These guys know their chocolate, and they also know their coffee. The chocolatte was similar to what I've seen billed as a Mexican hot chocolate elsewhere, but I was really impressed that they did it without any milk--it's a great vegan option. The chocolate's inherent creaminess carried the day. I really liked the employees and the heart they put into their work. I think their chocolate itself would be great to gift people. The prices are high but that's likely a reflection of the real cost of the labor--we're way too spoiled by brands that give us cheap chocolate but have horrid labor practices. read more

I was hesitant to try this chocolatier because I was worried it would be bitter. I was so pleasantly surprised. I bought the small truffle box and had so much fun trying the "mystery" truffles. They were all exceptional and unique. The perfect amount of sweetness. read more

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this is truly an exceptional chocolate shop. it is small inside but very cute and cozy. i went around 10 am and we were the only people in the shop. after pondering for a bit, we decided to get the chocolate tasting for 2, which came with several truffles and chocolates, two of each. the owner talked to us about the history of each truffle filling and showed use pictures of his travels. it's important to note that every truffle flavor is only made once! this was a few months ago so i'm having trouble remembering the other flavors, but my favorite chocolate was definitely the blueberry sage truffle. we also ordered the drinking chocolate, which was so rich and warming. if you are visiting manchester and want a one-of-a-kind experience, this is the place for you! definitely ask for water though, you're going to need it. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - chocolate tasting for 2 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

Thank you for making my fiance's Valentine's day so special! Chocolates are usually wasted on me but I found this shop mentioned on Reddit and thought I'm going to check them out. I gave the shop a call and had a very lovely and informative chat with Richard. I placed an order right away, and rest is history. My fiance says these are the best chocolates he's ever had! You can see how big his eyes are in one of the photos lol. I also wanted to support the business after learning they get their chocolate boxes from Nepal, my home! I tried some of the chocolates with him and I have to say, they are so delicious. We had a very hard time stopping haha! I do with the shipping were a little bit more affordable but it's ok, you get what you pay for! read more

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Chocolates that are works of art for all the senses. The owners are very kind and open to answer questions and guide you to the right item to try. Highly recommend for the adventurous. read more

Had to do an update - the customer service just goes beyond anything you'd expect! So the kind owner, Richard, read my review and saw that I lost my small box of chocolates and sent me a replacement with a lovely note! So I finally got to sample these beautifully hand made chocolates after all! And they were AWESOME!! Quiet possibly some of the best chocolates I've ever had! The flavors were perfectly balanced, the outer chocolate was firm but not too firm and the fillings were soft and so flavorful! Not to mention how aesthetically pleasing they all are - and beautifully packaged! Long story short, right after I left the chocolate shop, my rental car broke down. In the chaos of tow trucks and switching out cars, my box of chocolates got lost in the fray - but Richard made the situation so happy!! He's so lovely to chat to as well! So friendly and informative! I will DEFINITELY be back anytime I'm in the area! Richard we can't thank you enough!!! read more

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OMG if you have not already experienced Dancing Lion Chocolate you must go now to experience this chocolate!!! His brownies are to die for! The sipping chocolate is amazing! His hand crafted chocolates are like a vacation to exotic lands for your mouth. It is expensive but well worth the splurge. The inside is so clean, smells fabulous, and has seating for a few people to comfortably enjoy the treats! He is very knowledgeable about chocolate and is super interesting to talk to. The service was good; it doesn't take very long for your hand crafted drink to be made. Highly recommend!! read more

This is a really cute chocolate shop that deserves all the praise that it has received. The chocolate is tasty and you can tell that the staff take a lot of pride in their craft. For my first visit, I had a hot chocolate and Mallorca, which was very delicious. I will definitely come back again :) read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Hot chocolate and mallorca - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

I could write a dissertation on how wonderful this place is. The people. The environment. Not to mention, the chocolate itself. The drinking chocolate is fantastic, the chocolate bars are always unique and amazing. The chocolate latte is a good staple. If it's your first time and you have a moment to enjoy the vibe, the chocolate tasting is a great experience to share with friends or family! I will be a regular forever read more

If they serve it it is the best of its kind. Their coffee is incredible. They keep it laid back and a nice place to escape from, with incredible decor. This is the definition of hidden gem. Do yourself a favor and pop in. See where the road takes you. read more

A divine experience. First time experiencing drinking chocolate, and it was delicious, expertly prepared. I even had the bravery of brining in my niece and nephew who are six and almost four. The employees were so patient with us as kids can be picky. My nephew needed dairy free and they accommodated his needs. It was a lovely family experience, but likely best for older kids and adults. Thank you thank you! read more

