Amelie CameronIf you ask anyone close to me to describe me, the first thing they might say is that I have a sweet tooth. In particular, I love all things chocolate, and if you want to be my friend, you simply have to gift me a chocolate bar to make that happen.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that I’ve scoured Toronto looking for chocolate shops—be it cheap, luxury, or artisan. To my delight, there are many of them in the city, and I’ve loved most! Here are my favorite ones.
Laura Secord
Address: 300 Borough Dr, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14162965585
Named after the iconic woman who helped the British army during the War of 1812, Laura Secord is one of the most famous chocolatiers in Canada. There are several locations just in Toronto alone, and my favorite has to be the one in Scarborough.
This store sells a wide variety of chocolate types. You have the typical dark, milk, and white chocolates, but there are also other flavors like mint chocolate. I know that mint chocolate is polarizing, but I am very fond of this flavor.
Another reason why I love the shop is that there are options for people who have dietary or religious restrictions. For example, you can find chocolates that are kosher, gluten-free, peanut-free, and have no sugar added.
| Pro Tips: Do you want to create your own dish using their chocolates? You can try any of the recipes on their website! Give a fellow chocolate lover a gift card! |
SOMA Chocolatemaker
Address: 443 King St W
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—11 am to 6 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14165997662
Fun fact: I got into SOMA Chocolatemaker in the first place because of the reference to Brave New World (there’s a happiness-producing drug in that book called “soma”). Aside from being a chocolate lover, I love reading, so that reference won me over.
True enough, the chocolate here is so good that it brings out the happy hormones in me! I personally love the truffle chocolates. They’re so creamy and buttery, and some of them have nuts, so they have a nice crunch.
I’m a big fan of the hot chocolate flavors available here. My favorite has to be Maya, which has the richness of dark chocolate, but it also has a kick of spice from the chili peppers and ginger. It’s comforting and exciting at the same time.
| Pro Tips: This shop can create chocolates for special events like birthdays or weddings. Sometimes, they open slots for custom chocolate orders. |
Läderach
Address: 220 Yonge St Unit B021A
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14162170254
Läderach is actually a well-known chocolatier in Switzerland, and now, it’s made its way to Canada!
What I love about the chocolates sold here is that they give me a unique sensory experience every time because they have different textures. Some are crunchy thanks to the nuts (usually almonds and pistachios), while others are smooth like silk.
There are also vegan chocolates if you’re interested. My favorite is the Snacking Choco Flakes Dark, which are chocolate balls with cornflakes. They’re not too sweet and are also crispy, making them a great snack.
| Pro Tip: Are you planning a special event? You can buy celebration gifts from this store! |
The Chocolateria
Address: 361 Roncesvalles Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14165880567
The Chocolateria truly lives up to its name because everything is dipped in chocolate here! I always feel like I’m in heaven every time I visit.
I love getting the chocolate bars here, and my favorite is the caramelized almond and sea salt bar because it’s so indulgently sweet. I’m also a big fan of the Very Berry Bar, which has dried pieces of strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries. It’s so tangy!
This store even has a category called Naughty Chocolates, which is exactly what it says on the tin. These chocolates are, uh, shaped like genitalia, making them perfect for bachelorette parties or as gag gifts to your friends.
| Pro Tips: You can book a custom order for a special event or if you just want a unique chocolate for yourself. Are you thinking about becoming a chocolate maker yourself? Consider attending the workshops hosted by this store. |
The Belgian Chocolate Shop
Address: 2455 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166911424
The Belgian Chocolate Shop has been around since 1984, and in that time, it has won the hearts of local chocolate lovers. Not only do they sell authentic Belgian chocolates, but they also have specialty treats like chocolates shaped like cigars and golf balls.
I love getting their signature chocolates, especially the Caramel because it’s so soft and sweet and Menthe because it has strong minty undertones. I also love Citron, which is a chocolate with fresh lemon buttercream, so it tastes both sweet and tangy.
