The Best Chocolate Stores

Friday, March 24th

2023 Chocolate Store Reviews

Z Chocolat

• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Double the chocolates at no extra cost
• 2-day shipping to the US
• Lots of gift options

zChocolat is an elegant chocolate company based out of France. They were founded in the early 2000's by Jean-Philippe Khodara who set out to establish a chocolate brand unlike anything else that was available on the market. The "z" in zChocolat is the mathematical symbol for the infinite range of whole numbers and the 26th number of the alphabet, representing the 26 flavors of chocolate in this store's numbered collection. zChocolat uses high-quality ingredients, exceptional flavors, and abides by very rigorous manufacturing standards.

26 robust flavors

zChocolat offers a wide variety of 26 flavored chocolates, all with a unique number attached to their name and they all come in the same shape. For example, chocolate number 3 is full of rich caramel intermingled with passion fruit, coconut, and mango puree covered in a Venezuelan and Malagasy blend of 70% dark chocolate. Chocolate number 12 consists of a blend of toasted Dutch sesame seeds in a Valencia almond praline encased in 40% West African milk chocolate couverture. Obviously these are extremely fancy, unique flavors that cannot be found anywhere else.

Transparent ingredient information

Each chocolate type has a thorough product description page with all the ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts. There is no questioning what's in these chocolates and we appreciate the transparency.

Optional add-ons

An assortment of 15 zChocolats is $45.21. You select all the flavors you want, add a personalized gift message if needed, select an image for your box (birthday balloons, flowers, holiday, etc.), decide whether or not you want gift wrapping (for an additional $11.29), if you want to add a mahogany wood accessory to the drawstring pouch of the gift (an additional $11.29), and if you want a concierge to call the recipient of the chocolates to verify the delivery address and let them know a gift is on the way (additional $14.69).

Double the chocolate at no extra cost

Something really neat that zChocolat was doing at the time of this review was doubling all orders at no extra cost. If you order one assortment of chocolates, you'll get a second one that zChocolat says you can send to your gift recipient, keep for yourself, or donate it to a hospital or charity. This is an extremely kind gesture that shows this company genuinely cares about their customers and the community.

Expensive but fast shipping

The cost for shipping from zChocolat is quite a bit more than what you'll pay elsewhere. The cost is $24.42 for up to 5 items. If you're buying more than 5 items, then shipping is $9.50 per item. zChocolat delivers overnight to New York State, a few zip codes in Connecticut, and New Jersey. Chocolate to all other states is delivered in 2 business days. Signatures are always required upon delivery. You'll receive a tracking number via email once your chocolates have shipped and an alert within 3 hours of delivery so you know when to expect the package. All packaging includes insulated containers and refrigerant packs to keep temperatures between 59 and 67 degrees.

Satisfaction guaranteed

You don't have to worry about whether or not you'll be happy with your order from zChocolat since they offer a generous 100% satisfaction guarantee. This means that they will immediately replace, exchange, or refund your order if you aren't completely happy for any reason. It's unusual for a chocolate company to offer refunds, so we are pleased to see how strongly they stand behind their products.

A rich experience

It was no surprise to find that zChocolat has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. They provide a thorough experience for people looking to give a gourmet, beautiful gift of chocolates. We appreciate zChocolat's dedication to customers and quality. Although this is a slightly expensive place to buy chocolates, you can rest assured knowing this is a one-of-a-kind brand that will provide a rich experience you won't get anywhere else. They've earned our highest rating for chocolate companies.

Astor Chocolate

• Free ground shipping on orders of $50+
• Free 2-day shipping on orders of $100+
• Focused on reducing their carbon footprint
• Positive customer reviews

In a little town on the banks of the Danube River in Czechoslovakia, a young man named Leopold Grunhut studied the art of fine chocolate making and began gaining culinary renowned for his masterpieces. By 1934, Grunhut had opened four stores in town and the company later became known as Astor. They moved to the US in 1950 where Macy's became their first large-scale customer and they have continued to expand into a flourishing online store with a wide range of chocolate types and flavors.