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What a Manchester gem!!! Master chocolatier Richard Tango-Lowy, owner of Dancing Lion Chocolate has truly mastered the art and science of making a perfect chocolate. Just entering this little store will bring an instant smile to your face with its whimsical decor and Funtastic variety of unique and artistic products. I would live in Manchester just to be close to this place. Yes, it's truly that delectable. Try the Mayan Drinking Chocolate. It's silky and served frothy in a bowl, with or without chili. Or go for the Lion's Waltz with white drinking chocolate, maple and ginger. Get the full experience and try the chocolate desserts such as the chocolate bars, cookies and bon bons just to name a few. Try everything for Richard is undeniably a prodigy when it comes to meshing together the beauty, complexity and flavors of the cacao that comes from all over the world. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Mayan Drinking Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

Cute little store in downtown Manchester. Anything chocolate I have to find and try out, just so happens I was walking near this place looking for a breakfast place and decided that I would come back to try it out. I walked in and the person at the counter was very informative and very nice. I decided to stay and try the Mayan drinking chocolate. I went with the spicy drinking chocolate. It's served In a small bowl. Wow!! The flavor is amazing and worth the high price tag. I was so impressed with the Maya drinking chocolate that I decided to buy some of their chocolate candy. The owner is a very impressive chocolatier and I was excited to see what he had. The chocolates are really art, only making each kind once, then never again. I bought a small box which comes with the chocolates already picked out because they don't make a ton. The chocolates were so smooth and creamy with very intense chocolate flavor. I was disappointed in the actual flavors of the chocolates. The chocolate taste was so intense that it seemed to over power the other flavors that were suppose to be there. They were very good but the flavors I was looking forward to just didn't come through. I will be back to have more of the Maya drinking chocolate but may only try the chocolate candy one more time to get it a second chance. read more

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A Boutique shop that has chocolate from all over the world! My friends and I needed a sugar kick from traveling red eye and saw DLC. Glad we came because it fixed our sugar craving. I got the rose blackberry ice cream. It came with chunks of their fine chocolate. When you ate the ice cream, the aroma and taste of rose instantly intensify your taste buds and came down with a blackberry finish. To my surprise there were little chunks of chocolate, and the chocolate chunks weren't sweet so it complemented well with the sweet ice cream. Worthy of a stop! read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Home made ice cream, rose blackberry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

It's been several years now, and Dancing Lion has added enough to the shop that it's time to update my review. The first amazing addition is a gong fu tea service using a traditional gaiwan. Richard works with several tea shops around the world to source excellent teas and then presents them in a classic tea service meant to be enjoyed leisurely alongside chocolate or pastries. Dancing Lion is pretty much the only place in the Northeast serving tea this way, filling the hole in the hearts of tea lovers like me! If you haven't ever drank tea this way, you should go right now and try it. Dancing Lion has also been adding more and more creative food, pastry, and chocolate options. There are dessert nights on Saturdays now featuring chocolate cake and other specialty creations, croissant/pastry weekends offering an array of flavor options, and even more elaborate art involving chocolate (including things like chocolate tea cups). If you want to see chocolate and pastry pushed to its delicious limits, come here and enjoy anything. Dancing Lion continues to offer great service, delightful food, and a love of craft that is apparent in every detail. read more

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I had the opportunity to visit Dancing Lion Chocolate Shop a few weeks ago while up in Manchester. Being from the Washington D.C. area, I have to say that this was by far one of the finest chocolate shops I've ever been too. Richard Tango-Lowy, the shop's owner is one of the finest chocolatiers in the world. I a great conversation over the fascination of chocolate sculpture processes, which can be found all over the internet with Shaman, one of the chocolatiers under Richard's apprenticeship, who greeted guests as they arrived that day. Each chocolate is hand crafted and one of a kind, so when they were out of small gift boxes, which I wanted to get my wife, they made one especially for me, with love and care. Every aspect of the shop is exquisite, even down to the nepalese boxes they use for their chocolates. Let's not forget their single origin hot chocolate, which will make you feel warm and toasty on a cold winters day. If you're ever in Manchester, NH, you should make sure to visit this incredible little gem. read more

