Update from a Valentine's Day visit: Xoxolate Bar is still a pretty special place to get a special treat for someone you love or just for yourself! They were well-stocked and staffed for the V Day rush. My previous experience with more unwrapped chocolates behind a counter was different with a great assortment of wrapped chocolates that you could select and buy per ounce. The store is tiny but very cute. And, of course, everything I've ever tried tastes amazing! You can't go wrong. read more

The Xocolate Bar - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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WOW FACTOR? Well, yes! A small shop with all kinds of chocolate and wonderful service. Great find. HAVE AGAIN: We tried several of the shop-made chocolates and most were delicious. Of course, when trying a dozen of different chocolates, some will be hits and some not so much. We shared the bounty with one son's family and all enjoyed them. Sadly, we forgot to bring home the remainders! read more

I'm have always loved this chocolate boutique! When I was in full work mode I used to send our clients a box of chocolates from here every holiday season- they raved! I'm sure it impacted our success in biz Seriously- great hand-crafted chocolate treats in every imaginable form. I'm (unfortunately!) now addicted to the Dubai Marshmallow with pistachio cream layer covered in the most delectable dark chocolate crust- OMG Reward yourself & go here! read more

Very nice selection of chocolates, arranged so that you can't help look around for an extended period. Some on shelves, some in lovingly arranged displays. The displays will often have little cards telling you more, like this candy won an award someplace. The boxes that are somewhat inscrutable also have helpful notes along with them, explaining exactly what you're buying. The space is super bright and clean. There's a similar space you may know in Noe Valley, except only the selection compares. Otherwise, this is a much friendlier, open place for browsing. read more

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Small shop, but a pretty good selection here if you're looking for some gifts or a treat for yourself. Come here for high-end chocolates. The Xocolate brand items are ok - nothing too special in my opinion and the packaging a bit plain. Good customer service though. We were offered samples of a drinking chocolate which did reel us in. read more

I ordered from their website over a week ago. i asked why the shipping is so much ( $18) for 10 chocolate bars and teh response i got was they have to ship priority. I definitely am not a priority as my emails have gone unanswered and I have no idea if my order was filled/shipped meanwhile thay have the $$ for the order. I am an big online ebay seller so I know how important it is to communicate and ship on time. They get 2 stars at best until further notice as this whole experience has left a bad taste in my mouth..pun intended. read more

Boy, you just gotta love the Xocolate Bar if you were in the nice quiet town of Solano Avenue! I wouldn't have to say how great that women owned chocolatier was since it never disappoints. The $4 shot cup of hot drinking cacao was enough for me to say it's second to Choquiero Chocolate & Cacao Café. Malena must keep her business running for everyone who adores her rich cacao treats and bars. read more

The Xocolate Bar - The cheapest brand of chocolate bars. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

The staff here is wonderful. They let me taste milk and the dark chocolate to be able to choose which chocolate bar I wanted. The chocolate tastes really good however for 10$ it is only 2oz of chocolate which is quite expensive. I wish they had a "scrap" box of chocolate that doesn't look perfect at a cheaper price- then I would come back often. The store is very small so only 4-5 people can fit at a time but it has a large collection from bonbons to gift boxes and bars. A great place to get a gift! read more

I was next door grabbing a cup of coffee and decided to check out this place. My family and I walked in to the store as a cashier talked to the customer at the register about their order. We received no greeting so we aimlessly looked around. After the customer left the cashier looked at us and I asked for recommendations as it was our first visit. She was very short with us and focused on going on her break as she kept talking to people behind a curtain so she could take off. Since she gave us very little information I walked out empty handed. Her lack of customer service set the tone for the shopping experience. Would she have taken the time to assist my family and I the way she did the customer before me who ordered a bulk order I would have walked out with my hands full. read more

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Drive by this place every day, decided to drop in. Decent chocolate, overwrought experience. One star. read more

I decided to stop by the Xocolate Bar when I was wandering around Berkeley! Ordering can be a bit confusing as it was through a small half door and you couldn't physically go into the store. However, there was a cashier who explained their daily specials, walked through their wares, and answered any questions that may arise. I decided to get the dark chocolate-tasting flight which had various chocolates from different parts of the world. It was definitely interesting to see how various dark chocolates can be affected by the soil and other aspects of cacao bean cultivation in terms of taste! Out of all the samplers, the Madagascar chocolates stood out as it was tempered to perfection and had underlying fruit flavors. Therefore, if you're looking for a bar, definitely check that out! Overall, I probably won't go back as the service was not necessarily the best and the pricepoint was particularly high. read more

