Top chocolate makers and tours in Ontario
Cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, is one of nature’s greatest gifts. It’s loaded with flavanols, which are naturally occurring compounds that are powerful antioxidants. It also contains serotonin, a mood enhancer and stress reliever. And, most importantly, it tastes like a slice of heaven.
For all these reasons, we’re taking the hunt out of finding your chocolate fix. Discover the best chocolate makers at these trails, tours and shops in Toronto, Ottawa and beyond.
Ottawa Region
Chocolate Lover’s Tour with C’est Bon
Join local foodie tour company, C’est Bon, on a tasting adventure through the historic ByWard Market neighbourhood in downtown Ottawa.
Sample chocolate creations including pastries, gelato, hot chocolate and macarons in specialty shops, cafes and restaurants.
Walking tours take place on Saturdays and Sundays, and last approximately two hours. Private tours can be arranged for groups of two or more.
Location: Ottawa
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Stratford Chocolate Trail
This self-guided trail will lead your taste buds to sweet treats like hand-made truffles, chocolate honey and chocolate martinis.
Trail guides are available to purchase online or at several places in downtown Stratford, and must first be redeemed at Destination Stratford. Each package contains six vouchers for your choice of participating stops along the trail.
Stops along the trail include Black Angus Bakery, Lady Glaze Doughnuts, Rheo Thompson Candies and Rocky Mtn Chocolate. Meet the makers and sample their creations. And there’s no need to rush. The vouchers can be used over multiple days for those who really want to savour the chocolate experience.
Location: Stratford
Kawarthas and Northumberland
A Candy of a Tour in Northumberland
Set out on a customized, self-guided, two-day road trip to taste candied treats and chocolate galore from Cobourg to Campbellford.
Sample innovative, artisanal chocolate goodness at Centre and Main Chocolates in Warkworth and at the World’s Finest Chocolate Outlet in Campbellford.
More sweet and savoury stops along the way include The Big Apple in Colborne, Empire Cheese in Campbellford and the Buttermilk Café in Cobourg.
Location: Northumberland
Niagara Region
CFX Chocolate Factory
Obsessed with all things chocolate, CFX is always experimenting with new ingredients, techniques and combinations, resulting in some of the best and most unexpected assortments of chocolate products.
Sample amazing creations on the CFX Chocolate Factory Experience. Chocolate tours take place daily between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and last about half an hour, although you’ll want to make time to visit their retail store and pick up your favourite chocolate flavours. Tours are wheelchair accessible.
Location: 335 Four Mile Creek Road, St. Davids
Hershey’s Chocolate World
A visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Niagara Falls is bliss for anyone with a sweet tooth. In the store’s cafe, try signature products like Reese’s Pieces cookies and a Hershey milkshake topped with a single Hershey Kiss.
Create a mix of your favourite chocolates, pose for a picture with your favourite Hershey chocolate characters in the photo studio and shop for Hershey branded merchandise. You’ll find everything from shirts and stuffed animals to keychains and beer mugs.
Location: 5701 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls
Southeastern Ontario
Hummingbird Chocolate
Visit this award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate workshop in eastern Ontario, less than an hour west of Ottawa. Browse the retail store for a wide assortment of delicious chocolates, confections and more, including the prize-winning Hispaniola bar.
Witness the magic happen on a guided chocolate factory tour. Follow the full process, from ethical and sustainable bean sourcing to wrapping the final product and all the complex steps in between.
Tours take place every Saturday and require advance ticket reservations as space is limited.
Location: 476 Ottawa Street, Almonte
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Soma Chocolatemaker
Featuring some of the best chocolates in Toronto, Soma Chocolatemaker was voted one of the world’s top 10 chocolate shops in the world by National Geographic.
Soma chocolates started out with a facility and shop in Toronto’s distillery district and has since expanded to two stores and a factory facility in the Greater Toronto Area.
Sample and shop in one of their boutiques or visit the chocolate factory for special workshops and chocolate tastings.
Locations:
Distillery shop, 32 Tank House Lane, Toronto
King Street shop, 443 King Street West, Toronto
Cacao Bean Lab, 77 Brock Avenue, Toronto
Southwestern Ontario
Habitual Chocolate
Located almost exactly halfway between Waterloo and London, Habitual Chocolate is home to Canada’s largest selection of handcrafted, artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate.
Discover treats like chocolate-dipped fruit, delicious hot chocolate and an assortment of vegan options.
Location: 389 Dundas Street, Woodstock
Annies Chocolates
Annies Chocolates is a family-owned and operated business that was born from a special recipe book handed down in the family for over a century.
Signature treats include handmade chocolates, fudge, candies and butter tarts.
Locations:
Shop, 1700 Hyde Park Road, London
Factory, 15875 Robins Hill Road, Unit 4, London
Northern Ontario
Raven Rising Global Indigenous Chocolates
Raven Rising started out as an e-commerce business but has recently opened its doors to a downtown Sudbury shop.
Chef and owner Tammy Maki embraces her Indigenous heritage and love of confectionery by creating delicious and innovative chocolate treats using Indigenous ingredients like haskap berries and wild rice.
Location: 66 Cedar Street, Sudbury
Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound
The Nutty Chocolatier Co. Ltd
Muskoka’s favourite chocolate stop supplies the best Belgian chocolates and handmade truffles as well as an array of candies and ice cream flavours. Other locations in the province include Toronto and Port Perry.
Location: 65 Main Street East, Huntsville
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
Chocolate Sensations
Get your fill of chocolate-dipped blueberries, truffles, mint sensations, artisan chocolate bars, chocolate-covered nuts, chewy caramels, saltwater taffy and more.
This family-owned and operated shop first opened in Paris, Ontario, but the business has expanded to a second location in Ancaster.
Location: 89 Grand River Street North, Paris
Chocolate Tales
Treat yourself or a loved one to irresistible chocolate bark, salted caramels, truffles or chocolate bombs.
Using the best quality beans and Belgian chocolate from growers with fair trade practices, Chocolate Tales—Experience Taste creates an array of chocolates for everyone, including vegan, keto-friendly, diabetic-friendly and sugar-free options. All products are nut-free.
Master the skill of crafting your own chocolate at in-person chocolate making classes.
Locations:
430 York Boulevard, Hamilton
100 Marmora Street #200, North York
York, Durham and Headwaters
Williams Chocolate
A wide variety of unique and novelty chocolate molds and designs at Williams are a big hit for special holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The traditional handcrafted Belgian-style chocolate is a perfect gift for the chocolate lover in your life any time of year.
Location: 460 Hopkins Street, Whitby
Last updated: February 21, 2024