Amongst my favorite places and local businesses. Just an absolute gem of an establishment. The chocolates are not only delightfully tasty, they look absolutely stunning, making for great gifts or even treats for yourself. I just love that they are truly bean to bar (you can literally watch them sit and sort the beans, grind them, make the chocolate and all other steps of the process). The staff is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient -- and while prices are a tad higher than your basic chocolates, they are reasonable for the high quality of premium treats you are going to get Just an additional thing I did not mention in my previous review: Their packaging is also great. Not only do they print off the individual names of chocolates you got if you make a box, there is a QR code which when you scan, takes you to the visual and descriptive online guide of all their flavors. Highly, highly recommend, and cannot see any reason why I would not make efforts to continue returning! read more

Great experience. Friendly staff. I had a spicy peanut butter drink. Mmmmmmm. I felt like Augustus Gloop drinking from Wonka's chocolate river!!! We also purchased 8 different chocolates. Great presentation but some were hit or miss on my pallet. Others may like them however. Other customers mentioned they all pretty much incorporate dark chocolate. I would like to see a milk chocolate in the future. We will definitely come back for another round and try the other choices. read more

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Edible artistry! Some of the most beautiful signature premium chocolates I have ever seen and tasted. Some of the treats looked like they could be exquisite pieces of jewelry or tiny pieces of art. Pure indulgence and a chocoholics delight! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Delish!! Dark chocolate hot chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Escazú Chocolates was the first stop on our trip to Raleigh, and it was a great way to begin. The storefront is modern, clean, and thoughtfully designed so the space feels calm and uncluttered. The staff is warm, friendly, and helpful in explaining the menu and offering recommendations. We tried a few of the the chocolates: Shoyu, Passion Fruit, Strawberry Balsamic, Sarrapia, and Blood Orange-Tequila. Each chocolate felt balanced and flavorful, without the rich dark chocolate overpowering the added flavors. The Passion Fruit stood out the most for me since I love deep berry flavors paired with chocolate, which is what it reminded me of. For drinks, we had the Chocolate Chai with oat milk and the France hot chocolate. Both were comforting and full of flavor, but the France was especially smooth. If you want the full experience though (and don't have dietary restrictions), I would suggest getting whole milk instead of oat milk since the flavor of the oat milk was a bit too noticeable to us. On our last day in Raleigh, we returned for another Chocolate Chai and their Spicy Caramel ice cream, which was nice and sweet with a spice that's subtle but present. It's definitely made for those who enjoy a good spice. We're definitely going to visit again the next time we're in the city. read more

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Love the spicy hot chocolate and the ice cream. The place is cute and small so if you want some space come during the week before 5pm. The attendants are very nice. read more

Finally made the trip here. We had 3 chocolates and 2 push pops, and it was not for us. All of the chocolates are dark chocolate, and I'm the only one who likes dark so it wasn't a fit for the family. For me, the dark was a little bitter. Here's my ranking of the chocolates: 1. Salted Caramel - Recommend 2. Peanut butter - Smooth and enjoyable 3. Basil - This was crazy bitter, left an unpleasant aftertaste For ice cream, we had vanilla choc chip - good, and passion fruit choc chip - not for me. read more

MUST TRY THE BIRTHDAY CAKE TRUFFLE!!! It was soooo good and definitely worth the $! Otherwise this is a cute little coffee/chocolate shop. We love truffles and after the birthday cake one we will definitely be back to try the seasonal flavors and the ones we missed! The truffles are $3.10 each, they also have chocolate bars, hot drinks, ice cream. Would be great to give a little piece of NC for gifts for family and friends! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Our ladies group did the chocolate tasting. We enjoyed the experience, and all the yummy treats! My favorite was the hot chocolate. read more

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Stopped here because in the winter I'm always in a mood for hot chocolate. I ordered a hot chocolate and got 4 chocolates to go. I tried the peanut butter hot chocolate and it was great. Not too sweet though so if that's what you are expecting it will be a little different. The chocolates are beautiful and they have a variety of flavors. Some very unique ones as well. I was actually surprised to see so many flavors. The chocolates are 3.10 just FYI, it seems reasonable because I think it's good quality. If I recall there is no indoor seating but plenty of sitting outside. It's very cute inside though. The service was great. I'll come back for sure! read more

