Best Chocolate Shops in Amsterdam
Be aware, don't trip over colourfully wrapped chocolate eggs. Easter bunnies have arrived in town and left their trail all over supermarkets and department stores.
If you're lucky, the bunnies first paid a visit to one of the chocolatiers below before hopping onto your (roof) terrace. The chocolates are a pure bliss and an excellent treat to spoil yourself and your loved ones!
Vanderdonk
The youngest chocolate boutique in Amsterdam carries the name of Vanderdonk. This specialty shop is the life long dream of two brothers, Marcel and Pimm. Marcel has learned the art of chocolate from their grandmother.
Besides home-made products, they also sell Europe's finest chocolate brands as (royal) Prestat from the UK, Summerbird from Denmark and Bonnat from France. On Saturdays freshly made chocolate truffles are sold, see photo right. Vanderdonk, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 72, Amsterdam.
Unlimited Delicious
The name does reflect this excellen chocolatier. All pralines, truffles and bonbons are home made with the best of ingredients. From daring Tamarind Sambal, Grappa Poli bonbons to passion fruit truffles - they make it all! Unlimited Delicious, Haarlemmerstraat 122, Amsterdam
Puccini Bomboni
The most famous Amsterdam chocolatier is Puccini - photo at the top of this blog post. The Puccini Bomboni chocolates are hand made in the kitchen at the Staalstraat shop. They not only try to give each of our chocolates their own flavor, but also give them their own character by combining various herbs and spices like lemongrass, pepper, nutmeg. Unusual alcholic drinks like cointreau, cognac and rum currant, and fruits like rhubarb, raspberry or for example cranberry this is all mixed into the very good quality chocolate”. I’m awaiting a Facebook Quiz - "which Puccini Bombini chocolate are you?!
Puccini Bomboni, Staalstraat 17 and Singel 184, Amsterdam
The chicest chocolatier in Amsterdam is Huize van Wely. The shop looks like a jewelry shop selling ‘dark brown diamonds’ and ‘vanilla coloured gem stones’ all equaly delicious. The bonbons are wrapped in a beautiful boxes with curly bows; a gift from Huize van Wely will capture any person’s heart.
Huize van Wely, Beethovenstraat 72 and Gelderlandplein 173
Artichoc
Artichoc is already worth visiting to check out the chocolate art in the window still. Artichoc is by far the most down-to-earth chocolatier of this list. Besides 44 different kinds of bonbons, the shop sells great chocolate (seasonal) gifts, such as chocolates in the shape of Delfts Blue Clogs. Artichoc, Koninginneweg 141, Amsterdam
Kira
new in amsterdam: Hotel Chocolat
This week is all about new openings in Amsterdam. On the 14th of June, luxury British chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolate opened its doors. Like the new Bar Oldenhof, Hotel Chocolat also offers people to ‘escape’ from their busy lives. Hotel Chocolat does so with high-quality, splendidly presented chocolates. Already when opening the box, you forget about the ugly side of life. Then, when tasting the chocolate, your mind brings you to a bounty island. Quite like quality wines, the finish of the chocolates are long and luscious.
Founder of Hotel Chocolat, Angus Thirlwell, and me with a The Purist 90% dark, organic Hacienda iara bar from Ecuador.what to expect at Hotel Chocolat
> a chocolate boutique, not ordinary shop.
> affordable chocolates in all shapes and flavours, allowing you to find your perfect treat.
> The Purist Selection - a selection of pure chocolate bars made of up to 100% cocao from of the planet’s most sought-after cocoa beans.
> seasonal chocolates, such as the Taste of Summer collection and chocolates to chill.
> chocolates gift-wrapped like true jewelry.
> the largest chunk of chocolate ‘giant slabs’, which Hotel Chocolat is renowned for.
Cacoa Vs Coffee bara little secret…
in the back there is a partially hidden staircase, mount it and find a Coffee Vs Cocoa bar.
I have yet to try Hotel Chocolat's Olive Oil with Cocao bean, as well as the Chocolate glaze for meat. good to know
> Hotel Chocolat owns their own cacao plantation Rabot Estate in Saint Lucia.
> Only in 2011 did they open a real hotel in the grounds of Rabot Estate on Saint Lucia.
> Hotel Chocolat create and make their own chocolates in Cambridgeshire.
Hotel Chocolat, Heiligeweg 7, Amsterdam Centre. Open daily during regular shopping hours.