I'm partial to this vintage confectionary and ice cream fountain place. My mom use to go there when she was in school in Helena. She took us there as kids and now returning to say good by. Hoping I might get here with grandkids. Best candy ever. The pecan log is my favorite. The multi flavor color mints are delish. My fav ice cream confection is fudge parfait. And the place has so much history everywhere you look...from the wooden booths to the various items on shelves from many parrots to a goat to hornet nests on branches Staff is very attentive and helpful. You can order online and have shipped all over. I don't recommend shipping chocolate during warm months. Thank for memories!!! read more

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The young thin girl with blonde hair was soo rude. She acted like we showed up just as they were closing and was inconveniencing her. It was 4:30 and they close at 6... I asked her what was the difference between a shake and a malt and she rudely said "a malt has malt powder in it" and stared at me as if I knew what that is. When my daughter asked to try their flavor of the day she rudely responded "1 sample per person" so I requested to taste it to make sure my daughter liked it. After we got our ice creams, she started talking about all the to go orders from customers that just walked in and proceeded to talk about the customers to the other male employee with long hair. It was very uncomfortable and just not a good experience. We were visiting and I will NOT go there again and won't recommend it to anyone. Just go to the big dipper a few store down. read more

I would have never guessed this was a candy shop if my friend had not mentioned it to me. We actually passed by it a few times while sightseeing the area. As soon as we walked in we were welcomed. So much candy on display it was hard to choose. We bought some caramel apples and enjoyed them in their dining area. So amazingly delicious! I should have bought some to take home! The lady at the counter was so sweet she provided us plates and some water! They do sell other tasty treats like chili and corn dogs, Fountain drinks, and sundaes. Cute decor! A must visit to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth! read more

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Stepping into Parrot Confectionery Store is like stepping back in time. This old fashioned soda shop fits perfectly with the vibe of the downtown area where it's found and if these walls could talk they'd certainly have a story to tell. The candies are ok-not amazing, but decent. I had a sea salt caramel, which was fine. I'd probably get it again, but wouldn't stock up on a dozen of them like I've been known to do at other candy stores. There are knick-knacks everywhere! One theme that I noticed was the elephants. When I commented about them, one of the employees told me that it's good luck to have elephant figurines on display and to have their trunks facing the door. By the number of elephants on the shelves, this place is bound to have good luck forever. read more

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Can you really go wrong with a Candy store? The place is so cute and the caramels literally melt in your mouth. Taste better than grandma's homemade old school recipe. Be sure to grab dark chocolate covered huckleberry cream little chocolates. And the molasses nougat ones. Also, the vanilla malts are a must! read more

Our waitress was great, don't know her name. She mixed my special order of everything but coffee and Vanilla Coke in an imaging soda drink. Only 1.00. Chili is great, as always and the candy selection is wonderful and homemade! read more

We came across this cute little confectionary while walking through their downtown. When walking in, it definitely takes you back to an old school diner vibe where you would come and enjoy a milkshake. The staff are nice and welcoming. It does take a bit to browse through the options, but ultimately nothing really grabbed my eye. There wasn't a lot of variety and the sweets were decent. The caramels were soft and had a good texture and the chocolates were good, but nothing made me want to come back. Overall, a decent little spot to try a few sweets, but don't expect anything to blow you mind. read more

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I love the Parrot!! It's a must stop every time I go back to Helena. The chili's like mom's comfort food and the candy is great. Don't miss this gem! read more

Cute little old soda shop!! The wafers are incredible. Just melt in your mouth flavored sugar. Cannot wait to go back through town to get some more. read more

Took two of my granddaughters there. We ordered three banana splits. The girl cut one banana into three parts for our order. Then tried to overcharge us a dollar. read more

Not too expensive always good service, tasty candy and so cute, it's very nostalgic for me :)

This is a small candy shop with little else. Because dining booths and counter stools were present we thought we might grab a small lunch. Chili or hot dogs were the only food options. Chili would have been good on a cold August day, but our party needed more options. Helpful service guided us a few blocks down the road to Windbag Saloon. read more

