Escazú Artisan Chocolates

I think I may be addicted to the chocolate covered marshmallows! Order one of these!
A few of my favorites truffles which were reasonably priced:
Dulce de Leche
Milk Chocolate with Honey & Chamomile
Honey and Cinnamon Caramel
Can’t wait to visit again, I loved this chocolate stop! Friendly staff, amazing chocolate. now go visit!

What a lovely little chocolatier! I was immediately transported to Peru when I stopped by here. The chocolate tastes just like it does in the Andes!
Also tried the flavored hot cocoa, would highly recommend the Spain or Peanut Butter.
Staff is really sweet and prices are fair. Take a bar to go while you’re grabbing truffles!

It’s date night and my husband suggest chocolate. I was reluctant to comeback here, but glad we did. The staff warmly greeted us and helped us make our chocolate selection and then politely let us enjoy each other. Wonderful chocolate by the way.

This is probably my favorite chocolate place in the triangle area. I love that they grind their own cacao beans and make the chocolate at the location. The shop itself is pretty small, so a lot of people just come and get their chocolates to go. One of my favorite parts of coming here is trying their different flavors and seeing their new designs on the truffles. The chocolates and the flavors are good, but I love it more for their beautiful colors and designs. Can’t wait to go back on a special occasion with my husband to get more truffles.

I’ve had Belgian, French, Swiss and proud American chocolates but you don’t need to be a connoisseur and trust me a real chocolate connoisseur won’t bat an eyelash on this one. It’s maybe the word «Artisan» on the title that throws them off? And justify the owners by charging an arm and a leg for a chocolate that has only bitter as its dominant taste. It’s not complex, it’s pretty harsh and straightforward on the palate. I have had dark chocolate before but their selection didn’t cut it in my list.
Further, since they grind their own beans and make their chocolates in the facility I was expecting a pleasant rich chocolate trail when we came in but that too is harsh on the nose as well. That should have been a warning. Note: Their Valentine’s Day box was a joke as well as their Freshly Made ones. Sad.
Their regular hot chocolate is plain tasting, Swiss Miss would have tasted richer and better. Their Chocolate Chai is decent, still lacking the chocolate and chai tea taste. Don’t even dare to try their France historic Hot Chocolate, it seems like there’s a dirty sock being steep in the water that they’re using, no hint of chocolate taste at all. DISGUSTING! My husband couldn’t take another sip and had to throw it out. That sums it all up!
The 3 stars is solely for the fact that it’s a small business. They need to work on their customer service, the lady taking the order was snotty making the process the further more annoying. the place is too tight and ordering is very confusing esp. If you’re ordering both their chocolates and/​or coffee or hot chocolate.

Spent a weekend in Raleigh visiting from out of state. We had dinner next door at the Stanbury and came to Escazu afterwards for dessert. I cannot say enough about how delicious this chocolate was. We got a selection of chocolates, with great help from the staff. They also showed us their in house grinder (seen through a window) and gave us a rundown on where they get their beans, how they roast them, etc. It was fascinating and their product shows their genuine commitment to their craft. Absolutely fantastic — don’t miss out on this great shop.

Escazu chocolates is my favorite specialty chocolate shop in the triangle (and I’ve done my best to try all of them). They have everything from white chocolate to 84% cocoa chocolate and it is all wonderful. They make the best truffles, some of which even have mixed drinks in the center. They also have a very good straight up chocolate bars and absolutely delicious hot chocolate drinks. I’m partial to their historical hot chocolate drinks, which are made from recipes from the 1600s, and made with water instead of milk. I took away a star for the lack of parking and the confusing store layout. It’s easy to get in the line for truffles when all you want is a chocolate bar or some hot chocolate. I think they are just outgrowing their space and need to either work on a better flow through the shop or move to someplace bigger.

So, so, sooooo so good.
Everything they put out is high quality stuff. The coffee is counter culture, the hot chocolate drinks are unique, and the ice cream push up pops are perfect for kids that you don’t want to waste $ 2 per truffle on.
The truffles are amazing… You could literally blind pick 5 truffles and every one would be delicious. I had a nearly impossible time choosing 3. I’ve had theirs before, so I’m saving these for a rainy day, but I’m so excited especially to try my sweet tea and ginger truffle. Their liquor truffles are perfection. Just the right amount of alcohol to taste it but you’d have to eat a bunch to get buzzy.
The spicy hot chocolate is a must for first timers! The mocha was good, too.
Value wise, it’s pricy but worth the splurge on occasion. Our order of 6 truffles, two chocolate drinks, and 2 push up bars came to just under $ 30. Not bad for our fancy after-​symphony treat.

