John Kelly Chocolates is my go-to when I need a gift for people who don't really need anything--but…read morelove chocolate. It's a great client gift, and if I want to impress family or friends and make them feel a little extra special, this is what I buy. I do wish it were a bit more affordable--of course--but I also understand why it's priced the way it is. You really can't go wrong. It tastes amazing, the quality is excellent, and the staff is always kind and helpful.

This Montana Ave chocolate shop is dangerously good. The chocolates are rich, gourmet, and…read moreseriously addictive--perfect for gifting or treating yourself. At $4-5 per piece, they're definitely on the pricey side and not dramatically better than See's, but the quality and variety make them feel special and thoughtfully crafted. The shop has an upscale yet welcoming vibe, and the staff are consistently friendly and extremely helpful. Free samples are a nice touch and make it hard to leave empty-handed. Great for a one-off indulgence or a polished gift. Yum!!!

I stumbled upon this family owned Belgian chocolate store, next to a random Chinese restaurant on…read moreWilshire Boulevard. A chocolate store that you've always wished that you could find. I tasted the violet dark chocolate and it was sublime, delicious, everything you wanted a dark chocolate. Scrumptious. Walk, don't run their selection is amazing. Plus they have hot chocolate and they also have Dubai chocolate . What a find. It's a kind of specialty store that you would see on Madison Avenue. Love. 90025. Brentwood/ Westwood area .

Lady Chocolatt has the best hot chocolate! No exaggeration! It is made of real chocolates! And a…read morebig variety of top quality delicious chocolate imported directly from Belgium. It's a cute shop with patio seating area. The owner is very friendly. Highly recommend.

During the holiday season, that kind of just passed, I could not escape IG reels that romanticized…read morethe power of hot chocolate. Apparently, it can be so rich and thick (European Style) that it is part healing warmth and the other part just wildly delicious. So I decided to go ahead and find a cup of thick, and rich cocoa to hit me with holiday splendor, the kind that can re-assemble Frosty after his final melt. My friend Conrad and I were the duo who ventured to ChocoVivo to try chocolate, on chocolate, on chocolate, with some water on the side. ChocoVivo is in Culver City. The place itself is on Washington Blvd amidst some bars, and eateries. This place lends itself to be a dessert spot, an experience for chocolate lovers and those who are not, and anyone who just wants to experience the taste of chocolate in-depth and in odd luxury. As soon, as I entered, I made a beeline for the counter. I was overwhelmed with all the chocolatey choices: pastries, drinks, squares, with the list continuing exhaustively, it even included a chocolate skull that might serve better as decoration than a treat. I excused myself and went to use the restroom, I dared not ask questions to understand my options, when my bladder was full. I might make rash decisions, due to my inability to focus. And with so many options in front of me, I wanted to sample what was right and balanced for me. I wanted to sample chocolate, I just did not just want to taste chocolate. My trip to the facilities was a small adventure in itself. I passed a room with a man working on his laptop. But the room, seemed to be, like a Sultan's rest-room. It had pillows, hanging lamps, and a cream like colored that reminded me of sun-kissed sand. I clipped the room. There is a Minion (from Illumination fame) chilling in one of the couches. Another picture shows, a fishing net (maybe) with make-shift clouds pouring out of it, also leafs and butterflies. It seemed to be the remains of a shipwreck but it also held decorations that could have made the space more beautiful. I believe, and I could be wrong, of course, that this room used to be functional. A place to lounge, and see beauty, while enjoying chocolate. Now it was a forgotten room, whose purpose never fulfilled, and thus had stuff scattered around. I am sure, everyone can relate to that feeling, of getting stuff for an imagined room that never quite materializes and thus the room becomes storage, more than anything. Kondo deliver us! After, I came to the cashier, I ordered a hot chocolate. Conrad made a point, that the hot chocolate I ordered was not the European sipping hot chocolate that I had talked about on our car ride there. He then. made a point, that I should read a menu and then ask questions. I ask questions, as I read the menu. I eventually, ordered two hot chocolates, (one for him and one for me) and then we sampled 12 chocolate squares--- a sampler. The total was close to 60.00 dollars so this is an experience that is not going to the local mart and buying a Hershey's bar. The 12 chocolate samples were just great and enough, there were bigger samples, which I considered buying, but the price deterred me. The one that I got was super appropriate for both of us, by the end I was enjoying slightly by force, I mustered the strength to finish the half marathon. The full marathon would have tapped me out. The samples came with a card. Conrad was the one who was consulting the card, so we could not what chocolate we ate. It was truly fun, to be with someone who read of the information of the card, and then we tried to identify the taste as the card described. I wish I would have taken a picture of the card, but honestly, I am more of a determine by taste taster than a person who wants to be informed of what he is tasting, to know what he is tasting. I do remember the worst tasting chocolate we tasted--- it had black tea infused into it, I do not remember its cacao percentage, each chocolate had a cacao percentage. The hire the percentage, the sweeter the chocolate. The black tea had this earthy and tea taste that was profound. I guess imagine tasting. a black tea without sugar that is kind of the taste I struggled with. I am glad I tasted this chocolate, however, because it was part of the whole experience. I did not drive to the beach and endure a pothole, I drove to the beach and was both intrigued and jolted by the bounce that the pothole produced. Some chocolates I really enjoyed, the hot chocolate was goodness in a cup. The chocolate sampler also came with an espresso that was split into two cups. I was provided a knife to cut each chocolate. I put the knife in the center with one arm, and use the other hand to pierce the chocolate. My halfs were not perfect. Sometimes Conrad got the bigger half square, sometimes I did. I annotate all this so one knows that when you visit ChocoVivo you will need to work, if you want to split those chocolates, but the work was part of the fun!