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This is the coolest old-school candy shop! The soda fountain has some fun old school beverages, and the chili and tamales are super yummy. Be sure to grab a few candies from the window before you go!! I got a chance to read through their secret recipe book, (although this is usually off limits) to find some allergy-friendly options. If you are looking for gluten-free, soy-free, and corn-free options, stick with the rock candy, assorted wafers (colorful discs made from fondant), brown sugar fudge, or fudge (the original plain kind). read more

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Ok the sodas and confectionery section in this place are amazing! Well worth the visit, the hot food, not so much. They said the chili is homemade but it's NOT! I can tell out of the can chili, and if you order it and it arrived in less than 3 minutes it is t homemade and fresh. Ultimately I would come here again for the sodas and chocolate but not the food. read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - Employees making great sodas and chili - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

Adorable shop and helpful staff. I bought some dark chocolate wedges--too few, as it turned out, and had to go back again for more! The staff is trained to offer help but not to rush the customers, a fine balance. Two kids were in the shop and had lots of questions about prices, and the staff was very kind to them, answering questions and giving them space to figure out what they could afford. That speaks to the training and attention to customer service offered here. I also saw the chili they were serving, and it looked delicious. Definitely a gem! read more

Stopped in to satisfy the sweet tooth during a rather hot July day in Helena. There isn't a very big selection although they were able to provide us with a list of some candies that may be safe for those with celiac disease (we had some in the group) which was nice. Tried some of the candies and honestly thought they were decent but nothing to write home about. The salted caramels were a bit flat...something was missing. Also tried some creamy buttons (wasn't sure what they are called) but they were overly sweet. Prices were a bit high for the quality. read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

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2 stars because the place is cute and the candy is good but one employee ruined the rest of the experience. Rudest service I have ever had anywhere. Made me sad because I always go to the Parrot when I visit Helena. read more

Such a great soda fountain that will be celebrating 100 years in 2022. Excellent candy and shakes, malts, and phosphates. read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - The front of the store, an entrance is at the back of the store as well. - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

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worst customer service ever. the lady was unbelievably rude I'm sorry for coming in and giving you guys business.

I had bought a soda, and then played on my phone and finished the drink. After I was done, I was gonna give it to the cashier, and there was a bug in my drink. An ant I think? read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

This place is a super cute, old school diner with decent lunch and delicious milkshakes. However, todays visit ruined my experience with this place. This service took place at the bar. The lady who initially greeted us gave us a minute to look at the menu. When she returned and asked if we were still deciding on food, we told her yes and she walked away without taking our drink order. Once we had the food order placed and the food brought to us, she had asked if everything looked okay and we said yes. A few minutes later she asked if it tasted good and we said it did. This was the last time we spoke to our server. She never asked if we would like another drink, dessert, to-go boxes or anything. Herself along with 3 other employees stood in a mostly empty store talking and gossiping not more than 15 feet away from us! Several times she walked past us and said nothing. Several times eye-contact was made and no action was taken on the servers end. This is a poor excuse for service/attentiveness and quite honestly the worst service I've had from anywhere a long while. read more

I've been in here a few times to look around and a couple of times to buy things! It is an amazing shop. Each time customer service has been great! It is worth going in just to look around! It's a little pricey for the confections but the ones we have had have been DELICIOUS! I could go back to this spot again and again! read more

Certainly not what it used to be. On my last visit (Sept. 2018), I walked out after waiting fifteen minutes for service. The place was not busy. The owner was just wandering around, seemingly paying no attention to what was going on. If you didn't know he was the owner, you couldn't even tell he worked there, dressing as he does in casual street clothes and looking unfocused. When I was a kid, the waitresses at the Parrot wore sharp-looking tailored green uniforms. Service was professional. The place wasn't all junked-up inside with hand-written signs. You felt like you had arrived at a happy, professionally-run destination. In my opinion, those things no longer apply. read more

Really cute confectionery store with a juke box and diner style interior. The workers were nice and gave my nieces a sample. The candy is very expensive though. A box of caramel corn cost $30. It's nice to treat yourself once in a while, but if you have a sweet tooth, you'll definitely break more than your teeth here. read more