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Unique atmosphere and an enjoyable space to decompress after a cold Northeastern day. I greatly enjoyed the white hot chocolate and the sampler pack. Take the time to talk to the owner and hear his stories about the various chocolates available to purchase. It's a small shop, so I would recommend going during the week to avoid the rush and really be about to relax while you enjoy whatever delicacy you end up purchasing. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Indulging - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

Definitely a fine chocolate shop. New bon bon flavors each day. We tried the chocolate service for 2. Highly recommended! For the day to day chocolate, I'd still prefer Maison Du Chocolat or LA Burdick but for a special occasion, I'd recommend this place. The craftsmanship that went into making these chocolates is very impressive. Not a lot of people would spend time to do this or have the skills. The flavors are complex. We also tried the bon bon, the bars, brownies, chocolate velvet cookies, and the biscottis. The bars are very well made that I've not had something like it before but it's my least favorite just only because I'm not into chocolate bar. The bon bon have very deep complex flavors. $5.75 per piece was quite a lot for me. I love the brownies and the cookies. biscotti is very good, tasted more like a butter biscuit and softer than the normal biscotti. The brownie has very small amount of sugar and smooth. The chocolate drink is very good, made with water. I normally don't like a hot chocolate but I enjoyed it. It's light and not sweet. Not a place for people on budget but definitely a place that you have to try since there are not many shops that are offering these products. I would go back for the chocolate drink and a piece of their bakeries. read more

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Incredible, creative, top tier chocolates. Shared chocolate education & information about business. Wonderful treat.

Walked in here, just following the smell of chocolate! They sell special chocolates here made from cacao from all over the world, some of it even brought over by backpack. The bars were very expensive, some small bars being almost 20 dollars, but I am sure it would be worth it. Unfortunately, I came in on a budget, but couldn't resist having something. I ordered the spicy Myan drinking chocolate. It would normally be served in a bowl, but as I had it to go, it was served in cup. It was amazing!!! It was like drinking melted chocolate, but without the icky flavor melted chocolate can have, and the spices were so good. It is something I can't really explain, but I highly recommend that you try it! After we left, my husband went back and ordered the white chocolate drink. I don't remember what that one was called, but he said it was really good. If you love chocolate like I do you should stop in and try something. I think you'll be glad you did. Don't expect a Hershey or Lindt, but something even better!! read more

This is the best chocolate I have ever tasted! I dropped in today to purchase a gift for a relative, and of course, bought some chocolate for myself. I purchased a chai chocolate bar which was beautiful with a blue metallic color on the bar and I got the espresso chocolate bar for myself. The cashier was very helpful, friendly and informative about the types of chocolate. And the chocolate is absolutely exquisite! Such a treat! read more

Wonderful creations made with chocolate sourced around the world. Delightful delicies found downtown Manchester, the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. This is a high end chocolate, that doesn't disappoint. Try the hot chocolate, so rich! read more

This is a one of a kind find right on Elm. Make it a point to enjoy this fabulous chocolate extravaganza

I love the chocolate here, great selection, liquid drinking chocolate was an added bonus. I have taken a couple of classes they offer and is well worth the money,!! So cute inside, and a great find. Much thanks to everyone that runs this place, really shows pride in your work. read more

Wow. What an experience. Small show, literally every piece of chocolate is one of a kind and truly a work of art. Originally skeptical of the concept but was blown away by the results. They also do teas, coffee and patisserie items that are worth the daily or at least weekly trip in. Would recommend to all read more

It was a totally unexpected experience. I looked a normal coffee shop on Yelp. This place came up highly rated. I entered this cafe and found really decorated well. Then I found out this place offers traditional drinking chocolate. It was with spices and in the Myan pot. It was my first experience and quite interesting. We also bought special chocolate bar and it was creamy and tasty. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Traditional style drinking chocolate with spice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

Absolutely recommended anything from this chocolate shop! I went in for the Mayan Drinking Chocolate and Mallorca, and ended up buying some chocolate as well. The Mayan Drinking Chocolate was amazing! I got the "spicy" more traditional version - which isn't very spicy at all, it's more for flavor. I am forever ruined now! It is like the most delicate, rich, frothy hot cocoa you have ever had! It was not too chocolatey and I can't believe it is made with just water! It's THAT good. The Mallorca is great as well. The bun is fresh made and it's very soft and buttery. I loved how there was a tiny bit of dark chocolate inside. I provided just a hint of sweetness. It was great! I honestly think you can't go wrong here. I wish I lived closer! I crave that drinking chocolate! read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Mayan Drinking Chocolate & Mallorca - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

The mild Drinking Chocolate was so creamy and thick, seriously delicious. The prices are consistent with talented chocolatiers and worth it!