7 unique chocolate types

There are 7 categories of chocolates you can choose from at Astor. They include Squares, Peanuts (based on the cartoon), Moodibars, 100 Calorie Bars, Clusters, Liquor Cups (their most famous product), and Truffles. If you're looking for a fancy, pretty chocolate, then squares and chocolates are where it's at. Their Moodibars feature bright packaging with faces and moods like "blah" , "flirty" , "excited" , "chill" , or "grumpy" . The unique flavors are Creamy Milk Jalapeno Pretzel, Creamy Milk Red Velvet, S'mores Haven, and more. Clusters come in 3 oz bags for snacking, liquor cups include either 12 or 60 cups, and the Peanuts and 100 calorie bars feature different flavors and designs of chocolate bars.

Spend more, save on shipping

The price of chocolates at Astor varies widely based on the product you are choosing. For example, a 100 calorie bar is $29.99 for a case pack of 24 bars, a 37 piece gourmet chocolate sampler gift box is $37, or you could buy a single Moodibar for $2.99. Overall, pricing is affordable and seems fair based on the quantity and type of chocolate you're getting. Your best deal here is to buy at least $50 of chocolates so you qualify for free ground shipping. It's even better if you spend over $100 because you'll get free 2-day shipping. If you're spending under $50, ground shipping is $11.95 and 2-day shipping is $37.95.

Warm weather alert

There is no return policy on chocolates from Astor and they say their chocolates are of the finest quality, so hopefully you won't ever find the need for a refund. However, Astor does have a warm weather alert saying that because chocolates are heat sensitive, depending on your location you may not have the option for ground or 2-day shipping. They recommend using the quickest shipping method possible to avoid having your chocolates melted during transit. They monitor temperatures daily and, if needed, they may contact you to let you know the shipping method you chose is no longer available on the day your shipment is scheduled to leave the warehouse. If insulation is required for any packages, you'll be charged a $4 fee.

Add a gift message

Astor's website is extremely straightforward, so whether you're selecting chocolates for yourself or as a gift it shouldn't be too hard to pick. You can send the chocolates to whomever you'd like if you put their name and address into the shipment information boxes at checkout. You can mark that the delivery is a gift and add a message that will accompany your chocolates.

Unique and fun flavors

Astor does not have a rating from the Better Business Bureau, but they have good reviews from customers. Recipients say their chocolates were fresh and unbroken upon arrival, customer service is great to work with if you ever need to, and the quality is always wonderful. If you don't want to be overwhelmed when making a chocolate selection and just need some unique and delicious flavors, we recommend checking out Astor.

Simply Chocolate

• Freshness guarantee
• Carries a variety of chocolate brands
• Wide range of chocolate treats
• Goodies for all occasions

Simply Chocolate is a sister brand to 1800Flowers, Harry & David, Cheryl's Cookies, The Popcorn Factory, Shari's Berries, and a number of other brands. They are a destination for people to buy curated chocolates and treats from a variety of brands including Ghirardelli, Ethel M, Godiva, Neuhas, and their own Simply Chocolate brand.

Lots of products and brands

As is the case with their sister brands, Simply Chocolate can initially be an overwhelming place to shop online because there are so many product categories. It's hard to know where to begin. You can shop by holiday and occasion (Christmas, Hanukkah, birthday, anniversary, sympathy, thank you, and more), boxed chocolates, product, brand, or price.

All in one place

If you're looking to send a chocolate gift to a loved one, they have an assortment of gift boxes, gift towers, gift tins, boxes, and sets, bars and squares, chocolate dipped gifts (oreos, graham crackers, pretzels, apples, s'mores, etc.), chocolate covered fruit, chocolate snacks (cake pops, milk balls, cookies, pretzel pizza, caramel apples, etc.), and more. You'll find a wide range of flavors since you're getting an assortment of goodies from all different chocolate companies. This is a good place to come and look because you get a lot of options in one place rather than jumping around to view what all the different chocolate companies have to offer.

Save with email subscription

The cost of chocolate gifts at Simply Chocolate reflects the brand of chocolate you're buying, the product, and the quantity. If you're wanting to save a little on your next order with Simply Chocolate, they'll give you a 10% off code if you provide your email address for their subscription list.

