LATEST EDITS AND UPDATES: MARCH 2019

Chocolate is everybody’s favourite treat, am I right? Whether you’re a fan of dark, milk or white chocolate, the sweet treat always manages to put a smile on everyone’s face, especially mine. I always bring back local bars of chocolate as travel souvenirs. My collection grows (see photo below) then disappears again (because I eat it). It’s a true struggle to keep it replenished but with these great Montreal chocolate shops, I have no issues with finding great chocolates.

Montreal is a city filled with skillful food artisans and chocolate makers are no exception. We have our fair share of exceptional chocolate shops spread throughout the city. I’ve listed some of my favourite Montreal chocolate shops below by neighbourhood, so you can head to the one closest to you when a chocolate craving hits or when you need an exquisite chocolate gift. Each one of these is run by a passionate artisan who excels at his or her art. I have no doubt that you’ll find a favourite among their many creations from molded crispy bars, to rich, decadent truffles or luscious, stuffed bonbons.

Downtown and Southwest:

Divine Chocolatier: For over two decades, chocolatier Richard Zwierzynski has specialized in the time-honoured traditions of classic chocolate-making by hand and in small batches to ensure freshness.

Chocolats Geneviève Grandbois (Atwater Market): Geneviève Grandbois is one of the pioneer artisanal chocolate makers in Montreal. Her elegant confections lay like jewels in beautiful packaging and her whimsical flavour combinations are always a delight to discover.

Lecavalier Petrone (Pointe Saint-Charles and several other outlets): I absolutely adore these unique and gorgeous chocolates made by two young chocolate makers. They are so different from all other bonbons you’ll find around town and each piece is a hand painted work of art with colourful specks, stripes and splatters. The chocolate are as delicious as they are pretty.

Chocolats Privilège (Atwater Market): Pralines, caramels, truffles, bars, ganaches, spreads and more are all delicious at this most-loved store, especially the champagne truffles and the single-origin bonbons.

Plateau/Mile End:

Chocolats Geneviève Grandbois: Located in the heart of the Mile End, this is the original Geneviève Grandbois store. (see above for more on this chocolate maker)

Noir Chocolat: Art, cakes and chocolate making come together seamlessly in this modern chocolate shop.

La maison Cakao: Passionate and detail-oriented chocolate-maker Édith Gagnon studied under Geneviève Grandbois. She makes her chocolates by hand using fresh, top quality ingredients with seasonal twists such as Québec blueberries or raspberries.

Marius et Fanny: An assortment of over 40 flavours of fine chocolates, including 7 different caramel flavours are available at this popular Plateau address.

Les chocolats de Chloé: All the chocolates of this adorable shop are made by hand in their open kitchen. The truffles and bars are delicious but the chocolate-covered sponge toffee is my favourite.

Villeray/Petite Patrie/Ahuntsic/Rosemont:

Chocolats Privilège (several locations including the Jean Talon and Atwater Markets): Pralines, caramels, truffles, bars, ganaches, spreads and more are all delicious at this most-loved store, especially the champagne truffles and the single-origin bonbons.

Chocolaterie Bonneau: Using the best quality chocolate and no added sugar, Bonneau makes exquisite chocolates and offers suggestions on which wines to pair them with best. They have also started a bean-t0-bar collection of chocolate bars.

Joane L’heureux Chocolats: Although classic, these chocolates are made from the best ingredients and imbued with Joane L’Heureux’ 12 years of experience.

Chocobel: This small Villeray shop offers dozens of stuffed bonbons as well as other chocolate specialties and workshops.

État de choc: This gorgeous minimalist boutique highlights and sells chocolates from all of Québec’s bean-to-bar makers and works their chocolate into customized bars and bonbons. Their dark chocolate, corn and chilli pepper mini bar is particularly tasty. État de choc also offers workshops where chocolate lovers can make their own bars and enjoy a chocolate tasting.

Avanaa: Visit Catherine, one of the only bean-to-bar chocolate makers in Montreal, in her tiny Villeray workshop where you can taste and buy her single-plantation chocolate bars. These incredible chocolates can also be bought online and at several stores around town. Read more about Avanaa here.

Online and outlets:

Christophe Morel: Award-winning chocolate maker Christophe Morel makes some of the best chocolates in Montreal. His chocolate bars are first class, his bonbons boxes are elegant and his chocolate sculptures are legendary (although you can’t really buy one). You can also find his chocolates in several shops around town.

Le Comptoir Chocolat: Organic and fair trade chocolate wrapped in gorgeous signature paper makes these products distinctively elegant and great for gifting.

Qantu: I discovered this bean-to-bar chocolate at Souk@SAT and fell in love with it! Peruvian cocoa beans are used to make these incredibly delicious and award winning bars that can also be found at a lot of stores around town.

Chocolat Gendron: Chocolat Gendron’s handmade chocolates are packaged in an elegant, pyramid shaped box that’s sure to impress and that can be delivered to you via their website in 24 to 48 hours.

If you can’t get enough of the sweet stuff, check out my guide to Montreal’s best bakeries and pastry shops.