Located on the Wisc- Illinois boarder this definitely qualifies as a tourist trap... but a pretty good one! Of course when you come to Wisconsin you are going to want to find some cheese. Why wouldn't you pick a place that is shaped like a castle? This place does a great job of having it all... above and beyond cheese! A restaurant/bar, a snack counter, ice cream, candy, bakery, liquor section, tee shirts and all types of local foods from other Wisconsin business. And FREE SAMPLES! I've been here many times because it's a great place to pull over and take a break and shop for some cool foods while on my way home from a trip to Illinois or other places south of me. Pro tip: find the bakery products in the frozen section from the Elegant Farmer, everything they make is great. read more

See all

Wow - Mars Cheese Castle's Irish Reuben is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had! I've been coming to Mars Cheese Castle for years, and it never disappoints. But yesterday was the first time I ever ordered the Irish Reuben. My wife and I were trying to decide what to have, when Louis (our favorite bartender) gave us the details on the Irish Reuben. This is not a traditional Reuben (there is no Sauerkraut or Thousand Island Dressing). The Corned Beef is baked in brown sugar consommé, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and Guinness Stout. It is served with Guinness Braised Cabbage, Caramelized Onions, and Swiss Cheese. It is incredible. This is on my Mt. Rushmore of sandwiches. It is that good. It is a seasonal sandwich that is only available around St. Paddy's Day...so get it while you can. Thanks Louis! read more

Mars Cheese Castle - The Irish Reuben is incredible. - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

See all

Mars Cheese Castle has always been high on my list. I have been going here before the castle was built! I usually try to visit one a year since around 2004 when I discovered it. It is a huge tourist trap but I love it! The location is very easy to find. And there are plenty of parking. The building is really a castle! Inside, there place is separated nicely. There is a big cheese section with a huge variety of types and flavors. I got some spicy cheeses for my father. And I got my Kings of Queen (or something like that) cheese spread. This has always been my favorite and only reason to come here. I also had to buy some cheese curds for fried cheese curds and/or poutine. In the back, they have a small beer section and of course Spotted Cow that everyone seems to love. Then they have some souviniers and touristy stuff like clothing and things to hang around the house The staff here has always been friendly to talk to. They love talking about the cheeses and giving you recommendations. They gave my 2 year old daughter a few things like balloons, a crown and crayons. Overall, I love this place and will always return! read more

So many questions? The cheese part is obvious (how many types of cheese can I sneak into this review?) ...But why Mars? Moon would make more sense since it has holes like swiss cheese. And why a Castle? Is it all of the cream colored brick? Maybe a cottage makes more sense. Whatever the reason, it's worth a stop if you're in the area, but not worth a special trip, if you ask me. It's a cheese store, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a beer/liquor store. I'm sure there's something to cheer you up if you're feeling blue (like the bar). As far as the restaurant goes, they say they have the best cheese curds and I disagree. They were good but not the best I've had. Probably not even in my top 5. The Kings Ransom sandwich was gouda but nothing out of this world. Everything was edible, just not the GOAT of cheesy goodness. I was hungry, so I decided to Edam anyway. Prices aren't bad, either. They had some local beers (Spotted Cow seems to be popular), but not sure if the hops are gruyere or some other part of the country. They even had some whiskeys as well. And don't forget samples (of cheese, not alcohol). In the "deli" area, there were some freebies. This is nacho average rest stop, but it does have easy off, easy on to the highway. And some grassy areas to walk your chihuahua. read more

See all

Came in over the weekend. Had seen many of my friends post from out front but it's different actually going. Sooo much cheese. Little overwhelming. They were out of Cabot when I went. So ended up going with a hatch chili cheese, garlic cheese. Got some coffee Stout from New Glarus brewing. I've had the moon man before and Spotted Cow but I really love stouts. There's also little cheese samples they offer in the store with some crackers. After dropping purchases in car came back inside and there's a bar!! Got a few beers. Raspberry Tart from New Glarus & Up all night coffee milk stout from public brewing. Was here with girlfriend and we shared a small cheese plate. Excellent. There were also some free samples of cheese in the bar area. Talked with other customers in the bar area. Welcoming+ friendly. Offered some other Kenosha suggestions. read more

