I recently worked with Z Cioccolato to host a virtual chocolate candy making class for my team. I booked online through a third-party, which was super easy & the communication with the business was seamless. The chocolate making kits were mailed out in plenty of time before the event and included the chocolate and other ingredients to make 5 different candies (even tiny tongs to dip with). The owner of the shop led the virtual class and was honestly amazing. He was super funny, personable, very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. You know how virtual activities can just be...awkward? This was definitely NOT that! Now onto the chocolate - unreal. The peanut butter cups were ultimately my favorite, but I loved the bear paws and pecan clusters. The chocolate covered Oreos and strawberries were also amazing! It was really fun getting to temper chocolate and make all of these treats alongside the group! I'll definitely be buying some of the peanut butter cups to be shipped to my house soon!! read more

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What a special place! Make sure to set aside enough time to check everything out and sample some of their amazing fudge. Thomas the owner was an absolute wealth of knowledge about the fudge he creates. It's obvious that he loves coming up with new flavors and he is more than happy to tell you the story behind his new flavors. read more

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Z. Cioccolato is one of the coolest little candy stores. I've seen in a long time because they have a vast array of hard, packaged and homemade candies, including fudge. It's a very fun place for everyone, including kids to go into because they have a lot of candy that's hard to find, but it can be a bit expensive because it's in the heart of North Beach and it can be a bit touristy. The location is open daily from 10 AM to 9 PM on the weekdays and 10 AM to 10 PM on the weekends. Be sure to check out this neat little candy store while you're visiting San Francisco. read more

Friend gave it as a gift. Never heard of this place before and found via Yelp it's quite well known in SF. Rich and smooth (but bit too sweet for me) chocolatey fudge. After a few bites I'm done so definitely need to spread out in few sittings! read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have passed by Z Cioccolato's shop in North Beach, but I actually ended up buying from them when I saw them tabling at the Castro Night Market. They allowed two samples, so I sampled their dark side which is a dark chocolate fudge, and salty little thing which is dark sea salt caramel. I liked both, the dark chocolate is very chocolate-y and would be great for a chocolate lover, but decided to go for the salty little thing because it tastes more like a salted caramel brownie and I like that it's both sweet and salty. The fudge is super dense and rich and I was able to make it last for over a week eating a little at a time each day. It was $14, but I understand fudge is probably not cheap in general. read more

Z Cioccolato - The dark side - dark chocolate fudge - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sweetest staff and chocolates and more! Hot chocolate was good, popcorn was tasty and all their fudge is made in house. read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Popped in here when I was craving something sweet -- and I wasn't disappointed! While they have a good selection of chocolate/fudge, I came for the "pick and mix" -- self serve candy. I love sour belts and ta da - they had the green apple ones. The staff were super friendly - they were offering fudge samples when I called in, which was a nice surprise. Another bonus: they're open quite late! 2025: 66/100 read more

Had a great time with a friend here! Lots of interesting treats, delicious fudge and the service was pleasant even late at night

Dear Yelp Community, First time visiting. Fun shop in the middle of North Beach. I enjoyed the fudge. Well wishes. Sincerely, Anna read more

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The guy there is so patient and kind!! Even if there's a line behind you, he is open to letting you try as many fudge options as you'd like. And when he found out it was my friends birthday, he gave her a nice discount. Amazing person and amazing shop!! read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Thank you Carlos for the free samples and giving our friend a bday gift. I want to come back and get some taffy! so many fun flavors. I tried the ube be baby fudge and the chocolate salted caramel one I think. The ube one was so good!! read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Oh my,what a gem! I love fudge so it was just meant to be...after we had dinner we walked by this cute store and the aroma of the caramel popcorn attracted our senses and we had Togo in, and were we glad we did, Eric was so sweet and what great personality too, we had several tasting before deciding to choose 4 flavors. We even tried the tomato, basil, ricotta fudge it was unique, but we opted to get 4 other flavors. The store is my dream store I could have stayed hours, but sadly we made our selection and left, but we will be back. read more

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Z. Cioccolato offered a create your own fudge contest and I selected the following flavors: maple fudge as the base, layered with café latte fudge, caramel with sea salt, and Heath crumble, topped with Heath crumble pieces and a caramel drizzle. The result? Absolutely the best fudge ever tasted. Every layer works together perfectly and the caramel drizzle on top is just everything. But that's no surprise -- all of Z. Cioccolato's fudge is amazing and they outdid themselves once again. This was the second time participating in their create your own fudge contest and it will definitely not be the last. read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A classic candy store with lots of free samples (and extremely unique flavors of fudge) Service is friendly and fast There are plenty of items within to browse read more

