I never care for super expensive chocolates but this was worth it. Super velvety chocolate, great variety, just overall quality is top tier. Not much parking in the area, so you'll have to drive around a bit and then walk over but plenty of shops and places to visit. Got a $60 box and came with 20 pieces. The dark caramels with smoked salt was my favorite and then the chocolates with nuts were my second favorites. Great place and would be a great gift! read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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I picked up a small box of assorted chocolates from Fran's because it's super popular in Seattle and I wanted to treat myself. The box looked nice and fancy, and I tried a mix of dark, milk, and white chocolates. The chocolates were good, but not as impressive as I expected given the hype and price point. I was hoping for something more memorable or unique in flavor--it definitely didn't stand out from other chocolatiers I've tried. Service was just okay. The staff didn't seem very friendly or welcoming, which was a little disappointing. It wasn't bad, but it didn't feel like the kind of place where you're excited to come back just for the experience. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it again. Worth a visit if you're curious, but temper your expectations. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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FRAN's CHOCOLATE @ BELLEVUE I'm headed to a work trip next week and wanted to get my boss a sweet treat, so stumbled upon this place on Yelp! Fran's chocolate is a franchise around Washington known for their Caramels. My boss is a huge dark chocolate caramel person so I was on the hunt. This place in Bellevue is located in one of the most busiest streets of Bellevue, being next to Downtown Park, you will not find any street parking, that was the downside. I decided to park at the mall and walk there instead to avoid the traffic and parking, it was about a 8 minute walk. Stepping into the place, the lady working was nice to give us a sample that my mom asked, but then after that she was locked in with her tablet, didn't say a word to my family and I as we browsed. I found what I wanted which was a box of their assorted chocolate, specifically the dark chocolate with caramel. She packed it and then rung me up for $48, no tax. It was 20 pieces. Not too bad. Overall, I would come back to this place but hoping service is a lot more welcoming and friendly as a first timer. Would've love suggestions! read more

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Went in to buy few boxes of chocolate on Valentine's Day. Got a box of spiced macadamia nuts, chocolate covered lemon peels and chocolate orange peels. The spiced macadamia nuts was nothing like before, the nuts was bitter and some of the nuts are stale. The chocolate covered lemon peels orange peel has no taste to either orange or lemon at all. Just sweet sweet chocolate. I end up throwing the rest of the chocolate covered fruits away, it's tasted horrible. I believe this will be the last time buying Fran's chocolate. Wasted $70 otherwise CS is quite friendly, but maybe it's Valentine's Day. read more

I love their hot chocolate. It was very intense but not sweet. Wish it was a bigger cup. LOL their staff was friendly. Will definitely go back. read more

The husband went to Seattle on a business trip and returned bearing gifts of chocolate for abandoning me with 2 toddlers. Needless to say he was forgiven rather quickly after I sampled some of these chocolates. We're not huge fans of milk chocolate normally but there was something very decadent and smooth with this set. The salted caramels are soooo good and each of the truffles I've tried really have been amazing. Kinda pricey but worth it if you love yourself and want to treat yourself accordingly lol. read more

Good chocolate, but disappointed to see prices going up again. Will explore alternatives

They provide services differently by I don't know what standards. They used to be like the other frans: Provide the tryout when you purchase, provide one black chocolate with drinking chocolate. But they do it now by giving different people different treatment. I had several time with purchase, they didn't give me tryout, and no black chocolate with drinking chocolate. Today, the white family before me with a purchase,they got chocolate tryout and got the chances to choose for each of them(about four or five people). The staff there said to them "We have this and we have that, please, help yourself", with a smile. Me and my boyfriend were the next couple, with all two staff sticked to that family, they did not say anything, even a warm welcome note, to us, while we waited there without any instructions or a small apology for the waiting. And of course, after our purchase, just "please wait here". The staff just started going back grab a new boxes of pecan caramel chocolate and counting chocolate while we were waiting. no tryouts, no friendly chatting, no black chocolate with drinking chocolate again. Disappointing to different treatment to different people with purchases, and different from other Fran's. read more

tl;dr - delicious chocolates, excellent service, can customize box I stopped by to get a box for a gift this holiday and had a really great experience. After a warm greeting, I was offered a sample of the grey salt milk chocolate caramel which was delicious as always. The person who helped me was so patient and knowledgeable. I got a custom box and she was really thoughtful about how she arranged the chocolates and made recommendations for the assortment. She also packaged it really nicely with a champagne box and red bow. For a second box, I chose the prepackaged ones, but she swapped out the ribbon for a different color. As a bonus, they also showed me the box they used for White House events. Fran's is on the pricier side but I'll definitely go back for special occasions or gifts. read more

