Where to taste the best artisan chocolate in New York

As demand for fine cacao continues to grow, we’re taking a look at the independent producers who are leading New York’s chocolate-making and bean-to-bar movements. Here are five fabulous places to sample artisanal chocolate in New York, from independent chocolatiers to chic boutiques.

Li-Lac Chocolates

Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house has been championing old-world, artisanal chocolate making since 1923, producing nostalgic confections such as butter crunch candies, cordial cherries and chocolate orange peels. With no sign of slowing down, Li-Lac now has five locations across the city, including its factory in Brooklyn, making this New York native a true stalwart.

Fine & Raw

Fine & Raw founder Daniel Sklaar — an ex-financier who started off making truffles for family and friends from his kitchen in Brooklyn — champions the concept of raw chocolate, which the brand describes as synonymous with “art, music, dance parties and dreams…” In other words, it’s minimally processed to preserve the high quality of the cacao. For a burst of flavour, try the signature bar with 83% cacao content or laced with mesquite or coconut.

Raaka Chocolate

One of the best artisanal spots in New York, Raaka sources its cacao from Belize, Madagascar, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. Instead of roasting, Raaka uses methods like ageing cacao in bourbon casks to create strong flavours and rich, intense chocolate. In their factory and shop in Brooklyn, chocoholics can take a masterclass on how to turn raw beans into bars.

Cacao Prieto

This bean-to-bar chocolate company uses single origin cacao that has been sourced from the same farm in the Dominican Republic for over 100 years. Aside from a range of chocolates and bonbons with flavours like Mandarin & Bergamot and Coffee & Sea Salt, Cacao Prieto is also partly a liquor distillery, producing “bean-to-bottle” spirits distilled into cacao-infused liqueurs and rums.

Nunu Chocolates

One of the best places to sample chocolate in New York, Nunu is famous for their melt-in-the-mouth truffles and salt caramels. The goodies are sold at most of Manhattan’s gourmet institutions think — Dean & DeLuca and Chelsea Market — but for the full experience, head to the flagship store in Brooklyn. It’s here that you can get an in-depth look at the chocolate-making process while enjoying a latte or glass of wine. Hands down, Nunu also makes the best hot chocolate in NYC.