10 Chocolate Destinations in Washington D.C.

Let鈥檚 be honest, you hear the words "Washington, D.C." and you think politics, history, museums, etc. You can鈥檛 take five steps in the city without being surrounded by history. As important as all that culture is, it鈥檚 also a bit overwhelming. Make it fun by exploring Washington, D.C. through chocolate. The District has gotten hip in recent years, especially the bustling food scene. And the city has a sweet tooth. With shops boasting of their handmade chocolate, boutiques with chocolates from around the world and cafes with delicious chocolate drinks, chocolate is everywhere in Washington, D.C. Sample chocolate from 10 of the city鈥檚 best eateries while taking in all the history, politics and museums. After all, there鈥檚 no better way to explore a city than through your stomach.

(To visit the venues mentioned in this article, check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Washington D.C.)

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1. Artisan Confections

It鈥檚 a bit tempting to not eat a truffle from Artisan Confections but to rather hold on to it as a piece of art. Every day you will find at least 15 different flavors of truffles at this shop, including flavors such as passion fruit caramel and peanut butter and jelly, and salted caramel. Each truffle is carefully painted with a design that makes it a work of art. Washington, D.C. native Jason Andelman is the force behind this Arlington, Virginia chocolate shop that boosts several additional locations in the Greater Washington D.C. area. This one is near the Clarendon Metro stop on the orange line. While most of the designs on the truffles come from a European company, several local artists design seasonal prints for the chocolates.

Where to find it:

Address:
1025 N. Fillmore Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703-524-0007

Working Hours:
Monday: 11:00 am - 05:00 pm
Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00 am - 07:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

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2. Peregrine Espresso

If you love fresh, local food, give yourself plenty of time to explore the neighborhood around Peregrine Espresso. The tiny shop, that has just four bar stools, calls Eastern Market its home. The public food market is the longest continually run market in the District. Technically, it鈥檚 located in the Capitol Hill section of Washington, DC, but Eastern Market has become its own destination, one that is all about fresh, local ingredients and one that Peregrine Espresso melds perfectly with. Its name means foreign; alien; roving; wandering; migratory and that鈥檚 sort of what you鈥檒l find at the shop. Ryan and Jill Jensen opened the shop in 2008. Here you鈥檒l find some of the best coffee in the District, including micro-brews that change seasonally, although some in the past have included baroida, eastern highlands Papua New Guinea and karatu thika Kenya. For the chocolate levels, order the mocha, twelve ounces of milk and espresso with rich chocolate sauce. Then take a walk over to the Capitol or continue to explore the food around Eastern Market.

Where to find it:

Address:
660 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-629-4381

Working Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 07:00 am - 09:00 pm
Sunday: 08:00 am - 08:00 pm

Offline reading and travel directions:

3. Pitango Gelato

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Cool down your Washington, D.C. adventure with a trip to Pitagno Gelato in Logan Circle. Pitagno Gelato makes dense, slow churned Italian gelato in a sustainable way. Local food lovers will appreciate that Pitagno owners go to amazing lengths to source all local ingredients. Many of the flavors, including the chocolate sorbet, are vegan. The serving size for the price is what one would say, "not for Americans." Their tiny, European tiny, but the gelato is so rich that you are getting more than if you had a similar size of regular ice cream. Chocolate lovers should try the chili chocolate, chocolate noir or nocciola.

Where to find it:

Address:
413 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-885-9607

Working Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 08:00 am - 11:00 pm
Friday: 08:00 am - 12:00 am
Saturday: 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Sunday: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

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4. Hello Cupcake

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With two locations, one in Capitol Hill and one in DuPont Circle, it鈥檚 likely you鈥檒l pass Hello Cupcake on your travels to Washington, D.C.鈥檚 main attractions. Of course, if you love cupcakes, Hello Cupcake could easily be the main attraction. Owner, Penny Karas, is also the chef. She grew up making baked goodies under the watchful eye of her Greek mother, aunts and cousins and turned her childhood hobby into a business. She tries to use the freshest natural ingredients she can find. Each day you鈥檒l find at least one vegan cupcake and at least one gluten-free cupcake there. Chocolate fiends should try the heart of darkness, or the chocolate chimp. If you want something a bit more adventurous, try the margarita, not chocolate, but it just sounds like something to have on weekend afternoon. If you're really passionate about your cupcakes, register for one of their cupcake decorating classes online before you stop in and check out the cupcake schedule to find out when you鈥檙e favorite flavor will be there.

Where to find it:

Address:
1361 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-861-2253

Working Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 07:30 am - 07:00 pm
Friday: 07:30 am - 09:30 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 09:30 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am - 06:30 pm

5. Kr枚n Chocolatier

This Hungarian chocolate shop is a bit off the beaten tourist path, but it鈥檚 worth the trek. Located in the Friendship Heights section of Washington, D.C., the shop is within walking distance of the Friendship Heights metro stop and not far from American University and the National Cathedral. Inside the small boutique, chocolate lovers will be hard pressed to find any type of chocolate they love missing. There are truffles, chocolate dipped pretzels, solid chocolate, chocolate filled with a variety of flavor and more. Be warned though, it鈥檚 hard to stop after having just one of their chocolates. Kron Chocolatier also accepts custom chocolate orders where they will make chocolate into any shape you want or create a gift box or basket.