This store also offers themed chocolates for holidays (Easter, Valentine’s, and Christmas). I’m personally looking forward to Christmas chocolates because Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I’m a big fan of mint flavors in chocolates.
| Pro Tip: For special events, consider booking a chocolate fountain from this shop! |
Simone Marie
Address: 4242 Dundas St W, Kingsway Mills Shopping Center, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—12 to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14162340611
Another great store you need to check out if you love Belgian chocolates is Simone Marie.
I really like how many of the products are shaped to look like different things. For example, there are chocolates made to look like a guitar or the Eiffel Tower. It’s almost a shame to eat them because I don’t want to ruin their appearance.
I also appreciate that they make chocolates without sugar, milk, or nuts, so people with dietary restrictions are welcome to enjoy a few treats as well.
| Pro Tip: If you’re planning a party, this store offers Belgian chocolate fountain rentals. You can rent the fountain for two days, and up to 200 people can enjoy it. |
Soul Chocolate
Address: 20 Wagstaff Dr Unit C
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 5 pm
Soul Chocolate is steadily rising in my list of favorite artisan chocolate makers in Toronto. This humble shop always has new products that catch my eye, probably because of the unique flavors on the packaging.
One of my favorites is the Raspberry Marshmallow Chocolate Egg. It’s a seasonal product, so I have to stock up whenever I can. I love biting into this chocolate because the center is gooey and tastes both sweet and sour!
They also have chocolate products for drinking. I’m a big fan of their Cacao Husk Tea. It never occurred to me that I’d like a bit of chocolatey goodness in my cup of tea, but now that I’ve tasted it (delicate sweetness), there’s no going back.
| Pro Tip: Give a loved one a chocolate gift basket! |
Stubbe Chocolate
Address: 653 Dupont St
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169230956
Stubbe Chocolate is another shop I like to go to because of their aesthetically pleasing chocolates. The maple leaf chocolates look like they’re better off as ornaments, and they even have soccer ball chocolates that actually look like the real thing!
I always get the Chocolate Favorites Basket because as the name suggests, it has all my favorites: florentines, milk chocolate almond clusters, and more. I also enjoy the chocolate-dipped orange slice because it’s sweet with a punch of tanginess.
When I’m feeling like splurging, I like to treat myself to any of their chocolate cakes. My favorite has to be the Dobos Torte, which has alternating layers of almond cake and dark chocolate ganache, and the top is crunchy caramel. It’s so decadent!
Onyx Chocolates
Address: 601 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday—11 am to 6 pm
- Friday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14379746699
Onyx Chocolates is all about capturing people’s eyes, which is why their products come in vibrant colors. Plus, these chocolates have unique flavors inspired by the founders’ travels. I actually spend a lot of time perusing my options before choosing what to buy.
So far, I’ve loved the Vietnamese Coffee flavor. It has the rich aromatic essence of Vietnamese coffee, and the creamy layer of condensed milk adds a nice contrast. It has a crunchy texture, too, because of the nuts.
Another flavor that I love is the Char Siu Caramel. I know it sounds weird because technically, char siu refers to barbequed meat, but this flavor somehow works in chocolate form. It tastes very sweet with savory umami and smoky undertones.
| Pro Tip: Make special events even more special by ordering custom chocolates! |
ChocoSol Traders
Address: 1131 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 to 7 pm
- Saturday—10:30 am to 8 pm
- Sunday—10:30 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169236675
What I like about ChocoSol Traders is their traditional methods. They use volcanic stone wheels instead of industrial steel to grind their cacao, and they also work directly with farmers and co-operatives!
They offer various flavors, so take your time browsing through the store. If I have to recommend one, I would say the Five Chili Bullet, which has dried chilies and Mayan forest garden allspice. It’s the epitome of sweet-spicy goodness.