At least for the drinks and cookies, ChocoVivo is pretty solid. European hot chocolate and regular…read morehot chocolates have a reasonable set of choices, and the cookies we had were served hot and loaded with chocolate chunks. Service is friendly, at least given how late in the day we arrived, and the decor is best described as homey. They had the windows open at the front, which was both welcoming but a bit chilly in the fall if you were to sit by them-- the actual establishment was quite comfortable, just the window area that was a bit drafty.

Went here with my girlfriend on a Saturday morning just looking for something sweet and a little…read moredifferent from our usual spots. Pretty glad we stumbled across this place because everything we tried was really good. We got a couple of pastries and a croissant and honestly they were all pretty solid. The croissant especially was really buttery and flaky, hit the spot for sure. I will say that everything looked almost too good to eat but we managed. No complaints at all on the quality, you can tell they put a lot of care into what theyre making. The staff was pretty nice and helpful when we were trying to figure out what to order since we couldnt really decide. Not a huge deal but it was a busy morning and things moved along pretty smoothly. Overall pretty great little bakery. If youre looking for a spot to grab some quality pastries and maybe a coffee this is definitely worth checking out. Would definitely come back next time were in the area.

Sadly they don't accept discover…read more Outdoor seating with 6 tables and plenty of chairs. Great place to people watch, eat cake and grab a cup of coffee. Champignon: Hazelnut crunch at the bottom with hazelnut creme. The mushroom cap had a small layer of sponge cake and hazelnut creme on top. Lychee rose: Very light on lychee flavor, there's a combination of lychee and a light rose scent. It's layered with sponge cake, 2 layers of jelly. Sweetness similar to Asian cake.

Cute specialty coffee shop with beautiful decor. There's lots of indoor seating with limited street…read moreparking. I got the mango & strawberry sorbetto gelato, which was dairy-free. It was very good, you can taste the fresh fruit. My husband enjoyed his Americano coffee. They also have teas, matcha, lemonade & a breakfast menu, it's a great place to hang out.

Today our group of seven stopped by for coffee, gelato and sweets. Everyone was happy with their…read moreorder and it was wonderful to catch up with friends in such a beautiful setting that satisfied all of our various cravings. The gorgeous turquoise mugs certainly make the coffee more appealing than it actually is. While our drinks were good, they weren't great. The cappucinos, lattes, chai and matchas were prepared well, but the quality of the ingredients didn't quite hit the mark. The gelatos particularly were not good and next time I would suggest ordering their drinks over the gelatos. The French toast donut we ordered was fresh, fluffy and perhaps the best of all our orders. Five stars for service. On a very busy holiday Monday, only two staff members were managing a long line of customers near the end of what I could only assume to be a very long and busy day. Despite appearing overwhelmed, they remained patient, professional and attentive..... and didn't make a single mistake with our orders. Their effort truly stood out and elevated the experience.

