On Valentine’s Day, love birds and singles alike are given even more of a reason to savor a sumptuous piece of smooth, creamy chocolate. Only the highest caliber of chocolate provides such a decadent experience.
There is chocolate — the kind you buy at the supermarket. And then there is chocolate — that perfectly sculpted, rich, and pleasantly sweet piece of heaven you buy at a specialty shop. After all, the Latin name for the cacao tree means “food of the gods.”
To determine the best chocolate shop in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a range of internet sources, including food review sites such as Yelp and Zagat, top-10 lists, and local news sites. We chose the shops with the most reviews, the highest ratings, and the most appearances on these sites. Where possible, we favored specialty shops that use single origin chocolate ingredients.
Click here to see the best chocolate shops in every state.
The chocolates available at these shops are not your average hershey bar. Rather, these confections are often delicately crafted, handmade, works of art. It’s no question that shops selling such chocolates are enjoyed by a niche audience.
Take the chocolate shop, Chocolata, in Alabama as an example. Not only does this quaint shop sell an item coined Unicorn Bark, but also it sells chocolate bars with space-centric names such as the Milk Crater Crunch Bar and the Blue Moon Bar. The store’s chocolatier integrates dark, milk, and white chocolates in the base of the bars that are then infused inside or sprinkled atop with many flavors, including berries, peppercorns, and salt — giving these items their own identity.
Another shop makes boozy chocolates. Art Eatables in Louisville, Kentucky serves truffles that incorporate bourbon into the secret mix. Apparently, these one-of-a-kind truffles are a big deal. In 2014, the truffles found their way into the swag bags given to Academy Award attendees.
Read on to discover all of America’s best chocolate-lover shops.
1. Alabama
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolata
> Location: Birmingham
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2. Alaska
> Best chocolate shop: Sweet Chalet
> Location: Anchorage
3. Arizona
> Best chocolate shop: Zak’s Chocolate
> Location: Scottsdale
4. Arkansas
> Best chocolate shop: Izard Chocolate
> Location: Little Rock
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5. California
> Best chocolate shop: Compartes Chocolatier
> Location: Los Angeles
6. Colorado
> Best chocolate shop: Roberta’s Chocolates
> Location: Denver
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7. Connecticut
> Best chocolate shop: Fascia’s Chocolates
> Location: Waterbury
8. Delaware
> Best chocolate shop: Govatos
> Location: Wilmington
9. Florida
> Best chocolate shop: Norman Love Confections
> Location: Fort Myers, FL
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10. Georgia
> Best chocolate shop: Cacao
> Location: Atlanta
11. Hawaii
> Best chocolate shop: Choco le’a
> Location: Honolulu
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12. Idaho
> Best chocolate shop: The Chocolat Bar
> Location: Boise
13. Illinois
> Best chocolate shop: Katherine Anne Confections
> Location: Chicago
14. Indiana
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolate for the Spirit
> Location: Indianapolis
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15. Iowa
> Best chocolate shop: Betty Jane Candies
> Location: Dubuque
16. Kansas
> Best chocolate shop: Cocoa Dolce
> Location: Wichita
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17. Kentucky
> Best chocolate shop: Art Eatables
> Location: Louisville
18. Louisiana
> Best chocolate shop: Sucré
> Location: New Orleans
19. Maine
> Best chocolate shop: Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections
> Location: Freeport
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20. Maryland
> Best chocolate shop: Glarus Chocolatier
> Location: Baltimore
21. Massachusetts
> Best chocolate shop: Rogue Chocolatier
> Location: Three Rivers
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22. Michigan
> Best chocolate shop: Bon Bon Bon
> Location: Detroit
23. Minnesota
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolat Celeste
> Location: St. Paul
24. Mississippi
> Best chocolate shop: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
> Location: Ridgeland
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25. Missouri
> Best chocolate shop: Patric Chocolate
> Location: Columbia
26. Montana
> Best chocolate shop: La ChaLa Châtelaine Chocolat Co.
> Location: Bozeman
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27. Nebraska
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolatier Blue
> Location: Lincoln
28. Nevada
> Best chocolate shop: Jean Philippe Patisserie
> Location: Las Vegas
29. New Hampshire
> Best chocolate shop: L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
> Location: Walpole, NH
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30. New Jersey
> Best chocolate shop: 2 Chicks with Chocolate
> Location: South River
31. New Mexico
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolate Cartel
> Location: Albuquerque
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32. New York
> Best chocolate shop: Jacques Torres Chocolate
> Location: New York
33. North Carolina
> Best chocolate shop: French Broad Chocolates
> Location: Asheville
34. North Dakota
> Best chocolate shop: Widman’s Candy Shop
> Location: Grand Forks
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35. Ohio
> Best chocolate shop: Sweet Designs Chocolatier
> Location: Lakewood
36. Oklahoma
> Best chocolate shop: Glacier Confection
> Location: Tulsa
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37. Oregon
> Best chocolate shop: Alma Chocolate
> Location: Portland
38. Pennsylvania
> Best chocolate shop: Éclat Chocolate
> Location: West Chester
39. Rhode Island
> Best chocolate shop: Chocolate Delicacy
> Location: East Greenwich
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40. South Carolina
> Best chocolate shop: Sweeteeth
> Location: North Charleston
41. South Dakota
> Best chocolate shop: Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
> Location: Deadwood
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42. Tennessee
> Best chocolate shop: Colts Chocolates
> Location: Nashville
43. Texas
> Best chocolate shop: Kate Weiser Chocolate
> Location: Dallas
44. Utah
> Best chocolate shop: Ritual Chocolate
> Location: Salt Lake City
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45. Vermont
> Best chocolate shop: Lake Champlain Chocolates
> Location: Burlington, VT
46. Virginia
> Best chocolate shop: Artisan Confections
> Location: Arlington
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47. Washington
> Best chocolate shop: Theo Chocolate
> Location: Seattle
48. West Virginia
> Best chocolate shop: Holl’s Handcrafted Swiss Chocolates
> Location: Charleston
49. Wisconsin
> Best chocolate shop: Confections by Joel
> Location: Theresa
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50. Wyoming
> Best chocolate shop: Meeteetse Chocolatier
> Location: Meeteetse
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