My experience wasn't as stellar as the other positive reviews. I bought a small box of gray salt thins dark chocolate and a 3oz hot drinking chocolate. The chocolates tasted fine; nothing special from other chocolates like Ghirardelli or Godiva. The hot drinking chocolate was thick and 3oz was more than enough for me. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet and tasted like a liquid thick cocoa powder. My customer service experience was basic and nothing outstanding. I wouldn't come back because of how expensive it is and I can get a similar quality and experience from another chocolate store. read more

It's probably crazy that I've lived in Seattle and heard of Fran's all my life but it's not until this last year that I finally had the chance to taste and experience it. I had a few boxes gifted to me and I dont usually eat much sweets but I sure ate these. Unfortunately one Box and its contents arrived completely soaked by the recent snow and rain storm but even though the chocolates were wet, after putting it in the fridge it still retained its flavor, form and freshness. The salted caramel textures and flavors are amazing as are the truffles which were rich but not too sweet. Perfect balances. Customer service in store was also standout. Staff were super friendly, helpful and kind. Will definitely revisit here again. Its nice to find more local places for great gifts and yummy treats. read more

I think I've found my new favorite place for hot chocolate in Washington. I stopped by Fran's Chocolates the other day to search for some gifts. After admiring their extensive selection, I opted to get a cup of drinking chocolate and a jar of hot chocolate. It is a tad pricey, but you get the quality you pay for. Having tried a lot of gourmet chocolate in my life, I can safely say this is Fran's Chocolate feels like a hidden treasure and is some of the best hot chocolate I've had in the states. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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i adore fran's! their chocolates are always delicious and very high quality. i definitely stop by monthly, there's never a bad time to go! the workers are spectacular, so friendly and welcoming. the store is always neatly organized and arranged to match the current or upcoming season/holiday. orange confit is my absolute favorite, hazelnut crunch and dark chocolate caramel are honorable mentions! read more

The best sea salt caramel chocolates I've ever had. And I've lived and try them in many places all over the world. Did you know they were also the official chocolate at the White House under Obama They also offer a rich wonderful hot cocoa. read more

Yummy chocolates! I'm a huge fan of Fran's Chocolates, so when my family was in town, I decided to take them here for one of Seattle's best chocolate shops around. And they loved it! It's nice to have this Fran's Chocolates in Bellevue, located in Old Bellevue on Main Street. It makes it easy to get this chocolate without trekking to Seattle. Though the shop is small, especially when compared to its Seattle locations, it's always in stock of the various chocolates they sell, from the famous sea salt caramels, to the boxes of truffles, or chocolate-covered hazelnuts. Staff is always friendly when I visit. Plus, it's worth a visit even if you don't plan to make a purchase since they offer complimentary chocolate samples of various kinds. I always enjoy trying different ones I haven't had before and they're always really, really good. My personal favorite chocolates from Fran's are the dark chocolate truffles. Yum! read more

Fran's Chocolates - Gift Boxes of Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Bought: -Dark & Milk Caramel box -Roasted chocolate almonds box -Chocolate Nibs box You MUST GET the caramels!!! They are salty and the best balance of soft and chewy. They are small, but presented beautifully. If you don't like caramels, I definitely recommend the almonds. They are roasted so they are crunchy without being hard. The chocolate is dusted on rather than the shiny polished chocolates which allow you to taste more of the chocolate!! It isn't overly sweet which I liked. The chocolate nibs are yummy and good to put on icecream or desserts. I would definitely get the caramels + almonds again! The only con is that there are no samples offered, so you must do a leap of faith instead. read more

Visiting Frans was most definitely a boutique experience. The store is located in downtown next to the Four Seasons Hotel. Every one was dressed in black looking very chic. The customer service was excellent. They explained how the drinking chocolate was made and the blends of chocolate and the difference between grey salt and smoked salt for chocolate. We enjoyed everything we tried. I do think the pieces are very small for the price. The store was decorated beautifully. I expected to smell chocolate when we walked in but not so. The store was clean. But the real delight was the hazelnut milk chocolate and truffles for sure. I was reminded of a store in Paris. But in Paris the store smelled like baked goods with chocolate goodness. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Table upon entry - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

These chocolates are some of the best we have had!!! Grey salt caramels are out of this world and the espresso truffles were not far behind. Both in dark chocolate which is smooth, luscious and the best we've ever tasted! The staff at this shop are the best! We came in just before they closed and they were more than happy to stay late for us. We enjoyed a good chat with them while we were choosing from all of their delicious chocolates. We will make this a regular stop whenever we visit our daughter! read more

