For chocolate fans, New York represents paradise on earth, where you can get fine artisanal chocolates, chocolate produced locally in addition to imported Belgian, French and Swiss truffles and nearly everything else chocolate as well. While a number of specialty stores such as
Dylan's Candy Bar in Midtown East or bakeries such as
City Bakery in the Flatiron District have a fine selection of chocolate goods, we thought it would be fun to create a walking tour that combines some exercise along with serious tastings at some of New York's finest chocolatiers. We begin just west of SoHo, proceed through SoHo up to Union Square, and then head over to Chelsea and Greenwich Village. The tour can be reversed and obviously stopped at any time if you exceed your maximum caloric intake for the day (or week)!
At the intersection of Hudson and King Streets (nearest subway: #1 train to Houston Street) you'll find the massive
Jacques Torres Chocolate store, with endless specialties that delight and please all comers. In addition, you can stare through the plate-glass windows and watch the candy being manufactured. It's a terrific place!
From here we proceed down Hudson Street three blocks to Spring Street, then walk east four blocks to 80 Thompson Street, the boutique of Kee Ling Tong, a French Culinary Institute graduate who has a modest yet seductive shop called
Kee's Chocolates. Do ensure you taste some of the more exotic flavors, for the selection is quite extraordinary. You'll now head a block south and a little more than a block east to a much larger shop,
Marie Belle Fine Treats & Chocolates, which has a diverse array of lavishly-packaged products ranging from gift boxes to teas, coffee and larger-sized bars. Do examine the selection in the glass display case, and perhaps head to the back to the Cacao Bar, where you can sit and enjoy an Aztec iced or hot chocolate, along with cakes, pastries, cookies, and other sweet treats.
Now contrast your experience at Marie Belle with that at nearby
Vosges Chocolate, which you'll find a block north on Spring Street. Though equally seductive, these two places could not be more different in style. With its lush purple walls and long skinny chocolate bar, the temptations here are fascinating and complex. Try the Collección Gaudí, inspired by the famous Spanish architect. Or perhaps some exotic caramels, or a delightful iced chocolate. The ice creams are superb and fascinating as well, especially a fiery-hot and appropriately named Red Fire, which has ancho & chipotle chillies, Ceylon cinnamon and dark chocolate.
Of course, SoHo isn't just about chocolate boutiques. Now en route to Union Square, head over to Broadway and make sure you stop in at nearby
Dean & Deluca to admire the huge selection of designer chocolates. At this point, some exercise is in order, and walking the next dozen-plus blocks up to
Max Brenner Chocolate by the Bald Man will help bring you back to earth from your current endorphin overload. Brenner is well-known in Israel and Europe, and this flagship location here in New York features the most diverse and unique chocolate menu we've seen. Perhaps enjoy a full meal here, or if you prefer, take your selections to charming
Union Square Park just a block away and indulge in public. If you want all your friends and family to know just how much chocolate you've enjoyed so far, remember there is free Wi-Fi in this park, so pull out your laptop and send emails while you eat your truffles.
Your cacao fixations in the Union Square area are not limited solely to chocolate boutiques. Whole Foods Market has a wide assortment of chocolates and desserts, all of which can be consumed in the second-floor dining area that overlooks the park. Or perhaps you're ready for a tea break? Consider taking a quick detour westward on 14th Street to
Tavalon Tea Bar, where you'll be dazzled by the sleek interior and DJ in addition to the great selection of teas. Now you're ready for the wonderful array of chocolates at
Michel Cluizel @ ABC Carpet & Home, just a few blocks north of the park on Broadway.
After the dazzle of Michel Cluizel, if you still have any energy, proceed west on 18th Street to the nearby
City Bakery, which features a small chocolate room of treats in addition to other chocolate desserts and an entire month (February) featuring a different type of hot chocolate each day! Continue on West 18th Street to Ninth Avenue, and then two blocks north up to
La Bergamote, where in addition to New York's finest truffles you'll find phenomenal triple chocolate mousse, chocolate mousse cakes, and
souris au chocolat (in the shape of chocolate mice).
From here go back down Ninth Avenue four blocks to the
Chelsea Market, with astounding brownies at Fat Witch Bakery, chocolate goodies at Eleni's Bakery, Ruthy's Ruggelach, Sarabeth's and ice cream at Jimmy's Gelato and Leonidas pralines at Chelsea Market Baskets. Exit the market and proceed back to Eighth Avenue: we have only three more stops to go! Make a right on Eighth Avenue, and at the corner of 14th Street head in to
Balducci's, this wonderful gourmet temple which of course has a nice selection of chocolates and desserts. Further south and on the opposite side of Eighth Avenue you'll encounter
Chocolate Bar, with its sensational truffles, fascinating chocolate-inspired goods (ranging from teas to t-shirts) and great bars and gift ideas. Better sit and have a hot chocolate (or maybe a white mocha) while you're here, to rest up for your final stop right nearby:
Lilac Chocolates.
Still haven't had enough? We
tagged a number of other chocolate boutiques all over the city so you can enjoy other offerings in various neighborhoods as well. And make sure you
register with our site so you can write reviews of all these wonderful chocolates you've just sampled!