We got to meet the chef. He talked about the awards he's won in competition and the shows he's been on. I got the PB fudge and excited to try it! The inside is what you'd expect from an old fashioned candy shop! read more

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So you know that tubby kid you used to see at the candy store. Well, more than likely that was me! Was in the neighborhood and if you're not aware, best fudge ever! Decided to get the 7 layer today and took one bite. Sugar rush for 1 hour then crashed out. That now that's what I call a perfect Sunday. This place has everything your heart desires (as a child). And yes, the snazzberries taste like snazzberries! read more

Z Cioccolato - Best fudge is SF - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Follow up - Owner rectified the situation satisfactorally, issuing a refund along with his sincere apologies.

The people here are so friendly, there is a wide variety of treats, and you get to share your opinions freely. Coming into this space, you get a sense of love and kindness. Customer service is top notch, and forward-thinking. Yay! The taffy and fudge are to die, but be warned. You're going to be tempted by all the unique flavors, so you'll probably buy too much. Ha! Not a bad problem to have. Rest assured they have something for everyone who inherited the sweet tooth. read more

Z Cioccolato - Brownie Fudge and Peanut Butter Pie Fudge - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The chocolate here is so yummy. The caramel in the chocolate is fresh & soft. Incredible. The staff was also very helpful

the staff there were super welcoming, we tried a few different flavors before we landed on bday cake and smor-gasboard fudge, and we got free caramel corn as well! read more

Z Cioccolato - smore-gasboard and birthday cake Milk Chocolate Fudge - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the absolute best place in all the SFBAY to buy fudge. What is special about this candy shop is the FUDGE OF THE MONTH CLUB for a whole year. Anytime I go in person, I purchase a few pieces and I just eat too much of the fudge but it is difficult to say no to the candy store staff. So, I always say yes. of course I would enjoy a small sample. My favorite is the dark chocolate fudge. yummy for my tummy ... The seven layer peanut butter pie is decadent. read more

Z Cioccolato is great! Highly recommend. We worked with Chef Thomas and Chef Mike to host a virtual chocolate making class for a team building event and they did a fantastic job. They seamlessly shipped chocolate kits to our US based team members, answered our questions and shared ingredient lists that we could pass along to our international team members, and were super responsive and helpful along the way. The chocolate kits were perfect for the class - included a bag of dark chocolate melting wafers, portions of other goodies that we used for the candy, like homemade peanut butter filling, caramel, and more, and tools for the class. Chef Thomas did a wonderful job during the virtual event teaching us how to temper chocolate and make the candies, while also making it approachable and fun. Everyone from our team loved it, it was a great way to connect in a virtual environment. Huge thank you to Z Cioccolato for a great session and your delicious confections!! read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Z Cioccolato continues to be one of my absolute favorite spots in San Francisco. The fudge alone is worth the visit -- insanely rich, smooth, and packed with flavor -- but what really sets this place apart is how creative and unique those flavors are. You can tell there's real thought and craftsmanship behind everything they make. I overheard that they've created over 200 flavors of fudge - all my grandma made was chocolate walnut! Beyond the product itself, the shop is always spotless, well-organized, and inviting. It feels intentional and cared for, which makes the experience that much better. I've been coming here for years, and honestly, it's impressive how the quality and overall experience have only gotten better over time rather than slipping. The staff is consistently friendly, welcoming, and happy to help -- whether you're sampling (you can sample as much as you want!), asking questions, or just browsing. You never feel rushed, and it's clear they genuinely care about what they're selling and the people walking through the door. If you're looking for exceptional fudge, thoughtful flavors you won't find everywhere else, and a shop that clearly takes pride in what it does, Z Cioccolato is a must. A true SF gem that keeps raising the (candy) bar. read more