Lacks clear policy information

We don't love that you have to jump through some hoops to get clear information about the shipping policies at Simply Chocolate. Unlike some other companies, they don't advertise free shipping with a certain minimum purchase and they don't tell you how long it will take for your order to arrive or how much shipping will cost until you go through the checkout process. However, Simply Chocolate and all their sister brands offer a Celebrations Passport where you pay $19.99/year and get unlimited free shipping from all stores with no minimum purchase. This is the best way to go if you're a fan of the 1800Flowers brands.

Freshness guarantee

Simply Chocolate guarantees the freshness of their products. They don't go into detail about the guarantee, but they say they will do whatever it takes to make it right if you aren't 100% satisfied. If there is an issue with your order, we suggest emailing or calling their customer service team to take care of it.

Solid options

Simply Chocolate has a decent assortment of chocolate treats for nearly any occasion, which is nice. We like that they carry a variety of brands, so you can look here and find a good mix of chocolate flavors and types without having to go to multiple stores. You can add a gift message with any delivery for free, making it easy to buy for a loved one. The organization and presentation of Simply Chocolate isn't our favorite, but this doesn't take away from their ample inventory and their guarantee that everything will arrive fresh. Although this company has few customer reviews, we trust that they are a solid option for buying chocolates online.

Lindt

• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Free standard shipping on orders over $50
• Guarantees on delivery
• Free gift message

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG, more simply known as Lindt, is a Swiss chocolatier founded in 1845. In 2020 they celebrated their 175th anniversary. Lindt is known for their chocolate truffles and chocolate bars among other things. They are based out of Kilchberg, Switzerland where they have a factory and museum. Other members of the Lindt family include Russell Stover, Ghirardelli, and Carrafel.

Famous for their truffles

Most people who have had Lindt chocolates think of the round Lindor truffles that seem to melt in your mouth and are filled with a creamy flavor like caramel, sea salt milk chocolate, peppermint, white chocolate, or other well-loved tastes. On Lindt's site you can buy 75-piece bags of one type of Lindor truffle or create your own mix: you won't find that option at a store near you.

Seasonal chocolate gifts

If you want to buy seasonal chocolate gifts from Lindt, you can get them in cases individually shaped like cute sweater teddy bears, snowmen, Santa Claus, angels, reindeer, Christmas trees, and other traditional symbols. You can buy gift bags, gift boxes, or even small ornaments full of Lindt chocolates. There is no shortage of giftable ideas at Lindt.

Free gift message

When you're going through the checkout process online with Lindt, they give you up to 254 characters to include a free gift message if you're sending chocolates to someone besides yourself (no judgment if you're not!).

Free shipping over $50

You can get a single Lindt candy bar for $3.99 or $4.99 or spend as much as $178 on an 800-piece case of truffles. The quantity and type of chocolate you're buying will determine how much you pay for delivery. If your order total comes to more than $50, you will qualify for free shipping, while orders less than $50 will cost at least $9.45 for ground shipping.

No returns - but maybe replacement or refund?

Due to the nature of their products, Lindt does not accept returns. They guarantee that your chocolates will arrive in perfect condition, but if you aren't satisfied with any aspect of delivery or quality, they ask that you call their customer service within 14 days of receipt. You'll need to give detailed information and photographs to document the issues with your order.

Not a novel choice

Lindt is a fan favorite when it comes to holiday chocolates. They have an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and they've been around for a long time. They don't have a wide variety of unique flavors like some other chocolate companies and nothing here will make a truly novel gift, but if you're trying to stay on the safe side when it comes to buying chocolates, Lindt isn't a bad choice.

Ethel M

• No artificial preservatives
• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Spend $100+ and get free shipping
• Sister brand to Mars and M&M

Ethel M is based just outside of Las Vegas where they craft their fresh chocolates. The company is owned by Mars, Incorporated and was named in honor of the mother of Forrest Mars, Sr. The company has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and high reviews from customers who have tried their fresh, preservative-free chocolates.