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We've enjoyed the Parrot's chili on some cold winter afternoons in years past. It's good, certainly, and I like the vinegar side that comes with it. However, the last time we stopped in, apparently it was too close to quitting time for us to order chili, and we heard F-bomb serenade about it from the kitchen. We probably won't be going back. read more

This is one of those places you really should visit when you are in town. However, stick to the candy. We decided to order lunch and let me tell you. The drinks were tiny, I mean my daughter when she was a youngster would have loved to play tea time with what they served our drinks in. My daughter (now a high schooler) ordered a homemade hot chocolate and her remark is that it wasn't all that special. And came complete with a teeny tiny spoon. And our bowl of soup and chili weren't much to write home about either size wise. The hot dog my daughter got was big though, huge bun. Skinny dog. All and all we'll visit again. But will just skip the extras they offer and just get our candy and go. read more

The chili was all that & more however the candy was delicious. Understand why my Mother insisted we go back to her childhood hangout. read more

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I would love to say that everything was perfect because it almost was.... my candy was boxed beautifully and my lunch was delicious. However the owner of this business is a complete prick and talks to his employees like they're incompetent. The staff that I had worked with was wonderful except for the owner! I cannot recommend the parrot to anyone because I would never go back after seeing how the owner treats the staff. He looks angry all the time, talks down to people and seems like he can't be bothered to help anyone even when the store is packed. I hope they sell the store to someone who actually likes people so that this owner doesn't ruin anyone else's experience. He does not have the wonderful Helena charm that people expect when going to a local business. read more

A bit pricey but good assortment of candy and chocolate. The staff was friendly. We got a pecan roll which was fresh and delicious and some black and red licorice. read more

This review is for the chili only. I have recently had the chili from this place. I have heard numerous raves about how good it is. I am sorry but it tastes like a white mans version of Menudo, which is crap. It should really be called soup as it is the consistency of that and not chili. Don't waste your time if you like a thick chili with lots of meat. read more

"I love rock-n-roll, so put another dime in the juke box baby" -- Joan Jett The heart of the shop is a fabulous juke box that actually plays old 45s. Not only does it work, but it sounds great, and the play list includes The Beatles. Did I just die and go to juke box heaven? Sit at a stool and have a milkshake at the old fashioned ice cream bar. We shared a chocolate milkshakes: one shake two straws, and enjoyed the music and decor. As you can imagine, a shop named "The Parrot" is covered with the beautiful feathered creatures. Our milkshake was on the small side, but it tasted good. The cashier was a friendly whippersnapper who cheerfully rang up one family after another. I saw kids whose parents allowed them to pick out a few pieces of candy, and then away from the Parrot they flew. Definitely a fun date spot. read more

The Parrot defines Helena. An absolute original. From the time I was a little kid, I used to stop by the parrot to get candy, enjoy the old-time soda fountain, and have a delicious bowl of chili for lunch. The Parrot is famous for their chocolates. So much so, the White House requests them for Valentines and Christmas. And, they feature home-made ice cream, lending to amazing malts, and other ice cream confections. A must-stop in Helena. read more

Every time I come home to Montana, I have to go to the Parrot. Homemade ice cream is just better. There's always a special flavor. Pumpkin is my favorite. The only problem is that the portions are pretty small for the specialty ice cream dishes. I love the old-time drinks like the phosphates. Their candies are homemade and okay. I'm not the biggest fan of their chocolates. What I do love are the pecan logs. The nougat in those rolls is so delicious that I always ask them for the least pecan-y ones. I think their chili is really good, not too spicy, pretty meaty, and filling. I do find it ridiculous that shredded cheddar cheese is only available in the summer time. read more

We took the tour train, and received the 10% discount. There were 11 people in our party, the ticket reads the discounts apply to every paying passenger. Me and one other person from the party wanted to use the discount. They only allowed 1 person from the party to use the discount. So, with the discount, two, 1 pound boxes of chocolate, were more expensive than one, 2 pound box of the same box of chocolate. In my opinion it is a neat place to see, because of the old style ambiance, but not really anything special. If you go, make sure you grab you receipt and expect to pay more than what their boards read. read more

