, grass and picnic tables and a little California history to eat your Brie :). The shop has plenty of accoutrements to add to your picnic (they even offer you a plastic knife if you need it).

This lovely cheese shop is located out in the hills of Marin county. Very pastural. You can sample their excellent soft cheese for free. I was partial to the truffle cheese. We bought quite a few types and made a grand picnic of it that evening with some figs and fresh blackberries.

Located in the hinterlands of Marin County, this is a place NOT to miss if you like cheese. The Brie and Camembert are my favorites and the reason for returning.

I have been coming here for 50 years and the place only gets better and bigger. Ignoring a history lesson, it is fair to say from its store you can get most anything needed to enjoy a wonderful afternoon eating cheese, drinking wine and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Great cheeses and nice place for a picnic. Beautiful views of surrounding countryside. Nice place to spend a few hours in the country and enjoy some interesting cheeses.

Store staff is super friendly and helpful,...store has plenty of refreshments for riders and travelers of all types.

One of THE best places I happened upon while home in Northern California recently was the Marin French Cheese Company. I had sampled their cheeses before and when I was on my way back to Napa Valley from Muir Woods, I decided I had to find this gem. Out in the middle of nowhere is gold at the end of a rainbow! Know that the drive here is very pretty. The Marin French Cheese Company has tours you can partake in to witness how their mainly triple cream bries are crafted. The store is all things amazing: I highly recommend this little store if you are thinking a perfect 'wine country picnic' is in your future, as ALL the little treasures you need are right here! The beautiful little triple cream bries and quark cheeses in so many varieties and they are not at a high price point , either! My personal favorite is the Truffle and the Triple Crème Breakfast. There are little fresh breads and crackers ; salumi's; various compotes and jams;oils and bottles of wine ... actually that selection is quite impressive! There are samples for most of the cheeses, in case you just aren't sure .. or you are like me and can't get enough! I have found they keep for a little past the expiry date and are best when you let these cheeses sit out a bit to soften. THIS has to be a must stop on your tour of cheese in Sonoma / Marin. The setting with a small lake, Canadian Geese and picnic tables make this just serene, so you can grab what you need inside and take in the beauty here on the outside! All things heaven are here!

Great stop to sample and buy some fabulous cheese and wine on our way to Point Reyes Beach. The service is outstanding and selection fare. Lots of Great brie, bread and crackers. Will make this a routine stop when we come back.

I have been a regular visitor for 36 years and am only in my forties. I have always enjoyed the peace and solitude of this wonderful location. I do have a sense that the place is increasingly corporate, that withstanding the young ladies that work the counter are polite and helpful and know there cheese. I wish there was more of a sense of community and less focus on which cheese is "moving" and which should be put on sale....As a customer I want to lose myself on the factory grounds with a good sandwich and drink and a bucolic setting. I'm happy to report you can still do this at the Cheese Factory.

A nice drive to the outskirts of Petaluma where the Marin French Cheese Company sits among the hills. The employees were very friendly and had a lot of information about their products. There are several varieties of brie cheese for the tasting, and I enjoyed almost all of them (we bought several). Other cheeses, bread, crackers and spreads are also available. There are beverages and other goodies available as well.

The grounds were very nice with trees, a small pond and picnic tables. Next time, we will bring a picnic lunch.

Definitely well worth a visit.

Nice drive into the country from Point Reyes Station, and the cheese was delicious. They have nice picnic tables set up outside, so you can enjoy the surroundings.

My husband and I were there on Valentines Day to sample the cheeses. The weather was perfect and we purchased two panini sandwiches (turkey and cranberry was delicious) and sat outside to enjoy the view and the weather. There are picnic tables, a small lake (pond) and plenty of grass. The cheeses are wonderful and you can taste, purchase and enjoy them. The gift shop has some fun things as well.

Great views, relaxing lawn area. Cute ducks all around. Visit the cheese shop and get some bread and brie to snack on.

OK, first things first. This is a wonderful place to visit. So, you ask, why did I give them only two stars? I'll get into that in a minute.

Many times my wife and I have stopped at the MFCC to get a sandwich to eat when we go to the beach. When the beach is fogged in, we just stay there and picnic. It's got a cool pond with picnic tables at various places around it. The staff is friendly and helpful, and overall it's a fun place to go to picnic and relax.