This is one of my favorite places in Raleigh. Amazing chocolates! Great selection of seasonal truffles in addition to delicious housemade hot chocolates and ice cream push pops. They also brew Counter Culture coffee drinks and sell chocolate bars and a few local products (Big Spoon nut butters!) and cookbooks.

Serendipity… I just went to Costa Rica few weeks ago, and went to an area in San Jose called Escazú (not the actual Escazú) and also to a town called Guapiles. I used Google Maps while I was there, so i guess the smart GOOGLE app remembered these names and when I got back to Raleigh, Google mapped me «Escazú»… I was confused when I realized it was actually showing me an Escazú place in RALEIGH and not on Costa Rica, so I had to try it. and…
WOW! No words for this, this is a hidden gem in Raleigh (really a gem, and really hidden), and just another small reason why Raleigh is one of the best places to live! Is simply magical… Artisan chocolate is being milled right there, and you have from fancy small chocolate treats, to ice cream and chocolate beverages out of this world! And the people is so great and helpful…
I have added this place to my list of «places of interest» and will be taking every visitor here… I guess this winter I would be here a lot!

Delicious desserts! I love the Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate and their ever changing selections of Chocolates. Ask for an extra honey in the PB Hot Chocolate! The Pink Pepper and White Chocolate is a must! Things can go experimental like the Strawberry Balsamic Chocolate, but try for a yummy treat! The alcohol infused ones are strong and more on the side of a dark chocolate than a milky, sweet morsel. There is even ice cream and Spicy Chocolate is a good one to try.
Depending on the day you go, staff may range from courteous to apathetic. Some even just stay in the back and shut the door to the back when they see you. I thought they just didn’t want you to see the chocolate and the mess and whatnot, but having dealt with them as people selling up front, I am not a fan.
So overall, chocolates and other treats are swell! But beware of staff and owners interacting with you!

What a magical find! My friend and I were waiting for a table at Stanbury’s next door and meandered to Escazu to kill time. However, our stay at Escazu turned out to be one of the biggest food/​drink highlights of the night. As a lactose-​intolerant individual, chocolate and hot chocolate usually hold little appeal. However, this restaurant serves numerous types of lactose-​free drinks, including contemporary hot chocolates and most interestingly, historically accurate hot chocolates (cacaos) made from recipes of the 1500s onward. At the recommendation of the friendly, chatty barista, I ordered a Spain 1549, which was a spicy combination of cocoa, vanilla, star anise, cinnamon, cornmeal, almond, hazelnuts, guajillo, pasilla chilies, and water. It wasn’t overly sweet and had a thick, wholesome texture that required sipping to savor its rich flavor. Other hot chocolates include France and Italy, although it appears that the menu evolves over time.
Escazu also sells other high-​quality chocolate bars, confections, teas, and house-​made push up ice creams of both the normal and lactose-​free varieties.
I look forward to visiting again soon on my next trip to Raleigh, and all you choco-​lovers out there, I hope that you do the same!

This place is so cute and quaint. We both had the spicy chocolate ice cream push pops. SO good! In addition they had an adorable assortment of decadent chocolates and coffee drinks.

This is my favorite place to get something sweet, hands-​down. Don’t be afraid to get adventurous with what you try!
The staff is so excited to guide you through the various chocolates on hand that day, though you really can’t go wrong with any of your choices. We made our own sampling dish of five chocolates, then sat at the window and happily tested them all, sipping cold water in between and watching the sun set. The décor is fresh, clean, and peaceful.
We were in the mood for caramels, though there are plenty of other options.
Here’s what we had:
+ Ham & biscuit chocolate — open with a savory bang, right? Don’t be afraid of how out-​there their creations may sound, they are absolute delights — buttery chocolate leads you to a bit of ham flavor and some biscuit crunch.
+ Honey caramel — very flavorful but VERY sweet, so consider yourself warned.
+ Blueberry — this is a deep, seductive flavor, slightly tart and very subtle.
+ Coconut caramel — I think this is the perfect caramel, with smooth flavor but the texture of coconut, whose flavor also helps offset some of the caramel sweetness. I could eat an entire box of these in one sitting.
+ Chocolate marshmallow — ok, I would never have picked this, but my friend did because he loves marshmallows… and I’m glad of it, because this had the perfect texture and a kiss of vanilla to it. What a great way to end our little tasting.
I can’t wait to see what they do as the months get colder, both with their chocolate pieces as well as with hot chocolate.

A-​MA-​ZING! Is this stuff legal?!? If you’re a Raleigh resident or you’re just visiting The City of Oaks, you would be remiss if you don’t visit Escazu. It’s simply the best chocolate in the triangle.

