On a bad day, on a good day, on a cold day or really any day, chocolate is the answer. The versatility of the chocolate lets us enjoy it in many shapes and forms. From bonbons to bite into, to drinks to sip on, or in deserts that melt in your mouth, Boston is the place to be for such indulgence. 

Being home to the first chocolate factory in the country, white chocolate and the chocolate chip cookie, Massachusetts knows a thing or two about this delicious food. In 1670, Boston became home to the first coffee and chocolate houses in the United States, and until this day, Boston keeps its reputation housing some of the best chocolate shops. 

Here is a list of chocolate shops you must visit in Boston: 

Gourmet Boutique 

Eat your way through some of the best chocolates in the world through a virtual experience with Gourmet Boutique. With high-end offerings crafted by a chocolate sommelier – yes, that is a thing – you can give your palate some of the best chocolate flavors from around the world. Book a virtual experience, receive the products you need on the mail, and sit back and enjoy from the comfort of your home with the guidance and teachings of craft chocolate and food educator, Anya Zelfond. 

L.A. Burdick Chocolates

For a sip of dense high-quality hot chocolate, head over to L.A. Burdick Chocolates. With three locations in Boston, one cannot miss the opportunity to drink chocolate the way it was intended to be, full of powerful cocoa flavor. While there, pick up some of their Signature Chocolate Mice. Never using a mold, each mouse is handmade individually through a 12-step process that takes three days. Make it a perfect present getting a box of them beautifully sealed with a hand-stamped wax seal.  

Beacon Hill Chocolates

Experience the culture of chocolates from around the world at Beacon Hill Chocolates. Here you can find an array of flavors from a mix of various chocolate producers, some who use traditional and others who use innovative chocolate-making techniques. Owner and chocolatier, Paula Barth, travels around the world personally selecting the finest and rarest confections for her chocolate shop. 

Cacao

Leo Baez shares with Boston his experiences from childhood growing up in the Dominican Republic through chocolate. Cacao is a chocolate shop focused on offering Baez favorite childhood snack in one of the greatest culinary combinations, nuts and chocolate. Aside from chocolate covered nuts and seeds, you can find flavorful drinking chocolate, bonbons and truffles. It’s a sweet perfect stop while in Jamaica Plain. 

Gâté Comme des Filles

In the midst of artists, local goods and culturally-driven shops, Gâté Comme des Filles shares with Boston deliciously crafted chocolates by Chez Alexandra Whisnant. Through her journey from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to Sommerville, Whisnant has been described as the “Parisian fairy of chocolate” by chocolate connoisseurs. Stop by and enjoy a decadent mousse au chocolat noir en cornet cacao with a hot chocolate during the winter, and take home a box or two of the seasonal selection of her beautiful handmade bonbons.

Taza Chocolate

Inspired by the stone ground chocolate he experienced in Oaxaca, Mexico, Alex Whitmore decided to bring the chocolate making technique to Boston and open up Taza Chocolate. From bean to bar, Taza offers a distinct flavor and focuses on organic and sustainable flavors. Visit their factory in Sommerville and see first-hand how it is made. Tours include tastings, and are offered for adults and kids.

Petrova Chocolates 

Colorful, glossy and painted with detailed bite-size chocolates are the iconic work of Petrova Chocolates. Buy online or catch their next pop-up around Boston and enjoy the signature chocolate bonbons crafted by Betty Petrova. Handmade in small batches, the artisan bonbons are carefully polished and painted with colored cocoa butter, looking each like small pieces of art. Voted Best of Boston in 2021 immediately after its debut, Petrova Chocolates are a must in the city.

EHChocalier Artisan Chocolates 

Handcrafted to detail, high-end bonbons and confections are offered at EHChocalier Artisan Chocolates. Founders and Owners Elaine and Catharine have created a space to not only enjoy delightful chocolate creations but also to learn the chocolate-making process by the best. Stop by and enjoy some of their best sellers, such as the caramelized peanut butter cups and dark chocolate pecan clusters, or book a class with expert chocolatier Chef Anne, and learn to make delicious chocolate creations at home.