Inside, they've got a wonderful selection of foodstuffs, wine, and of course, cheese. And not just their cheese. One of our favorites, Point Reyes Cheese's Toma, is there.

But something happened on our visit today that really made me upset. They have a sandwich bar that has two kinds of offerings: pre-made sandwiches which are in the cooler along with chilled drinks, and the ones they make on the spot, which are heated sort of like paninis.

I looked at the sandwiches in their cooler, and they looked like they always did. But we ordered two of the warm ones: the turkey, and the ham-and-cheese.

They put them in a paper box, so we didn't actually see the sandwiches until we got to our table. And then, the hammer fell.

The sandwiches were almost nonexistent. When I first opened the box, I thought, "Where's the sandwich?"

Instead of being on a fairly large ciabatta or similar roll, they were on a small, tough split baguette. There was very little meat inside them, and I mean like one layer of meat. Think of one slice and you'll get the idea. A little cheese, a smattering of dressing, some tiny sliced pickles on the side (on mine), and that was it. It was like half the sandwich we used to get there, for the same price. Can you say, 'shrinkflation?'

However, on the good side (I guess), they gave a lot more side salad. And each sandwich cost $13. So for $26, we got a minuscule excuse for a sandwich and a lot of greens. To say it was not worth it is being too kind.

So take this as a warning. If you're going there and want to buy food to eat there, here's a tip. If you come through San Marin (Novato) as we did, there's a Harvest Market that makes wonderful sandwiches for $8.99 ($9.99 for specialty sandwiches). They're really good, and you can save yourself some of your hard-earned cash. It's only about a five-minute drive from the MFCC, so even if you get the warm ones, they'll still be warm when you get there.

Again, the MFCC has great cheeses and a lot of locally-made foodstuffs, so it's great to shop there. But my recommendation that you stay away from their sandwiches, unless you get the ready-made cold ones that you can see before you buy.

The triple cream brie is the best. It practically melts in your mouth. We took it to the beach and had brie on crackers with tomatoes for lunch. Yum!

Have been going to "the cheese factory" for over 30 years. Always great cheese and a nice place to have a bite to eat. Have done many Mothers or Fathers Days next to the pond.
Generally, they have a great deal on brie. Normally $6 in the stores; they have deals that are generous; just ask what's on sale!

Fine place for anyone interested in amazing carefully produced cheeses. A legendary place! Opportunities to taste and learn about the different cheeses.

A great place to go and spend an hour to go for a cheese tour, and tasting. Buy a baguette, some cured meats, and their cheese to enjoy on the grass outside near the pond. Some of the friendliest cheese makers around are incredibly passionate about their craft. Worth the stop on your way out to or down the coast.

Great Cheesefactory many different varieties so delicious ah ah aha yummy love it Bon appétit little wine a little water lemonade oh yeah bread , so yummy every bite so good so many different varieties 😃😃🍇📚fresh fruit 🍓

A little drive down the road, but a very pretty day. Lots of cheese and you can sample before you buy. They also have an area where you can get sandwiches and drinks (including wine ) and take it out to one of their picnic tables on the grounds. Very helpful and friendly staff to talk to about the cheeses.

Lovely cheese, lovely setting to snack. Arrived wanting something quick to eat and purchased some delicious pre-made sandwiches. Sat at the picnic table by the lake and enjoyed the sunshine.

Located southwest of Petaluma among the rolling hills of Marin country, this place is beautiful. You enter and find all sorts of cheeses and other yummy things to buy. They have cheese out for you to taste and they don't make you feel guilty if you take more than one taste. I found one of my favorite cheeses, Schloss. We then bought our lunch on the opposite side and ate it outside by the beautiful pond under the shady trees. Please move this to southern California!

A few cheeses to try out. Pretty grounds with pond. Could picnic there too. Hot day so we didn't stay long. Would have liked a tour of the factory.

We did not have time for the tour, but we did enjoy some cheese and sat out by the pond. They have everything you need for a picnic.

The best brie and camembert and the picnics. Take visitors from all over the world for years!

