Miel Bon Bons is a cute little artisanal chocolate shop and bakery nestled within Brightleaf District! We got a pack of 8 chocolates (admittedly they did cost a pretty penny haha), which ranked from my most to least favorite are: 1. Horchata: So good, the horchata essence hit me as soon as I took a bite. Very cinnamony, very milky & creamy. 2. Passionfruit: I'm a sucker for anything passionfruit. The curd-like filling did not taste artificial at all. 3. Almond cardamom: Topped with a real almond, but more cardamom forward, reminded me of chai. 4. Hazelnut sassy monkey: Distinguished more coffee than banana, but it was there. Also liked the layer of crunch. 5. Raspberry lychee: The raspberry jam was strong and tasty, the floral essence from lychee was subtle. 6. Sesame matcha: Surprisingly citrusy? I did taste some bitterness from the matcha and appreciated the earthy sesame crust. 7. Ube: Sadly did not detect much ube flavor. 8. Earl grey lavender: Definitely the prettiest, but tasted like what I imagine soap would taste like. In terms of whether the chocolate is worth the price: I've never had this experience of trying such diverse and interesting chocolate flavors before so it was for me. Ambiance is nice, I think there was only outside seating. There's good parking nearby in the Brightleaf lots or on W Pettigrew St. Service was fast and friendly. 8/10 would recommend! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolates - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The lady owner is never welcoming but this time is the last time I come here it's like she doesn't want you to purchase anything is this store only welcoming Asian not white or other people I need an answer read more

Horrific customer service. I entered praising the owners past cakes and planned to purchase boxes of chocolates for gifts. First, I asked if I could place a cake order but the rudeness was over top. If you don't want to take an order maybe just lie and say you're fully booked or deadline is too tight instead of demeaning a paying customer by saying that it's not worth the time, money and effort to make certain kinds of cakes unless it's a bulk order. Ok, understandable as one expects to pay premium prices for a small cake here. What's not understandable is the rude and arrogant attitude. Given the current economic situation, labor/profit margin sensitivities are warranted but have some tact. The dismissive recommendation to go to Mad Hatter was "icing on the cake" and very hilarious. read more

Wandered into this small, cozy chocolate shop! It's a little crowded in there but there's enough space for a couple of people. They have a wide assortment of different chocolates, and slices of cake and pie. It's pretty pricey, but the flavors are not typically what you would usually find. They waited patiently while we looked at what chocolates looked interesting, and they were more than happy to answer questions about flavors! Good chocolate to savor! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolates - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I picked up a box of chocolate and macarons for V-day. I told Bonnie that my husband liked dark chocolate the most and let her do the choosing for me. She asked if there was anything we didn't like to make sure she chose appropriately. The chocolate was bursting with flavor with beautiful texture and design. The chocolate and macarons are just like they make in FR! When I'm not in FR for my Jacques Genin/Pierre Hermé dessert fix, I know just where to go to get European quality desserts. Bonnie also gave me a long stem rose which I thought was very festive for the day. Thanks, Bonnie! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Called in on a tuesday to get a last minute bday cake but they had a private event and wernt open. They still answered the phone and told me to come in the next morning and pick up a cake. The lady in front was super friendly and accommodating. Could definitely see the hard work in the product they make. I tried the yuzu lemon and lavender fog truffle. After trying it i knew the decadent chocolate cake was going to be delicious. Ended up getting a 10" cake which was plenty for 13 people with leftovers. Really good cake and decorated really nicely. Did not dissapoint. I would stop by and get another cake just to try it. read more

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This teeny shop has some gorgeous pastries inside! There's several kinds of croissants (sweet and savory), gorgeous layer cakes by the slice, and a wide variety of macarons. Everything looks fancy, fine, and authentically French. I really liked the Nutella croissant - crispy and flaky and just sweet and caramelized enough. The cake was tasty as well, but given the price point ($8/slice), I'd rather buy more croissants, as they tasted more special. read more

Miel Bon Bons - Crème brûlée cake and Nutella croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

husband and I came out of town for a day trip. Owner did not seem very welcoming, lack of explanation of the desserts. Nonetheless chocolates had a nice crunch and strong flavor. Wished we had a better experience read more

Best chocolate I've ever had. Not a single bad bite, but favorites include matcha sesame and cardamom!