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Hot chocolate went crazyyy! Such a unique place and definitely different than your normal coffee spot or dessert spot, it's somewhere in the middle! Staff was super helpful read more

Such a cute shop to visit and enjoy a nice treat (or a few)! This shop sells their own chocolate produced in house. And they also have tons of items from other small businesses. It's a small shop but there is plenty of outdoor seating if you want to enjoy your treat on site. They also offer beverages including specialized hot cocoas, tea, and coffee. I've the white spice chocolate and it's delicious!! You can tell it was homemade because it wasn't overly sweet. And I enjoyed the additional spices that added a light kick. This place is definitely a hidden gem! The staff are friendly and provide excellent customer service. And parking is relatively easily as it's located in a residential area. read more

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I finally made it here! The original hot chocolate is the best hot chocolate I have had in quite sometime! The hot chocolate is freshly whipped with milk! I'm addition, the truffles with alcohol is memorable. I particularly like the apple brandy chocolate...tasted strongly of brandy. The chocolates are about $3-4 per and hot chocolate about $5-6! The ambiance is relaxing. This place is probably a great place to bring out-of-town guests! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Ambiance - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Some of the best sipping chocolate you can get around! Not overly sweet but definitely high quality. It's a cute little store where you can also buy an assortment of their handmade chocolates and,if you're lucky their homemade marshmallows. There isn't any seating inside but there are benches outside for the warmer months. The gals working that day were super sweet when I was trying to decide which drinking chocolate to get which was so great because I didn't feel rushed. read more

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Was recommended trying this place out in Raleigh. Definitely off the beaten path in a more neighborhood setting. Walked in and they had a plethora of chocolates to try. Each chocolate had a very distinguished flavor. For example, some of the ones we got include honey cinnamon caramel, pink peppercorn limoncello, amaretto garam masala, chipotle caramel, and some more. My favorite chocolate was the chipotle caramel. The hot chocolate was also great and perfect for a cold day. I want to go back and try the water based hot chocolate as it sounds like it is more of a drinking chocolate similar to ones you get in Europe. The atmosphere is pretty nice inside with outdoor seating. Did not see indoor seating when I went. A couple parking spots in front as well as street parking is available. The chocolates were around $2.50 per piece. Definitely pricey but I think it's worth it for special occasions. Overall, a great experience and will be going back to try the other chocolates and hot chocolates. read more

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We went here on a whim from the NC Art Museum and boy did they impress. This artisanal chocolate shop had a wide variety of impressive offerings to include a peanut butter hot chocolate that has literally ruined Swiss Miss for me forever. The ladies inside were quick to identify the rudimentary palates in our group and offer some great choices even we rubes could enjoy. Don't miss this place! read more

Escazú Chocolates - The best hot chocolate you've ever had - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

"Some of the best chocolate in the Triangle, made locally" I first learned of this place from a Yelp tour many years back, and I've been a frequent customer of their chocolate ever since. I live in Durham, and sometimes get their chocolate from Parker and Otis, but P&O is perpetually out of stock of it (likely indicating high demand!). I happily visited the store on a Saturday when I had to be in downtown Raleigh for another reason already. The storefront is small and unassuming, but the staff are delightful. I ALWAYS get the sea salt bar from them-- DELICIOUS. So much better than anything at the grocery store. The key (as they taught us in the tour) is to take a bite, chew slightly, and let the chocolate sit on your tongue for a few seconds to fully get the taste. Mmmm. The staff are wonderful at recommendations-- they pointed out the one kind that wasn't vegan (a "goat milk" bar), and identified general flavor hints for many of the others to help me pick them for friends. This is well worth a try. Stock up on some of the best chocolate in the Triangle, made right in the back of their store, bean to bar. read more

I had pretty much sworn off chocolate after being numbed by the many pedestrian confections offered elsewhere but this place has reawakened my senses to what quality crafted chocolate should taste like. I even order it online and skip the trip to Raleigh. read more

