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    Home » Chocolate Travel Guides

    7 Best Washington DC Chocolate Shops & Brands

    Updated: Mar 29, 2024 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    I can't in good conscience run this website without talking about chocolate in Washington DC, my hometown. There is thankfully no more Godiva in DC, but even if there were, this is not where you'd find coverage of it.

    Nor will I be listing Neuhaus, Royce, or any other generic "premium" chocolate brands— this is all about the best chocolate shops in DC, none of which are the aforementioned European sweets.

    Below are around a dozen places you can buy chocolate online or in person in the District proper (i.e. not in Maryland or Virginia), with offerings that range from bean to bar chocolate to bonbons and other elevated confections. In the research for this article, I stumbled across several shops which have changed their offerings or closed over the last couple years.

    For example, Krön Chocolatier appears to be permanently closed, and Harper Macaw Chocolate has now also permanently closed. Beyond that, despite the name, Bread and Chocolate doesn't have truffles or bonbons. So while this list is still a work in progress, that does mean it's regularly updated!

    Jump To

    • Washington DC Chocolate Shops
      • The Chocolate House DC
      • Shop Made in DC
      • Baked & Wired
      • Chocolate Chocolate
    • Washington DC Chocolate Makers
      • Chocotenango
    • Washington DC Chocolatiers
      • LA Burdick Chocolate
      • Arcay Chocolates
      • Capital Candy Jar
    • Washington DC Chocolate Shops Map

    Washington DC Chocolate Shops

    The Chocolate House DC

    bonbons from The Chocolate House

    Having gone by many names over the last decade or so, including Cocova and Biagio Fine Chocolates, The Chocolate House has remained a steadfast source of delicious craft chocolate in DC. While not themselves a chocolate maker, TCH carries a few dozen different chocolate brands, and average 30+ flavors of bonbons in their display case.

    Before the pandemic, the small event space in the back was used for private tastings, book signings, and even truffle-making classes, all of which will be coming back soon. The owner, Marisol, is almost always there and can offer you great bar recommendations, samples from the back, and insight into each and every maker they carry.

    The Chocolate House is also host and founder of the DC Chocolate Festival, which normally occurs every April. Stop in for a few bars from around the world, and pick out a box of bonbons while you're at it!

    Address: 1904 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

    Hours: 12pm-6pm, daily {open until 7pm Fri./Sat.}

    Shop Made in DC

    While there are a few chocolate makers in DC, none of them currently have their own retail shops, which is where Shop Made in DC comes in. SMID is a DC incubator with a focus on art and local creators, and especially visual and written art.

    However they also carry a small selection of Chocotenango products, as well as boxes of pre-selected Capital Candy Jar goods. It's possible that they'll stock some other DC chocolate makers seasonally, but for now we're enjoying their artful selection as-is.

    Address: 1353 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 (multiple locations)

    Hours: 11am-7pm, daily {closes at 6pm on Sun.}

    Baked & Wired

    This DC cupcake institution didn't used to be a chocolate lover's mecca, but over the last few years the company has expanded both their number of shops and their selection in them.

    At last count, Baked & Wired carries more than a dozen bean to bar chocolate makers, with products including both bars and confections. Not every chocolate they sell is a craft chocolate, but such a wide array of offerings, you're sure to find something delicious to go with your latte and your cupcake.

    Address: 1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC 20007

    Hours: 8am-4pm, daily

    Chocolate Chocolate

    Chocolate Chocolate DC is quite probably the most conveniently-located chocolate shop in DC. Nestled in the first floor of one of the city's many office buildings, the shop's undeniable centerpiece is the long display case holding at least five dozen flavors of bonbons.

    It lures you in until you bump into it, slowly gliding along until you've passed the Christopher Elbow bonbons and reached the Neuhaus. Of course they also have the typical candy shop options in a by-the-pound self-serve station, from chocolate-dipped almonds to the fruit-flavored candies most of us grew up on.

    But the specialties which make it unique to DC include the many local monuments molded from chocolate, as well as more kitschy molded items, like smartphones and lips.

    For those looking to indulge in chocolate bars or adult-style candy bars, they also sell full-sized Mayana bars, as well as Antidote, Zotter, and Valrhona. Lunchtime on a weekday here is busy, with five other patrons coming through during the 10 minutes I was inside, but if you're in a hurry, they do take orders by phone.

    Address: 1130 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

    Hours: 12pm-8pm, Sun.-Thu. & 10am-10pm, Fri./Sat.

    Washington DC Chocolate Makers

    Chocotenango

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Max Gandy // Chocolate Travel (@damecacao)

    Perhaps one of the oldest chocolate shops in DC, Chef Ismael Neggaz's Chocotenango was actually founded in Guatemala in 2005. The suffix "-tenango" is used there to denote a place-name, so he created the "place of chocolate" (a rough translation) right here in DC.

    Now well over a decade later, Chef Neggaz is still producing delicious and creative chocolates, both in bar & bonbon form. I've tried Chocotenango both ways, and I am a fan in either iteration, though the raspberry caramel bonbon sits close to my heart. If you want to buy a box or a bar, you can find his creations online and at around a dozen shops in the DMV.

