Our 17 Favorite Gourmet Chocolate Shops—And What To Buy At Each One
These honestly taste as good as they look.
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Sure, you could pick up a cheap box of chocolates from a pharmacy—or you could score major brownie points and source this year's holiday chocolate from a legit chocolatier. The choice is yours. And when you make the correct decision (the second option, duh), you're sure to get on your loved ones' nice list this year and for all the years to come.
Whether you're shopping for someone with a crazy sweet tooth or don't want to show up to your dinner plans empty handed, you can't go wrong with chocolates. Pair these with some of our suggested holiday wines, and you can even curate a fun at-home wine and chocolate pairing as a pregame to the main event: Christmas dinner.
No matter the occasion or the gift recipient—no judgement if you're buying these for yourself either—there are a number of options to choose from that differ in terms of flavors, prices, quantity, and more. Want something that looks like a piece of art but is actually edible? There's an option for that. Prefer chocolates made by a familiar brand like Mars? We've got that covered too. Need something with a box that already looks like an expertly wrapped gifts? Look no further.
Below, we've got 17 of our favorite spots for you to peruse for all of your chocolate needs. Fair warning: the photos will probably make you a little hungry. Get shopping!
Ethel M Chocolates
Ethel M is part of the Mars corporate family, and it's arguably the classiest division. You can create a custom collection of chocolates or choose from one of the brand's standard gift boxes. There are caramels, crème liqueurs, truffles, and cordials galore.
Kollar Chocolates
Kollar is the small but mighty California chocolate shop that won our vote for the best mail-order chocolate in America—can you see why? Their shiny truffles are sprayed to look almost fake, and the taste is just as impressive.
Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Moonstruck makes exquisite chocolate gifts, like this dark chocolate, strawberry, and basil bar. They also make plenty of truffles and hot cocoa.
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates
Leonidas has been producing its iconic chocolates in Belgium since 1913 and came to America in 1991. The assortments are about as classic as it gets, which is refreshing: fresh butter creams, ganaches, praline, caramel, and truffle fillings.
French Broad Chocolates
Around Valentine's Day, this Asheville, NC-based chocolate shop releases special collections with love-themed flavors. Throughout the rest of the year, you'll find creative flavors like whiskey caramel, cinnamon cayenne, and tahini orange.
Compartés
If there's a fruit you can dip in chocolate, Compartés sells it. They've got lemon peels, pineapple, kiwi, goji berries, pears, and so on and so forth. Perhaps the company is best known for its vibrant truffles and chocolate bars. Chocolatiers scatter all the toppings on the surface of the bar to look like works of art.
Li-Lac Chocolates
This is Manhattan's oldest chocolate house, and its selection is unmatched. You can get something as small as a 9-piece truffle box for five bucks or a 3-pound assortment for $185.
Bissinger's
Pick your poison—Bissinger's has it. There are classic assortments, fruit-filled chocolates, caramels, bars, and nut-filled chocolates, and they're all pretty dang stunning. The showstoppers, though, are Bissinger's holiday pieces, like decorated truffles and a 17-foot chocolate Santa.
Lake Champlain Chocolates
This chocolate shop's based in Burlington, VT, and all of the ingredients are sustainably-sourced and organic. You can't go wrong with any of the products, but one of the company's most unique collections is the Chocolates of Vermont. The designs of the chocolates are inspired by sugar maple leaves, a beehive with wildflowers, a moonlit lake, and a majestic mountain. Plus they're packed with local ingredients like maple syrup, honey, and farm-fresh cream.
Harry & David
Harry and David has a ton of chocolate options. You'll find truffles, caramels, chocolate-covered fruit, and so much more. But we love the Signature Chocolate Truffles for their insane decadence and extreme chocolatey-ness.
Godiva
If you want a classic option that anyone will love, go for Godiva. This box of iconic chocolates will make anyone's birthday or Valentine's Day.
Chocolate Storybook
Looking for the perfect gift? Chocolate Storybook has plenty of gift boxes, baskets, and towers to choose from featuring goodies like chocolate covered pretzels, truffles, and malted milk balls.
Jacques Torres Chocolate
Ever seen the show Nailed It? Judge Jacques Torres is the genius behind this chocolate shop. This box comes with a selection of 25 or 50 bon bons different chocolates with flavors like Chai Tea (milk chocolate ganache with Indian spiced tea) and Love Bug (key lime ganache kissed with white chocolate).
Sugar Plum
We love Goldbelly for ordering from local shops all over the country and world. Pennsylvania-based Sugar Plum has a large selection of chocolate treats like this giant heart-shaped chocolate pizza you can smash with a mallet.
La Maison du Chocolat
La Maison du Chocolat offers an assortment of chocolates and even a collection for the holidays. Gift this 16-piece Gesture Gift Box or get a limited-edition advent calendar for the holiday season.
Bon Bon Bon
Bon Bon Bon dishes out—you guessed it—handcrafted bon bons in Detroit, Michigan. Try the Mixed Box of Bons with a variety of flavors that could include Creme Brulee to PB & Jam. Have an allergy or restriction? There are also vegan, gluten-free, and varieties that contain no nuts.
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