We had stopped at Escazu during our visit to Raleigh based on so many good reviews and a website that described so many unique chocolate flavors and the looks of the candies. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the experience though. Candies were pretty, but were small and the flavors did not really come though. I had higher expectations than what I experienced. read more

Incredible chocolate! Unique and delicious. Highly recommend stopping by their shop or buying their product in a local store. Sometimes they have tastings and special events - highly recommend! Smart and thoughtful people. read more

Escazú Chocolates - Smiling while holding delicious CHOCOLATE. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Chocolate at its best. BEST. First you have to find the place. If you're unfamiliar with this area, GPS is your friend. Just expect the unexpected as it is in the middle of a residential area near downtown. Ignore the bad parking lot. It is irrelevant, although annoying. Doesn't matter. Go in. Breathe in the enticing chocolate aroma that immediately embraces you. Now it's up to you to select from the amazing selection of artisan chocolates. I found a perfect selection for Husband's birthday, plus one for me (which didn't even make it out the door). Small box full plus my one blissful spicy lemon one was around $16. Sooooo worth it. Husband has only just now started enjoying his gift. Tonight he ooh'd and ahh'd over the strawberry balsamic and the dulche du leche caramel. Note: They sell other chocolate things such as drinks and I saw a sign for ice cream. Honestly though, I didn't pay much attention to what else they had. I was pretty focused on those amazing chocolates. read more

Escazú Chocolates - Wow Birthday Present for Husband! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The best chocolate I have ever had. My favorite was the raspberry triangle but they no longer make it. Hopefully they bring it back sometime. read more

I think I may be addicted to the chocolate covered marshmallows! Order one of these!! A few of my favorites truffles which were reasonably priced: Dulce de Leche Milk Chocolate with Honey & Chamomile Honey and Cinnamon Caramel Can't wait to visit again, I loved this chocolate stop! Friendly staff, amazing chocolate.. now go visit! read more

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Superb chocolate and excellent customer service! I always enjoy a visit to Escazu! I enjoy the ambience as well. read more

Escazú Chocolates - Four chocolates from Escazu - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Escazu is one of the best kept secrets in Raleigh. Hidden in the Mordecai neighborhood in downtown Raleigh, this chocolatier boasts some of the best made chocolate in the world... no joke. Their building is quite hidden, but the flavor sure is not. Luckily, many local restaurants, bars, and gift shops carry their chocolate bars, and I was lucky enough to find one at Foundation. The bartender said they usually carry a few different kinds, but they only had the goat's milk chocolate bar that night. I'm not usually a fan of goat's milk, but my god, this choclate bar was heavenly! Though it was ~60% cacao, the bar was delightfully milky and sweet, and it had a hint of goat's milk flavor but it wasn't overwhelming. Wow! I visited their store a few weeks ago to purchase some chocolates for a coworker's birthday. When you walk in, the delicious aroma almost melts you in your tracks :) They have a few local goodies- a few Holly Aiken wallets, some other locally printed tshirts and cards. They have about 6-8 kinds of chocolate bars that are $6/each, and they have a wonderful and beautiful array of chocolates that are truly pieces of art. Each chocolate is carefully designed and decorated, and the flavor is out of this world! I've tried the mint, dark chocolate ganache, lyche, muscadine, lime & chili, and some kind of liquor chocolate.... yum yum yum. And yum. Please go to Escazu, if you know what's good for you.... your palate deserves it, and it's a wonderful gift to anyone! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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7,000/10 Craftsmanship, kindness, deliciousness from the ground up. If you are looking for a special local gift, chocolate made from the beans on premises, or want one of their hot chocolates or mochas, anytime I want to treat myself I'm coming here. The barista/chocolate angel was knowledgeable, friendly, and efficient. I got the raspberry preserve pyramid bursting with filling and a perfect chocolate shell, the yuzu with a soft ganache, a chocolate covered apricot, and the winner by far was the cherry blossom. The mocha was I kid you not the best I've ever had in my life, like espresso in the finest melted chocolate with a hint of steamed milk. Please treat yourself read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