The Xocolate Bar - Sampler Box - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

I purchased chocolates from here last year. It was not the best. I believe it was their take on the Twix bar and another chocolate bar. I never went back to buy anything else. read more

Ambience is very cute and quaint. Have a very large selection of specialty chocolates including Dubai chocolate. Definitely recommend if you want high end chocolates The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and willing to give us samples of what she had available after learning of our taste interests read more

I was dying for a coffee and stopped in while waiting for my sister. I ordered a large Mexican mocha. YUM, it really hit the spot. This place is small and there are a couple of tables on the sidewalk and a 4 chair bar counter looking out to the dmstreet. The staff was friendly and it sure looked like they were happy making coffee! Definitely worth trying. read more

I love this place and usually buy their chocolates when I see them at the Richmond Art Center Holiday Bazaar. I like the variety and the freshness. I also like the sipping chocolate, but think the cups are way too expensive. The OMG bar is amazing! I want to try some other bars. My husband likes some of the molded chocolates. I like their dark chocolate. You can call them, place an order and they will hand it to you through a window after you pay for it. It was quite convenient. I really like it and look forward to making my own order, I just can't arrive two minutes before they close, like I did when I went to their neighbor. read more

The Xocolate Bar - You call and place your order and they give it through this window. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great service.Great Selection.Outstanding diversity.High quality! Perfect hostess gift.I bought caramels as a gift for me.Pilar,the manager will tell you about the different flavors. read more

I was waiting next door for the shop to open. I was tasked to put in an order for my company's staff appreciation day. The woman that owns the shop came by made a huge production of slamming who trash cans around including tipping them over. Then she made a huge production of setting up an awning. Finally she made the coffee shop next door move one of their outside tables which was in no way blocking.her storefront. The guy sitting there had to move his coffee and food as well as his laptop. Her little performance was a complete deal breaker. I went to the SF Ferry Building and purchased a lot of delicious chocolate read more

It's definitely been a LONG time since I hung out in the Berkeley area where I once went to college. While a lot has changed in my life since I was an undergrad, one thing that hasn't changed is my permanent sweet tooth. After having Zachary's pizza, we discovered The Xocolate Bar down the street. The line of people outside peaked our curiosity and we decided to check it out. Since it was our first time, we sampled a variety of treats. From chocolate-covered dried fruits to liquor-infused chocos...we covered our bases. But hands down, the Black Sesame Toffee Chocolate Brittle and the Milk Tea Toffee Chocolate Brittle were what totally blew us away. We enjoyed these toffees so much, that we ended up going to their online website and bought a whole case of the Black Sesame Toffee Brittle to give away as stocking stuffers for Christmas. After the holidays, every single person we gifted the toffee brittle to raved about how amazing it was! While I don't know when I'll be making the trek out to Berkeley again, I will definitely be utilizing Xocolate's mail order system for sure! read more

The Xocolate Bar - a man standing in front of a window - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

My wife and I have been fans of this Latina owned local business for a few years. They opened in 2006, and continually grown. Their dedication to quality product makes them a valuable neighbor on Solano Ave whether you are on the Albany end or the Berkeley end or anywhere in the Bay Area. They will ship these amazing sweets. Owned and operated by chocolatier Malena Lopez-Maggi, and Clive Brown. Their staff is dedicated, like Fran Hernandez, to top quality product. They can walk proudly supporting the organic and Fair-Trade community. Not only selling bon-bons, but a full range of bars, novelty, and Holiday special items. Even vegan and gluten free. True artists here at work. I like the Specialty for the table from a mold which forms Santa, or a Turkey, even a Menorah. Melt in your mouth assorted flavored bon-bons. I even had a sugar free bar. Door Dash will deliver locally for a service charge. Or you can order online for pick-up or shipment. Business website - http://www.xocobar.com Phone number - (510) 525-9626 1709 Solano Ave Berkeley, CA 94707 read more