Having passed by this place many times over the years, finally decided to stop in and give it a try. love, love, love cheese so what could be bad about stopping?

Nice pond to the side of the store, picnic tables, plenty of parking and the store to go into. I guess though that I expected something different once we walked into the store. There is a nice selection of cheeses for sale (of course), some from french marin and lots of cheeses from other farms as well. There are also plenty of other items to buy to make for a nice picnic - wine, bread, olives, sodas etc. as well as some little knickknack stuff - my wife decided to pick up a nice canvas bag.

The people inside were kind enough and helpful but were busy doing their everyday stuff. There are some samples of french marin cheeses cut out on the counter but do not expect a presentation or discussion about them. Prices were reasonable and we bought 5 little rounds of different ones. We liked the breakfast brie most but overall we think I like some other farms' cheeses better.

While we were there, there was some questions about using the picnic tables (there are signs that they do not want you to just bring a picnic and stop to use the tables) that you can use if you buy something - questions were cleared up quickly. Lots of canadian geese when we were there. It was comfortable to hang for a little while. We were glad that we went although, don't know that we would stop next time, as I said there are other farms that we like better.

You can buy their cheeses elsewhere if you do not want to stop in.

This is a great place to relax. A small lake, a grass field, superb cheese, French bread and wine. During the week there are often discounts on the cheese when you purchase multiple amounts ... so be certain to bring a cooler with you to transport your cheese home. If you go on the weekend when it is crowded, picnic in the back (left side of the parking lot) as many people don't realize there are tables available for a picnic in that area

I've been coming to Marin French Cheese Company for 40 years and still enjoy it every time I visit. It is my favorite brand of cheese, and I love coming here with my family enjoying cheese, salami, baguette, etc. next to the pond.

I took a tour several years ago and really enjoyed that, also!

We stopped on our way back (to Sebastopol) from a weekend in Bolimas/PT. Reyes. A beautiful spot for a picnic lunch or dinner, and you can get the cheese right here. Picnic tables overlook a peaceful pond with ducks floating ( but not pestering you for handouts). Great place to stop and watch the sun rise or set.

I've visited this place several times. Back before it changed owners and more recently. The surroundings are very nice. Pond with ducks and geese and grass, even in the drought, the pond stays full because of a natural spring. The chesses and other items in the small store are over priced and not that good. I rather like the Petaluma Creamery way better.

One of the stops on the Marin and Sonoma Cheese Trail! we sampled and then purchased some cheese but wished we could have stayed longer. They have a cute little pond and some tables to make an ideal picnic spot if you plan ahead. Its also an absolutely beautiful drive through area. Make a day trip out of the cheese trail and you won't regret it :)

Nothing fancy, but a nice location in an area of no other stopping points. I was looking for more american cheese like cheese curds. I enjoyed the drive from Petaluma to the coast.

On the way to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, make a stop at the Marin French Cheese Company for a vast selection of cheeses, mostly brie. They also offer breads, salads, made-to-order sandwiches, wines and other delicacies (we bought the smoked garlic stuffed olives). The picnic area by the lagoon is a lovely, relaxing place to enjoy lunch or a snack. To avoid the crowds, plan a trip during the week or get there by 11 a.m. on the weekend.

when in the area a go to place for us to visit. do not know why the cheeses they had out this time (10- 5- 13) seem old and past ripe especially the schloss. will return again as usually good but it be a long while.

This is a nice place to stop at when traveling or just looking for a relaxing getaway for lunch. Full service deli and the cheese store, excellent.

Enjoyed the creamy bries, camemberts and fraiches. Recommend a quick pitstop if you are on the Petaluma/Point Reyes road.

Another of the many cheese factories in California. This is different than many other ones in that it has a fair sized store, a large parking lot and a lake with some picnic tables. It is a very nice place and the people are friendly.

About 9 miles out of Petaluma -- go west on D Street.
Nice little place. You can take a tour of the cheese-making facility. And you can sample cheeses in the shop. And, of course, you can buy the cheeses. Often there are "specials" -- I once got 12 half pound wheels for $20! (Shared them with friends, of course.)
And the cheese is good.
You can buy wines, soft drinks, breads, and other snacks. Then have a picnic on the grounds. A small pond/lake with ducks and geese, a lawn, and picnic tables.
Nice way to spend some time on your way to Tomales or Point Reyes.