What a beautiful little place! Their chocolate is truly a treat. Every bit of high quality and consistency! I was floored with the oatmilk mocha. It didn't need anything! Just amazing. I have gifted chocolate bars from here to people. They have all been converted to escazu! definitely try the truffles. They are beautiful pieces of art and a flavor celebration. I have fallen in love with this place and will splurge on this local small business. Parking is a bit odd. A lot of people park on the street. Someone was upset I parked in the empty lot and moved a trash bin behind my car-just fyi that people are weird. read more

What a lovely little chocolatier!! I was immediately transported to Peru when I stopped by here. The chocolate tastes just like it does in the Andes! Also tried the flavored hot cocoa, would highly recommend the Spain or Peanut Butter. Staff is really sweet and prices are fair. Take a bar to go while you're grabbing truffles! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Award-winning! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Little cute spot! Most cute chocolates are 2.5-3USD. I picked cherry one. Good. Coconut chocolate popsicle is 3.5USD. Amazing! I can eat as many as they have. The staff look supra tired. They didn't smile at all. Too hard working to make good stuff?! Parking lot is in front of the shop. read more

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Beautiful and thoughtfully curated chocolates! I've never seen such a shiny glaze on pieces of chocolate before. Everything tasted exactly like what they were meant to taste like. Very expensive, but each piece is work of art so I understand the higher price point. I also love the sitting space inside. There are magazines and books lining the walls and you can just hangout enjoying your treats (which is exactly what we did since we were waiting for our table next door at Stanbury). I very much appreciate that the folks at Escazu are really passionate in their craft and it's great to support local! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Heaven is inside of a cacao bean. I don't see how else it wouldn't be after a bite from here. The moment I walked in the aroma therapy soothed my soul. I wasn't sure what I wanted, so I tasted at least one before continuing. They had a chocolate that was salted with soy sauce, which completely intrigued me. The moment I took a bite, the world disappeared, as well as my troubles. Voices dimmed, my eyes closed, and all my focus went to that chocolate. I'm glad I wasn't driving, for I would have caused a nasty wreck! I immediately got back into line and ordered 12 other types of ganache filled chocolates, as well as chocolate bars, a push up ice cream bar, and hot chocolate. Some of the other ganache pieces were not as good as the first item I had, but that doesn't mean much when all of them are on an amazing scale of flavor. I especially liked the caramel apple, white chocolate cardamom, and green tea ones! The push up pop is a pretty good concept, but it didn't completely win my heart. I like how it doesn't melt all over the place. I like how the chocolate chips are dense and pronounced. The salted caramel flavor was good, but it wasn't as creamy and sultry as I was hoping. I imagine these sell big time during summer. The hot chocolate is some of the best I've ever had. Liquid brown-gold! Its everything I would ever hope for from a hot chocolate and more. I really wanted to try all of their flavors, but I went with the chili hot chocolate. The spice was enough there in the high notes but was mostly engulfed by the rich, complex tomes of the cocoa bean. The staff is very friendly. They are also quite patient and helpful in deciding what ganache bets fits your mood. If none of this has convinced you, then either you are allergic, have diabetes, or a philistine to truly magical chocolate. read more

The best Chocolatier in North America ! ! ! I come here every time Im in Raleigh. From spray painting each piece with natural food pigments to box design, if you want to go well beyond impressing someone, get here ! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Phenomenal every time!!! Great selection will make you visit again and again. Don't forget their other deserts. read more

How can you not be a fan of this shop?! I love that they are open late so you can grab a treat after dinner, especially if you are eating at the Stanbury next door. When I told the ladies working we had never been in before they were happy to explain the differences in the hot chocolates and make some recommendations on their favorite truffles. You can watch the chocolate being mixed through the window. My husband asked about it and the machine is from Spain originally used in the 1920s. Pretty crazy! The price isn't cheap, but I thought it was very reasonable for local artisan chocolates. Our favorites were the peanut butter hot chocolate, passion fruit truffle, and nugget pistachio ball thing. I will be back! read more