They make good chocolate, but seriously need to work on how they interact with customers. Back in December when buying a gift for his mom, one of the staff made a racially insensitive comment to my husband about having to get rid of the "Filipinx" title on one of their sets. It hit him the wrong way, especially when specifically seeking that set for his mom from the Philippines. He contacted the owner to bring it up, and she was super dismissive and didn't seem to get it. We stayed away for a while after that, after having previously been long-time customers, but I decided to go get a gift box as a present for a friend last week. I'm currently pregnant, and when making my purchase the staff member asked when I'm due then said "geez you look like you're ready to pop already." Classically rude thing to say to a pregnant person. Customers shouldn't be leaving feeling disrespected when just buying some chocolate. read more

The Xocolate Bar - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

During one of our Solano strolls, we discovered The Xocolate Bar. Currently, (during COVID times) the space consists of a window and outdoor pictures with prices you can choose from. We were really excited to find some organic farmers market sour strips that reminded us of the real fruit gummy bears we purchased at a (now defunct) candy store in San Mateo that we absolutely adored. And they did not disappoint. The strips were yummy and delicious and the service was friendly and prompt. We will most definitely be returning around the holidays! read more

OK, I have to make the completely unfair comparison with my Mecca for chocolate due west, Chocolate Covered run by Jack Epstein on 24th Street in Noe Valley (review: http://bit.ly/2HrTQH7). Now that's a chocolatier's paradise but in a dark collectivist sort of way. Like that scene in "Charade" where a Givenchy-clad Audrey Hepburn visits an old Paris stamp collector in his dark little studio to find out...oh wait, I shouldn't give the plot away. Anyway, this shop is the exact opposite. This operation is bright and inviting and run by women with a penchant for dark chocolate. They make a lot of their chocolate of which the OMG bar has gained local renown with its mix of honey roasted almonds, salted caramel and chocolate. There's even sipping chocolate if popping them in your mouth is too decadent. Me? This is where I found The Good Chocolate which is actually good for sugar-free and 37 calories per square, especially with Himalayan salt (photo: http://bit.ly/2HrSVq9). RELATED - Looking for dining options on Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HvcTQH read more

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This chocolate is amazing! I was pleasantly surprised when I visited. I selected a few items - Peruvian Olive, Milk Tea, and black sesame. The black sesame toffee brittle is my favorite. The dark chocolate on it is the "perfect amount" of dark chocolate where it isn't to sweet, not too bitter, and has a kick to it. Apparently, it also won an award. The Milk Tea toffee tasted exactly like milk tea and the Peruvian Olive was interesting (in a good way!). They also seem to carry a lot of chocolate from local or minority owned places, which I thought was cool. I'd be interested in returning and trying other chocolates some time that I wouldn't find at a normal grocery store. read more

Post Zachary's I was craving some spiced cocoa. A quick Yelp search and bam, there it was The Xocolate Bar. We have been there before so I got excited, I know the quality. Challenge...they close in 6 minutes and it's a four minute walk. After spinning in circles for a smooth minute we headed in the correct direction. We arrived in time to watch them pull down the window shade and turn off the open sign, but I was determined to achieve my goal so I knocked. Whoop whoop they quickly opened and welcomed us in. I let the gentleman know what I was looking for and he showed me several options. I went with the Spicy Mango bar. What a score, deep rich dark cocoa lightly sweetened with chunks of tender candied mangos coated in chile and lime, and roasted pumpkin seeds for a bit of salty-sweet crunch. It is a perfect pairing of flavor and textures. The gentleman poked his head past a curtain and quietly spoke with someone, then he turned around and offered me a dark truffle. A Salted Chile to be exact...game over craving quenched in a moment of Xocolate bliss. read more

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Storefront sales behind a display for sanitation reasons. $3 for a small sipping chocolate that was such a rich, sweet delight on our walk from up Solano Ave from San Pablo Ave. Reminiscent of our honeymoon days in Europe. And the OMG bar- best seller I'm told- with honey roasted almonds and salted caramel, wow! So good. The photos can speak for themselves. So lucky to have this local gem in our viscinjty. read more

The Xocolate Bar - Caramel! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love the chocolates here. Sent my online order on Thursday and picked up today. Although ordering was straight forward, I was put off by the fact of having to return twice to get my online purchase corrected. I had paid in advance of pickup thinking that I could pickup and go. Before leaving the shop for lunch, I looked over my bag from the shop. I was missing an item so went back to get it. Checked my order a second time and to my dismay had been given a smaller box of drinking chocolates than what I ordered. Employee apologized saying things like this typically don't happen. Happy to patronize businesses when I'm greeted with a smile and feel customer service is a priority. Maybe today was an off day but I was disappointed by the service I received today; can't say I'll be back anytime soon especially if I have to drive an hour to pickup an incorrect order. read more