Originally went to their Little Tokyo location back in the day, which I loved. My favorite drink…read morewas their lavender hot chocolate. Throughout the years when in Santa Monica I have come to this location as it is a solid choice and away from the fray. V had an iced matcha with a ham and cheese croissant, while I had an iced chai with a gf matcha donut. They get their pastries from a vendor we like so there was no surprise with the food. The iced chai was not from a box or powder so it wasn't overly sweet, however it was not very flavorful. V said his matcha was also mostly milk so this time around it was more of a miss.

I had an early wake up call nearby, so after checking in by Third Street Promenade, I needed some…read morecoffee!! Demitasse was around the corner so off I went! Lots of outdoor curb seating and some seating inside. Both were pretty packed on a Saturday late morning. I ordered their iced minty cubano, easy ice ($8). My friends wanted non-coffee options so their tea options provided the alternatives. Their non-coffee drinks came out first and looked quite refreshing, so I partly regretted ordering my iced coffee that took a bit more time to be crafted by the staff. I didn't quite taste as much mint as I was expecting, so after finishing my drink and writing this review, I almost forgot that I had ordered a mint iced coffee.

This is the best-staffed See's Candies store I've ever visited--and that's saying something,…read morebecause See's is known for exceptional customer service across all locations. The team here in Santa Monica is warm, friendly, and genuinely engaging. They make you feel like family from the moment you walk in--and even manage to make a devoted chocoholic feel completely unashamed! I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful team and encourage any true chocolate lover to run, not walk, to this fantastic shop. (Pro tip: try the Bordeaux--you'll thank me later.)

Whenever I go to California I stop in at See's! I've been enjoying their candy since I was a little…read moregirl. It brings back memories of my childhood, and a consistent quality to their products. I can't say enough about how good their candy is. The price per pound has gotten a little bit crazy, but I think tariffs had something to do with that. Too bad.

Everyone is so nice, had a very pleasant meeting with Henry! Go check them out! NOW!!!!!!read more

Premium handmade truffles and confections…read more Their history is as rich as their chocolates. For over 80 years, they have catered to many Hollywood stars and corporate clientele. Lucille Ball was a regular, and would allegedly enter through the backdoor to avoid the paparazzi. The chocolate conveyor belt in the kitchen inspired the famous "Job Switching" episode of I Love Lucy. You can buy chocolate covered marshmallows, caramels, toffees, fruits, nuts, pretzels, and more. They also have a small selection of candies, licorices, jelly beans, and organic gummy bears. Sugar free and vegan options available. Some of the equipment used when the shop opened in 1942 is still in use today. I loved every truffle I got (Amaretto, dark chocolate ganache, hazelnut praline, salted caramel, milk chocolate, chocolate cream). Don't ask me which one was my favorite, because I can't choose one!

wow!!! service from vic is amazing! so friendly, personable, and helpful! sundae was delicious…read more might have to make this a regular date night spot.

Ambiance: - small shop with limited seating inside and…read moreoutside the store Mint Ice cream with brownie: - sooo sweet, but hits the craving for chocolate and an ooey gooey brownie!

Stumbled upon this hidden gem behind downtown Culver on Venice -- and what a find! Milla Chocolates…read moreis a beautiful little shop offering artisanal bonbons, chocolate drinks, and other sweet treats. I ordered a black sesame chocolate drink with two bonbons: pistachio and yuzu caramel. My kid devoured the pistachio in one bite, but the yuzu caramel was absolutely divine -- rich dark chocolate balanced perfectly with fragrant, real yuzu flavor. The drink was definitely too sweet for my taste though. Needed to take home and add milk into it and actually turned it into two drinks. They also have gorgeous gift boxes, customizable assortments, and prepackaged goodies -- perfect for gifting or indulging yourself. Service was amazing. The barista was super friendly. My paper bag with my take away lunch ripped in their store and she offered a beautiful bag without me even asking. She was patient in explaining their menu and helped me picked out Chocolates that my kids would love. Warm, welcoming, and refined -- this spot is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth in Culver City.

My husband searched far and wide for high quality chocolates here in LA and so far, this is the…read morebest chocolatier we've encountered in LA. Why is there so few options?? Seriously! Now, each time we travel to NYC or internationally, I'm buying boxes of quality chocolate. I wish Milla were closer. If so I would buy there more often.