Dancing Lion chocolates is one of the only chocolatiers in New England that boasts South American confectionary ingredients over the standard European chocolate-making. With imports from countries such as Peru, Dancing Lion has sampler bars, individual flavors and speciality items for the interested buyer. The owner and head chocolatier was proud to discuss every element from his craft from import to creation and welcomed us into his store. These chocolates are certainly on the pricier side with some larger items as expensive as $70 though you'll be hard-pressed to find a finer, more exotic chocolate anywhere in your area. Non-traditional Ingredients in the sample pack include ginger, rose, chiles, and star anise. With national coverage, Dancing Lion is a gem among other businesses on Elm Street. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Various chocolate bars and specialty items for Día de Muertos behind the counter. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

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The drinking chocolate is rich chocolatey perfection. The white lion was a white chocolate version. It was well balanced and delicious too.

This was such an amazing experience! The chocolate was superb, and the tea was such a unique experience. He walked us through each and every tea, their composition, origins, and taught how to masterfully steep it with a gaiwan. We had the Dragonwell green tea... and it was marvelous. Now they are plannin pop-up restaurants on Fridays, showcasing diverse cuisines. Do NOT fail to visit this place! read more

4.8 stars. With all the great reviews about this place, I had to check it out. I had the hot chocolate without the spice. It was definitely not like any hot chocolate I've ever had. It had a slight sour taste from the cacao so you know it's the real deal. You can also see the specks of what I assume to be cacao in the drink. It didn't feel heavy at, which gave me an excuse to get the Thai chocolate chip ice cream. The ice cream was good but didn't have a Thai tea flavor at all. If you asked me what the flavor was without saying it's Thai tea, I'd say it's a delicious sweet cream ice cream with really dark chocolate chips. But still, it was delicious. This place is definitely pricy though. My hot chocolate and ice cream was $10 and I bought a $12 chocolate bar for my grandma. Definitely try the hot chocolate though. I think it's worth the taste and experience. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Hot chocolate. No spice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

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I was just looking for some good places to go while visiting downtown, and I found this place!!! And I must say... LOVED! Here's why.... I was really wanting something warm in the frigid cold! So I pulled up my bookmarks, and decided to come here! We walked in, and the first thing you notice is how small, and quaint it is inside. It is warm, and welcoming. We were quickly greeted by the owner (who was very nice and welcoming) As I was browsing through the menu, I still had no idea what I wanted to get. The store was so cute, and had so many pretty things in it that I couldn't decide on what I wanted. So I asked the owner what he would recommend. He recommended what was most closely related to a hot chocolate. But the difference with his is that it is only made with water, cocoa, and spices. (I had never had a spicy hot chocolate) Let me tell you... It was PHENOMENAL!! It was served in a small bowl and smelled amazing. The spice was not super intense, but hit the palette in a way that wasn't overwhelming, which I really really enjoyed. While I was there, I also purchased little gummy frogs that were made there (all the chocolates and things are made there). I also purchased a chocolate tasting kit $16.50. And a little packet of rare chocolates 4 small squares for $5.50. In total with two warm drinks, gummy frogs and a couple types of chocolate I ended up spending about $41. The drinks were $6.50/each (if I remember correctly) Normally I wouldn't like spending that much money on chocolate, but I really enjoyed talking to the owner about how he started doing what he does and could tell how passionate he was about it, and I could taste it in his products! So I didn't mind splurging a little! Highly recommend trying this place out! Especially with this freezing cold weather!! read more

This owner is very talented. I enjoy seeing what special chocolates he has made each time I go in there. It's such an amazing experience with fresh chocolates with clean ingredients. I would highly recommend! read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Some of the BEST chocolates that I have ever had! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

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I wanted plain croissants to serve at a family brunch, but the other bakery I went to ran out, BOO! Luckily for me Dancing Lion was nearby so I stopped on by. Thank goodness I came here because if I had not, then I would have never known about their flaky,buttery croissants! When you walk in you'll notice how warm and inviting the employees are. I was promptly greeted and encouraged to ask any questions that I may have. The associate informed me of their varieties of chocolate and where their ingredients are sourced from. The display case of chocolates looked so tempting that I totally wanted to stick my hand in there and swipe chocolate pieces one by one. With great restraint, I pointed and made my selections. Since I was in a time crunch, I couldn't taste anything until I got back to my destination. Back home I was able to sink my teeth into a piece of croissant and it was amazing! What I appreciate most is that there wasn't a weird shortening aftertaste that other bakeries use to make their croissants flaky. As for the chocolate, totally decadent. Next time I'm back in Manchester, I'm going to definitely sign up for one of their "how to bake" croissant courses. YUM! read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Loved this flavor! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