For some reason I'm not a frequent consumer of this artisanal chocolates, but when it happens I'm always reminded how good they are and how much I love them. Fran's chocolates are one of the best of this type of confections imho, I should visit the store more often. Today I got a box of 16 with a mix of my favorites. Btw, difficult to say which one is my favorite, I love each of them. If I had to choose I'd probably pick the hazelnut crunch truffle, a little masterpiece of taste and texture. I've tried the chocolate sauce in the past and it was amazing. I've also tried the drinking chocolate, both cold and hot, and it was delicious. I definitely should visit more often, really excellent products. read more

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Words cannot express....so good! They have new stuff, seasonal. Next time I need to try the caramels. More fun than buying them in the grocery store. Nice people, beautiful presentation, friendly NoT snooty. read more

Coming from Vancouver - Great trendy location !! If you are looking for a great chocolate treat this is the place to be. I personally have a chocolate addiction and my better half decided to drop by and get something to fulfil our needs. This place is great! Remember to get some for your friends and family! I found this location is easy to find but parking can be a challenge! Will come back ! read more

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I was given a box of 6 chocolates - 4 were dark chocolate, 2 were milk (including a caramel of each). The milk chocolate was a tad sweet, and the dark chocolate was very flavorful and strong, delicious. The chocolates were wrapped up nicely as well, and I enjoyed them! read more

It's as good as it gets, as Yelp suggests. What Seattle has that makes for a great experience, is all the great chocolate shops and makers.. Sure there are chocolatiers in every city, but if you indeed appreciate good chocolate; I implore you to visit. I come here, specifically to find chocolate to give as gifts. It's something that is sublime, a wonderland, and admiration and joy of the world to have a treat from here. Coming here, is an adventure, but best to head to the counter, and review the so many flavors of awesome. Sure the walls have pre-packaged selections, and they are perfectly excellent choices, but the counter is a less tangible, selection of goodness. What could be more wonderful? I say, owning some of the most magnificent chocolate in the Pacific Northwest ranks up there. For Seattleites, giving or receiving a box of Fran's, is something special. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Every time I visit Seattle, I always stop by Fran's - without fail. It's a tradition for me, even though their sea salt caramels are sold at Whole Foods, Sur La Table, and some other shops in SoCal. Despite that, the actual retail stores themselves have a much greater selection and for some of their specialty items alone, it's well worth the trip! I usually always go to the downtown location (near Pike's Place), but unfortunately I didn't have a rental car this time around, so my friend graciously drove me to the nearest location, which just happened to be Bellevue. This location is a bit smaller and somewhat less ritzy than the downtown location, but it's kinda a nice change! The ambiance is less flashy and has more of a small town kind of feel, particularly because it's located in the midst of tons of charming little storefronts. The staff is also incredibly helpful here... and best of all, they offer samples! :) The quality of the chocolate is unbelievably awesome and consistent with all the other Fran's locations I've been to. Unfortunately, they currently changed the look of their chocolate figs. Instead of injecting the figs with chocolate ganache, which enabled them to better retain their natural shape, they basically pounded a dried fig thin and then covered it with dark chocolate, so it now more closely resembles the coin look of their apricots. The figs are still good, but definitely not quite the same as they used to be and definitely not worth the $5-6 they're still charging for them! Nonetheless, the chocolate covered orange peels and chocolate covered apricots are still two of my favorites and have remained unchanged! I also picked up a Fran's coconut gold bar while I was here, since it was recently featured on the Food network. All I can say is... it tasted like an elevated almond joy, which was beyond exquisite! I love thee, Fran's. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Fran's loot! Always such beautiful packaging!! - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

My husband and I found out about Fran's one night while watching a show on chocolate confections. Did you know they were an absolute favorite of Michelle Obama? We didn't either until we watched that. We finally had a chance to go today and decided to buy a 20 piece assortment for a friend. It's beautifully packaged and the salted carmels she threw in for us were so delicious I will have to go back for myself now read more