Unique, mouth-watering flavors

At Ethel M you can shop by flavor or gift type. The broad types of chocolate include nuts, fruit, brittle, milk, caramel, dark, and liqueur. Included in these categories are unique flavors such as white chocolate pumpkin spice, vanilla satin creme, egg nog with rum creek bourbon, prickly pear, white chocolate peppermint silk, and more. You can purchase them in large gift baskets that would be great to give as a personal or business gift, as individual bars, or in boxes of 16-32 pieces.

Custom gift options

To customize a gift box, Ethel M allows you to select a tin design you like and then select a variety of chocolate flavors to fill it. Other options are just to purchase a large, pre-made gift basket (which were all sold out at the time of this review), or select individual chocolate products from their site to make your own assortment. You can't go wrong with the beautiful packaging and variety of fun flavors.

Total cost varies based on value and location

The prices on chocolate at Ethel M range from $8 for a single premium chocolate bar to $100 for a gift basket. You can save $10 on your first order by signing up for exclusive offers and emails from Ethel M. As far as shipping costs, the price will vary based on your choice of delivery, address, and value of your total shipment. However, if you spend $100 or more, you automatically qualify for free shipping. With standard shipping, your chocolates will arrive at their destination between Tuesday and Friday, or with 2-day shipping between 3 and 7 days after placing your order.

Quality guarantee

Ethel M guarantees the quality of their chocolates. During warmer months (May - September), Ethel M will ship products in insulated shipping containers with ice packs to make sure they are in perfect condition upon arrival. If there are quality issues of any kind with their chocolates, the company asks that you give them a call. They do not accept returns for unwanted products.

Delightful place to buy chocolates

Ethel M is a delightful place to shop online for chocolates. They are a sister company to other reputable chocolate retailers like M&M and Mars, so you really can't go wrong. We like that customers can leave reviews on all their products to keep them honest and accountable in their freshness, quality, and taste. Overall people give the chocolates very high ratings, which reassures us this is a great store to buy chocolates for yourself or give them as a gift, since Ethel M lets you submit a personalized message on all gift purchases. This is a good place to buy gourmet chocolates.

Ghirardelli

• Free shipping on orders of $60+
• Save 10% with newsletter subscription
• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• 30-day return policy

Ghirardelli's roots go back to 1817 when Domenico Ghirardelli, the son of an exotic foods importer, was introduced to the chocolate and confectionery trade. In 1852 he opened his first store in San Francisco, California where the modern-day Ghirardelli company still resides. Many people have visited this touristy location to try all the chocolates and treats the popular Ghirardelli company has to offer.

Best way to shop is online

You can buy Ghirardelli chocolates at almost any store, but the best way to shop is online where you can view all their products, flavors, and custom gifts in one place. With the click of a few buttons, you can have white chocolate squares, peppermint bark, double premium hot chocolate, or a signature Ghirardelli gold bar show up at your door or the door of a loved one if you're gifting chocolates.

Great gift options

There are quite a few ways to go about purchasing chocolates from Ghirardelli. You can purchase a case of bars, a bag of assorted chocolate squares, or go big with their custom mixes and gift baskets. A custom mix allows you to select the size of your mix (15, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, or 500 pieces), mix and match the flavors you want. Then just add your creation to your cart and it's ready to go. Pre-made gift baskets range from $75 to $160 and contain a variety of chocolate flavors, bars, syrups, wafers, or mugs wrapped with a bow depending on the size of basket you select.

Spend $60 and get free shipping

Sign up for Ghirardelli's newsletter to get 10% off your first purchase. They also run frequent promotions to help you score big savings. Prices vary widely based on the product you're buying and the quantity. Shipping is free if you spend over $60, but will be anywhere from $9.95 to $11.35 if you spend less than that. Orders ship Monday - Friday and will take between 2 and 5 business days to arrive with standard shipping. If you live in a warm climate or order during summer months, there may be times when standard shipping is unavailable and you have to pay for expedited or overnight shipping to ensure your chocolates don't melt before they arrive.

Lacks some uniqueness

Ghirardelli is a beloved and well-known company. However, it isn't the most exotic or unique option for buying chocolates if you want to give a special gift. Most people have tried nearly all the flavors Ghirardelli has to offer and since they can be purchased almost anywhere, it isn't going to be as exciting as buying from a gourmet chocolate maker with never-before-tried flavors. On the flip side, Ghirardelli's offers simple, staple flavors that you can't go wrong with either.