We decided to drive the Cheese Road, north of San Francisco. This road/area has lots of cheese creameries with stores attached. Many give tours on the weekend. We were out for the drive and to buy some cheese. Very scenic countryside. Very friendly and helpful staff who offered samples of various cheeses. This particular creamery specialized in soft cheeses, mostly various styles of brie. There is a small snack area and an outdoor picnic area.

Was there yesterday while volunteering for a relay. Never been before. Great place to spend some time with family or friends. Theres a little lake,lots of grass and picnic tables. The store have great assortments of jellys and mustard and chocolate,crackers and wine and beer and non alcoholic drinks. They have sample of their cheeses and its yum! You can buy some to eat there or buy a 4 pack sample to take home. They also have some sandwiches,soup and pastries there. Pretty cool place with great farm views.

Visited on a birthday drive through the countryside. This is the oldest cheese making company in the country. Delicious cheese tasting, and we hit a great sale, so left with 6 small wheels of their fabulous Double Brie. A great spot in a beautiful part of Sonoma/Marin Counties.

This place is a bit out of the way, but you get rewarded with beautiful scenery. The Marin Cheese Co. is between Novato and Petaluma. They have nicely groomed grounds, a lovely picnic area next to a pond and free cheeses to sample. Their cheeses are made on the premises and quite good! They also have a nicely stocked store with local products; check out the sun-dried tomato pesto for a real treat!

I love this place and stop here whenever I'm heading out to West Marin for a hike.
They have good sandwiches and, of course, CHEESE!
They also have cheeses out for tasting and lots of local products to choose from. You can eat your purchases out by their little pond, or take them with you on your hike!

Located in Petaluma don't miss the longest continuously operating cheese factory in America. It has specialized in handmade Brie and Camambert since 1865. In 2005 it was the first American producer to beat France and other European countries in international competition. They know how to make cheese and you will enjoy tasting yummy samples served in different ways. I also loved their jams. I will be taking home my favorite selections.

They have some great locally made, award winning Brie and Camembert cheeses which they sell at very reasonable prices. Although we didn't do one you can do a tour and learn about how they make cheese. You can buy home-made sandwiches and they have outside seating overlooking a pond. We have visited a few other local creameries and this one is one of the better ones - well worth the time to visit.

Last week was my fifth trip to Marin French Cheese - we go to Northern CA as often as we can. The cheese is the best - add a bottle of wine, a loaf of sourdough and get a picnic table by the lake, then relax and enjoy an incredible experience.

We quit driving through Oakland to Sacramento a few years ago because while it is theoretically faster, it is a grungy, depressing sea of cars.

Instead, we cross the Golden Gate Bridge and work our way around back to I 80. It's a pretty drive, frequently as fast or faster than I 80, and provides some great side trips like this.

This cheesery is the source of Rouge et Noir cheeses, available only in the immediate area (Costco actually carried them briefly, but I think they couldn't meet demand). The drive out, from Petaluma, is on winding well maintained roads with nice views - after San Francisco and 101 driving, it's like a breath of fresh air.

The facility provides nice picnic grounds on a lake. There is a tour, which we've managed to go on exactly once in eight years, which is pretty interesting, but don't count on being able to go.

There are generous samples and frequent specials. If you need an afternoon break, try this. Better yet, bring bikes and ride in from Petaluma

We visited the Marin County artisan cheese area and Marin French Cheese was one of the highlights. Just outside of Petaluma, situated next to a beautiful pond with a large picnic area. The busy, beautifully appointed store has a full selection of their cheeses in all sizes - primarily Brie, Camembert and other triple cream, soft ripening cheeses. All cheeses are available to taste and the store has a huge selection of bread, crackers, and cheese related gifts. Well worth a visit.

Perfect spot to pickup delicious local cheese and goodies. The scenic drive alone is worth the time. The Camembert was our favorite. Samples of everything available.

Great shopping experience. We dropped in while returning from Sonoma to San Fran. The staff were EXTREMELY friendly, helpful and offered suggestions on the best way to serve the cheeses. This stop is well worth a visit.

