Summer

These shops will help you assemble the best Boston picnic — complete with nearby parks and waterfront views.

By Kelly Egan

May 26, 2026 | 2:55 PM

3 minutes to read

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Boston has no shortage of specialty food shops where cheese isn’t just sold — it’s curated.

Grabbing pre-sliced, plastic-wrapped cheese from the grocery store is easy, but Boston’s independent cheese shops offer something more thoughtful: artisan selections, picnic-ready spreads, charcuterie boards, and expert pairings worth building a summer outing around.

From grab-and-go picnic boxes near the Public Garden to hand-cut sandwiches in Southie, these three local cheese shops can help you build the perfect Boston picnic — whether you’re splurging on artisanal spreads or keeping it simple on a budget. Here’s where to shop, what to order, and the best nearby spots to enjoy it. 

American Provisions in South Boston

American Provisions in South Boston has built a loyal following with its hand-selected artisan cheeses, catered charcuterie, natural wines, and prepared foods. 

Named Boston magazine’s “Best Cheese Shop” in 2016, the store carries dozens of domestic and international cheeses, with an emphasis on products sourced from farms that prioritize animal welfare.

Store manager Sydney Brouse said their most popular cheese year-round is Campagnier, a creamy cheese similar to Brie.

“We go through a ton of wheels,” Brouse said. “It can go with a lot of different things.” 

American Provisions also prepares catered charcuterie boards loaded with nuts, fruit, sliced meats, cheeses, and baguettes — ideal for a picnic.

For summer, Brouse recommends the Drunken Goat, a soft goat cheese that’s been soaked in wine. 

“It’s super fresh, and it goes with fresh fruit, really, really well,” Brouse said. 

The shop also offers breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, beer, wine, and spirits. Brouse highlighted their chicken Caesar wrap as a customer favorite. 

What to order

• Budget Pick: Délice ($7.50 for 6 oz.), a richer, more mushroom-forward alternative to the Campagnier.

• Splurge Pick: Challenhocker ($12 for 6 oz.), a seasonal Swiss cheese available through catering orders.

Where to picnic

• Walk 15 minutes to M Street beach.

Location: 613 E Broadway, South Boston; Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bacco’s in Back Bay

Bacco’s Wine and Cheese specializes in cheeses from all over the world, including selections from Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 

Founded in 2010, the Back Bay specialty food store offers charcuterie and cheese boards, along with a true-to-cut cheese counter, where staff slice cheese to order using specialty tools designed for different textures and styles.

General manager Hugh Willet’s personal favorite is the Lillian, a locally sourced mix of cow-and-sheep’s milk cheese washed in cider. The result is a creamy texture with a nutty flavor.

“The Lillian comes from a really outstanding couple in Vermont. It’s Peter Dixon and Rachel Shawl,” Willet said. “They do all kinds of natural fermentation and super local sourcing. They’re very hands on.” 

Willet said the shop’s pre-made picnic box sets — which include salami, jam, brie, pitted olives, pickled cucumbers, and more — are especially popular for quick outings.

“That’s a good, quick grab-and-go thing,” he said. 

The shop also offers sandwiches, wraps, vegetarian options, wine pairings, and daily rotating hot menu items. 

What to order

• Budget pick: Prairie Breeze, ($8 for 6 oz.) a sweet-and-salty one-year-old cheddar made by a Mennonite family on the Missouri-Iowa border. “It’s fruity, salty, and crunchy,” Willet said. 
• Splurge pick: The Sierra La Solana Trufado, ($16.50 for 6 oz.) a sheep’s milk truffle cheese from an artisanal Manchego producer. “Usually truffle cheeses can be a little too intense or unbalanced, but this has a really good, pure flavor,” Willet said.

Where to picnic

• Walk three minutes to the Boston Public Garden.

Location: 31 St. James Ave., Boston; Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Crane River Cheese Club in Beacon Hill

Crane River Cheese Club rotates its cheese offerings seasonally, with a focus on products from Massachusetts and New England farms.

The small Beacon Hill shop is owned by Brian Poe and Nick Giannotti, who also operate The Tip Tap Room next door. 

Giannotti said beer-infused cheddars are a natural fit for the shop because of its connection to the neighboring bar.

The shop is also known for their “Cheese Club Kits,” curated selections featuring New England cheeses and accompaniments. 

What to order

• Budget pick: Any cheese from Cato Farm based in Connecticut. “They do a bunch of different styles,” Giannotti said.
• Splurge pick: St. Stephen, ($16.50 for 8 oz./12.38 for 6 oz.) a handcrafted triple cream cream from Four Fat Fowl in upstate New York. Giannotti described St. Stephen as “super funky and pricey,” with buttery overtones and a bloomy rind.

Where to picnic 

• Walk to Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Long Wharf, or Boston’s North End.

Location: 138b Cambridge St., Boston; Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri-Sat 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.