Chocolate wasted! Literally. These boozy chocolates are like having a shot... Wow! Go home drunk,…read moreyou're chocolate. I mean... Go home chocolate, you're drunk. I mean... I'm moving to Wales just for this alcoholic's dream: boozy chocolates! Hiccup. Oh. And, they have a ton of non-alcoholic, delicious chocolates too, for those who don't understand what kind of magical-bliss-heaven-paradise is found in a piece of delectable chocolate that serves as a shot too. Also, I suggest a chaser. This is one STRONG, POTENT bite. Trust me. I wouldn't (hiccup) steer you (hiccup) wrong (hiccup). Goodnight. Oops, I forgot to say we tried the whiskey one and the pink champagne truffles. Beautiful. Ok. Goodnight. Hiccup.

Now, I certainly won't say that this shop alone is worth the trip to Cowbridge, but I will…read morecertainly imply it heavily. This is a charming little shop tucked away off the main road passing through the town, so you might not immediately see it. It's easy to find though, and is very near the main parking zone. The staff in Cocoa & Co are very lovely, and clearly take a pride in their products. They have a good range of handmade chocolates and gifts, but the thing that really makes this shop something special, are the sugar-covered almonds. In all different colours, jars of them fill a wall. These are my favourite of sweets, so I was very, very excited when I first found them. But they're great for wedding favours, and Cocoa & Co specialise in making these up, if you're so inclined.

You will find Cocoa & Co down a quaint little mews off the High Street at the top end of Cowbridge…read more You can get there by turning right after Arthur John Hardware. (I had lived in Cowbridge for six months before I discovered this beautiful little mews!) Being a chocoholic this is my kind of shop, and although expensive, the treats that they have on offer are our of this world... so, essentially well worth the extra dollar! Although i have never indulged in anything but the handmade chocs, they also sell a pretty broad assortment of other sweets, that are bought in from other cottage industries and small manufacturers. The interior of the shop is like something you would expect to find in a period film about the Victorian era... it has that other-worldly charm going on about it! A real delight!

Wally's deli version 2 is the Arcades Wally's sweeter cousin. Bustling with Easter goodies at the…read moremoment it's hard to tell what is normally carried, but I for one do not give a damn when their is so much scrumptious chocolate on display. Being an upmarket deli, you'll get lots of beautifully decorated food. You pay for it, but your paying for quality that feels deserved. I love the shop as well, floor to ceiling glass and brightly lit, Wally's oozes with metropolitan class. You great great service, with lovely staff. Put all those ingredients in a blender and you've got your self tasty metaphorical pie.

I've been going to the Wallys Delicatessens in the Morgan arcade for years, so was very interested…read moreto see what I would make of their first ever new store in the St David's 2 center. On the whole I was quite satisfied and impressed. The store is not as big as the original, nor does it have as much stock. This is for the better though, as it is ascetically pleasing, and I have often felt that the other store packs far too much in. A further difference is that this new store focuses far more on the sweeter things in life. There is a mouthwatering selection of handmade chocolates, a wide variety of old fashioned sweets, and some simply breathtaking gingerbread houses, which are already on my Christmas list for next year. They do sell some of the more savory products (though if that's what your after I'd head for their other store), including a rather nice selection of oils, which are far superior to anything you get in a supermarket. Finally the great thing about this store, is that it really makes a nice change from all the big brand names that dominate St David's 2. It's so nice to see an independent retailer doing so well, and I would truly encourage anyone to check out Wallys.