Another that I like is the Forest Garden Vanilla, which is dark chocolate made with whole vanilla pods. Its flavor profile is pretty mellow, so I can devour one bar (or two) in just a few bites. It also has a few cacao nibs sprinkled in, so it’s satisfyingly crunchy.
| Pro Tips: Their website has a few recipes. Try them when you’re tired of eating your chocolate as is! This shop hosts special events like tastings and workshops. |
Chocollata Brigadeiros
Address: 986 A Kingston Rd
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—12 to 6 pm
- Sunday—12 to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166932448
If you’ve never tried a brigadeiro (a Brazilian dessert that’s chewy like caramel and tastes as rich as a fudge) before, now is the time to rectify that. One way you can do that is by checking out Chocollata Brigadeiros.
What I love about this store is that there’s a wide variety of flavors to choose from. You can go the traditional route (which is pure chocolate), or you can try something innovative like getting the raspberry dark chocolate brigadeiro (it’s so tangy and sweet).
Aside from raspberry dark chocolate, other flavors I love include dulce de leche roasted coconut (very sweet and nutty) and dark pearls (rich and crunchy).
| Pro Tip: This store sells gift cards for your fellow chocolate lovers. |
Mary’s Brigadeiro
Address: 1912 Danforth Ave
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16472507217
Mary’s Brigadeiro is another great spot to check out if you love this Brazilian sweet treat.
This store also has different flavors available. Personally, I’m fond of the Mexican Spice, which has notes of cayenne, cinnamon, smoked paprika, and nutmeg, and Two Lovers, which fuses the traditional milk chocolate with the white chocolate brigadeiro.
I love that this store has options that have no nuts and gluten, so people with dietary restrictions can enjoy this lovely dessert.
| Pro Tip: Do you want to try your hand at making brigadeiro? This store sells DIY Brigadeiro Chocolate Kits! |
Nadège Patisserie
Address: 780 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—8 am to 8 pm
- Thursday to Saturday—8 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14162032009
Technically, Nadège Patisserie sells pastries and other baked goods (hence the name), but they actually have their very own chocolates as well. And guess what? Their chocolates are pretty good!
I really love their chocolate bonbons because they’re so colorful! The flavors are also lovely—sweet with fruity or nutty notes. Even if I order a box with 27 bonbons, I always end up consuming all of them in a day or two.
I also love the concept of their chocolate bars. There are 26 varieties, each following a particular letter in the alphabet and the flavor is always something unexpected. For example, they have a bar called Sesame, and it contains toasted sesame seeds!
I still can’t get over the Wasabi and Gingembre flavor. I didn’t expect the wasabi and ginger notes to mesh well with the richness of dark chocolate, but wow, they really do complement each other!
| Pro Tips: This shop often has classes on baking and making other desserts. You can book an event space here for your party. |
Chocolat De Kat x De Mello Coffee
Address: 824 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—8 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16476896136
As you can guess from the name, Chocolat de Kat x De Mello Coffee is a fusion of a coffee shop and chocolate store. And since I love both coffee and chocolate, it’s not a surprise that I love coming here.
There are only a few options for chocolate bars, but all of them are delicious. I personally recommend Tea and Biscuits, which has a mellow flavor (Earl Grey tea and milk). I also like that it has crushed shortbread cookies for more texture.
I also recommend Creme Brûlée because of how decadent it is. It’s also crunchy, thanks to the crushed crêpe pieces.
| Pro Tip: Order custom chocolates for your party guests. |
Avoca
Address: 176 Hampton Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +16473524666
In Gaelic, “Avoca” means “sweet valley,” and wow, this shop truly follows through with its name. Everywhere you look, you’ll see chocolates of all shapes and colors!
I love ordering the Smash Heart because it’s so satisfying to break it open with the wooden mallet and see all the candies pouring out. I also like to get the box of chocolate strawberries from time to time because the fruity-rich-sweet flavor combo is elite.
This shop also sells gelato and ice cream. These taste rich and not too sweet, which is great because I do love to add a few chocolate truffle balls as toppings.
| Pro Tip: Avoca can create custom truffles for your special event. You just have to send a request by filling out this form. |