See all

Impromptu stop while in Wisconsin. I've been coming here for years. My favorite place for cheese. Such a huge variety. I always try something different. That's what's to cool about Mars. They always have different samples of cheese to try. Or if not already available, they will give you a slice you are wanting to taste. Today's purchase was Smoked Mozzarella, Bellavitano Cheese, Sartori Sharp Cheddar, Havarti, and the all time famous WI String Cheese. Yummy Such a cool spot. It also has a deli and a bar- restaurant. A nice selection of WI specialty beers and sodas too. A must check out spot, right off interstate. Definitely a 10 out of 10! read more

See all

We stopped in here on our way home from a fantastic bestie weekend getaway. Although I've passed this cheese capital many times in my travels, this was my first time stopping here. It is a huge venue with a lot of options of cheeses to choose between - and ever so much more. From meats, crackers/munchies, or ice cream to clothes, magnets, and kitchen gadgets - you will be guaranteed to leave with a new item. They had some sampling of cheeses which was really nice. I loved the horseradish spread cheese. It was slightly on sale so that was nice, but I noticed that cheese spread expired in under two months. Knowing that, this seems like a place you may want to double check expiration dates on. There was a few items I passed on, but next time I travel through town, I'm sure I'll stop again for another item. Before we left, we tried the onion rings and cheese curds. They were tasty, but definitely nothing too memorable for me. read more

See all

Growing up we went on many roadtrips, and going to the Mars Cheese Castle no doubt helped me fall in love with cheese. Since we are headed to some national parks in South Dakota and Wyoming, I requested we make a stop in Wisconsin so I could introduce my husband to this marvelous cheese filled building. Founded in 1947, the Mars Cheese Castle has been around almost 75 years and drawing in cheese loving crowds. Being the first official place on our "to-go" list, we were delighted to be free from our car and able to explore a place with tasty treats. My husband hadn't been here yet so it was fun for me to watch him experience it for the first time. Loads of meat and cheese to choose from, they have a tavern as well as a restaurant, and they have non food souvenirs as well. Employees are helpful in guiding you to new cheeses that are comparable to what you already enjoy. I had a specific memory of fresh cheese curds from here and learning of the "squeak" sound they make, so I decided to grab a bag today. Thankfully we have a cooler and are planning on going to hotels with mini fridges to store some things. Overall I would most definitely recommend stopping by, whether you are local or are road tripping like my husband and I. Any Wisconsin trip will only be complete with a visit to Mars Cheese Castle from here on out. read more

See all

Loved stopping here on my way into Milwaukee. Plenty of different food items, souvenirs, and cheese curds. Stopped in for some fried curds and a beer. Everything was tasty. Wish I lived closer. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

This place is FULL of cheese the best cheese in my opinion like there are so many strange cheeses too read more

Mars Cheese Castle - This is literally a castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

The Bloody Mary and fried cheese curds were delicious. Highly recommend trying. The service was definitely slow. It almost seemed intentionally slow. I mean my bartender made a great Bloody Mary, but it took a minute a and he seemed annoyed to do it. They could maybe benefit from more efficient process of making Bloody Marys since they definitely appeared to be the most common drink! read more

I do love the mars cheese castle and the place holds a special place in my heart! Unfortunately we had a less than stellar experience in the bar area today. The server was pretty cold and unfriendly towards us. It was a bit busy but the server was chatting and making drinks slowly. The bloody itself was very delicious and for that reason we were going to stay for a second drink but he never came back to us in over 30 min. Luckily a friendly gentleman next to us bought our first round or else I'm not sure how long it would have taken to get our bill and pay! Bad experience but we will try again because it's the mars cheese castle of course. :) the curds were decent, but you have to order and pick them up in another area which was a little confusing. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bloody and curds - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