Wow! That was an amazing slice of strawberry chocolate cake! It was just the right richness, not so sweet, just enough. I'm very impressed. For $7, I wished the slice was a little bit bigger. It was quite small for that price point. I live right around the corner and this was my first time hearing about this hidden gem. Which is kinda dangerous now that I know about it. The shop is small and easy to miss. I arrived 10-minutes before closing, hours on Yelp says, 9:00 p.m. on Saturday but the ship actually closes at 7:00 p.m. I know this because the person at the front told me as if I came after 7:00. The doors were still open! That's why I came in! I was already in line by 6:51 p.m., unfortunately the couple in front of me took so long that it was 7:01 p.m. before I got to order. I got the "death" stare by the manager and person at the front like they didn't want to serve me...but I'll let that go since the cake was good. Haha! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolate Strawberry Cake - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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A little gem of a cafe you should not miss out on. Beautiful ambiance with details hidden in every corners of the shop. It's a great place to get gifts, and also a place to lounge in - lucky for us that there was no one in the cafe that day since it's a pretty small place. Miel Bon Bon has all the creative chocolate flavors you can possibly think of (or not think of) - the candied orange is a must! Wish the owner can take some time to share recs/pairings when we asked since there are so many options, but totally understand she might be busy. read more

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This place is adorable and very magical! The patio is so cute, I wish I had gotten more pictures. It's covered in plants and is shaded. Their specialty seems to be bon bons and French desserts. Will definitely have to go back to try the bon bons but I grab a pastry and an iced coffee. Coffee was great and this pastry was like nothing I've ever had. Light, creamy, but full of flavor. The owner was there and she was super nice. Will definitely be back! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Outside - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Fabulous French patisserie! Decadence abounds in this super cute boutique! Deliciousness is every bite. I chose 6 macarons and 10 truffles all varying flavors. Each and every one was amazing! And the owner is so friendly and sweet!!! I'm not from NC, but the next time I find myself in Durham I will absolutely be returning! read more

Great place for fabulous birthday cakes and handmade chocolates. Highly recommend. Cakes must be ordered in advance.

I love this place, and it's been my go to for truffles since A Southern Season closed down. The woman who runs it is very accommodating and helpful, and there is such a wonderful variety of items. read more

Outstanding chocolate desserts and small treats. A true feast for your senses! Great service.

The service here was super not helpful! They didn't know anything about the desserts or the chocolate. Plus they didn't seem very knowledgeable about the coffee aspect either. But on the other hand, the French Apple Tart was impeccable! It was super light and refreshing with great flavorful. It was like it came straight from a fancy French pastry cafe! read more

Miel Bon Bons - French Apple Tart - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Wonderful hand made Parisian chocolates!!! Thank you, Miel! You do beautiful and delicious work! read more

Miel bon bon recently moved to this location. This is the first time I have ever been. There new location is a small cafe with coffee, pastries, macaroons, and cake. It was midday Saturday and very empty. They probably need to advertise their new location a bit more. I had a slice of chocolate cake for a little more than $5, which was definitely tasty. My only two issues are the lack of menu and visible price of their food and drinks. The lady behind the counter did not know the type of cake in their display. So, I went for the cake that was obviously chocolate. I think if they added some non-sweet baked goods-like ham and cheese croissants, they would do well. In addition, they definitely need to advertise more and share more information with customers about their pastries and prices. read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolate cake - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great addition to Main St, downtown Durham. Think they recently located from their other location (not quite sure if they relocated or expanded). Either way, come here. House crafted chocolate, coffee, ice cream, drinking chocolate, baked pastries. It's cute, it's clean, it's quaint. Boom! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolates. Lots of beautifully made chocolates. - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is a hidden gem in Durham. They've got some amazing desserts and chocolates. Trust me and stop by, you will go back.

