7 Chocolate Shops in San Francisco That You Should Sample ...

By Alison

There are some well-known and perhaps some lesser-known chocolate shops in San Francisco, the internationally acclaimed culinary mecca. Who doesn't love chocolate? I know a few people who don't enjoy the sweet treat, but I certainly do, and whenever I am visiting a new city, I will always find time to sample some local candies and chocolates, then I'll walk them off by exploring the sights! Here are some of my favorite chocolate shops in San Francisco that you should sample, if you happen to find yourself in the city by the bay.

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1

TCHO

TCHO One of the newest chocolate shops in San Francisco (you may get a glimpse of their chocolate at the airport), TCHO has an actual factory which you can tour, as well as a retail shop. However, the factory is about to move to a larger location in West Berkeley, so their tours are on-hiatus until late Spring and they are soon to open a new store in the Westfield Mall (located at Powell and Market Street). TCHO focuses on the flavors of cacao, separating them by profile. As a result, they position their chocolate in terms of the flavor profile, rather than by cacao percentage or the origin of the beans. What I like most is that TCHO is anti-slavery; they are trying to raise the consciousness of this reality by refusing to use cacao produced by slaves. A must-sample is their Mokkacino bar - a dense SeriousMilk chocolate, blended with local Blue Bottle's coffee.

UPD:

TCHO's commitment to ethical chocolate production extends to their transparent relationships with farmers, ensuring fair labor practices and sustainability. Their chocolate is distinguished by unique flavor experiences, inspired by different cultures and tastes from around the globe. The new location will not only allow for expanded production capacity but also for an enhanced visitor experience. Chocolate aficionados should keep an eye out for the re-opening of the tours, promising an in-depth look at their innovative bean-to-bar process. Meanwhile, their delectable range, particularly the fruity notes of their dark chocolates, remain a delicious testimony to their craft.

2

Ghirardelli

Ghirardelli Ghirardelli is actually a subsidiary of Lindt (since 1998), which I didn't realize until recently, but this chocolate shop and its cafes are dotted all over San Francisco! The company as a whole is pretty famous across the United States and internationally, and their bags of chocolate squares (such as Milk Chocolate and Caramel or seasonal favorite, Peppermint Bark), can be found in every major supermarket. The factory though is located in the East Bay, and they have an old factory, and a now-famous square, called Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point Street), in the Fisherman's Wharf area. The Ghirardelli cafes serve up their amazing hot fudge sundaes, infused with their own chocolate syrup and a token chocolate square peaking out of the whipped cream.

3

Teuscher

Teuscher Calling all chocolate lovers! If you ever find yourself in the Financial District of San Francisco and in need of a chocolate fix, I suggest you stop in here, buy a few chocolates, then grab a coffee or hot chocolate nearby to pair it with! Oprah Winfrey made this shop famous a few years ago by mentioning it, however, this is not an original San Francisco store as it hails from Zurich, Switzerland, but it has a pretty unique story to it. The Swiss chocolate maker, Dolf Teuscher began 70 years or so ago and hand-makes over 200 confections without using any preservatives or additives; the chocolates are flown in weekly to the branch located in the Financial District (307 Sutter Street). You have to sample their infamous Champagne Truffles, which are made with Dom Perignon champagne (the only chocolatier in the world that is licensed to use Dom Perignon), butter cream and a dark cream ganache (over 60% cacao base), encrusted with either a milk or dark chocolate and a light dusting of cocoa powder. They are to die for. If you're not one for liqueured chocolates, you can always buy some solid chocolate animals and have them wrapped in one of their whimsical animal boxes.

4

Cocoabella

Cocoabella Cocoabella (located on 845 Market Street, inside the Westfield Mall) provides a wide array of Belgian, Swiss, French, Italian, English, Canadian and American chocolates (as well as some bars from Colombia and Venezuela). It's a great stop-off if you're in Union Square and in need of a chocolate fix! At the back of the store are large conical jars of chocolate-covered pretzels and almonds that you can have weighed by the pound, then snack on while you're shopping for the latest fashion finds! There are shelves of packaged chocolates and display cases full of marzipan squares, chocolate hearts, salted caramels, and so on. The staff here will certainly help you narrow down your selection from the 20 brands that they carry.

5

Recchiuti Confections

Recchiuti Confections Master Chocolatier, Michael Recchiuti and his wife, Jacky, founded this confectionery in 1997. Some of his chocolates feature mini drawings and artworks of local San Francisco artists as well as Japanese art-block prints. Michael also visits the local farmers markets for fresh herbs to use in his signature infusions (such as lemon verbena). His best selling chocolates range from Malted Dark Milk Revolution (a sort of malt ball with a dark and milk blend as well as a touch of Fleur de Sel), to S'mores Bites and Peanut Butter Pucks! Recchiuti has two stores - Ferry Building Marketplace at One Ferry Building, and Little Nib at 807 22nd Street - as well as the Lab, at 801 22nd Street, which is a savory and sweet cafe offering a full savory menu, for those preferring something not so sweet.

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli
6

Dandelion Chocolates

Dandelion Chocolates This is located in the bustling neighborhood of the Mission district (740 Valencia Street), and is a small-batch chocolate factory that can be toured by the public (Tuesday through Sunday). You'll get a chance to sample different varieties of the cacao bean from all over the world, speak with a chocolate maker, then sip a cup of coffee in their cafe and people-watch on Valencia Street afterwards!

7

XOX Truffles

XOX Truffles Got truffles?! These are some truly authentic French truffles handmade in San Francisco by French Chef Jean-Marc Gorce. It is actually one of the top ten chocolate-makers in the USA, according to Chocolatier Magazine. Whatever your mood, there is a truffle to suit it, as there are 26 flavors, from Earl Grey and French Roast, to Vin Rouge and Caramel. if you're not partial to those, you can try some of his vegan truffles! The truffles are a favorite with the locals and have earned many a review from passing food critics visiting the North Beach neighborhood (754 Columbus Avenue).

I haven't been able to include all the great chocolate shops in San Francisco here, but I hope I've been able to whet your appetite and that you'll give one of these places a try, when you're in the San Francisco area. If you would like to check out one of my other posts on the Coffee Houses in San Francisco you have to visit, you will truly have some great pairings in this city. What are some of your favorite chocolate shops in San Francisco you think are worthy of sampling?

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