Was walking by and their window display caught my eye, so I checked it out after lunch. First, it smells heavenly when you walk in..I was instantly drawn by the fudge display and the girl helping us was super friendly. She offered samples, which I happily tried and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the fudge considering I don't have much of a sweet tooth. They have a huge variety of fudge flavors to choose from and have flavor of the month. I ended up opting for a 6 piece box (see pics for prices) of mango cheesecake, ube, dark chocolate caramel, dark chocolate raspberry swirl, 7 layer peanut butter, and reese's peanut butter cup. My favorite flavor is probably the dark chocolate caramel because it is the least sweet but has so much flavor. Luckily, fudge stays good for a while because a little goes a long way. I was told that it can keep for 3 weeks at room temperature of 6 months in the fridge. This is definitely something to pick up for people with a sweet tooth as a special occasion gift since it is quite pricey. read more

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Stopped in last night after dinner in North Beach, after spending the day at Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for our teen daughter's birthday. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the store is clean and organized with lots of fun treats, and the person who helped us made our daughter feel so special on her birthday. We each enjoyed a delicious scoop of Gelato and we took home a 4-pack box of fudge. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area! read more

We stop by in here,smell from candies are inviting,there's so much to choose from candy wise,this place has a potential of getting better aesthetically.we just got some licorice. read more

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Such a cute sweets shop! They have lots of barrels full of candy you may not be able to find elsewhere. It smells amazing inside and the staff were so friendly. They also do samples of the fudge and they were so good I ended up purchasing 2 slices. The fudge is so soft and rich and there are so many flavors to choose from! The chocolate caramel sea salt and latte were divine. Highly recommend swinging by if you're in the area!! read more

My husband brought home some fudge from here and it was amazing. I have a sweet tooth and the Dark Salted Caramel fudge from here was the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The fudge was the perfect consistency, where it melted in your mouth and didn't get stuck to your teeth. Would absolutely love to try more of their flavors! read more

Not only is the candy selection incredible, the customer service is Amazing! Carlos was beyond helpful, kind and really went above and beyond to enhance our experience. 10/10 read more

We drove up here specifically for their Maple Walnut fudge, it didn't disappoint. The young lady behind the counter was attentive, friendly & helpful, she gave us free samples of the many fudge squares they offer for sale. They have bins of salt water taffy, and various other wrapped candy. It's San Francisco, so parking can be difficult. I parked in the customer loading zone, because I knew I'd be gone before the parking maid came by. read more

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Omg... me and my wife literally drove 20 minutes out of our route to go here. What a huge disappointment! The guy I took a picture of unfortunately did not have a badge on but he was very rude and unprofessional he acted as if we were inconveniencing him when we were the only customers! At the last minute before he rung us up we asked if he grabbed the last chocolate we asked for and he huffed and then held it up in his hand without saying a word or making eye contact ! The chocolate wasn't even great. I would go elsewhere. read more

Z Cioccolato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

I booked Z. Cioccolato for a team bonding event. We did the private chocolate making class and wine pairing. They hosted it at the wine bar around the corner (cool spot!). The chocolate tasting class with Chef Thomas was great! He was entertaining, taught us about chocolate and techniques, and we each got to make our own chocolates to take home. I was impressed with the quality of the ingredients as well as the amount of chocolate we made. I actually ended up taking it to a family dinner to share with some family and friends. This was the perfect team event that I didn't know existed, and it was a lot more fun than just going to a bar for happy hour. I would 10/10 recommend this experience. read more

If I could give more stars I would. My wife loves divinity, it's one of the only sweets she likes, but is slightly allergic to nuts. I live in the Sacramento area but work in San Francisco once a week. I was trying to do something nice for my wife but finding divinity without nuts is so hard. I emailed asking if I could place an order of divinity without nuts at 6:18am on a Thursday. By the afternoon Chef Thomas was delivering divinity fudge to my office building that he had leftover from Harvey Milk Bar from the Castro District because all the divinity he had made already had pecans in it. Thank you Chef Thomas! I will be ordering yummy Christmas gifts through Z Cioccolato because of the amazing customer service and delicious sweets! read more

The yummy smell of this place is what lured us in. We were quickly greeted by the employee and she was very friendly. The store is filled with tons of different types of sweets and cute trinkets. We got two of their most popular fudges (California earthquake & a peanut butter one) and they were both delicious! I also bought my dogs some frosted dog treats and they also thought those were delicious. When paying, the friendly cashier offered me some caramel popcorn to go and of course I accepted her offer. The popcorn was amazing!! Do stop by if your looking for something sweet! read more

zcioccolato is delicious and the hardest part is picking which flavors. I've purchased twice now and will do it again! Oh! and their salt water taffy is the best. read more