This is my second visit to Miel Bon Bon, first in their new location. Went in about half an hour before closing on a Sunday, and was grateful they still had a decent selection. I didn't feel rushed, and the woman behind the counter was kind and helpful. I bought some holiday gifts (hot chocolate bombs & chocolates), as well as a tart that looked amazing. It's definitely pricey but makes for nice gifts. I have never had the chocolates myself but based on the tart, which had a mix of honey, nuts, coconut, etc. and was delicious, I'm sure they are great. read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I can't comment on the quality of the desserts but am sure they're amazing. My review is based on their unwillingness to help me get a dessert I needed for the 26th of December. They had nothing to sell to me. Suggested I come back the next day to see if they had anything at all. Very poor customer service. read more

Staying at home all the time can get really boring, but one way that we discovered being fancy at home, is picking up desserts from this new spot! My goodness SO SO tasty and BEAUTIFUL! We got a 6 pack of macaroons, two slices of different cakes including this chocolate almond one that was just so incredible, a lemon tart, some fancy chocolates--the list goes on and on and on! This place isn't cheap, but for that special occasion, that little contactless drop off to a friend, totally worth it. The flavors are just so perfect, the cakes are so fluffy and moist, I literally was so excited for the fact that we bought WAY too much dessert because everything just looked so tasty and it was! It is a tiny little shop with a small patio in the front too, so if you wanted to eat your pastry there, you totally could safely outside. I really do want to try their breakfast pastries since they look so flaky! So really, all of the money I am not spending from not being able to travel is well spent here at this tasty spot!! It is worth the splurge. read more

This is the best bakery I have been into. The owner is a first class pastry chef. She did a beautiful and delicious cake for my son's wedding and another one for my daughter and son-in-law's birthday. The chocolates and the macarons are also delicious. I strongly recommend this fantastic service. I am thankful to the chef of Miel Bons Bons for a superb service and prodct delivery. Helen D read more

I ordered my mom's 70 birthday cake from Bonnie. It was SO beautiful!! My mother and the guests are so pleased. Bonnie is truly a expert. She is definitely giving you the 100% perfection of her works. Thank you so much Bonnie read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We just happened to stumble upon this place. We were just walking by but Miel Bon Bons caught our eye. This place is so cute! It's located on W. Main street near the duke wall and it's adorable! The owner is super sweet and was answering all of our questions. We got 6 chocolates and they are as beautiful as they are delicious. The chocolates are stunning and the packaging would make a cute gift to anyone! We will be back to try more things next time! read more

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My sister and I had amazing cakes here!! The chocolate concerto was rich and chocolate, and chocolate strawberry was fruity and airy! I highly recommend and definitely coming back!! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Chocolate Concerto - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is amazing! The chocolate is super delicious! The flavors are absolutely delicious!!!! Top notch Wow! Definitely recommend this shop. read more

The lady at the counter was incredibly rude. She clearly didn't want us there and wouldn't tell me how to buy a loaf of bread, even though they have it on display. She made a snarky comment about the price of a candy my nephew picked out. However, she quickly corrected her attitude when I payed with an Amex, go figure. Won't be recommending.. Anyone looking for good customer service from an actual French family, head to The French Corner Bakery on N. Point Dr. They're incredibly friendly, and a true authentic French bakery. read more

I ordered a 10 inch red velvet cake for my small wedding ceremony. Not only was it beautiful but it was also delicious! So many guests were raving about the cake. I would definitely order from here again. read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had an interaction with the owner prior to even walking into the establishment. She was extremely rude and argued with guest in the parking lot about parking spaces. Was very nasty without knowing if I was a potential customer or not, parking was horrible being that there was construction going on and she was not understanding to the situation at hand. I will NOT be going there. read more

Stopped in for a croissant and coffee after a trip to Paris that left me extremely nostalgic for a perfect flaky pastry. While it wasn't a Parisian experience, the croissant was flaky and perfectly buttery and the sticky bun was perfect too given it was not humungous or overly sweet and in fact you tasted the cinnamon. I'd love to be back to try their macarons. read more

Had my birthday cake from here and it was amazing! It was one of the cakes already available that day (not custom order). The bakery is slightly expensive for sure, but the cake was moist, not too sweet, perfectly balanced, and beautiful. It was truly delicious and I'll only be ordering cakes from here from now on while in Durham. I think the flavor I got was mocha or coffee based. And the packaging was super cute too! Do note that, once cut, the cake tastes best fresh, a day or two after you order, or very well wrapped and packaged in the fridge! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Mocha cake - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I walked past Miel Bon Bons a dozen times never really registering its existence. One day, I finally noticed a sign promising chocolates, and life has been better ever since. The chocolates-- particularly the earl grey chocolate-- are really quite divine, as are the macarons. For some reason, the patio tends to be unpopulated, so I'll often take a book and sit there for a while. Extra points for the kindest, sweetest person who owns the shop- I love chatting with her. read more

