The top chocolate shops in Toronto will sweeten up your day - no matter if there's an occasion worthy of celebration or not. These sweet spots are stocked with artful bonbons, bars and delectable desserts, not to mention gift-worthy wares, ballotins, and heart shaped boxes.
Here are my picks for the top chocolate shops in Toronto by neighbourhood.
ANNEX
Stubbe Chocolate on Dupont is stocked with a tempting selection of truffles and bonbons, chocolate bars, tortes and cakes.
BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
Almond crisps, chocolate marzipan, chewy caramels and sesame treats are among the 30 different chocolates on offer at Ambiance Chocolat on Mount Pleasant.
BEACHES
Chocolate dipped popcorn and pretzels, nut clusters and chocolates filled with Earl Grey ganache are what's in stock at Chocolate by Wickerhead on Queen East.
BLOORCOURT
Bevissimo is a fine foods purveyor and stockist of chocolates from Rococoa and Laura Slack along with countless other drool-worthy sweets.
BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Coco Crafted Organic Chocolates deals in certified organic, fair trade chocolates spun in small batches into truffles, ice cream and hot chocolates.
CORSO ITALIA
ChocoSol chocolate bars can be found at retailers citywide, but to see where the magic happens, take a trip to the St. Clair outlet where workshops and tastings are all part of its appeal. Dairy-free eating and drinking chocolates made from Mexican cacao are the specialty; the five chili bullet is a fave.
THE DANFORTH
Avoca is a mother-daughter operation where you'll find a line-up of hand-made confections crafted from fine Belgian Callebaut chocolate. Standouts include the Mister Bean, a dark chocolate coffee truffle, and the Dark Night featuring dark chocolate ganache coated in dark chocolate.
DISTILLERY DISTRICT
This historic district is kind of a hub for eating copious amounts of cocoa; you've got Maisonette stocked with Laura Slack chocolates, the dessert menu at Cocoa 70, and then of course, Soma's first choco-lab.
DUNDAS WEST
Confections made with Tanzanian chocolate and crème fraîche are the specialty at Odile. The chocolate maker is known for truffles in specialty flavours like champagne with black pepper and rose petals or maple with black walnut.
ETOBICOKE
The indulgent selection of sweets at Sweet Olenka's Lakeshore location includes truffles, baked goods and chocolate-dipped ice cream bars.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Along with fine patisseries and pre-made sweets, find Nadege in the PATH carrying a decadent array of chocolate bonbons and bars.
THE JUNCTION
Baklava en-robed in dark chocolate, grapefruit chili chocolates, and blood orange bonbons all vie for attention at Delight. The retail operation on Dundas Street West is known for its chocolates, ice creams and other handmade delectables containing only fair trade, organic ingredients.
KING WEST
Bean-to-bar chocolatier, Soma is home to some of the world's best chocolate, and this King West boutique is a great place to sample the goods. Find single-origin bars, handmade truffles, gelato, and hot cocoa drinks.
LESLIEVILLE
Sandy Aleksander is the ultimate specialty store where the exquisite creations from local chocolate artist, Laura Slack are on display like jewels behind glass.
LIBERTY VILLAGE
The Golden Apple is shop stocked with all the types of things that'll score brownie points; gourmet candied apples, chocolate barks, brittles, truffles and chocolate tablets.
LITTLE ITALY
Until CXBO opens its doors on College Street, the The Candy Bar is this neighbourhood's go-to for a range of Canadian and international bars including hard-to-find imports like the UK's Gnaw bars in flavours like Rocky Road and Banoffee Pie.
RONCESVALLES
Satisfy your sweet tooth with artisan chocolate bars, truffles, barks and chocolate dipped everything at The Chocolateria.
YONGE & EGLINTON
Douce France fashions ballotins, boxes and personalized presentations of imported confections including Chocolats Voisin, praslines Mazet, and more.
YONGE & LAWRENCE
Fresh, preservative-free, hand made chocolates from Rococoa come in exciting flavours like balsamic honey truffles and salt and pepper bars.
YORKVILLE
Over a dozen truffles and a wide array of chocolate confections made from Valrhona Grand Chocolate are on offer at MoRoCo Chocolat.
What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.
Lead photo of Nadege by Jesse Milns.