Generous, well-loved, but nothing new

Ghirardelli lets customers leave reviews for all their products, which is useful when you're trying to decide what to buy. Unlike many other chocolate companies, Ghirardelli allows you to get a refund or exchange within 30 days of delivery if you're unhappy with your chocolates. They have an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and have been enjoyed by millions of people for over 150 years. This is a solid option for buying chocolate, but won't make a very unique gift or provide a huge range of flavor or item choices if you're trying to do something special and unusual for a loved one. Because of this, Ghirardelli hasn't earned our highest rating.

Godiva

• 20% off + free shipping with email signup
• Frequent free shipping codes
• "A-" Better Business Bureau rating

Godiva is a global premium brand of chocolates with over 600 boutiques and a presence in over 100 countries worldwide. The company began in 1926 with a father and sons who began making pralines in Brussels. They were deeply inspired by the legend of Lady Godiva and decided to name the company in her honor.

Nicely organized products

Some of the delicious products sold by Godiva include truffles, chocolate bars, chocolate strawberries, coffee, cocoa, and biscuits. There are 66 products in total that you can sort by price, piece count, ribbon color, and special features to quickly narrow down the best options for you or a loved one. Some of the flavors of chocolate snacks and treats feature birthday cake, salted caramel, roasted almond, crispy hazelnut, coconut crunch, and classics like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and more.

Sign up and save

If you sign up for Godiva's email list, you'll not only get 20% off your first order but also free shipping. This is a great deal that you should most definitely take advantage of. On future orders, Godiva often provides codes right on their website that give you free shipping with no minimum purchase. Like other chocolate stores, prices on Godiva's chocolates vary based on the quantity and type of chocolate you're buying. You can spend up to $356 on a large gift set with hundreds of chocolates or as little as $18 for an 8-piece assortment.

Shipping options that ensure freshness

The three shipping options provided by Godiva are standard, second day, and overnight. Most orders are delivered between Tuesday and Saturday. They are constantly monitoring weather and will adjust shipping options to ensure that your chocolates arrive in perfect condition. If you're ordering chocolate strawberries, you'll only have the option for next day or overnight delivery with a minimum shipping cost of $19.95 to ensure freshness. All deliveries can include a gift message if you choose to add one.

Perfect condition guarantee

All orders from Godiva are guaranteed to arrive in perfect condition. If you aren't completely satisfied with the quality of chocolates or delivery, you have 30 days to contact customer care with a detailed description and photographic evidence of the issues to get a replacement or exchange. They don't provide refunds on orders that you simply don't like the taste of or change your mind about.

Weaknesses need to be addressed

Godiva has an "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is great. What's not great are their customer reviews found elsewhere. Some people are disappointed that they've become less customizable over the last couple years and only offer factory sealed variety boxes with predetermined flavors. Others say that their orders have arrived incomplete and they've had a difficult time contacting and working with customer service. These reports show some weaknesses in Godiva's processes that need to be fixed before we give them a higher rating. Although you can find tasty chocolates at Godiva, it's not your best bet for reliable, customizable delivery.

Russell Stover

• Sign up for email updates and save 20%
• Made in the USA
• Free standard shipping on orders of $60 or more
• "A-" Better Business Bureau rating

Russell Stover began in 1923 when Clara Stover began crafting chocolates in her Denver bungalow. In 1932 the company moved to Kansas City and has called it home ever since. In addition to 2 factories located in Kansas, Russell Stover also has factories in Texas and Colorado. They source their cream and milk from Oklahoma, cherries from Michigan and Oregon, and peanuts from across the South.

Random assortment of treats and brands

Russell Stover sells somewhat of a smorgasbord of chocolate treats. You'll find chocolate bars, individually wrapped chocolate bites, and even non-chocolate goodies like jelly beans, taffy, lemon wedges, mints, and hard candies. In addition to the Russell Stover brand, they also sell chocolates from Pangburn's of Texas and Whitman's.