Where to find it:

Address:
Mazza Gallerie, Concourse Level
5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015
Phone: 202-966-4946

Working Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10:00 am - 08:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 06:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm - 06:00 pm

6. CakeLove

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No trip to Washington, D.C. is complete without a visit to the U Street Corridor, the birthplace of Duke Ellington. It鈥檚 here, in the upper edge of the nine-block stretch that makes up the U Street area, that you鈥檒l find the original Cake Love location. Warren Brown traded in his law career for a retail bakery business when he opened Cake Love in 2003. The place was one part of the revitalization of U Street. As the cupcake craze took over the U.S., Cake Love gained national attention in the form of the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today show and national advertisement campaigns for American Express. Cake Love expanded to six locations throughout the Greater Washington D.C. area, but this location is the one that started it all. Try one of their chocolate cupcakes with either a buttercream topping of chocolate, dark chocolate, German chocolate, raspberry or even lime.

Where to find it:

Address:
1506 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-588-7100

Working Hours:
Monday - Friday: 08:30 am - 07:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 06:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

7. Dolcezza

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The philosophy of Dolcezza could be summed up as "What If...?". What if we serve homemade gelato made fresh everyday inside a small store in Dupont Circle? What if we use the best ingredients from local farmers? What if we make it simple and fun? The result is Dolcezza. The shop offers espresso, churros and, of course, gelato in interesting flavors, such as pineapple honey and lime, Thai coconut milk and chocolate bacon. The brand has several locations, including the original one in Georgetown and one in Dupont Circle. You鈥檒l find this Dupont Circle one a little easier to snag a seat although it is communal tables. The art on the wall has a hipster feel. The staff will let you sample flavors before making a selection.

Where to find it:

Address:
1704 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-299-9116

Working Hours:
Monday - Friday: 07:00 am - 11:00 pm
Saturday: 08:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday: 08:00 am - 10:00 pm

8. Tynan Coffee & Tea

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Two brothers founded this trendy little coffee and tea shop as a way to offer something different than normal chain store coffee offerings. Different it is. Here you鈥檒l find more than a dozen choices of high quality lose tea, coffee, espresso and even Mexican Hot Chocolate. The hot chocolate isn鈥檛 as spicy as normal Mexican Hot Chocolate, but it has a nice kick and will warm you up on a cold day. Flavors, such as hazelnut, caramel, dark chocolate and almond, can also be added to any of the coffee drinks. Tynan also serves breakfast and lunch with quiches, waffles, biscotti, grilled cheese and even cupcakes.

Where to find it:

Address:
1275 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-408-3127

Monday - Friday: 06:00 am - 08:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 08:00 am - 03:00 pm

9. Tryst

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Aptly named, Tryst is a delightful spot to bring a date for a low-key afternoon or even to spend time catching up with an old friend. Chocolate, coffee, food cocktails 鈥� needless to say more. Located in the Adams Morgan section of Washington, D.C., Tryst opened in 1998 with the motto: "No Corporate Coffee. No Matching Silver Ware." During the day the place is often packed with people typing away on laptops. It鈥檚 not a place to just run in and grab a pastry or a cup of coffee, though. It鈥檚 waiter service, with some communal tables and an overall lovely place to hang out. Try the death by chocolate dessert waffle; a fudgy chocolate concoction topped with nutella. There鈥檚 also a chocolate layer cake, a chocolate silk tofu tart and strawberry chocolate 茅clairs to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Where to find it:

Address:
2459 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-232-5500

Working Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 06:30 am - 12:00 am
Friday - Saturday: 06:30 am - 02:00 am
Sunday: 07:00 am - 12:00 am

10. Schakolad Chocolate Factory

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Europe meets Washington, D.C. at the Schakolad Chocolate Factory in Crystal City. The name is a combination of the last name of co-founder Baruch Schaked and chocolate, but don鈥檛 worry, the shop opened way before combining celebrity names was cool. Schaked has made chocolates since the late 1960s. He began as chocolatier in Argentina, before opening up his own shop in Florida. After a long career, he wanted to retire, but his son, Edgar, had other plans and took over the business and expanded it. All of the chocolates the shop sells are made on location, but they are made in the way of traditional European chocolate. Here you鈥檒l find chocolate bars, chocolate body paint and a variety of chocolate truffles. The Schakolad Factory is located among the shops at Crystal City which makes it a perfect stop during your shopping trip.

Where to find it:

Address:
1750 Crystal Drive
Inside 1750 Crystal Shop Mall
Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: 703-504-2200

Working Hours:
Monday - Friday: 08:00 am - 08:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am - 06:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

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