    Click here to visit their webstore.

    Washington DC Chocolatiers

    LA Burdick Chocolate

    LA Burdick Chocolate was born in New Hampshire in the late 1980's, the dream of an American chocolatier who'd recently returned from training in Switzerland. It's since grown to include six locations, and when you walk into their Georgetown outlet, you'll first notice the huge variety of chocolate-dipped nuts & dried fruits.

    While none of the creations are sold by weight, overall the chocolates and even the shop itself reminds me quite a bit of Laurent Gerbaud in Brussels, Belgium. Their bonbons are made with no preservatives, and a clear emphasis upon dark chocolate.

    Along one wall there are roughly twenty varieties of chocolate bars, while further into the shop are a dozen different cookies and pastries, and a small selection of croissants. There are even a few vegan options, as well as an expansive beverage menu.

    The bonbons themselves are very good, with options of single, double, and triple bonbons being priced slightly differently. The cardamom salt caramel, white chocolate apricot caramel, and the earl grey ganache were the group favorites.

    Address: 1319 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

    Hours: 8am-8pm, daily

    Arcay Chocolates

    In their new permanent spot near Union Market, Arcay Chocolates is bringing Venezuelan-inspired flavors & creations to the DMV. Founded by Anabella Arcay, a highly-awarded master chocolatier and a Venezuelan transplant to DC, the shop started with only her bonbons.

    However now it's grown to include chocolate-dipped treats, spreads, and flavored bars. In warmer weather, you can also buy their homemade paletas (fruit popsicles) in a half dozen flavors. But the most striking detail about the shop is simply how colorful it is.

    The entire theme is a blatant reminder of Arcay's tropical roots, and a stunning aesthetic when applied to their packaging. On my visit I tried a box of 9 different bonbons, getting to pick out each flavor from that month's selection.

    While some were more memorable than others, the Hazelnut and the Rosemary Sea Salt were by far my favorites, and I'd happily buy a full box with just those two— which luckily, I can.

    Address: 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

    Hours: 12pm-8pm, Sun.-Thu. & 10am-10pm, Fri./Sat.

    Capital Candy Jar

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    A post shared by The Capital Candy Jar (@capitalcandyjar)

    Capital Candy Jar is just as it says it is: a candy shop. The brand's focus is upon sweet treats with a DC motif, from their bonbons and fudge to the lollipops and caramel corn.

    But their biggest pull seems to be the chocolate-covered oreos ornamented with the region's many monuments, or alternatively, with seasonally-relevant prints made with colored cocoa butter. Crowd favorites are the chocolate caramel clouds as well as the pre-packed candy gift boxes.

    Address: 201 15th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

    Hours: 12pm-7pm, Tue.-Sun.

    Washington DC Chocolate Shops Map

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    Comments

    1. Jonathan

      April 25, 2024 at 8:22 am

      What a blow that Harper Macaw has closed. I had noticed that I was seeing their chocolates on store shelves less and less, but I didn't put two and two together until seeing this post (with local craft chocolate makers availability can fluctuate quite a bit). I'd say they were the absolute best DC had to offer, wonderful flavor and a pleasant texture.

      DC is definitely a bit light on the chocolate makers. There are some very good chocolate makers close by though. Potomac and Riversea are makers in Northern Virginia and Argencove, one of the absolute best bean-to-bar craft chocolates around imports to NoVa as well.

      Even better, in my personal opinion, and much less known than Argencove is El Ceibo. They are also bean-to-bar producers who import to NoVa and their chocolate is just sensational.

      Finally, I would add Each Peach Market in Mt. Pleasant to the list of retailers selling craft chocolate. They have a really excellent assortment, I would actually say even better than Baked & Wired's.

      Reply
      • Max

        May 10, 2024 at 2:42 pm

        Thank you for your comment, Jonathan!

        It's definitely a huge blow to lose Harper Macaw; I even invested in their reopening in Annapolis a couple years ago, and was sad to be notified last year that it was all for naught. I havne't seen Argencove around here (El Ceibo has been at The Chocolate House forever), but will have to keep an eye out for it - I've been planning for the last year to expand the guide to regional DMV makers & chocolatiers, but it's been taking awhile to get through the 20+ brands on my list. Too many personal obstacles, not to mention the many trips around to visit each shop! Each Peach Market is really close to my old apartment in DC - I didn't realize they now carried so much b2b stuff; I'll have to check them out for that next time I'm nearby. Thank you for the leads, and for the input!

        Reply
    2. OneMaryland

      February 02, 2022 at 10:03 pm

      This is so helpful! I've tried many of these and look forward to the others. Regarding chocolate, I find your commentary is always spot-on.

      Reply
      • Max

        February 03, 2022 at 4:04 am

        Thank you very much! I'm glad you've found it helpful. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Isa A

      December 12, 2021 at 12:23 am

      A great post! I haven't even been to the states yet. Good to see more selective names and even greater shops doing better. I liked a few names such as the makaw, and petite s. Will look them up! Xx
      Isa A

      Reply
      • Max

        December 12, 2021 at 7:22 am

        Thanks, Isa! I'm glad you found some new spots to check out!

        Reply

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