We wanted wedding favors from The Xocolate bar for two different weddings. Fir our first wedding it was out in a lovely park so i ordered butterfly shaped truffles. I had three different flavors: blueberry, lime, and salted caramel chile. Each of the three flavored truffles were dusted with shimmering colors that i chose. They were so beautiful and a big hit! The truffles were packaged so carefully, each flavor in its own box. I was able to pack them in my suitcase because the wedding was in another state. I so appreciated the XocolateBar thoughtfulness. For the second wedding i ordered bars and bars of the omg bars. I ordered them a month in advance but they were ready for pickup a week before the date i wanted! They made them close to the date i wanted for the freshness! All i can say us when people discovered them, the said they were savoring each bite and trying to make them last. I just love this chocolate shop because of the people, service and quality of chocolates. read more

Let me preface this by sayin: My lady absolutely ADORES chocolate. This is definitely my first stop when putting together a gift package on those special occasions. The Xocolate Bar specializes in producing small-batch gourmet chocolates with creative flavor combinations. Our favorites include sesame halva, tamarind mango, hazelnut gianduja, pomegranate truffle, pistachio caramel, amarena cherry, golden milk macadamia and passionfruit truffle. Well, you get the idea. Besides the bonbons and truffles, they also concoct tasty bars and chocolate-dipped fruit. As if their offerings weren't enough, they even stock plenty of other sweets from an international network of artisan chocolatiers. The store is an absolute paradise for chocoholics. If you're looking to get into the graces of loved ones or even trying to make a good first impression, a trip to The Xocolate Bar will set you well on the way.... read more

When I went there recently to purchase a few gifts, I asked a couple of questions about two or three items. The woman working there was unhelpful; it was clear I was only supposed to order swiftly and pay. There was no one else in line, yet she was rushing me. Zero holiday spirit there. No greeting. No smile. Also steer clear of the $16 small box of "10 classic Italian treats"; they consist of small ordinary candies and chocolates one can get in large bags at many grocery stores. When I got home, I noticed there was no expiration date on any of the 10 candies nor on the box. I prefer shopping at small businesses but this one was disappointing. read more

Enjoyable chocolates from a local chocolatier. Very small store, but the person behind the counter last Saturday was very nice. My wife and I were able to sample a few things and here are my thoughts: Coffee truffle: 3/5. Pretty good, but I would prefer a more subtle coffee flavor. Coffee is a pretty strong flavor and it overpowers the chocolate. Kinda average. Dark chocolate truffle: 3/5. Decent, but not great. Don't think I would get this again. Sipping chocolate: 3.5/5. Enjoyable deep rich flavor. And very thankful that they gave us a free sample of this. OMG bar: 4/5. Nice combination of almonds, caramel, and sea salt, wrapped in dark chocolate. I would get this again. read more

Sipping chocolate is delicious and much more reasonably priced than other places (I'm calling you out, Timothy Adams). Beautiful products from all over the world and possibly the most knowledgeable staff ever encountered. Incredibly organized and presented, the chocolates (along with other offerings) are sure to tempt you. read more

I remember buying Valentine's Day chocolate from this place, and it was divine! The dark chocolates were very rich and not too sweet, and the assortment of flavors were quite unique. The box was golden and was wrapped very pretty with a gold ribbon. The chocolates were quite pricey, but they were worth it! (2/14/2018) read more

The Xocolate Bar - Dark Chocolate Assortment - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Turkey dark chocolate. Rocky Road dark chocolate(fresh today) Legit truffles All added up to be a little on the pricey side. The store was clean though and smelled of quaility chocolate. Feels like a pop up Willie Wonka experiment. They have hot cocoa but its like drinking melted chocolate. Too thick and rich. They have chocolate for every taste bud. Some are quite artsy read more

The Xocolate Bar - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

I order boxes of their truffles every year for my clients, and they love them! (I snag a box for myself.) Not only does The Xocolate Bar offer creative flavors and combinations, some of their truffles are works of art. It's all organic and fair trade (very important if you don't want to support child slavery). They have lots of vegan options too, and chocolate bars from many countries. And a warm, friendly staff. Plus, it's a minority-owned business. Help support them--your tongue will thank you. read more

