O Rei dos Queijos

O Rei dos Queijos (King of Cheeses) is a renowned specialty shop in Ponta Delgada's historic center, right next to the Mercado da Graça.

Founded in the late 1970s by Carlos Bernardo as a conventional grocery store, the business specialized in regional cheeses around the turn of the millennium.

The selection includes over 40 different cheeses from all nine islands of the Azores. Of particular note is the work of the "Afinador" (cheese refiner): the cheeses are aged and matured in their own cellar, a craft still practiced today by Mário Bernardo.

Since visitors can sample the different varieties before buying, I took the opportunity to try my way through the selection 🤣.
The shopkeeper, of course, had to offer his expert advice.

In addition to cheese, the shop also carries local liqueurs, wines, honey, jams, pastries (such as queijadas), and traditional bread.

The shop is open from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6:30 pm, and until 7 pm on Fridays.

It is easy to find due to its location and the intense aroma of cheese. 🧀🧀🧀💨🤣Read more