The Quintessential Chocolate Lover’s Guide to NYC
New York City has one of the most diverse culinary landscapes in the world, and one delicious facet of its unparalleled diversity is a thriving chocolate culture. Here, existing traditions from across the globe are both honored and elevated, while new indulgences are masterfully crafted. In this chocolate lover’s guide, embark on a sweet escape across the city into its myriad chocolate shops, specialties, events and experiences.
What is chocolate, really?
Before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re talking about the same thing, since there’s a suspiciously broad range of food categorized as chocolate. Without going too far down a rabbit hole, the difference between what constitutes milk chocolate or a “confection” is 10% cocoa solids in the US. Canada requires 15%, while in Europe, the requirement skyrockets to 35%. All this to say, most commercial chocolates sold on US shelves do not qualify as chocolate! But, we don’t believe “good” or “real” chocolate needs to be hoity-toity or French. New York City has an abundance of chocolatey options, from local artisans to international standards to satisfy just about any craving.
Notable NYC Chocolate Shops
Iconic NYC Chocolate Houses
Jacques Torres Chocolates in DUMBO
Jacques Torres Chocolates opened his flagship location in DUMBO, Brooklyn back in 2000 and has been a mainstay in the chocolate conversation ever since. The Frenchman was the youngest recipient of the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France, a medal for pastry excellence, and a pioneer of the bean-to-bar movement. He has pedigree, for sure, but in true New York style, his chocolates are the definition of accessible. To this day, we use his chocolate chip cookie recipe when we bake at home. Li-Lac Chocolates is a New York institution dating back to 1923, making it Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house. Small batch, hand-made chocolates are made locally in New York City, using its founder’s original recipes, cooking techniques and quality ingredients. With a wide selection of over 120 items, Li-Lac Chocolates offers one of the largest selections of exquisitely crafted artisan chocolates in America.
MarieBelle Chocolates in SoHo
MarieBelle New York is a direct reflection of the upbringing (Honduras), education (Parsons School of Design) and passions of Maribel Lieberman, its founder and namesake. With cute packaging, delectable artisan ganaches, and iconic Aztec Hot Chocolate (featured as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things.”), gift giving and personal indulgence are on offer, side-by-side. Raaka had modest beginnings, getting its start in 2010 out of an apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The focus is on raw, unroasted, low-temperature chocolate making. This means the natural flavor profiles, which are usually lost or subdued through a high-temperature roasting process, are retained. Along with those foundational flavors, you’ll find that Raaka’s chocolates tend to veer into experimental flavor combinations and textures, offering a unique chocolate experience.
Off-the-beaten-path craft and artisanal chocolate makers
Chocolat Moderne
Chocolat Moderne artisanal chocolates
If you’re looking for a unique gift for a chocolate lover, interested in trying something different, or simply wanting to support your local artisans, then these smaller shops might be up your alley. If you miss the sidewalk A-frame sign, you might never know Chocolat Moderne exists. Located on the 9th floor of an unassuming Flatiron building, the chocolate shop was founded by a former banker who pursued her dream of becoming a chocolatier after a trip to Brussels. You’ll find chocolate creations of all kinds, including vegan varieties, meticulously decorated to please both sight and taste. In the Upper West Side, the minimalist aesthetic and unique flavors you’ll find at Kee’s Chocolates hint at its creator’s Asian background. The artisanal chocolatier has a loyal following, and her Creme Brulee Bon Bon was featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". L.A. Burdick got its start making chocolates for high-end restaurants, and their shop in SoHo has a distinctly old-school vibe. Try the single-origin bars or their popular hot chocolate.
International chocolate shops
Chocolate waterfall walls in Union Square
There are many differing opinions on which country produces the best chocolate, but you can find most of the greats in New York City. Can’t get to Switzerland? No problem, you can pop into Läderach. Miss the indulgent chocolate pastries you enjoyed at Angelina after visiting the Louvre in Paris? You’ll find their only American outpost right by Bryant Park. Lynn is a Venchi loyalist, and we never tire of the faux chocolate waterfall walls at the Union Square location. Royce offers delightful Japanese chocolates, and if you want authentic Belgian chocolates, Neuhaus is at your service.
NYC Chocolate Specialties
Brooklyn Blackout Cake
One of New York’s truly iconic chocolate creations is the Brooklyn Blackout Cake. The famed pudding-filled chocolate layer cake, with chocolate cream frosting and an ample dusting of chocolate cake crumbs, originated in Brooklyn's Ebinger’s Bakery. Ebinger’s Bakery’s first shop--opened in 1898 by husband and wife team, George and Catherine Ebinger--was located on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, not far from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It sold hundreds of varieties of German pastries, but what made Ebinger’s Bakery famous was the Brooklyn Blackout Cake. The cake was named for the blackouts drills that were held in homes throughout the borough during World War II in order to avoid silhouetting and endangering battleships leaving the navy yard.
