Indulge your cocoa cravings at these spots in Ottawa

Why settle for a candy bar from the office vending machine when you can revel in chocolate fondue, hand-made truffles or chocolate-covered pretzels? If cocoa is your pick-me-up of choice, pay a visit to one of these chocolatiers or cafés and treat yourself to something truly special.

Indulge your cocoa cravings at these spots in Ottawa
Laura Paquet By

A Thing for Chocolate

1
1262 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A5

Stop in at this tiny café for light, savoury crepes available in vegan and gluten-free options. However, make sure to save room for dessert, which can range from slightly indulgent (one hand-made chocolate, perhaps, or fruit drizzled with chocolate ganache) to completely celebratory (chocolate fondue for two). The hot chocolate, rich with melted Callebaut chocolate chips, can be made with dairy, almond or soy milk. Enjoy it all in a Parisian-themed interior that includes decorative French plates and an Eiffel Tower mural.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

JoJo CoCo Chocolate Inc

2
471 Hazeldean Rd, Kanata, ON K2L 4B8

Chocolate lovers can sample specialty chocolates from around the world in this Kanata boutique. International treats include organic Amma bars from Brazil, stone-ground Taza chocolate and additive-free Dick Taylor chocolate. You’ll also find goodies from a wide range of Canadian producers, including Dufflet chocolates from Toronto, rum chocolates from Newfoundland and salted caramels from Vancouver’s Wild Sweets. Satisfy your sweet tooth with goodies from local suppliers (including Rochef and Hummingbird Chocolate) or gorge without the guilt on vegan, organic, sugar-free and gluten-free alternatives.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Louise's Belgian Chocolates Inc

3
2194 Robertson Road, Nepean, ON K2H 9J5

Along with delicate Belgian chocolates with fillings ranging from pistachio and honey to pineapple and curacao, you’ll find fruit jellies, marzipan treats and sugar-free chocolates in this west end shop. Need to send a gift to a chocoholic friend? Louise’s can deliver gift baskets across Canada, filled with everything from chocolates (of course) to baby rattles and Australian black licorice. Customized wedding favours and thank-you gifts, as well as French pastries and cakes, are also available.

Cacao 70

4
51-53 William St, Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z9

A popular Montreal-based chain, Cacao 70 offers a dizzying array of food choices – in fact, there are three menus. One focuses on savoury items, such as omelettes and sandwiches. The hot chocolate menu resembles a wine list, with details on each cocoa’s country of origin and tasting notes about fruit and acidic overtones and other flavourful details. And the third lists sweets, such as parfaits, fondues and chocolate pizzas. Open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, this is a great spot to stop in for a late night dessert.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Cylie Artisans Chocolatiers

5
204 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7C8

French-born Cyril Nebout and his partner Leslie Yang create jewel-like hand-painted chocolates and other unique treats at this popular confectionary shop. A selection of loose-leaf teas complements the sweets. Watch for seasonal products such as decadent hot chocolate in winter and fruit-topped pastries in summer.

Cococo Chocolatries Inc

6
314 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K1Z 6X6

Cococo and Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut serve up premium chocolates and mouthwatering gelato in a comfortable Westboro cafe setting. Also on the menu are hot chocolate, espresso and coffee to wash down the delicious treats.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Stubbe Chocolates Ltd

7
1224 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A1

Founded in Germany in 1845, this elegant confectionary shop still sells traditional German sweets, such as marzipan fruits and caramelized hazelnuts. Milk, dark and white chocolate truffles come in dozens of sweet and savoury flavours, such as guava, mango and chili. You’ll also find some 35 varieties of chocolate bars, including organic and diabetic choices. But the pièces de résistance are the jewel-like cakes and tortes, which look as though they belong in a Baroque-style window in a European square.

More from Laura Paquet Laura Paquet
Laura Byrne Paquet’s first encounter with the written word was not auspicious: her birth announcement appeared in the newspaper classifieds under the heading “Livestock for Sale.” Despite that, she became a writer. She’s covered destinations around the world for more than 80 websites, magazines and newspapers, and has written or co-authored 12 books. On her blog, OttawaRoadTrips.com, she writes about short escapes from Ottawa.
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