They had a cute deli and a variety of products to be bought: cheese (brie), jelly/marmalade/curd, crackers, wine. They have several picnic tables on their grounds that encircle their pond. Unfortunately, they only thing you get to sample is the brie and it was only 4 or 5 types. It is tucked away out in the country so when I lost GPS signal (when leaving) it got a little exciting ;)

It's worth it to drive up to the Cheese Factory in Petaluma. Once you're in downtown Petaluma, just go up toward the hills up E Street. There is a factory tour but it's only Monday thru Friday. The store is open 7 days. They specialize in brie cheese, although they do have gouda in the refrigerated case. We made our purchases, and then went out to the benches by the pond and just had a great lunch! Call them at 1-800-292-6001 to find out the exact hours.

On vacation to Point Reyes my family and I stopped off at this amazing little briery! If you love Brie this is your place! It was so tasty we had to stop back the next day to purchase more! They have garlic jalapeño, truffle, breakfast, triple cream, and many other Brie like cheeses! Additionally they have super tasty goat cheeses! The friendly and helpful Vianette let us sample a few and was very informative! I highly recommend the stop!

This is such a nice stop going to the coast or coming back into Petaluma. The grounds are very nice for lunch or just wine and cheese. Not only can you buy cheese but also food and drinks. The bottom line it's all about French Brie of all types. Check out the daily specials of cheeses, always some great buys.

WOW! This is the longest operating cheese company in America, making traditional & original cheeses since 1865. They happily offer free & delicious samples while educating visitors at the same time. Opens daily at 11am with a lovely pond and free picnic area (with any purchase). We were surprised to find many half price cheeses & pastries, with different ones offered daily. Be sure to schedule time to stop in & pick up some delicious goods on your way out to Point Reyes National Seashore; as it's on the same route. You'll be glad you did!

Wow what great place to visit and spend some time enjoying wine and eating cheese and crackers.....Fun picnic area They some of the best cheeses in the world.......Love this place!!!!!!!

Tasted so many cheeses! Just about 15 minutes outside of town w/ a big pond and grass to enjoy a wine/bread/cheese picnic! I bought two kinds and will be back again! Great service as well!

We drove over from Kenwood on a rainy Spring Break vacation. All of the cheese samples were great and there are many other items for sale too. Had it been a nice day, we would have had a picnic near the beautiful pond. We came so our kids could watch them make cheese on the tour. The tour only lasted about 5 minutes, but everything was well explained. Very interesting process.

I read a recommendation in the AAA travel book for Marin French Cheese Company. My friend and I had driven from San Francisco to Petaluma on Sunday afternoon and decided to travel to the cheese company. The drive was beautiful and offered photo opportunities. There were many cheeses to sample. We purchased sandwiches and a bottle of wine and had a picnic by the pond; it was lovely. As it was Sunday afternoon, the sandwiches were BOGO and I purchased a couple for the next day. I also bought a wonderful Brie. The staff was extremely friendly, helpful and outgoing. It was an afternoon well spent and I would highly recommend a visit.

The Brie is delicious. My favorite was the truffle Brie cheese.
They also have a great selection of vinegars.

Amazing experince! We cannot stress enough, how much fun & a zillion family memories we have had at Marin Cheese! We have enjoyed their fabulous cheeses & free pond picnic area over 60 years! We have tons of great memories with our families as kids....you can’t beat the country location, ability to purchase everything for your picnic, cheese, wine & local cheeses, French bread, soup, coffee, local oils, canning & gifts. We have brought all of our families & friends, plus our friends from other countries to the most “ idyllic location” in the Bay Area! My father always brought us there when we visited him in Novato from out of state 45 years ago.... our 11 kids & their families always want to go there first when they visit us in Petaluma! Don’t forget to get extra for gifts for Christmas, hostess gifts & your everyday food needs! Don’t miss your chance to go on the factory tours as well! Honestly it’s our favorite place go to on a lazy day or weekend for lunch with the ducks on the pond ! Don’t miss it & the beautiful 10 min. drive from town! Maybe we’ll see you there!

We would bring the kids when very young to see the ducks.

Nice picnic area and excellent cheese.