Yum yum yum! This place has some very high quality chocolates.
Very hard to find if you are unfamiliar with the area and when you get there you are probably asking yourself if you are in the right place. Just keep going, delicious chocolates await.
When we got in we explained to the girl behind he counter that we had never been. She proceeded to be super helpful and explain what they were all about, how their chocolate differs from other brands, and what she would recommend for us based on our likes and dislikes. She was awesome! We settled on two chocolates and one push pop. Yes, a push pop! They make ice cream with their chocolate and put it in old school push pos so we got a rock road one. Literally some of the best cchocolate ice cream I have ever had.
It is a little pricy but it’s totally worth it and you can tell you are getting a quality product. Can’t wait to go back!

The best chocolate shops aren’t just found in Europe and South America. You can find good chocolate shops in the United States too!
Take Escazu for example. They won an award for their basil chocolate. It was perhaps my favorite chocolate that I tried at Escazu. It tasted like pesto sauce with a chocolate-​y texture. It was delicious.
I also tried their pistachio chocolate. It tasted like a Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolate, but with the flavor of pistachios.
Their dark goat’s milk chocolate is delicious as well. I bought a bar back from Raleigh to share among my household when I learned that this is one of their best-​selling chocolate bars.

No doubt. Excellent, friendly service. Very knowledgeable staff.

I first stopped in Escazu for my roommate’s birthday present. I picked out a couple of chocolate truffles for her and she absolutely love it. Not only because the chocolate here are delicious, but because every piece also double as an art. They are not overly sweet and they are so delicate. It’s such a indulgent experience. This made the truffles a great gift or treats for yourself! They change their menus depending on the ingredients. It’s a good idea to take a picture of the display because I often forget which ones I got. Though it’s also fun to let every truffle be a little surprise!
They also sell bars of chocolate which are very good as well. I haven’t try all of them yet, but the ones I’ve had are all very good.
I recently tried their hot chocolate and they are such a treat! My roommate got the hot chocolate with chipotle chili added and I got the peanut butter one. The peanut butter one was very peanuty with bits of peanut pieces in it. The hot chipotle chili one had a nice kick to it. I would ask for a stirring stick to go with it because it could get a bit spicy at the end as the spices sink to the bottom. We definitely want to come back and try their other hot chocolate options!
They also have some local products such as nut butter and jewelry in their store for sell. I have not tried any of them, but it’s great to see local business helping each other!
Great local gem. Treat yourself out to Escazu already!

A special place with that hidden-​gem quality. It’s a fairly tiny shop inside, but there are still some seats in which you can linger over a hot cocoa for a time. The place (naturally) smells like heaven and a half when you walk in the door, with the added bonus of making you forget all your worries and cares. I came here with two friends after a chilly round of pecan-​picking and a hot chocolate was most definitely in order.
I stopped reading the menu after «peanut butter hot chocolate», while my friends were a bit more adventurous and opted for the original hot chocolates from Spain and France. Mmmmmm — WOW. The peanut butter cocoa was the drink form of waking up on a snowy cold day with no responsibilities and your toes firmly tucked into a snuggly soft blanket. My friends made excellent choices as well, from what I sampled — the France had a delicious spiciness to it that I hadn’t anticipated liking, but seemed more than appropriate for the flavor. Unlike some other places churning out cocoa for the masses, Escazu customized our drinks such that there was no problem distinguishing between the three.
The interior of the room is beautiful and well-​lit but there seemed to be a lot of extra bugs flying around (possibly because of the dried flower arrangements on the tables). I wished they had a greater selection of chocolate-​flavored things — they do have a handy selection of bars along with some almond/​nut butters, but the truffles themselves are sold by the piece. With the holidays coming up, it’d be great to have some displays already out there.
Most definitely a hit off the beaten track, but a perfect choice for a chilly Saturday afternoon with good company :)

An impressive showing from one of Raleigh’s two great artisanal chocolate makers. Thoughtfully sourced single origin cacao beans are roasted and conched on premises; the stone conching wheel is visible behind a glass window when candymaking is in progress. Their truffles are amazing, with fresh local ingredients seasonally on tap to create some delicious and creative flavor combinations.
I particularly love the olive oil and cracked black pepper truffle, a fall and winter seasonal due to its delicacy at higher temperatures, but featured flavors have included things like curry spice, lime leaf, elderberry, star anise, passionfruit and goat milk caramel.
The coffee and hot chocolate sipping bar is also worth a mention, featuring freshly roasted CounterCulture coffee and delicious house made historical sipping chocolate mixes. Definitely recommend as a tasty stop when you’re in the neighborhood!
Pro tip: the lines are literally out the door on major holidays; order in advance or online on their site unless you want to wait.

Just seeing the chocolate is 5 stars. It’s hard to believe someone can make a candy that looks like a rock or a piece of jewelery.
The chocolate drinks were a little over the top but still pretty awesome.
The staff was helpful and welcoming.
The candy is on the expensive side, but once you see and taste you’ll see it’s worth it. You only a need a little bit to be satisfied.