Before bankruptcy in 1972, the Ebinger empire included 50 locations throughout Brooklyn and Queens--the largest commercial baker on the eastern seaboard at the time. No definitive recipe was ever released, but innumerable copycats have surfaced. You can find versions at various locations throughout the city, like Ovenly in Greenpoint and Two Little Red Hens on the Upper East Side. But for an accessible version of this delight, you can always opt for the Brooklyn Blackout Cake doughnut at Doughnut Plant.
Chocolate Babka
Babka, a beloved and indulgent pastry, traces its roots to Eastern European Jewish communities, and it has become a delightful fixture in bakeries across the world. This sweet treat is characterized by its twisted or swirled shape, with layers of rich, yeasted dough enveloping a delectable filling. The most iconic and cherished variation is the cinnamon babka, but Breads Bakery in NYC created a Chocolate Nutella Babka that took the city by storm and has become a permanent fixture on the city’s list of favorite desserts. It’s our go-to hostess gift, and it’s always a big hit.
Fun fact: Adir Michaeli, the chef behind the babka at Breads Bakery, has since struck out on his own. Michaeli Bakery is one of our must-visit spots in Chinatown.
Black and White Cookie
The black and white cookie is a delectable treat that embodies harmony and diversity. This classic cookie is easily recognizable by its distinct half-and-half appearance, with one side coated in rich, fudgy chocolate icing and the other in smooth, vanilla glaze. Beneath the iconic facade lies a soft and cake-like cookie base, offering a delightful contrast in textures. While the black and white cookie’s chocolatey outer half barely qualifies it for this guide, we still wanted to give this iconic treat an honorable mention. Zabar’s offers a delectable traditional version, while Russ & Daughters offers a slightly elevated version which features a lemon-infused cookie and rich, creamy icing.
New York Cheesecake with a Chocolate Twist
Though food historians will tell you cheesecake dates back to the ancient Greeks, no one will argue that New York Cheesecake is the dense, smooth, and creamy version many of us have come to know and love. According to Junior’s, in the early 1930s, cream cheese-based versions became the rage of New York City. And Junior’s is where you can go today to find chocolate-infused versions of the classic, like the Brownie Explosion Cheesecake and Devil's Food Cheesecake. Another well-known spot for the local delicacy is Eileen’s Special Cheesecake, which offers Chocolate Mousse and Chocolate Raspberry varieties.
NYC Chocolate Treats Worth Hunting Down
Chocolate Burnt Cheesecake at Grace Street Cafe
Chocolate Burnt Cheesecake at Grace Street Cafe
Though we’ve paid homage to the New York Cheesecake in our NYC specialties section, there’s another highly popular version of the dessert: the Basque cheesecake. It’s one of the reasons we traveled to San Sebastian, and we ALMOST missed out on the famous original when we found La Viña randomly closed on our first evening. Luckily, it reopened the next day and we were rewarded with a couple of slices fresh out of the oven. Basque cheesecake is known for having a custard-like texture on the inside, with a golden, almost burnt, exterior. At Grace Street Cafe, a Korean coffeehouse in Koreatown, you’ll find a chocolate version of the indulgent treat that is bound to make any chocolate fan swoon.
The VIC at Lysée
VIC at Lysée
A glimpse at the VIC’s chocolatey layers and textures
Lysée (pronounced Lee-zay) is described as a French Korean “Pastry Boutique”, which gives it a bit of a fancy connotation. The stock of head chef, Eunji Lee, has increased conspicuously in recent years, too, after winning a number of awards. Embrace that, if that is important to you, or ignore it, if not. But the bottom line here is that you’ll find cutting-edge, masterfully executed pastries worth your time and hard-earned cash. Take, for instance, the VIC (Very Important Chocolate Cake). It’s the chef’s whimsical take on the standard American layer cakes you’d find on offer at most steakhouses (or really, anywhere) across the country. The VIC is a chocolate crémeux and sponge cake, with Timut pepper caramel and dark chocolate mousse. It’s an indulgence worthy of a special occasion.