Just stick to what they make. Age has a lot to do with flavor, so try many before deciding.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to take the tour as tours were "suspended" due to renovations. The good news is that there was a great "special" the day we were there of 6 rounds of Brie (Triple Creme or Original) for $20.00 and lots of other taste-tests to indulge in. We decided to swing back at the end of the day to purchase the cheese and the "special" had changed to 8 rounds for $20.00. What a deal! Looking forward to coming back for a tour. There is a lovely "picnic" type area outside, with a small pond and bathrooms are accessible from outside. Nice stop for families who might need to have the kids run around a bit.

The bucolic setting on the outside is at odds with the austere tourist trap souvenir offerings on the inside. There weren’t a whole lot of customers on the day we were there but the staff was running around like Chicken Littles, huffing and puffing and in too much of a hurry going nowhere to stop and answer questions effectively. We did buy some cheese just so we could have a code to open the bathroom doors. We enjoyed sitting at a Picnic table to relax - the weather was perfect.

I have been coming here since I was a kid. This place still offers the best cheese ever. Their Brie is wonderful and better then anything you could buy in the store. They offer Gluten free chips now for purchase. Someone was really thinking here! Good job. I overheard them talking this weekend about closing down for a few weeks to put in a café. This is a great idea. I will be back for sure. Usually stop in on the way back from the coast. Their Sunday deals are the best! Recently had a very romantic picnic by the lake. This is a beautiful spot with lots of shade from the huge trees. Bring a blanket or sit at one of the many picnic benches. They also sell wine to go with your cheese, and you can buy a bottle opener for about $4. Bathrooms are outside and very clean.

I have been visiting the Marin French Cheese Company since I was a little girl. I am all grown up now. I visit several times a year. It is a wonderful place for a picnic or a great place to just stop and buy some insanely low priced cheese. On the premesis' they make Brie, Camembert, Breakfast and several other yummy cheese that are sold in Whole Foods and many fine markets. A Brie at the cheese factory will be between $3 & $6. At fine markets this same cheese runs about $15 to $20. They offer tours so you can see how they make it. There is plenty of picnic tables and a lot of other food to supplement the cheese such as bread, crackers, salami, wine, sodas, sandwiches. It sits on a property with an amazing landscaping complete with pond, trees, grass and just a peaceful area. Please visit, you will find it one of your favorite places like me.

While traveling through Petaluma we took the 15 minutes drive to get here and found the cheese exquisite! We love their cinnamon cranberry, among many others. The tasting experience was excellent, and they have a professionally prepared video showing the entire process of cheese making which was very informative and a nice addition to the experience they have plenty of sauces jams crackers olives Etc to accompany the Chiefs elections and we found the store quite charming and quaint. Unfortunately we had a rainy, windy day and were unable to sit outside and enjoy our goodies right away. But we loaded up and along with our Berghold wine we're in for a real treat at home!!

The Marin French Cheese Company is out in the rolling hills of Marin County. Be forewarned that the directions you might find online are not correct. The folks at the end of our directions were used to this so they told us how to find the place. If you're up for cycling hills, it would be a lovely bike ride to taste cheese.

As you might expect, they make cheese like Brie, Camembert, and so on. Wonderful stuff and reasonably priced. The shop has lots of other yummy stuff. I bought some rosemary salt and flavored mustards to take home. Also bought cheese, froze it, so I could bring it home on the plane.

Great place to sample some local cheeses, especially after seeing cows dotting the hillsides and pastures. You can watch a short video about the history local cheese making. There's a nice park with benches next to the shop so you could buy all you picnic essentials and have an au plein air feast. Actually, there are 2 areas to picnic. One is even by a small body of water. Very pretty. Looks like both locals and tourists do this.

A very wide selection of made on site cheese. Friendly service staff and good
access to the adjacent pond and picnic tables.

Love their cheese. Many to choose from too! They also have a nice little park for relaxing while you munch.

We stopped by on our way through the area. The sandwiches and coffee were very good and reasonably priced and I bought some of there cheese. It was a little strange that I had to ask for a fork for my salad and they didn’t have them with the food. I remember they used to have windows where you could watch the cheese being made. I didn’t see that or any offers for tours, but I didn’t ask either