Loved the chocolate but they need to do better customer service! No smile while greeting customers and I also thought it was pretty expensive for the small sized 10 pack chocolate box. The chocolates were really small sized. I don't think I would go back just for the way they treat customers. I would rather try out some new place. read more

This is a destination spot for amazing flavors and chocolate beyond your loveliest dreams. I walked in hoping for hot chocolate...instead I enjoyed a large cup of their sipping chocolate. It's amazing and very close to the sipping chocolate in Italy. We also enjoyed their rocky road, marzipan and ginger dipped in chocolate. All flavorful, handmade and delicious. The service is excellent and very well informed. I will be coming here very often. read more

The Xocolate Bar - The Xocolate Bar - Berkeley...handmade and delicious. These were hilarious and fun for parties. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Berkeley, California

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If two plus years of slogging through this pandemic has taught us anything, it's that we should savor luxuries when we find them. Xocolate sells beautifully made, pure, indulgent joy. The "better than..." bars have names that really don't do them the justice they deserve. The truffle bars will cause a momentary blackout due to extreme happiness. The passionfruit truffle is...let's just say it's better than many, many things. Also? It's a woman-owned, woman-run business that actually cares where the cocoa comes from. So do yourself a favor and buy some of their exquisite chocolate whether or not you care about a bad ass group of women breaking the chocolate world's glass ceiling. Because even if you don't care, you'll get a damn good piece of heaven out of it. read more

Walking along a warm sunny day on Solano Ave, I randomly bumped into this chocolate shop. I wasn't quite craving for chocolate and was reluctant to buy their specialty pieces due to fear of melted chocolate in my bag. But... it's so hard to say no to chocolate! So I opted for a salted chocolate bar for $5. Decent priced, I consumed my bar the next day. It tasted smooth and chocolately, and fulfilled my need for chocolate, at least for a while. Can't say much else about this place because my visit was so brief. CONVENIENCE: *** [Located on Solano Ave in a quiet neighborhood. Metered parking is ample. Residential parking available within walking distance.] AMBIANCE: *** [Very small shop. Did not notice any seating inside, but benches available for seating outside.] SERVICE: *** [I was greeted, but wasn't informed of any other specialties. Service was quick, but nothing spectacular.] PRICE: $ [$5 for xocolate bar] OVERALL: *** [3-stars... is fair. I guess I would have up-ed more stars if I was given a story or some background of this spot.] Nuff said. read more

First you should know that I'm not a dark chocolate fan. It's usually too bitter for me. Second, I had no idea what was in store (or in the store) other than chocolate. I've found that usually means dark and light, but not all or mostly one kind. So, having walked by this place sooo many times because it's been closed, I found myself on Solano at the right time of day because Xocolate Bar was Open! Cute little shop. Francis (I believe she said that was her name) has decorated with warm colors and chandeliers. Also, her display cases are not refrigerated, just humidity controlled so the candies don't sweat and stay tepid Just about everything I was looking at was dark chocolate. But the flavors were so exotic that I decided to give a few of them a try. But first, since I was new, I was offered a little sample of sipping chocolate. I wasn't expecting to like it at all, but I found myself cleaning the inside of the cup out as best as I could. It's actually one of those things that gets better with each sip. I purchased a Cardamom Marshmallow, Tamarind mango, salted chile truffle, Saigon cinnamon truffle, Balinese vanilla bean truffle and apricot marzipan. Sharing with my Fiancé, we both found the marshmallow to be very aromatic with the flavor present, not strong. Well done. We were not fans of the vanilla bean. The apricot marzipan and the tamarind mango were very fruity, very nice. I liked the salted chilie more than my Fiance' and we both liked the cinnamon truffle. There are lots more choices, even chocolate bars. We enjoyed our tasting, pairing everything with a nice Port. A little pricy, but for the experience to taste such exotic flavors, it's well worth treating yourself or someone you love...or like a lot. read more

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The Xocolate Bar has chocolate bars, truffles, chocolate pieces, and the OMG bar. based on previous chocolate tastes, there's always a slight letdown when eating chocolate bars, truffles, etc. so i went for the recommended OMG bar. eats: OMG bar (5) -roasted almonds, dark chocolate, salted caramel. absolutely deliz, every savory bite. *reminds me of "Mounds" bar, different ingredients but same idea. 5 stars for the OMG bar, 4 stars for everything else. 5 stars for the cashier/owner? who gave partisan yet helpful advice. read more