I don't enough words to explain how awesome this place is. An incredible variety of not only cheeses but so many other things: candy, shirts, snacks, condiments, goofy stuff, cards and stickers, beer and alcohol, fresh bakery items. In addition, they have a bar area and a little restaurant. I got the "classic "grilled cheese, which had actual cheddar cheese in it, not American, and when I did the cheese pull, it was about 2 feet long, which was cool. It came with fries that were perfect and I ordered a side of bacon, which was thick and crispy, just how I like it. You can have your picture taken with a cow, a mouse and on a throne! Fun place, even if you don't like cheese! read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Definitely expected a bigger variety of cheese options and availability tastings. We tried 2 types of cheese and one cracker with ham. Unfortunately they were not serving soup until 12 and we were not aware until waiting through long lines. The bakery however offered a variety of yummy, freshly made treats. The gift shop is bigger than the areas actually serving the cheese which seems odd in my opinion. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

See all

Got any cheese? Someone show Urkel this castle please. There are several cheese samples among other things you can find that range from a tavern, BBQ sauce, convenience store, bakery, ice cream, and restaurant. My family ate at the restaurant and overall, it was better than expected. My wife and I got the Reubens which came with the choice of pastrami and corned beef. We both received one of each and split the half. I liked the pastrami one a little more because of the black pepper to it. Both were satisfactory and I would eat them again. We chose German potato salad with our Reubens and it was a nice, vingery, and warm potato salad. We could not leave this castle without ordering cheese curds. The cheese curds were solid and they offered a different sauce outside of your normal cheese curds choices of ranch and marinara. I can't remember the name of the sauce but it was a thin BBQ sauce with worchestershire mixed in according to an employee. I really enjoyed the sauce! Stop at Mars for plenty of cheese and other goodies! read more

See all

Very rude person came to the closed locked door. Screamed at me "we are closed, the system is down" no apology, she proceeded to scream at another potential customer. Management needs to coach employees! read more

Bloody Mary smaller than it used to be which fine, understood prices have gone up but the service was not good. No acknowledgement for a good amount of time sitting at the bar. It wasn't busy, and they were slow. Even after I finished my drink and sat there for 10 minutes, I had to ask for the bill. Again, not busy. Very disappointing as this used to be top on my list to go. read more

Was told the cheese castle is a must see when I moved to the area. It was very touristy and felt more like a huge souvenir shop. I would go back to buy gifts for out of town family but not to make a special trip to see. Tried the Mac and cheese which was soupy and kind of bland. A fun stop along the way from Chicago to Milwaukee area. read more

Did this place is amazing. It has everything, I went In thinking I would not get anything and then I came home with a whole bunch of fun stuff. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - The sign an the castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

We stopped at the Castle to get a little cheese. We ended up buying a half dozen packages of differently flavored cheese curds and a few other types of cheese. We also got a couple of souvenir t-shirts just for grins! Once we paid for our purchases and took them to the car, we went back in to try out their lunch offerings. My wife had a Grilled Cheese sandwich, and I got the Liverwurst sandwich. We both had the Warm German Potato Salad for our side. While she got a fountain Coke, I opted for an adult beverage. I had the Potosi IPA, a brand that I had never tried. We were both pleasantly surprised at the flavor of the sandwiches. I am in love with the IPA! For anyone traveling up I-94/I-41 in southeastern Wisconsin, it would behoove you to stop in and explore the available selections of cheese, crackers, meats, souvenir items, t-shirts, etc. It's definitely on my list of places to go now! read more

See all

This place is incredible with an assortment of most everything you would want in a stop off the freeway in a castle none the less! Bakery, bar, hot food to order, cheese samples, sausages and meats, wine, snacks, sweets, preserves, souvenirs - very entertaining!! read more

