The Welsh Rabbit is a cozy Old Town third space for exploring world-class cheese and wine without the snobbery.

The Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop

A Place To Be Known.

At The Welsh Rabbit, we believe that good food is a shortcut to connection. A simple cheese board can turn a regular Tuesday into a memory, and a great bottle of wine can shift the energy of a room. Since opening in Old Town Fort Collins in 2012, we have worked to create a sanctuary where you can slow down and simply be.

A Place of Rest and Good Cheer

Our philosophy is captured in a simple blessing we keep displayed in our shop:

"Let our guests sojourning here know that in this place, life is SIMPLE. What good cheer we can give, we give gladly."

 We see ourselves as a "Third Place "—that essential location outside of home and work where you come to be known. Whether you stop in for a quick baguette and a recommendation or linger over a wine flight to let the world move on without you for a while, you are part of the "Rabbit" community.

Sophisticated, Yet Whimsical

We take the quality of our food seriously, but we don't take ourselves seriously at all. Our goal is to bridge the gap between world-class artisan culture and everyday life. We’ve intentionally designed our space to be "sophisticated yet whimsical"—classy enough for a special date, yet approachable enough for a Tuesday afternoon snack.

We don’t care if you’re a lifelong connoisseur or someone who "just likes cheddar," you belong at our counter. To keep things easy and exploration-focused, we’ve even designed our ordering to be as simple as a sushi menu: just check off what looks good and let us do the rest.

The Slow Food Story

Founded by Dean and Nancy Hines, The Welsh Rabbit is rooted in the Slow Food movement: the belief that food should be good, clean, and fair. We believe in knowing where your food comes from and honoring the people who make it.

From our international imports to local gems like MouCo cheese and our very own Nita Crisp crackers (handmade by the Hines family right here in Fort Collins), every item on our shelves has a story and a maker.

We’re here to help you discover something new, gain a little "cheese confidence," and bring a bit of good cheer to your table.