Valentine’s Day is coming, and you can do better than a box of chocolates you grabbed for cheap at the grocery store.
From high-end stores in Boston to hidden-gem artisans out west, Massachusetts is filled with amazing chocolate shops.
Ordering online this close to Valentine’s Day can be dicey. So if you’re in the market for something sweet that will blow someone away, there’s probably an awesome spot close to you.
Here are 14 spots you should check out:
Does chocolate taste better knowing it came from a place called the “Candy Mansion?” I can’t prove it. But I’m convinced that it does.
For more than 100 years, Hebert has been a Central Mass. candy institution. Many folks may know them for the chocolate bars found in fundraisers and grocery stores. But they also make some amazing high-end chocolates.
They’ve got a wide variety, from fudge and truffles to chocolate-covered pretzels and Oreos. For the purest chocolate experience, get their Genevas, which are simple squares that largely avoid fillings to let the pure chocolate flavor shine.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
L.A. Burdick, multiple locations (Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Walpole)
If you’re looking for high-end chocolate, L.A. Burdick is what you’re looking for. Since 1987, L.A. Burdick has been creating some of Boston’s most sought-after chocolates.
Their stuff is much easier to get these days. But they do come with a hefty price tag.
L.A. Burdick makes some amazing assortment boxes, but their most iconic offering is their chocolate mice.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Mrs. Nelson’s Candy House is the perfect combination of having welcoming, old-school charm while being a low-key legend.
The candy shop is a local institution known for its high-quality chocolate. But the shop’s renown has popped up in some high-profile places.
Owner Arthur Mapes told the Lowell Sun that the Rockefeller family has been ordering from them for “30 to 40 years.”
Meanwhile, the Candy House made a cameo in the background of “The Simpsons,” thanks to illustrators Lance Wilder and John Kraus, who grew up in Chelmsford.
More info: Website | Instagram
Cacao, multiple locations (Newton Highlands and Boston’s South End)
Cacao is a sleek shop with vibes similar to a trendy coffee bar. That’s because they serve some of the best hot chocolate in Massachusetts.
While they’re best known for their drinking chocolate, Cacao also has some top-notch chocolates, bark, truffles and bonbons.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Since 1954, Richardson’s has been a chocolate institution in Deerfield. The longtime shop is famous for its huge selection of candy and chocolate. But there’s one item that’s drawn national attention — its “Dixies.”
Dixies are similar to what most places call chocolate turtles (caramel and nuts covered in chocolate). In 2010, Food Network chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli highlighted it as a must-have confection on the show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.”
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Chocolate Therapy, Wayland
Chocolate Therapy makes some of the most visually stunning chocolate truffles I’ve ever seen.
They also have some amazing flavor combinations like “Vitamin C” (blood orange, lemon and lime), “The Cure” (cinnamon, cayenne and bay leaf) and Strawberry Modena (chocolate, strawberry and balsamic vinegar).
Chocolate Therapy got a huge lift in 2024 when it was featured as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things.”
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Chocolate Springs Cafe, Lenox
The Berkshires always have some hidden gems. Chocolate Springs is one of them.
The cafe features amazing chocolate bundles full of inspired flavors and beautiful designs.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Goodnow Farms is a small operation that’s quietly become one of the most-awarded chocolate makers in America.
They specialize in high-end bean-to-bar chocolate that emphasizes the natural flavors of the cacao bean.
As a result, they’re pretty expensive. They also don’t have a physical storefront. But you can get all their stuff at our next pick.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Duck Soup is an anomaly on this list. They’re mostly a general store that keeps an eclectic and colorful variety of goods on their shelves. That includes some amazing chocolate finds. They regularly feature Goodnow Farms chocolate and sweets from Dante Confections in North Billerica.
Duck Soup does actually make some chocolate products in-house. The store doubles as a chocolate factory where the Sky Bar is produced.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Läderach, in Boston’s Prudential Center
If you’re looking for legendary imported chocolate, check out the Läderach outlet at the Prudential Center.
Läderach is an acclaimed Swiss chocolate maker that makes exceptional truffles, barks and pralines.
The price tag here is going to be a bit high. But this is a great choice if you’re looking for something more worldly and luxurious.
More info: Website
Harbor Sweets, multiple locations (Salem, Beverly, Boston)
Harbor Sweets is a North Shore institution that has a wide variety of sweet options. They’re famous for their “Sloops,” sailboat-shaped pieces of almond toffee covered in white chocolate.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Worcester Public Market
The Worcester Public Market actually offers a few places for chocolate.
First, we’ve got Bri’s Sweet Treats, which has some jaw-dropping confections like a quarter-pound Dubai chocolate cup and smashable chocolates that feature treasures inside.
Next, there’s Sweet Pan Gourmet, which is famous for its brigadeiros, a Brazilian-inspired chocolate truffle.
If that’s not enough, you can also check out Market Pantry, which has a wide selection of local goods, including plenty of chocolates.
Bri’s Sweet Treats: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Sweet Pan: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Market Pantry: Website
Hilliards Chocolates, multiple locations (North Easton, Norwell, Mansfield, West Newton)
Hilliards Chocolates is a chocolate powerhouse with four locations, a huge selection and over 100 years of history.
Founded in 1924, Hilliards offers everything from chocolate bars and assortments to chocolate-covered Twinkies and craft beer caramels. They also make their own “chocolate jimmies” in-house.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Firetype Chocolates, Northampton
Tucked away in Thorne’s Marketplace, Firetype Chocolate is a hidden gem of a chocolate shop. They made headlines in 2024 when their Passion Fruit Caramel was named a Good Food Awards winner.
They offer a wide variety of chocolates, including vegan options. You can also get honeycomb toffee and homemade Twix bars. But you’d better act fast if you want to get one of their stunning Valentine’s Day assortment boxes.
More info: Website | Facebook | Instagram
