USA TODAY 10Best
Indulge in the 10 best chocolate shops across the US
Best Chocolate Shop (2024)
Independent chocolate shops across the country offer a variety of delicious and distinctive chocolates that are made with premium ingredients and infused with unique flavors.
Whether you're looking for creative bars, glossy truffles, chocolate-covered fruits, or whimsical bonbons, you can find them at these 10 stores, selected by a panel of experts and voted by readers as the best in the United States.
- Ragged Coast Chocolates - Westbrook, Maine
- Eldora Chocolate - Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Mon Aimee Chocolat - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Bon Bon Bon - Michigan
- Videri Chocolate Factory - Raleigh, North Carolina
- LaRue Fine Chocolate - Greenville, South Carolina
- Chocolat Uzma - Chicago, Illinois
- Saratoga Chocolate Co. - Saratoga Springs, New York
- Piety and Desire Chocolate - New Orleans, Louisiana
- Pizzelle's Confections - Huntsville, Alabama
Photo courtesy of Winky Lewis
No. 10:
Ragged Coast Chocolates is known for their signature truffles and sea salt caramels, is committed to using direct and fair trade chocolate from Latin America and sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. Vegan and dairy-free chocolate are available, along with baking mixes, chocolate bark, drinking chocolate, and even fanciful treats such as their dark chocolate almond-date hedgehogs.
Photo courtesy of Capuski // Getty Images
No. 9:
This bean-to-bar chocolate shop practices a commitment to using natural, organic, and fair trade ingredients in their artisan confections. The end result is a refined assortment of drinking chocolate powders, chocolate truffles, bonbons, and single origin chocolate bars. Eldora Chocolate also schedules in-store private tours, and a percentage of their profits support Kiva, Heirloom Cacao Project, and Rainforest Project.
Photo courtesy of Adam Milliron
No. 8:
Showcasing chocolate from both local and international chocolatiers (from over 60 countries), Mon Aimee Chocolat offers plenty to choose from to satisfy your sweet tooth. Selections include bonbons, caramels, chocolate-covered pretzels, and other mouthwatering treats.
Photo courtesy of Mar Mnz-Brock
No. 7:
This Hamtramck-based artisan chocolate company, with stores in Michigan, creates bonbons with clever flavor combinations and eye-catching designs that look as delicious as they taste. In their handiwork, Bon Bon Bon’s confectioners — lovingly nicknamed "The Babes Babes Babes" — apply classic French techniques with Detroit ingenuity, along with local ingredients, to make these delectables. Orders avoiding nuts or gluten, along with vegan options and a special Bon Of The Month, are all available.
No. 6:
This artisan chocolatier has their factory open to the public for tours that can be either guided, with a paid advance booking, or self-guided for learning about their chocolate making process. Videri Chocolate Factory sells their signature chocolate bars and single origin bars and bonbons, and it also has frozen drinks and milkshakes. Soft serve ice cream can be topped with housemade sauces and toppings. Vegan products are also available.
Photo courtesy of Brogan Jackson
No. 5:
Chocolatier Elizabeth Logan McDaniel is known for her specialty truffles with fun names and refined flavor infusions. Selections may include the Sweet Kentucky, a dark chocolate with a salty and tipsy caramel, or the Dora Larue, a peanut butter and graham cracker crunch covered in milk chocolate. This chocolate shop not only sells her creations, but also has a cafe space with boozy beverages and a menu of small plates.
Photo courtesy of Callie Lipkin
No. 4:
Chocolat Uzma wows both Chicago residents and visitors with such decadent sweets as chocolate bars, nut bark, and Himalayan turtles. There are even vegan and dairy-free options available so everyone can enjoy their favorite treat.
Photo courtesy of Saratoga Chocolate Co.
No. 3:
No matter how you like your chocolate, Saratoga Chocolate Co. has you covered. From an extensive selection of bars and unique barks to a variety of hot chocolates and chocolate-covered nuts, you'll find exactly what you're looking for at this independent, woman-owned, and family-run chocolate shop.
Photo courtesy of C. Nobles
No. 2:
With a “bean to bar to bonbon and beyond” tagline, this chocolate cafe founded by New Orleans native Christopher Nobles is described by reviewers as having a cozy Old World setting, but Piety and Desire chocolates are lively in design and taste. Guests will find a range of options to enjoy from bean-to-bar chocolate and bonbons to Cajun drinking chocolate, ice cream, and affogatos.
Photo courtesy of Lauri Patterson / E+ Getty Images
No. 1:
Made with fair trade Felchlin chocolate, Pizzelle's Confections look almost too good to eat. Almost. After all, who could resist their eye-catching and uniquely flavored bonbons and chocolate bars that taste as good as they look? For a taste of Alabama, try the Steel Magnolia, crafted with chicory and coffee.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate,... Read More
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based... Read More
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Allison Tibaldi
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Carly Caramanna
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the... Read More
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more. www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
Carly Caramanna
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more. www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacob and Esther of Local Adventurer
Esther JuLee and Jacob Fu run one of the largest... Read More
Esther JuLee and Jacob Fu run one of the largest travel blogs in the world, Local Adventurer, where they hope to encourage everyone to find adventure in their everyday lives. They spent 7 years moving to a new city every year and are now based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jacob and Esther of Local Adventurer
Esther JuLee and Jacob Fu run one of the largest travel blogs in the world, Local Adventurer, where they hope to encourage everyone to find adventure in their everyday lives. They spent 7 years moving to a new city every year and are now based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kristin Luna
Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer... Read More
Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer who has contributed to Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA TODAY, Southern Living and many more. You can follow her adventures via her blog Camels & Chocolate or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Kristin Luna
Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer who has contributed to Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA TODAY, Southern Living and many more. You can follow her adventures via her blog Camels & Chocolate or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Read More
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
Melody Pittman
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country. She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing. Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book. Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