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I travel the world eating chocolate and have eaten at chocolate bars like Pierre Hermé in Tokyo and multiple La Maison du Chocolat outposts in different countries, but would you believe that the best chocolates I've had are from a place in Manchester, New Hampshire? That's what Dancing Lion is, they are the best chocolate I've ever had. If you're a chocolate fan, this place will not disappoint. Richard sources his chocolate from a variety of locations, from your standard Valrhona to extremely small batch cacao grown by independent farmers in South America. Richard (the founder/owner) also works with cacao farmers to grow sustainable cacao. How do I know all this? Richard will tell you all this and more if you're curious about his chocolate. Every time I come here he is always excited to tell me about a new chocolate he got his hands on, or a new bon bon he has created using some combination of ingredients you wouldn't think would work together (but totally does). He's extremely passionate about his craft and it comes through in all his chocolate and food. And on the subject of food: it's all great. Every time I come here I have to get a Mallorca (basically a sandwich made with ham, cheese, and a sweetened bun), a cup of Mayan Heat hot chocolate (made with dark chocolate and a little spice), and some chocolate bon bons. Most of Dancing Lion's chocolate is only ever made once, so I can't really recommend any particular bon bons I've had because you probably won't be able to get them. But trust me when I say that any chocolate you see will probably be some of the best you've had. Richard and his staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable about the product. Richard will also likely remember your name after a couple visits, even if you go infrequently. The shop is small and cozy, small compared to its neighbors (a cafe and a bar), with seating for maybe 8-10 people. I've never seen it very crowded, and I go there early afternoons on weekends. The atmosphere tends toward the quiet side, even when the shop is basically full. All in all, this is one of the best places in New England, and I will drive the 70 miles one way just to eat a handful of chocolate and a sandwich sometimes. On a final note, Dancing Lion is an expensive place, in the upper tiers of chocolate bars. A piece of chocolate might cost $3-5 and a mallorca is over $6 if I remember correctly. It's definitely far from a pack of M&Ms and a bar of Twix. And some short tips: * Get the mallorca * Try the hot chocolate - I like the Mayan Heat, but the Lion Waltz is really good as well * I like the Liona chocolate bar * If they have croissants, try one (they only do them one weekend per month) read more

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This place is incredible and Rick really knows his stuff! Rick is a chocolate artist that travels around the world in search of flavorful and rare cocoas and then comes back to his store to concoct one of kind chocolates, brownies, and other chocolate goodies using them. He puts so much thought, care, and detail into them that they look like sculptures and paintings. I was hesitant to eat them they look so good. Upon tasting the chocolates I was blown away. They are unlike any other high quality chocolates I've ever had. I've lived in New York City for 10+ years and I have to tell you this is as good as it gets. The brownies are some of the best I've ever had This guy is a chocolate genius, the Willy Wonka of chocolates and he lives here! Best chocolates in NH - no question. I'm definitely coming back and you must try this place. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Super awesome chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

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I have never experienced chocolate like this before. To die for! I purchased a small bag of Quantum Bark for $5. Well worth it. The drinking chocolate is what dreams are made of. Subtle spiciness adds so much dimension. I even purchased a bag drinking chocolate to try to make at home. The gentleman at the counter was very knowledgeable. I will definitely return when I'm in Manchester again. read more

Dancing Lion Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Manchester, New Hampshire

This place is a high quality craft chocolate shop. The shop sells bars of chocolate that are made there from cacao that the owner has sourced from single farms in different places around the world. They are very good but very expensive. I think they would make very excellent gifts for people with a discerning taste. They also sell Mayan hot chocolate and serve it in the traditional bowls. I tried it here for the first time. It wasn't like anything I had ever tasted before. I strongly recommend trying it once for the historical and cultural experience. They also have more common sweetened style hot chocolate as well as espresso drinks. The owner was the only person working there. He is a very friendly person and extremely passionate about his work. His passion shows in the overall quality of the establishment. read more

Meh. Kind of pretentious and I wasn't impressed with their drinking chocolate. My husband thought it was okay, I mostly didn't like the vibe. We were obsessed with a place in Portland OR and this place fell very short of it so I'm slightly biased read more