Chocolate shopping in Europe
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Pierre Marcolini
Brussels-born Marcolini is the wunderkind of Belgian chocolate-makers, whose pralines include melt-in-your-mouth ganaches (cream-filled chocolate) made from exotic teas. Other Marcolini innovations include quirky bunny-eared Easter eggs. Make your selection from the glass counter then head to the back room to pick up your order. There’s talk of a tea room opening soon upstairs.
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Neuhaus
Framed by stained-glass windows, this is the original shop of the inventor of the praline, opened in 1857.
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Chokladfabriken
Cocoa addicts swear by this savvy chocolate peddler, whose head chocolatier Martin Isaksson trained at the Maison du Chocolat in Paris. Bite into the cardamom praline and you’ll be hooked. One line of chocolates features artwork by graphic designer Katy Kimbell, and the regular evening tasting sessions (Skr320, 90 minutes) are coveted affairs (book two to three months ahead). Best of all, you can kick back in the adjoining cafe and succumb to Stockholm’s dreamiest hot chocolate (made with 70% cocoa dark chocolate). There’s also a branch in Norrmalm and another one in Östermalm on Grevgatan 37.
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Lula Cioccolato
In a city full of exquisite sweet things, hip and oh-so-pretty Lula is a standout. Purists prefer the simple slabs scattered with nuts or the jewel-coloured French jellies, while those of a more decorative bent snap up votive- and cornucopia-shaped chocolates. Flavours run from traditional to highly experimental. Seasonal creations include baroque Easter eggs and crystallised flowers for Christmas or St Valentines Day cakes, which really do make the heart beat faster. For extra gift oomph, there’s vintage cotton pouches or gold-centred bowls to fill.
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Confetteria Moriondo & Gariglio
Roman poet Trilussa dedicated several sonnets to this shop, and you can see why. This is no ordinary sweetshop, but a veritable temple to bonbons. Rows of handmade chocolates and sweets (more than 80 varieties) lie in ceremonial splendour in old-fashioned glass cabinets set against dark crimson walls. Moriondo and Gariglio were Torinese cousins who moved to Rome after the unification of Italy, and many of the chocolates are handmade to their original recipes.
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VizioVirtù
Work your way through Venice’s most decadent vices and tasty virtues with repeat visits to the Willy Wonka–esque chocolatier for extra-creamy house-made gelato and chocolates filled with ganache in a five-course meal of flavours: Barolo wine, pink pepper, ginger-curry, chestnut honey and mimosa flower. A second location on Campo San Tomá offers more cakes, mousses, pralines and upscale gift-wrapped treats.
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Chocolate Line
Bruges has 50 chocolate shops, but just five where chocolates are handmade on the premises. Of those, the Chocolate Line is the brightest and best. Wildly experimental flavours by ‘shock-o-latier’ Dominique Persoone include bitter Coca-Cola, and black olive, tomato and basil; it also sells pots of chocolate body-paint (complete with a brush). Opening hours fluctuate.
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Erich Hamann Schokolade
Chocolate lovers in search of a classic Berlin souvenir should visit this chocolate factory, a local stalwart since the Roaring Twenties. The packaging and the store haven’t changed since, and neither has the quality of the product. The bitter varieties and the chocolate bark are specialties, although the handmade truffles also have their fans.
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Gautier-Debotté
When Jules Verne was a young boy he too was awed by this beautiful chocolate shop's chandeliers, marble floors and circular velvet banquette, where Nantais have waited while their orders were filled since 1823. Handmade specialities include mascarons (finely ground chocolates in a dark-chocolate shell) and a rainbow of hard-boiled sweets.
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In’t Veld – Schokoladen
This sleek, dark repository of sleek, dark valuables (ie chocolates) offers famous brands from France and Ecuador (among other countries), and also stocks its own nattily packaged drinking chocolate – a handy souvenir for the sweet tooth in your life. Also in Schöneberg (Winterfeldtstrasse 45).
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Venchi
This Piedmontese chocolatier has basic blocks, highly original products including ‘chocavier’ (90% cocoa granules), cocoa dusted fave (beans) and truffle cigars. Be warned: it just takes one smear of their gianduja cream spread and there’s no going back to Nutella.
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In’t Veld – Schokoladen
This sleek, dark repository of sleek, dark valuables (ie chocolates) offers famous brands from France and Ecuador (among other countries), and also stocks its own nattily packaged drinking chocolate – a handy souvenir for the sweet tooth in your life.
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Mary’s
Established in 1919, and supplying Belgium’s royal family with chocolates since 1942, Mary’s is the grande dame of praline makers. All 70-plus varieties of all-natural chocolates (including scrumptious coffee creams) are created entirely by hand.
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O'Connaill
Don't leave Cork without sampling the Chocolatier's Hot Chocolate (€4) at O'Connaill confectioners' tiny counter. The foolhardy can stagger away with 2.5kg slabs of chocolate, but there are subtler concoctions on offer.
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Hachez
The local purveyor of chocolate and specialities such as Kluten (peppermint sticks covered in dark chocolate).
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Dolce Forte
Elena is the passion and knowledge behind this astonishing chocolate shop that sells only the best. Think black-truffle flavoured chocolate, an entire cherry, stone et al, soaked in grappa and wrapped in white chocolate or - for the ultimate taste sensation - formaggio di fossa (a cheese from central Italy) soaked in sweet wine and enrobed in dark chocolate.
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Del Rey
If the sweet vapours of chocolates being made out the back of this beautiful shop prove irresistible, you can get a taste on the spot at the adjoining degustation salon.
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Burie
Fronted by fantastical window displays, this historic chocolatier creates chocolates in all shapes and sizes, including ‘Antwerp hands’ and brilliant-cut diamonds.
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L'Art Gourmand
Chocolate fiends should definitely descend upon this place, which sells a huge range of goodies. The ice cream is pretty great too – all 31 varieties of it.
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Aristokratikon
Chocaholics will be thrilled by the dazzling array of handmade chocolates at this tiny store. Not one for the weak-willed. Also try the pistachio clusters.
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Wittamer
The Wittamer family still makes its own excellent chocolates, which you can buy at this boutique. They also run a pâtisserie and tearoom.
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Madame Oiseau
Mouth-watering Belgian chocolates are crafted before your very eyes in this tiny shop.
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Mary’s
Established in 1919, and supplying Belgium’s royal family with chocolates since 1942, Mary’s is the grande dame of praline makers. All 70-plus varieties of all-natural chocolates (including scrumptious coffee creams) are created entirely by hand.
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Xocoa
One of Spain's most celebrated purveyors of designer chocolates finds a home in Palma opposite the Mercat de l'Olivar. Exquisite packaging and presentation are part of the whole package.
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