I just visited The Xocolatl Garden in Carmel-by-the-Sea and wow, it was such a great find! The…read morechocolate quality here is amazing, very rich and smooth. You can tell they use really high-end ingredients. What I liked most is the various selections they have. They have so many different flavors and unique (like Venezuela, Mexico, Haiwaii, green tea and lemon chocolate or various caramel choco flavors). I bought a small box to try different ones and every single piece was delicious. Also, the garden is so pretty! It is so peaceful and beautiful to sit there and enjoy my treats. The shop is very cute too, it fits the Carmel vibe perfectly. If you are a chocolate lover, you definitely need to stop by here. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it for the taste and the quality. I will definitely coming back next time I am in town!

Carmel-by-the-Sea has plenty of hidden secret places to discover; wander off the beaten path just a…read morelittle, into a narrow alley or down a park trail, and you may be rewarded with one of the sweetest rewards of all: chocolate! The Xocolatl Garden was one of these random, unexpected, but wholly welcome finds: accessible either via a festoon-lit narrow alley from Ocean Avenue, or via a winding path leading north from Piccadilly Park, this absolutely enchanting hidden plaza, with its tiny shop against one wall, serenades you with its silence and solitude, and invites you in to sample some of the finest chocolates that the world has to offer! Hershey? Nestle? Never heard of 'em. This is real cacao, folks, for real enthusiasts, coming in hard or soft, rich or dark, and filled with everything from pistachio cream to red chili peppers, and a whole lot more! Brands and flavors you have never seen (and quite possibly may never see again) can be found here! If you have a sweet tooth of any level (even one that is virtually non-existent, as mine is), you're still likely to find a chocolate concoction of some sort to pleasure your palate!

Wow! I finally had an opportunity to stop in and check out the factory store in Monterey, ticked…read moreaway in the Ryan Ranch Industrial Complex. I was able to pick up my online order as well as some discounted specials and assorted chocolates. This is just a small office space for direct consumer sales and specialty items. Though now listed in the website, check out the lavender truffles. To die for.

These sea salt caramel chocolates are so good! Also sampled some of their other chocolates.read more

Parker Lusseau Pastries is an absolute hidden gem! The ham and cheese croissant (warmed up) is the…read morebest one I've had! Also love their macarons, apple galette, and croissant- whether it's butter, chocolate, and almond, you can never go wrong! Great service is always happily provided by the staff. Cozy little patisserie alongside the postal service. They have outdoors tables and chairs and street parking.

This is a cute hidden pastry shop at the top of the hill in Old Monterey that you must try. The…read morebakery is small, within an old timey facade with fresh baked goods for you to indulge in on your relaxing morning. I love a good almond croissant and they did not disappoint here. There were actually a number of pastries I wanted so I will have to return and try some more later on. The service was attentive and polite. The staff work in a cramped area behind the counter, albeit decorated, since the building itself is the same size as the State Park exhibited buildings from the past. I felt this appearance was very charming to match its bakery vibes. :) I would not pass this establishment by without giving this a try. So if you're visiting-- I'd recommend you check this out :)

My favorite artisan chocolates ! Especially their dark chocolate nut clusters. Cute, quaint…read morechocolate shop.

I've been going to this lovely little candy shop and ice cream parlor for many years. Today I went…read moreto pickup my 83,yrs old mom her favorite candy for Valentines Day which I explained to the woman behind the counter. I was informed they no longer make them so I made a substitution. I asked if perhaps they were no longer owned by Bob it didn't feel like the same old store. I was told Bob retired. They threw the candy into a paper bag and charged me 33$ no box no bow nothing. I'm afraid with this type of service they may not last. Such a pity they were always so friendly and always presented the customer with a gift worth giving

I love chocolate. So, when I see a new spot I usually stop…read moreand check it out. Lula's in Carmel By The Sea did not disappoint. The selection was great. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. And the chocolate was amazing!