Sugar-free options

One of the more unique things Russell Stover is known for is their selection of sugar-free chocolates. They sell bags, boxes, and bars of chocolate made with Stevia extract. That probably isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it makes this a go-to company for people wanting to indulge in chocolate without the sugar.

Comparable pricing

If you want email updates from Russell Stover, they'll send you a 20% code to use towards your next purchase. Pricing here is reasonable and comparable to other chocolate companies, so you don't have to worry about paying an arm and a leg for an assortment of chocolates. Plus, if you spend over $60 you'll get free standard shipping.

Guaranteed freshness

Russell Stover guarantees the freshness and quality of all their products. If you aren't satisfied for any reason, you can save the unused portion and packaging and contact customer service. It's unclear if they give refunds, so we can assume they take each issue on a case-by-case basis.

Not a gourmet brand

Russell Stover isn't what you think of when you want gourmet chocolates to give as a fancy gift. It's more of a company people buy from when they have a favorite item they keep coming back for. The assortment of chocolates is quite random and it's almost hard to explore and find something new here. We aren't thrilled with the website or overall presentation of Russell Stover, even though they are a reputable company with an "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Despite being owned by Lindt, they don't quite give off the same delectable vibe that their sister and parent companies do. Because of this, they've earned a "just okay" rating from us.

Vosges Chocolate

• Free ground shipping with orders over $80
• Free 2-day shipping with orders over $110
• "A-" Better Business Bureau rating
• Satisfaction guarantee
• Preservative-free chocolates
• Dairy-free options

Vosges uses chocolates to tell stories and represent different areas of the world. They focus on a connection with Mother Nature and a balance between mind, body, and spirit through their chocolate making. Vosges touts that their chocolates can be transformative and shift your energy if you're in the right state of mind. The company was started by Katrina Markoff, who studied French confectionary artistry while training at le Cordon Bleu in Paris and she personally selects every flower, spice and chocolate included in the selections at Vosges.

Exotic flavors

Each year Vosges released a limited-edition collection of holiday chocolates. Included are unique earth-themed tins of truffles, wrapped bomb bites, hot chocolate, and good luck cakes. You can also browse through all the chocolates in the truffle category, chocolate bars, craving, wellness, party favor, and gift categories. All of the flavors have a unique mix of exotic tastes like black salt caramel, raw honey, turmeric ginger, pink himalayan crystal salt, parmesan walnut and fig, and banana coconut super dark chocolate. Most of them are highly perishable and should be eaten within 2 weeks of delivery.

Experience each chocolate

With each product description comes an explanation of how to experience your chocolates. All of them are "crystalized to a healing sound frequency tunnel of 528Hz to infuse healing and loving energy" . They ask that you do things like journal 3 things you like about yourself, breathe deeply, run your fingers along the texture of the chocolate, and other mindful techniques.

Premium prices

Since the chocolates from Vosges are made with many organic ingredients, no preservatives, and infused with fresh, premium ingredients found around the world, you'll be paying top dollar. For example, a 20-piece truffle collection is $95, a gift set of 5 chocolate bars is $50, a comfort food tower is $82, and a 4-piece vegan truffle collection is $13. There are a wide range of prices here, but you should definitely expect to pay more than at most other online chocolate shops.

Guaranteed satisfaction

If you're unsatisfied in any way with your Vosges chocolates, they ask that you contact their concierge department and they'll do everything they can to make it right. Since their chocolates are perishable, they can't accept returns.

Spend at least $80 to get free shipping

If you don't spend at least $80 at Vosges, the cost for shipping will be either $15 or $18 depending on your total. You'll get free ground shipping if you spend over $80 and free 2-day shipping if you spend over $110.

Niche customer base

Vosges has an "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau and high customer reviews on their individual products. If you're looking for high-quality chocolates that come in flavors you've never experienced before, you'll absolutely find that at Vosges. However, the flavors are so non-traditional that maybe not everyone will be excited about them. The prices here are also not going to be within everyone's budget and the earth-centered focus of the chocolates might not be at the top of everyone's list. This is why Vosges hasn't earned a higher rating. However, if you want to give chocolates to an environmentally-conscious loved one with exotic tastes, Vosges is a perfect option.