When I think of the chocolate that you buy from the Thornton's chocolate shop I think of silky…read moresmooth chocolate that is creamy and soft and that melts in your mouth. All of which makes it continuously addictive and it is lusciously comforting. The chocolate is so neatly created and uniquely made for gorgeous Easter egg gifts and Christmas presents and birthday treats. I particularly love the small chocolate pigs with a soft; creamy, strawberry, bubbly centre that makes it even more addictive and delicious. All for a cheap price that is under a one pound. Then there is another linked item that I simply adore; a lovely, flat chocolate bar, which is beautifully decorated with pink, strawberry icing and which tastes of associated taste like the small, pink bubbly pig does. It tastes of strawberry flavour and of the Thornton's chocolate. This is less than two pounds. There are few other flavours of animals and bars of similar kinds of Thornton's chocolate products with similar themes. They have flat Thornton's chocolate that can have writing of sugar, flavoured, icing of your own choice as to what the message may say for your chosen loved one to give it too. I have often bought this and I think its price is under or around five pounds in price. The staff are friendly and helpful and the shop is creatively presented and attractive. This loveable chocolate shop is very addictive and has many more chocolate products from its own company. So I do recommend it to all...

A son in need goes to Thortons indeed. For Mother's day at least. I got mama M. a lovely chocolate…read morebox that the very helpful staff personalised for me. Mama loved it, I had a nibble and it tasted great. So you pay for the packaging and brand name when you walk in, but as far as pleasant experiences go, you can't beat this Thortons. The St. Davids branch employees are probably one of the most genuine and friendly staff I've encountered in any shop.

I'll never forget when my aunt jokingly told me: "Jennifer, in our family, our chocolate obsession…read moreis like alcoholism. You think it's a normal way of life and then you speak to people outside the family and realise...it's not." For me, chocolate is a major food group that sits alongside Innocent Smoothies and Diet Coke. So naturally, I had to try out X Marks Delicious on St Mary Street. First impression - X had all the charm of an airport chocolatier, but that didn't sway me. I pressed on. The shop is just a bit too contemporary for my taste - almost bordering on clinical - but their chocolates, sourced from high-quality ingredients, are actually very good, although I think Hotel Chocolat (found at nearby John Lewis) is a finer variety of chocolate. But these babies would make a fine gift for any loved one with a sweet-tooth. X Marks Delicious is definitely worth a visit, even if you're not a massive chocolate fan - it's always refreshing to sample a brand of chocolate other than your usual Cadbury or Galaxy.

This is a new little chocolate shop at the end of Royal Arcade in Cardiff Centre. It's well…read morepresented with a modern clean feeling. The chocolates on sale are good quality handmade, including all the old favourites, alongside more adventurous creations, such as chili and pepper. Although this shop does everything right, there is unfortunately a sparse feeling to their setup. The staff are friendly, but the shop is often empty; a rethink in the design might make a more welcoming shop that's tempting to go into. If a chocolate shop isn't all about the experience then it can peel back the curtain to reveal just a small brown, unhealthy snack. That being said, the chocolates are tasty, and great for gifts; but Wally's Delicatessen is just a short walk away, and has a more satisfying feel to it.

Mark is a cheerful man. He set up his world wide food stall at Cardiff Central Market just over a…read moreyear ago. Yesterday I tried to resist buying handfuls of tasty things when he catches my eye with big grin, and, as he is notorious for, beckons potential customers and myself over to his market stall to try some FREE samples. He's nice like that. This week the offerings laid out on top of the counters include delicious chocolate coated sunflower seeds. I try a few, and then a handful, they are sweet, small, and have a delectable crunch. He knows I'm veggie and picks a few olives out on cocktail sticks for me to try. Olives stuffed with feta, olives stuffed with garlic, olives stuffed with pimento. I love olives. I am currently in favourite food heaven. As well as a delicious selection of olives - always tasty, never disappointing - Mark also sells an amazing range of nuts (Almond, Chilli Cashew, Salted Pistachio, Wasabi, Smoked Almond, Honey Macadamia etc.), dried fruit, liquorice (seriously, ALL my favourite foods), Turkish Delight, Baklava, chocolate raisins, chocolate brazil nuts, chocolate honeycomb (Mmmmmmmm), lots of yogurt sweets, vine leaves and Feta. I drool and eat and drool and eat and end up leaving with brown paper bags of goodies - sumptuous sundried tomatoes, pickled garlic, and more of those chocolate-coated seeds. Just you try not to do the same, you'll fail. Mark won't.