See all

This place having anything less than 5 stars is egregious. What else could you want? Tons of beer, insane amount of cheese and anything you would want to pair with your cheese and beer. Anytime I'm remotely near this place (and by remote, I mean a 250 mile radius), I make sure to stop in! read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Not sure how you can top this - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Mars Cheese Castle is an iconic place to stop at. The inside is decked out with everything cheese. It's a great place to buy souvenirs, beer, clothes, and fresh cheese to take home. They have a small little restaurant in there with very reasonable pricing. The egg sandwiches were really good. If you ever drive by this place, it's worth a stop in. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Cheese curds, Mac n Cheese, and Egg Sandwiches. - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Mars Cheese Castle is a very interesting spot that has tons of cheese and New Glarus Brewing Company Beer. Beer that is only made in Wisconsin. Was very tempted to buy a cheese head but decided against it. Overall, what a fascinating themed Cheese and Beer Shop. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

We popped in to the Cheese Castle because we were exactly what this place is for - tourists! There are a bunch of free samples, which is great, but the prices are tourist trap elevated - not outrageous, but a bit more than you'd pay at a well socked grocery store in the area. My almost 7yo was rolling his eyes and complaining as we exited the highway, but pretty happy by the time we left. You can even grab a beer in there - full bar! read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Heading back to Chicagoland and had to stop to stock up. I'm originally from WI and even though I literally have 12 kinds of cheese at home I had to stop for fresh cheese curds. Also got a black truffle Gouda. There's a cafe, a bar, a bakery, a deli and an ice cream stand inside, too. Plus lots of cool gifts, cheesehead gear, beer and snacks. Just stop and check it out! read more

See all

Popular tourist spot. It's fun when they have cheese tasting, just don't come when it's closing. Prices are on the higher side since it's a tourist spot. There's a restaurant inside which I have not tried. They sell Racine's Kringle for around $12. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Outside - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Been here a couple times now. The first time was to take some cheese only and the second time I ate here and took some more cheese home. The food is very inexpensive and the selection of cheeses is amazing. Will definitely make sure I stop here every time I'm in Wisconsin. I ordered their Brat which came with fries and an order of cheese curds. All so very delicious and filling. read more

See all

Right off of the highway. Good amount of parking. Just perfect for a quick pit stop on a road trip. So many different layers to it. A whole bar/restaurant area, a quick walk up food counter, souvenir area, custard and fudge, snacks, and of course cheese! Cheese samples too. We opted for a quick bite. The cheese curds were honestly some of best I've had! The alcohol choices were quite impressive as well. read more

See all

Stopped on my way up to Milwaukee, to get some cheese curds. This place was cool! Its a castle, with lots of cheese inside. Free samples, cheesehead gear, drinks, its own bar, ice cream, more cheese, sausages etc. It was a cool place. The cheese curds I had were bomb! Lightly battered, super crunchy yet soft and chewy. Some of, if not the best curds I've ever encountered. Would definitely stop by again if in the area. read more

See all

We stopped on our way back from a conference in Green Bay, and loaded up on cheese (and some dry sausage)! We also ended up grabbing a sandwich from the sandwich shop in the back, as well as some cheese curds. Food was good and price was decent. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

We always passed by. Happy that we finally made the stop today. Wonderful friendly people work here and helpful too. Love the selection of cheese and meats. They have good brands of local cheese makers and meats too! Oh their restaurant has good food. Try their brat! They sell New Glarus beer many other beverages! It's huge. A tourist spot but lots of things to see and buy. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Front and ample parking - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

You've got to stop at Mars Cheese Castle for the kitsch if nothing else! The Bloody Mary at the bar is great but lacked significant toppings. Most of the stuff in the store was overpriced but it's fun to look around. Lots of great Wisconsin tourist photo opportunities. read more