Fran's Chocolates - The beautiful box of chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Best hot chocolate ever!!! Their hot chocolate is super super rich. It's not a regular hot chocolate which basically tastes like overly sweeten chocolate milk. It's very rich in taste and had a perfect level of bitterness. I never understood how people feel when they find a good wine since I don't drink. After taking a sip of the hot chocolate here, I felt like I'm drunk with the best hot chocolate on earth. The hot chocolate came with 2 sizes; 6 and 8 ounces. Don't be greedy. It is so rich and you probably very satisfied with 6- 8 ounces. Walking into the store reminds me of going to a hotel spa. The decorations, smell and atmosphere is elegance and relaxing. The 2 ladies who worked there were beyond friendly. They are super polite and welcoming. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Absolutely love this store!! The woman who works here is so nice, very knowledgeable, and always offers pieces to taste. The chocolates are high in quality, extremely delicious, and the variety is definitely there. Everything I've tried in the store always tastes good. I come here to get nicer chocolates for gifts. If anyone comes to visit we always stop here. The salted caramels are a must try and the milk chocolate espresso truffle. They are a little pricey however you need to treat yourself! read more

Fran's Chocolates - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

- Unexpected service - I rarely come to Old Bellevue, but I've passed by this stores at least 4 times but never entered this place. I was going to eat brunch with my friends, and I needed to use the bathroom badly (I know i know.. that's me). She suggested checking this store to see if they have a bathroom. They didn't, but the cashier asked what kind of chocolate we want as soon as we entered. She then sampled a full size milk chocolate, while I tried a dark chocolate. I didn't enjoy mine much because I didn't like the combination of chocolate and orange flavor, but she apparently liked hers. My friend then asked them when they'll start selling drinks there and the lady said they haven't started yet. She then grabbed someone in the back and the other lady was so nice that she gave us a card for complimentary drinks at other locations. It's so unexpected, but their customer service is really nice... I didn't know my desire to use the bathroom could lead to a free drink, but that's pretty cool XD! read more

Fran's Chocolates - Free complimentary drink - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Yes, it's that good. If you haven't tried Fran's Chocolates, you must do it now! Their chocolate is very velvety smooth. I usually purchase boxes of salted caramels as gifts. I also pick up a 7-piece box of Smoked Salt Caramels for myself, which I savor. It also works great as dessert for a dinner party to pair with a port wine. Speaking of Port wines, Fran's carries their own Port wine now, which is a delcious pairing for their chocolates. This is a small shop located on Main Street within Old Town Bellevue, There is parking available on the street. It is definitely worth the trip. The chocolates are on the pricey side but considering how out-of-this-world delicious they are, it's all well-worth the price and then some! If there are no pre-boxed chocolates to your preference, they will make up a box for you. The staff is very friendly! The chocolate boxes are always wrapped in tissue with a Fran's logo sticker and put in a cute and thick bag, which works perfectly as a gift bag. I love the small touches. read more

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Delightful visit to Fran's choosing chocolates for friends out of state. We couldn't have asked for a more helpful and friendly experience. The selection is top quality and varied, offering something for everyone's taste. The variety of box sizes similarly offers something for every budget and requirement. Parking is on the street or in a nearby garage. Highly recommended. read more

This is Seattle's local go-to chocolate spot - and Obama approved! Every time you go to the store you get a sample :) Bonus, their chocolates are amazing. Everything is hand made. The minuses: they have a more limited selection (8-12 different types of chocolates). They are on a higher price spectrum as well. Still amazing and great customer service though. They make a great gif! read more

Wonderful experience. Walked in, offered a little sample, walked out with three chocolates. Friendly service, warm ambiance and elegant style! read more

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Fran's is insanely good. It is so expensive but it's worth every penny for me. These are hands down the best salted caramels I've had. No other shop quite gets the salted caramels to be so rich and smooth. These also make great gifts as well. read more

***Fran's Chocolates is an upscale chocolate boutique that features very expensive products, but their chocolates are very good*** Fran's Chocolates is a well-known Seattle chocolate boutique that you might be familiar with even if you have never been to Seattle. You can find Fran's Chocolates' caramels and mini but thick candy bars at gourmet grocery stores like Bristol Farms and Whole Foods. If you visit one of the Fran's Chocolates stores in the Seattle area though, you will find a much greater variety of chocolates like seasonal packaged chocolates and even chocolate truffles and other chocolates by the piece that you can customize into a small or large box. Their chocolates do not get that creative, but there is a good variety of both dark chocolate pieces and milk chocolate pieces as well as a variety of fillings. Some of their options include pure dark chocolate truffles, pure milk chocolate truffles, bittersweet truffles, really strong and delicious espresso truffles (in dark or milk chocolate), oolong tea truffles, caramel truffles (in dark or milk chocolate), gray salt caramels, dark chocolate caramels, and milk chocolate caramels. The chocolates were good to very good. I really enjoyed the hazelnut crunch, which had a Nutella-like and feuillantine wafer-like crispy center. I also really liked their one chocolate with a creamy and nutty ganache center topped with a crunchy macadamia. Another popular item here is their Coconut Gold Bar. This chocolate bar (available in the store as an individual item or in a box of 7 bars) is a gourmet version of an Almond Joy. This chocolate bar was showcased on the Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. The chocolate bar featured crunchy and nicely toasted almonds as well as a thin, rich and delicious dark chocolate shell. The star of the chocolate bar was the white chocolate coconut ganache center, which was creamy and had a great coconut flavor. The ganache was not overpowering or artificial tasting like Almond Joy. Service was very polite, polished and personable. The store sells many other nice looking items and the store has a very clean and upscale design. Prices are high with some items feeling even incredibly pricey, but a lot of their items are delicious and the quality of ingredients is very high. While Fran's Chocolates is expensive, it is a great store to indulge or pick up a nice gift. And even though you can find some of their products in other parts of the country, there are still a lot of delicious items here that you will only find in Seattle. Fran's is definitely worth a visit for chocolate lovers spending time in Seattle. Free street parking is available. Due to the park and several shops and dining options in the area, you might not be able to find a parking space close to this store's entrance. read more

