Crazy for camembert? Check out Sydney’s best cheese boards

If you’re expecting nothing less than the royal treatment at aptly named Reign, you won’t be disappointed. The champagne parlour in Sydney’s stately Queen Victoria Building was high on promise when it first opened in a pre-pandemic 2019 – but luckily, it’s since delivered.

The cheese platter we’ve got our eye on here is an elegant selection of Australian cheeses, served with lavosh, grapes and oat crackers. Expect some characterful blue and creamy local artisan cheeses, though the selection may change over time.

For the full Reign experience, pair your platter with a glass of exceptional champagne, such as the G.H. Mumm ‘Grand Cordon Brut’ or the Laurent Perrier ‘La Cuvée.’ The latter has a bouquet of chamomile and daisy, while the former is more of a classic style, with notes of peach, cream and buttered brioche.

The entire beverage list is a wine lover’s dream… and what better way to complement cheese? At Reign, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Cheese selection ($34)

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Neil Perry’s first solo venture, Margaret, is named after his mother, and the restaurant’s look is as serene as a maternal embrace. Picture muted terracotta and bronze hues, and natural wood, with Mediterranean-inspired paintings and luxurious views over Guilfoyle Park. The menu is as impressive and diverse as you’d expect from a Perry project, but we’re here today to talk cheese.

The dessert selection begs for a tick on your list. You can choose up to four different Australian cheeses on a sliding price scale, but we recommend opting for the full four if it’s a cheese platter experience you’re after. You’ll start with Dolce Nina, a gold medalist buffalo milk cheese from Burraduc Farm – it’s mild, creamy, earthy and juicy, with Pink Lady apple.

Next up is the Holy Goat La Luna, renowned in Australia’s culinary scene as one of its greatest dairy products. The goat’s cheese from Sutton in Victoria is produced using organically certified goats that have free-range access to a rich landscape of native herbs, grasses and shrubs. The result? A complex and unique cheese, and a prized addition to Perry’s cheese board with apple compote.

The final two cheeses are the Bruny Island C2 semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from Tassie, and the Tarago River Gippsland Blue. Yum.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Selection of four Australian cheeses ($38)

All about the cheese and nothing but the cheese? Then a visit to The Stinking Bishops is mandatory. The boutique restaurant and cheese bar specialises in your favourite yellow treat, and unsurprisingly, the cheese platters are legendary.

First, they’re fully customisable, meaning you can take your pick from an exciting range of over 62 imported and Aussie cheeses. From white moulds and washed rinds, to goat’s milk and stinky blues, you’ll discover worlds of cheese you never even knew existed. Secondly, any cheese you taste and fall in love with, you can purchase from the fridge to take home with you afterwards.

Each cheese board comes with 50g of each cheese, crackers, quince paste and muscatel grapes. If you’re serious about your fromage, ask for the Ultimate cheese board. It’s a 10-cheese-strong chef’s selection, best enjoyed with a few friends and a bottle or two.

Prefer to take it all away as a picnic? The friendly staff will package your selection or keep it in the cool room so you can enjoy it later.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Ultimate cheese board ($88)

Green thumbs won’t resist the lush, plant-iful vibes at The Potting Shed at The Grounds. In the sun-dappled garden with family or friends, while away the late afternoon hours with craft beer, cocktails and rustic share plates of locally harvested produce.

A Potting Shed classic is The shed platter, to be divided between three to four people. It features a selection of cured meats, marinated anchovies, pickles, olives, freshly toasted sourdough, crackers and of course – generous servings of cheese.

There’s always something happening at The Grounds, so why not make a whole day of it? Head up early with the kids for an interactive bubble show, balloon twisting show, or honey workshop, then hit up the Garden Bar for a well-deserved spritz.

When hunger calls, join your posse for a platter feasting sesh and satisfy your cheese cravings in style.

Dish Cult’s top pick: The shed platter ($68)

Dark, brick-lined and purring with hip-hop, Big Poppa’s may be the last place you’d expect to find the cheese platter of your dreams, but take a closer look.

The elevated Italian fare here doesn’t muck around, and top-notch ingredients are king. It’s a passionate dedication to quality the wine and cheese do not escape.

After a meal of hand-cut pappardelle, salumi and garlicky burrata salad, ask for the Chef’s selection of cheese, which comes with one soft, one hard, one blue with Sardinian flatbread, apple jam and more bread.

As far as curated cheese lists in Sydney go, the one at Big Poppa’s has to be one of the best. Split into three sections (soft/semi-soft, blue and hard/semi-hard), the selections hail from both Australia and Europe, with a special focus on Italian cheese.

In one sitting, you could span a brie or chevre from France, a sheep’s blue from Piedmont in Italy, a mountain cheese from Switzerland, and a hard cow’s milk cheese from the Adelaide Hills. And why not?

The wine list is just as international so go wild with pairings if you please, though don’t overlook the slick cocktail list. We rarely see one so compelling.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Chef’s selection of cheese ($36)