I have a distinct soft spot for this shop. As a lover of hot drinks and the whole idea of taking…read moretime to relax and be indulgent for five minutes, this is a treasure trove. Not only do they sell tea and coffee, but a vast and exciting supply of instant teas (my favourite), hot chocolates, teapots and crockery, chocolate, and everything you could possibly need to produce any of the said drinks at home. The coffee is ground just for you, although you may need to do the research on your preferred grind before you go in, because some of the staff are unsure, and it's not really something you're able to take back later. This is Whittard's only actual retail outlet in Wales (bar a discount store in Bridgend), so is worth a look for anyone who is not familiar with their products.

I may of mentioned before but I cannot live without tea and cannot be awake without coffee. Good…read morething that Whittard specialises in both. There is a great range of both in store as well as mugs, accessories etc. I get my stronger than Arnie coffee from here that puts hairs on your chest. I've never tasted anything quite like it. Prices reflect the speciality of the store unfortunately, but I real don't care when I feel like a God after 'suppin' on my man coffee.

Simply Steve's is an exquisite little shop on Clifton Street that hides a large patisserie…read moreproduction area out the back. Here all manner of epicurean alchemy takes place, with Steve dressed in his chef's whites, cutting a larger than life figure, as he goes about the business of making some of Cardiff's most miraculous cakes. Walking into the shop is a little like walking onto the set of a children's fantasy film, in the vein of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... it's got that kind of special feel about it. Everything is pristine, with the stainless steel fittings twinkling magically, and the display cabinets brimming with beautifully presented delicacies... it is as much a treat for the eye as it is for the taste buds! The vast majority of what is produced here is sold to commercial clients, including top hotels and restaurants etc... Nevertheless, you can also pop in and buy a slice of the tantalising cheesecake, or the extraordinary chocolate torte, or opt for the amazing chocolate brownies, all individually baked, and gorgeous to look at. Only 15% of the sales at the shop are to the public... something that I find astounding! The prices for these high end confections are incredibly inexpensive, and just visiting the shop is a treat in itself. I don't know how the locals can resist buying a slice of delight a day!

SImply Steve are purveyor of Cakes. We got one a while back for a guy on our football team. WE…read morewanted something specific (can't really mention what if I'm being polite) Good ol' Steve had a great sense of humour and got on to do the special cake. I gotta say the chocolate cake was absolutely brilliant, it was decorated exactly how we asked for and tasted utterly delicious. It was a decent price swell and really recommend you check him out, there isn't really any one doing this service in the centre.

I word of recommendation about going in to Hobbycraft. Please don't go in if you don't know what…read moreyou want to buy beforehand. You need a plan of attack. Head straight to the help desk and then to where they send you with blinkers on. Hobbycraft is a massive warehouse of, well, everything that you could possibly need to any hobby ever. Their problem is certainly not being able to supply us with our needs, but rather, they over supply. You stand in the middle of this store and want to scream: Argh! I know I should be using all these creativity to make something, but I don't know what! It's all on overload. That being said, I know people who live in these stores. And yes, their houses are full to bursting with ribbons and gibbons and squibbons and such, but they're always prepared and kinda nifty with a needle. So, in short. Get in. Get out. Or pay the price. Dun dun duuun.

So this Hobbycraft gives you two floors of everything arty you can think of from standard drawing…read morematerials, to specialist model making materials, framing equipment, soft furnishing stuff and lots, lots more. It is a bit of a maze and they really don't make it easy for you to navigate this store. Apart from one sign by the stairs, they is no signage through the shop and that really annoys me. They obviously want to tempt you to buy other stuff but its so frustrating when your just after something specific. I spend a good 5 minutes walking around the upstairs with no sign of any staff members to help guide me. Eventually I found the section I was after but I was disappointed by how expensive everything was. I took myself to the checkout to pay and the checkout staff were busy chatting so I was barely acknowledged. Good selection but i'd rather get what I need online for cheaper.