I have come here my whole life. We live out of town and have ordered online before for Christmas. The candies came broken. Hence the 4 stars. Otherwise this place is perfection if purchased in store. We love the Turkish Delight and the wafers. All flavors are great except pink and purples. The staff was great too. read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - Turkish delight with Wafers - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

An olde timey soda shoppe with an olde timey jukebox...come on people... this is the stuff dreams are made of (mine at least). And sure, it might not be the best ice cream or chocolate I've had in my entire life, but it's pretty great and but the staff are friendly and, if you allow it, the Parrot can transport you back to a simpler time...where allowance money was spent on candy and your feet still dangled from the stools. That makes this place worth its weight in gold and i shall return whenever I'm in town. read more

Great service. We tried the huckleberry cream. It's a chocolate with huckleberry filling. It was very rich and decadent, but we had to get it since huckleberries are unique to the area and we could get all the other chocolates back home. Towards the back there's also a diner like seating area for food, shakes, and ice cream. read more

Parrot Confectionery Store - Display case - Candy Stores Near Me - Helena, Montana

Soda fountains are really fun, and this one is no exception. I sidled up to the counter and had a cherry phosphate, which is a drink with a wonderful sour aftertaste-try it to believe. The couple next to me were having some great looking chocolate sodas, which I'm looking forward to trying next time. What I like about this place is that they keep portion sizes small instead of the gut-load of ice cream you usually get. The Parrot also offers chili and tamales. My phosphate only cost $1.50 or so, and since you need to spend $5 to use a card, I decided to sample the chocolates. The little coffee creams were my favorite, and I liked the Parrots, which had nuts. read more

I LOVE the Parrot! I found out I was allergic to dairy when I was 13, so most of my dairy-filled-confection memories are from back then, but there are plenty of non-dairy goodies to enjoy now! I grew up with the Parrot, when I was a kid my Mom and I would stop by (my Mom and Dad's office was just a block away), and get caramel corn, and a few candies. My sister would take me there sometimes for ice cream or a milk shake. I loved the milkshakes, I'd always get double chocolate. You can't beat the old-fashioned style, and the homemade ice cream sauces...TO DIE FOR! I also loved all of the chocolate candies, with a passion. I miss those goodies, but, as I said, there are still options! Nowadays, one of my favorite things there is the Chili. For my birthday, we got it for takeout and I had a half gallon of chili for everyone :). I like to get the Chili, put a lot of vinegar in it, and get a root beer soda (They make their sodas the old fashioned way, which I love, I'm not usually a soda drinker). On the way out, I like to get some wafer candies (they are dairy free), or the mixed roasted nuts....and a treat for my husband, of course. The service is maybe not something to write home about, but it's not a 5 star dining experience, it is an old fashioned candy shop/soda fountain! I've always gotten served, and it's always been pretty quick too. I will also note that the new owners seem to be great. I wrote to ask if there was dairy in something I like to order, and they wrote back within an hour (And it was almost 11 at night!) with the full ingredient list for the item I was asking about. Very friendly, and always able to answer my allergy related questions, which is really cool for me. Overall A+, one of my favorite spots. read more

The Parrot is another main staple venue I visit when I'm in Helena. The Parrot has been around for a long time and I was introduced to this shop when I was in college. My favorite are the box chocolates and the grape phosphate with a lemon scoop. I just discovered their various Turkish delights; mango and raspberry are quite good. I also tried the honeycomb (dark chocolate, of course). I enjoy walking into the Parrot because the decor and atmosphere is very friendly and nostalgic. They have a soda fountain bar and the booths are a little small but still cozy. The people there are friendly and always have a smile behind the counter. If you have never been to the Parrot, I suggest you head over to the Last Chance Gulch, take a walk and you can't miss the Parrot. They used to always them their front window and it's just a walk back in time with a modern touch (but you can't tell). read more