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Indispensable resource. Just go. If you need fancy chocolates for a nice present, you are guaranteed (or as close as it is possible to be to being guaranteed) a happy reception when you give Fran's. This chocolate is amazing. Well, I have only managed to get my fingers in fast enough to try a couple bites of Fran's in all the years I have been giving her chocolates out on special occasions and to co-workers, but it never fails to delight. The salted caramels are pretty much legendary. Whether you're buying chocolate for someone who really loves the good stuff or happily chomps on supermarket sugar bombs in brightly colored wrappers, Fran's seems to have universal appeal. So, OK. That point has probably been made rather well. The store? It's just a wall of shelves full of different chocolates. It's full of rich mahogany and silk-bound packages. It's kind of a big deal. The people are nice. You can't believe how much the chocolate costs. $20 a pound or something. Small fortune for this stuff. So you buy one of the little packages. If it's a big occasion, you buy a bigger package. Everything about Fran's, from the hand-made chocolate to the locations, through the lux interiors, and on to the sweet well-kept ladies who look after the sales floors, is super-premium. You're not buying snacks here. These are very fine indulgences. I am sure every good-sized city has a Fran's, or something like it. They probably each have their specialties. And I've not tried Theo yet so I am not up on that one. But IME, Fran's always produces the desired result and then some. So IMO it's as good as anything this area has to offer for this sort of thing. read more

Amazing service at Fran's - Kelli was extremely helpful! Chocolates were delicious and make a great gift!

I'm spoiled. I know it. I frequently receive gifts from Fran's and I feel like I have done something pretty amazing to get little square box with a beautiful satin ribbon around it filled with the most delicious little bites and nibbles. Maybe I saved a bus load of handicapped kids one time or maybe walked a little old woman across the street just once or maybe I am just an awesome girlfriend who deserves yummy delicious things in little boxes with pretty ribbon....sigh :) read more

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High quality chocolates. Can you go wrong? Came in just for a quick treat after grabbing a drink nearby. The store was conveniently empty so I was helped right away. The woman who helped us was masked, gloved, and very friendly. Every option is delicious but this time I got the Dark Chocolate Caramel Truffle (delish) and my brother got the Single Malt Whiskey Truffle (he said it was good but he couldn't taste much whiskey flavor). Perfect lil treat if you need something sweet. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Dark Chocolate Caramel Truffle & Single Malt Whiskey Truffle - Candy Stores Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I've been trying different chocolate shops around the PNW recently and while I can't say this is the best, it's defeinitely up there. From the moment we were greeted with free samples, to the perfect packaging, even if the chocolate wasn't good I would still be impressed with this place. Good thing their chocolate is pretty good. Makes it so much easier to like them and return again someday. My one critique would be with the whiskey dark chocolate one. I struggled to determine which one it was, by look and taste. Thought I would get a blast of whiskey flavor but couldn't tell which one of the pieces it was. The espresso one was amazing though. Will get more of those next time. read more

The customer service here is amazing. Elaine, you are definitely an asset to this shop! The story: Needed to get some chocolates out and delivered for same-day delivery. It was getting late in the day and I had no idea what assortment to get. In comes Elaine. Super knowledgeable about all the different types of chocolates and picked an assortment that would leave anyone happy. Got the chocolates delivered in a timely manner. A+ service and very friendly over the phone (and I'm sure in person). I've tried a few different chocolates here and I don't think you can go wrong. Definitely worth stopping by this shop! read more