Stopped in during a weekend visiting family, and wowza--this place is a full-on experience! Definitely give yourself time to explore because there is a ton to see and sample. The selection is massive: cheeses of all kinds (with samples!), meats, candied nuts, chocolates, jams--you name it. The fresh cheese was absolutely delicious, and yes, it squeaked like proper fresh cheese should. There's a bar where you can grab drinks and food. I smelled the fried cheese curds the moment we walked in--seriously mouthwatering--but we were too full to order anything. There was also a line for ice cream, so clearly we weren't the only ones tempted. They also have a full section for fun merchandise, including T-shirts, old-fashioned candy, toys, and quirky gifts. You could easily spend an hour just browsing. Staff are everywhere and asked if we needed any help a few time. Checkout lines weren't too long and move pretty quickly. Whether you're a cheese lover or just looking for a fun Wisconsin pit stop, Mars Cheese Castle is totally worth it! read more

See all

We stopped into Mars Cheese Castle last month on the way home from hanging out at Apple Holler. This spot has SO MANY Wine and Cheese options!!! We bought a couple of bottles of mead that we can't find in Las Vegas, and then popped over to the bar for a beer. We tried two local beers that were absolutely delicious, and ordered the "junior" charcuterie board. This thing was enormous! I'd love to see what the big version looks like, but as it was, we took a lot of it home because we'd had a big breakfast. Service in the bar was stellar. Our bartender, Lisa, gave great recommendations, and was lovely to chat with. I highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area! I know we'll be back on our next visit!!! read more

It's been a bit since we've been to MCC. Used to be an automatic stop when going to the Northwoods or Lake Winnebago! Seems like the place just gets bigger and more popular each time. Love to sit at the bar and enjoy the floor show of people coming and going! read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Old School Mars Cheese Castle before 94/41 was widened. - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

See all

I've been coming here for so many years. You can find lots of Wisconsin products here, including cheese, cured meats, kringles, and beers. There is a variety of cheese and bakery samples you can try. We always pick up bakery items and cheeses when we visit. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hey! Tried to come here today from out of town and the doors were locked during your normal business hours.... After waiting outside in the cold for quite some time totally confused why you were closed someone came out and said the power went out. Get a marker and a piece of paper and tape a sign to the door!!! Not rocket science to explain. read more

There are a LOT of cheese shops in Wisconsin, and while this may or may not be the best one, it's probably the most fun one! The castle theme is a hoot, and the selection of cheeses is pretty amazing for this Texan. First visited on a sightseeing trip from Chicago to Milwaukee and was drawn in by the name. Recently went back on our way to Road America and again found it enjoyable, although they didn't have as many varieties of cheese out to sample as they did on our first visit. It's way more than a cheese shop, almost more of a liquor store, with a big beer cave, a very generous cooler, and a spirits department. There's a counter service restaurant that had terrific sandwiches way above your typical roadside stop, not to mention the outstanding cheese curds. There's also a tavern with separate entry attached, which we didn't visit but which seems to be very popular given the number of cars parked on that side of the building. Stocked up on some great Wisconsin beers and cheeses. Plenty of parking, shopping carts to load up cases of beer, and numerous checkout stands. read more

Mars Cheese Castle - Bakeries Near Me - Kenosha, Wisconsin

What the actual F? We had never been to Wisconsin and were interested in seeing what this state had to offer, so a friend recommended the Mars Cheese Castle as a way to scratch that itch without having to wander too far from Chicago. I'm not sure that anything could have prepared us for what we encountered. Like the Disney World of cheese, maybe? And all kinds of things that you could purchase. I couldn't resist picking up a hair clip in the shape of a cow, because where else would I find something like that?! My friend recommended that we sit at the bar and have a brandy old fashioned along with the cheese spread. It was a Saturday afternoon and quite busy, so we had to wait a little while before finding two seats. Also, there is really no direction on what you're supposed to do, how to order, etc. and no hostess for the bar area that we could find. The cheese spread appeared to be complimentary (if it wasn't, oops, we didn't pay for it) as we observed others approaching the communal serving station and helping themselves. There was another food area but the line was really long and thankfully they told us that it would take a while for the food to be ready, so we decided to pass and get cheese curds elsewhere. I wouldn't build this into an itinerary but if you happen to be in the area I think it's worth a stop. read more