Amedei Chocolate Mille Crêpes at Lady M
If you are looking for a slice of sweet sophistication, you can rely, unconditionally, on the consistent excellence of Lady M. That being said, they are probably most famous for their incredible variety of French Mille Crêpes. It’s a layer cake consisting of stacked crepes with various sweet, creamy fillings between them. For our money (and for any chocolate lover), there’s no question the zenith of their Mille Crêpes is the Amedei Chocolate Mille Crêpes. We’re talking a cake stacked with twenty cocoa crepes, sandwiching pastry cream spiked with Amedei Toscano Black 65 chocolate from Tuscany, and punctuated with chocolate shavings and chocolate ganache on top. It’s absolutely over-the-top chocolate indulgence at its very best.
Chocolate Martini at Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar
Chocolate martini at Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar
Chocolate and wine have a storied history, dating back to the 16th century. The interplay of flavor profiles accentuating particular notes. Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar makes not one, nor two, but six flavor variations of their excellent chocolate martinis. Smooth, decadent and chocolatey, without being saccharine, the Classic will, by our estimation, satisfy any purist. The chocolate martinis are accompanied by a couple of complimentary truffles for an additional chocolate punctuation, though both chocolate slates with dry fruits & spices and selections of Jacques Torres bonbons are available on their Sweet Treats menus as well.
Chocolate Chip Cookie at Levain Bakery
Chocolate chip cookie and Dark chocolate chip cookie from Levain Bakery
Levain Bakery is a success story of friendship as much as it is entrepreneurship. Two friends and competitive athletes opened the first location of Levain Bakery on 74th Street back in 1995. Believe it or not, the signature treat–a chocolate chip walnut cookie–was developed as caloric fuel while they trained for a triathlon. Huge and decadent, with a crispy exterior and a gooey center, it's best described as a mound. You can get one at one of their (now) many locations, no triathlon necessary.
Pro Tip: if a gooey cookie isn’t up your alley, there are two other chocolate chip cookies with cult followings in NYC. One is from Jacques Torres, which features a blend of cake and bread flour and a very generous portion of chocolate. Have it warmed, and you’ll remember the first moment it touches your lips forever. You’ll find the other at Culture Espresso, one of our favorite coffee shops in NYC, where the cookie is baked in-house daily and is now one of the primary reasons people visit.
Chocolate-Inspired Events and Experiences
Chocolate Tours
If you want to experience Brooklyn, you won’t find better stewards than A Slice of Brooklyn’s personable tour guides. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed their Brooklyn Pizza Tour and Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tour. Their Brooklyn Chocolate Tour will ferry you on a fun-filled, tasty jaunt through Brooklyn’s abundant craft chocolate scene in their luxury buses. You’ll venture from neighborhood to neighborhood--Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Industry City and Gowanus--enjoying tastings at such renowned chocolatiers as Jacques Torres Chocolates, Raaka Chocolates, and Li-Lac Chocolates. You’ll learn plenty about the chocolate-making process and satisfy your sweet tooth along the way.
If you’d rather justify your chocolate pursuits with an increased step count, there is a two-hour walking tour in Greenwich Village that takes to several chocolate spots which also offers the opportunity to customize your samples as you hop from space to space.
Chocolate-making Classes
Rhonda Kave, the entrepreneur, chocolatier, and owner and operator of Roni-Sue's Chocolates, isn’t just passionate about making craft chocolates, she’s also passionate about educating and supporting the ethical production of chocolate. If you participate in her Chocolate Truffle Make-Along, you’ll touch upon the cultivation, fermentation, processing, and chocolate’s many applications. After a glass or two of wine and a robust chocolate tasting, we finished off the class with a walk-through of the truffle making process, the fruits of which we were given to take with us at its conclusion. You'll be obsessing over truffle flavors to make at home for days to come.
Chocolate Festivals
If there’s one thing NYC does well, it’s getting people together to celebrate what they love. Whether it’s a book festival, an Easter Bonnet Parade, or a weekend when doors open to urban explorers all over the city, we like to go big. For chocolate lovers, there’s the Brooklyn Chocolate, Wine and Whisky Festival, which marries premium wines, select craft beers and ciders, whiskies, and of course, gourmet chocolate. Salon du Chocolat is a worldwide chocolate event that has welcomed millions of people in multiple countries since its inception in 1994. The family-friendly weekend-long celebration features demonstrations, workshops, panel discussions, and lots of samples.
Conclusion
As our sweet journey through the streets of New York City comes to a close, we hope your takeaway is that this metropolis is not just a destination; it's a haven for chocolate lovers. So, pack your sweet tooth and set forth on a chocolate lover's adventure in the city that blends diverse flavors into a harmonious symphony. NYC is a chocolate lover's paradise waiting to be explored and savored, one delectable bite at a time.