Escazú Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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My favorite place to pickup quality, local chocolate! The Chili bar is my go-to. It's has a nice mild spicy flavor - as in you'll notice the heat, but the heat doesn't linger, it compliments the vanilla flavor very well. read more

Oh my gosh... what an amazing place!!! It is the stuff of dreams. I have loved pretty much everything I have ever ordered at Escazú. The hot chocolates are particularly amazing. The traditional hot chocolate is very sweet and rich, while the drinking chocolate is less sweet and thick (it is in water, not milk), so there is something for everyone. The truffles are also delicious. Some of our favorites are the bee pollen, cherry blossom, browned butter, malted milk, and any of the caramels. It's nice that the flavors change a bit each time too. And, of course, the bars are great, particularly if you like super dark and complex chocolate. read more

Escazú Chocolates - Drinking and traditional hot chocolate and truffles. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Chocolate created, in-house from the actual bean. You don't get this very often. They also hold tours of the back. A true 5-star review. I'd give them a bonus star if I could. The hot chocolate is the best I've ever had in the United States. The truffles allow for fresh flavors to come through. Specifically the mint chocolate, no fake mint flavor to be found here; you could have bought this at your local farmers market. Being next to Market makes it perfect. Great combo. Sadly, I've never been able to muster an appetite for Market's desserts, however delicious they seem. I blame Escazu. read more

Es-Cuh-Zoo. (My apologies for mispronouncing it all these years!) What a delightful little array of treats. Last night = second visit and enjoyable couple of hours. I was enticed by my my friend's and my mutual need to "sip the historic hot chocolate" as per the "Winter Bucket List" on Offline - https://www.get-offline.com/raleigh/featured/winter-bucket-list My selection: France, 1692. My friend got the Spain, as per recommendation from Offline, but I went to Paris last June so I had to go with the France. Description: A more refined drinking chocolate, based on a published recipe declaring it "The King of Chocolate." Lightly sweetened with cane sugar. Cinnamon, cloves, indian chili & vanilla bean. It sure took a while to cool down, but boy was it worth the wait! At $3.75 a cup, it's definitely a treat. Mine was an "early dinner," but perfect and just what the doctor (or my good girlfriend) ordered. We each picked up a bar of The Sea Salt Bar to take home too. $5.50. I once received a box of truffles from Escazu too. Pricey, but pretty little gems almost hard to eat because of how unique and fun-looking they are. Once you take a bite, you'll be surprised and happy though. Delightful, relaxing atmosphere off Blount St. near Peace College in downtown Raleigh. Highly recommend it. My only warning: parking is limited so look around on the surrounding streets because the parking lot is very small and shares with Stanbury next door. read more

Escazú Chocolates - France Historic Hot Chocolate and Sea Salt Bar of Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Amazing Italian and Contemporary hot chocolate drinks and confections! Would highly recommend the Salted Chocolate bars! Don't forget to order ahead online for curbside. Fast and friendly service! read more

A neighborhood gem. Videti seems to get all the attention in Raleigh, but I would argue that this place is better. The flavors are unique and not something you'll ever find anywhere else. Plus, who doesn't love chocolates filled with booze! read more

Decadent & Delicious! After a dinner at Stanbury next door, I really wanted to check out this little chocolate shop and I'm so glad I did! We did have a dessert next door, but my "dessert stomach" seems to always have room, haha! Anyhow, I'm SO GLAD I read the review here mentioning the hot chocolate -- that stuff is SO GOOD... even on a warm evening! We opted for the chai hot chocolate and it was like a chocolatey Christmas in a cup: warm, rich, spicy, comforting. I'm not sure we would ever try another of the flavor options because it was that good! The ladies here were friendly, knowledgeable, not pushy - great! It's a small(er) shop but there is some seating indoors and outdoors. Definitely a nice spot to find a nice sweet treat (with the bonus of being away from the hustle and bustle of the heart of the city!). If you're nearby, definitely step in! (And, if you're not nearby, consider going anyway and trying that hot chocolate and pick up a few delicious chocolate treats for yourself!) You deserve it! read more