I feel like I have an itch to try all macarons I set my eye on. The pistachio macaron was average size for $2.50. I like the moistness of the macaron and even tho it was a refrigerated one that I got at closing it still tasted fresh. The filling was average, wish it had more flavoring. The other items at the bakery looks pretty too, would be interested in coming back to try some other items :) read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Absolutely amazing first time eating a macaron! I will definitely be going back because I can't wait to try everything else there! read more

Miel Bon Bons - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Bonnie who owns and is the chef of Miel Bons Bons has an amazing story. She completed training in several culinary schools in Paris and has pursued continued training in her craft for many years as a chocolatier and pastry chef. She makes all her chocolates and pastries onsite from scratch and the only place we've seen anything comparable is in Paris or the fanciest luxury chocolate brands imported from chocolatiers in Paris or Belgium. All this and Bonnie has decided to bring this fantastic food to Durham though she could have been anywhere, including Paris. This is her passion, and it's a magical experience. Prices are surprisingly modest, and Bonnie has such a beautiful and hospitable spirit about her. Great place to take a date. The family. Or just to go on a rainy Tuesday. Any reason really. Bonnie has become an inspiration to our daughter who aspires to be a chef, and we became regulars after the very first visit. Best chocolate and pastries in Durham and she serves awesome cafe drinks too! P.S. Ignore the Karen less than 5 star reviews as those people appear to have issues unrelated to this fine establishment. read more

I agreed to pick up desserts for a last minute Seder I got invited to. I called my favorite bakery but they stopped taking orders for Passover. Bummer. I looked on yelp and started calling every bakery down the line. Most people didn't know what qualified as kosher and safe for Passover. I mean, it's the south, I get it, but it was kind of a culture shock coming from Miami. There was one coffee place/bakery that was very helpful to me but they were too expensive for what I needed. I think Miel Bon Bons was the 10 bakery I called. I asked if they had a flourless chocolate torte. No, nothing like that, so I asked if they had something made without flour and leavening, and she suggested macarons. Macarons, to be clear, not macaroons, which are a traditional Jewish treat. I did a quick google search and came across a cool blog that said macarons are a fun, totally kosher treat!! Personally, I don't keep kosher but I LOOOOOOOOVE a good macaron, so I asked her the price for 16 & she quoted me $40. Not cheap, but I had some spare birthday cash from distant relatives lying around. Furthermore, I have been to bakeries where the macarons cost literally $4 (it's $2.50 here) and even Ladurée on Miami Beach where a box of 8 costs $26 (so it would be $52 for 16). So not a bad price, actually. I placed an order and she said they would be waiting for me tomorrow when I was ready to pick them up. After a very fun and productive brunch, I headed over to Miel Bon Bons and introduced myself. She had an assortment of them waiting for me in a box on a beautiful plate. They looked incredible. I'm sharing a pic so you can judge for yourself, but they're beautiful!! We actually got to chatting about stuff. I told her about my Seder, I told her what I do, and we got to talking about documentaries. She's a very intelligent and knowledgeable lady. Then I mentioned I am thinking about starting my own business (she's a co-owner), and she was so generous to give me advice. Additionally, she said she would let me bring flyers for a fundraiser I am currently doing. Bonnie rules and has found herself a customer for life!!! I will be back to drop off flyers and get another macaron because guess what, I couldn't wait for the Seder. I sampled the birthday cake one -- sampled, lol, I gobbled it whole for breakfast; part of a balanced breakfast!! -- and it was delicious. Everything you want a good macaron to be. And by the way, she helped me learn how to pronounce it correctly. I knew it was obviously distinct from macaroon (though other bakers often incorrectly label these french treats AS macaroons --we Jews know the distinction!) but didn't know the correct pronunciation. read more

Miel Bon Bons - Macaron menu - Bakeries Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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What a hidden gem! Great pastries. AWESOME service from the owner! I wasn't expecting the added detail of her warming my danish, but it made a great treat taste even better! read more