During the class, the instructors were super knowledgeable and extremely well prepared with an abundance of chocolate knowledge, tips and tricks. They also had backup options and alternatives to make sure the event would run smoothly despite any hiccups which was fantastic! The selection of candies was interesting and cute to make! We made a bear claw, peanut butter cup, dipped strawberries and oreos per the instructions, and then some extra goodies like dipped goldfish and rice crispies. The chocolate tempering made sense and increased the strength and sheen of the chocolate as well. I personally added flake salt to give the candies an extra dimension to enhance the flavor. My one main area of feedback is that I found the candies to be rather large, and scaling down the size of them by a factor of 3 would help make one item more consumable in one sitting without being overly indulgent; the petiteness should also add to the finesse of these candies, although they may increase the capacity required for technical execution and precision to make. Overall: A read more

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This place is 100% a must, whether you're a local or a visitor. First of all, Thomas is the best. We came here for the fudge and left with what we felt like was an a new friend lol. He really took his time recommending the different flavors of fudge to us and was so generous in giving us samples. The peanut butter pie fudge is absolutely INSANE. 10/10. Probably found a new obsession. Go here! read more

Every time I visit Z Cioccolato, I have a fantastic experience. The fudge is amazing (seriously, try that 7 layer fudge) but the service is great as well. Walking along Columbus Ave, you will know anytime you are within a full city block of this place because the smell is so good. And trust me, just follow your nose straight in here. Get a sample of the 7 layer or the cookie dough fudge, try the caramel corn, and just enjoy it. The recipes are local, the fudge is homemade, and the owners and employees are great. Thanks Z! read more

I met Z Cioccolato the Castro Night Market summer of 2025 and fell in love with first bite! The chocolate walnut is my true love. I decided to order a 6 pack online, I opted for the keepsake box. The order came without the box :( They reached out to ask how the order was so I let them know, Within 2 days I had the keepsake box in my hands, a hand written apology note and a few sweet treats to make it up to me. Great product, great customer service, I would give more than 5 stars if I could. read more

Z. Cioccolato caught my eye when I saw another Yelpers yummy post. It made me remember my childhood when I use to help an elderly couple across the street from us. I would help them with chores they couldn't do anymore and they would reward me with homemade goodies. One being fudge:) So I decided to put in an order. I got a 9 piece box and upon checkout I got their 3 piece special. So a total of 12 pieces. I ordered 1.Earthquake, 2.Reese's, 3.Dark chocolate salt caramel, 4.Milk sea salt, 5.Coffee cake, 6. Tiramisu, 7. Black panther, 8. German chocolate cake, 9. Heath toffee, 10. Cookies n cream, 11.7 layer pie, & 12. White tiger. So my family and I shared some of each one on different occasions. We all agreed that the fudge is too sweet. Some were definitely better than others but all were very overloaded with sugar on top of more sugar. I remember fudge being sweet but not this sweet. I guess I'm use to chocolate and nuts and not all these fancy add-ins. So if you love sugary sweet treats then these will be right for you. Unfortunately they just weren't for us. It was fun introducing fudge to my fam and rating the flavors but I don't think we'd buy them again. So are ratings are as followed 1-10 1 being not good to 10 being amazing. Earthquake= 7 pretty good Reese's= 7 taste like the candy the only one the kids really liked Coffee cake= 1 not good weird flavor and super sweet no one ate it Tiramisu= 1 no one liked it at all doesn't resemble the cake @ all no one wanted it Dark chocolate sea salt caramel= 6 was good but needs less sugar Milk chocolate sea salt= 6 pretty good flavor Black panther= 4 just way too sweet German chocolate= 8 this one had the flavor of old school fudge that I remember just wish it had less sugar in it and it would have been a 10 Heath toffee- 5 good flavor just too sweet Cookies n cream- 1 this one was so grossly sweet no one could eat it 7 layer pie- 1 so overly sweet like crazy sweet White tiger- 6 good flavor but again wish it was less sweet I also wanted to add that most weighed over 4oz some came in a little under but again most weighed in over 4oz. Just because I saw a few reviews saying otherwise. Definitely don't think they are doing it on purpose. The owner and creator is super friendly and I think he genuinely wants to put smiles on people's faces with his treats. I just hope that maybe in the future he might make some that are less sugary. So we could try them again. read more

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