Little cute spot!
Most cute chocolates are 2.5−3USD. I picked cherry one. Good. Coconut chocolate popsicle is 3.5USD. Amazing! I can eat as many as they have.
The staff look supra tired. They didn’t smile at all. Too hard working to make good stuff?!
Parking lot is in front of the shop.

Chocolate at its best. BEST.
First you have to find the place. If you’re unfamiliar with this area, GPS is your friend. Just expect the unexpected as it is in the middle of a residential area near downtown. Ignore the bad parking lot. It is irrelevant, although annoying. Doesn’t matter. Go in. Breathe in the enticing chocolate aroma that immediately embraces you.
Now it’s up to you to select from the amazing selection of artisan chocolates. I found a perfect selection for Husband’s birthday, plus one for me (which didn’t even make it out the door). Small box full plus my one blissful spicy lemon one was around $ 16. Sooooo worth it. Husband has only just now started enjoying his gift. Tonight he ooh’d and ahh’d over the strawberry balsamic and the dulche du leche caramel.
Note: They sell other chocolate things such as drinks and I saw a sign for ice cream. Honestly though, I didn’t pay much attention to what else they had. I was pretty focused on those amazing chocolates.

Es-​Cuh-​Zoo. (My apologies for mispronouncing it all these years!) What a delightful little array of treats. Last night = second visit and enjoyable couple of hours.
I was enticed by my my friend’s and my mutual need to «sip the historic hot chocolate» as per the «Winter Bucket List» on Offline —
My selection: France, 1692. My friend got the Spain, as per recommendation from Offline, but I went to Paris last June so I had to go with the France.
Description: A more refined drinking chocolate, based on a published recipe declaring it «The King of Chocolate.» Lightly sweetened with cane sugar. Cinnamon, cloves, indian chili & vanilla bean.
It sure took a while to cool down, but boy was it worth the wait! At $ 3.75 a cup, it’s definitely a treat. Mine was an «early dinner,» but perfect and just what the doctor (or my good girlfriend) ordered. We each picked up a bar of The Sea Salt Bar to take home too. $ 5.50.
I once received a box of truffles from Escazu too. Pricey, but pretty little gems almost hard to eat because of how unique and fun-​looking they are. Once you take a bite, you’ll be surprised and happy though.
Delightful, relaxing atmosphere off Blount St. near Peace College in downtown Raleigh. Highly recommend it.
My only warning: parking is limited so look around on the surrounding streets because the parking lot is very small and shares with Stanbury next door.

Escazu is one of the best kept secrets in Raleigh. Hidden in the Mordecai neighborhood in downtown Raleigh, this chocolatier boasts some of the best made chocolate in the world… no joke. Their building is quite hidden, but the flavor sure is not. Luckily, many local restaurants, bars, and gift shops carry their chocolate bars, and I was lucky enough to find one at Foundation. The bartender said they usually carry a few different kinds, but they only had the goat’s milk chocolate bar that night. I’m not usually a fan of goat’s milk, but my god, this choclate bar was heavenly! Though it was ~60% cacao, the bar was delightfully milky and sweet, and it had a hint of goat’s milk flavor but it wasn’t overwhelming. Wow!
I visited their store a few weeks ago to purchase some chocolates for a coworker’s birthday. When you walk in, the delicious aroma almost melts you in your tracks :) They have a few local goodies– a few Holly Aiken wallets, some other locally printed tshirts and cards. They have about 6 – 8 kinds of chocolate bars that are $ 6/​each, and they have a wonderful and beautiful array of chocolates that are truly pieces of art. Each chocolate is carefully designed and decorated, and the flavor is out of this world! I’ve tried the mint, dark chocolate ganache, lyche, muscadine, lime & chili, and some kind of liquor chocolate… yum yum yum. And yum.
Please go to Escazu, if you know what’s good for you… your palate deserves it, and it’s a wonderful gift to anyone!

I went out of my way go here after reading the rave reviews. I can’t resist chocolate, and gourmet chocolates are even better!
It was a bit difficult to find. My GPS did not accurately give us the correct location. So if you’re using one, it gets you to the general location, but once you get close, you may need to go by the house numbers. It is a small, unassuming little place amongst a neighborhood and between houses.
I got assorted individual chocolates (priced from $ 1.25−2.75) and two chocolate bars (chipotle chile and vanilla, and pumpkin seeds and guajillo chile)(priced between $ 5.50−6). Everything was extremely delicious. My favorite was the chocolate bar with pumpkin seeds. I never had a chocolate bar with pumpkin seeds before. Probably the best chocolate bar I ever had. I will definitely make an effort to go here next time I am in Raleigh.