What a beautiful small chocolate shop this, stopped in to get a gift for a friend…read more As I walked in I was greeted by a nice lady behind the counter, she offer me a sample. It was dark chocolate sea salt caramel, omg it was love at first bite!!!! I'm normally a milk chocolate girl, well this chocolate was the best I have ever tried. Needless to say I purchase a few boxes, two for me and one for a friend. I saw these roses and couldn't pass them up, not only are they so perfectly made, but they're only $4.50. They had both milk chocolate and dark chocolate. I purchased two for my mom. The only down fall for this cute location is parking, if you're lucky you will find street parking near by

Skip to My Lula…read more Locally owned and run chocolatier that's based out of Monterey and has three shops in the area--including a factory store!--and this location is at the Crossroads Shopping Center. They're my mom's favorite chocolates, so whenever we're in the area I always have to make a stop to pick some up for her. The Good: * Discounted items throughout this location, anywhere from 15-50% off * Great service * Free samples! * Store is in the smallish side but they have a huge selection The Meh: * It's a little pricey but you're paying for the quality. The Ugly: * Parking at The Crossroads can be a bit difficult during busier times in the weekends, but you'll manage. Conclusion: Great place to get some delicious chocolates.

The free sample alone is worth walking in, but be warned, you will likely purchase at least a few…read moreirresistible chocolates! The woman working explained the ingredients and history behind the business, while guiding us through each section of the cozy, thoughtfully laid out shop. Gluten-free and nut free friendly (cross contamination possible, I had no issues of being allergy sick from the basic chocolate caramels). The assorted boxes are very reasonably priced and they had some sale options as well that were a steal if looking to consume quickly.

This has to be one of the cutest stores! I have told so many people to visit. The outside reminds…read moreme of the cottage from Snow White. It's so darling. The inside is trouble! You will find so many amazing goodies that are truly hard to resist. I suggest making it your cheat day if you are a healthy junky. lol So fun! Can't wait to visit again.

Super cute cottage with anything you may want to satisfy your sweet tooth!…read more Located in the heart of Carmel shops, this unique place has a variety of chocolates and other sweets, some English imported. Even if you're not in the mood for anything sweet is a cute spot to enjoy the scenery.

Very clean, organized shop. Lots of options for sweets. Truffles on the expensive side just under…read more$8.00 for a normal Size truffle: Coffee was just OK but the young woman working the counter was extremely friendly and helpful. 5 stars for her receipt said Noor helped us. I would go back because how Friendly and helpful she was and for their chocolate selection and Ice cream.

Another chocolate store in Carmel By The Sea! I think this…read morestores been here awhile, but for some reason we haven't tried it. The global chocolate selection is amazing! I opted for some dark chocolate malt balls, they were incredible.

Our friends bought us a private tour - Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours. We would highly recommend…read moreCarmel Food Tours - we thought they did a great job. They were super responsive when we wanted to book our tour with just a few days notice - so mad props for their fast, friendly service in getting us booked so quickly!! Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable about Carmel, and provided an overview about the area and was very willing to answer any questions we had. We enjoyed chatting with her throughout the 4 hour experience. We enjoyed tastes from 5-6 different locations throughout the downtown Carmel area. We were definitely provided a lot of variety and everything was delicious - from doughnuts and coffee and nuts to French onion soup and sushi. We had the opportunity at one of the locations (Toro) to have an interactive experience, spending time speaking with the general manager learning the background about the restaurant. We also had a special sake tasting featuring three different sakes. It was a very unique experience and the sushi was also extremely fresh and delicious. Overall, it was a good experience and we were able to enjoy a nice variety of food that local restaurants provide. Important tips for future tour goers: 1. Don't eat before going on a food tour. We thankfully didn't eat -otherwise, we would not have been able to enjoy the food tour to its fullest. 2. Don't book any reservations to restaurants that same day. We were still stuffed by the time it was time to go to dinner - and that was more than 5 hours later!

Did the tour today with Bonnie! And 10/10 would do it again. We had a wonderful time, got to try…read moresome great bites and things I might not have ordered on my own, and was blown away by everything! It was such a fun way to spend our day.

Such a cute business with plenty of cute pokemon, anime plushies and labubus to collect amongst…read morecandies to get. The brothers at the front desk were extremely friendly and easy to chat with.

Was looking around the store for some candy, noticed a 'sealed' Pokemon trainer box, they charged…read moreme 300 dollars for it saying it was from the Pokemon center itself. After purchasing the product and taking it home, we noticed that the box was taped shut, some of the packs inside were poorly resealed, and were missing the QR code tag cards. Horrible service, very poor integrity, and terrible business practices.