Chocolate is practically an entire food group in my book, and why I work out daily. If you’re itching to get your chocolate fix, skip the typical bland chocolate bars available at the local convenience stores in Korea and take a stroll to one of these fine chocolate shops in Seoul.
Considering that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, this is the perfect time to try out some new chocolate shops in Seoul to treat yourself or a loved one to a sweet gift. I’m very much in the camp of there’s always a good reason to buy yourself a box of chocolate truffles, so don’t wait for the holidays!
Many small chocolate shops do tend to run out — gasp! — of chocolates in Seoul around big holidays like Valentine’s Day or White Day. I suggest following them on Instagram to see when preorders start — usually about a week before — to reserve any special themed sets.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated a bit differently here as Valentine’s Day in Korea is when the men receive the gifts and the men are supposed to reciprocate with gifts to women on White Day which falls on March 14th. I personally don’t take it that seriously and never have while living in the United States.
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Where to Buy Chocolate in Seoul
Chocolatique
Chocolatique is a sweet little chocolate shop in Yeonhui-dong that offers an assortment of cookies, chocolate truffles, and a hot cocoa kit. You can also purchase their products online.
Chocolatique Address: 17-18 Yeonhuimat-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (서울 서대문구 연희맛로 17-18)
Piaf Artisan Chocolatier
Piaf is good. As you may have guessed, the name was inspired by the singer, Edith Piaf. Since I live in Gangnam, this is one of the chocolate shops that I tend to pop by when I’m in Sinsa-dong. They do limited edition sets for major holidays that are available for preorder, but you have to watch their Instagram and/or Naver Blog closely to see when they’ll drop as the preorder window closes fast. Their Pepero Day (11/11) limited edition set was brilliant, and if the owner is reading this, please bring it back!
Piaf Address: 1st floor, 27-3, Apgujeong-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 압구정로4길 27-3 1층)
Chocolate DJ
Chocolate DJ makes some very intriguing chocolates like chartreuse-infused or whiskey-infused chocolates. There is also a liquor and chocolate tasting course that you can enjoy with a friend or on a date, in case you’re looking for something just a bit out of the ordinary.
Chocolate DJ Address: Room 114, 20, Sajik-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 사직로8길 20 114호)
Läderach
Läderach is a Swiss chocolatier that is based in Ennenda, Switzerland. If you can’t make it to their store, you can order online and have it delivered. All I can say about Swiss chocolate is that I spent four days in Geneva once, and I just remember eating my body’s weight worth of chocolate. It was worth it. Anyhow, this is a solid option if you’re craving European chocolates.
Läderach Apgujeong Address: 865, Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 논현로 865)
Läderach Seoul Finance Center Address: Seoul Finance Center B1, 136 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 세종대로 136 서울파이낸스센터 지하1층)
Patisserie Classique
If you’re looking for whole cakes and drip coffee to feast on, Patisserie Classique is a great option. The chocolat noir cake is a beauty.
Patisserie Classique Address: 28, Usadan-ro 4-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 우사단로4길 28)
Ancien
Ancien Chocolatier is a handmade chocolate shop that uses premium French Valrhona cacao. They offer an assortment of chocolate truffles, caramel, chocolate bark, gelato, and fruit herbal tea.
Ancien Address: 5, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 계동길 5)
17 Degrees
17 Degrees or 17도씨 is a small café that is named after the optimal temperature for chocolate bonbons and offers an assortment of hot chocolate, bonbons, tarts, mocha latte, and chocolate shaved ice (bingsoo).
17 Degrees Address: 1st floor, 38, Donggyo-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 동교로29길 38 1층)
Theo
Theo is a chocolate specialty store and cafe in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. They also offer vegan dark chocolate options like their sugar-free dark chocolate bar and sugar-free vegan chocolate spread which can be ordered directly online.
Theo Address: 9-2, Bankjeong-ro 3-gil, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (서울 양천구 은행정로3길 9-2)
Teuscher
More Swiss chocolates in Seoul? Yes, please! Right now, there’s only one offline Teuscher boutique. The location of the Teuscher Boutique may be a bit confusing since it is located where the exhibitions are held at the Coex Starfield Mall in Gangnam, Seoul. You can also purchase chocolate boxes online!
Teuscher Address: First Floor of the COEX MALL, B002, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 영동대로 513 B002)
Cacao Dada
Cacaodada in Mapo-gu is a bean-to-bar chocolate shop with award-winning, single-origin chocolates. You can learn more about the shop and its chocolate-making process in this article by the Korea Herald.
Cacao Dada Address: 102, 15 Huiwoojeong-ro 10-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 희우정로10길 15 102호)
Godiva
There are Godiva stores literally everywhere, so I’ve linked the Garosu-gil flagship in Sinsa-dong. If you haven’t heard of Godiva, you may have been living under a rock. If you need a list of all their locations in South Korea, you can visit this link.
Godiva Garosu-gil Flagship Address: Godiva, 46 Garosu-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 가로수길 46 고디바)
Leonidas
Famous Belgian chocolates, Leonidas, have one little boutique in Myeongdong, but you can also purchase many of their chocolates online.
Leonidas Address: 62, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동길 62)
Pavé Cafe
You see this type of chocolate frequently in Asia, popularized by the Swiss pavé de Genève or Japanese nama chocolate. These magic cubes of chocolate and a dusting of cacao powder can also be customized with lettering for special events. You can reserve chocolates through Naver Reservation, detailed in this blog post. They also offer chocolate-making classes for children or adults.
Pavé (빠베) Address: 2nd floor, general shopping mall, 198, Junggye-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul (서울 노원구 중계로 198 종합상가 2층)
Nibbles Seoul
Nibbles offers beautifully-packaged, colorful, and unique chocolates. Their café is between Apgujeong Station and Sinsa Station, so if you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth dropping by. You can’t seem to buy much in terms of actual chocolates online, but you can buy some logo merch on their Naver Store.
Nibbles (니블스) Address: 103, 57, Nonhyeon-ro 161-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 논현로161길 57 103호)
Jubilee Chocolatier
Jubilee Chocolatier is a cafe and chocolate shop that offers an assortment of sweet treats, including cookies, frappés, and of course, chocolate truffles. You can also purchase their handmade chocolates online.
Jubilee Yeouido Address: 1st floor, 24, Gukjegeumyung-ro 2-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울 영등포구 국제금융로2길 24 1층)
Jubilee Gangnam Address: Songam Building III, 441 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울 강남구 테헤란로 441 송암빌딩 III)
La Petite Maison
This handmade chocolate shop and café is run by a chef who trained at the famous French culinary school, l’École Lenôtre. Besides chocolates, you can also purchase cakes and macarons!
La Petite Maison (라쁘띠메종 초콜릿전문점) Address: 1st floor, 25, Hangang-daero 52-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울 용산구 한강대로52길 25 1층)
Mirabeau Chocolat
Mirabeau is a great little chocolate café and shop, run by a chocolatier who studied at l’École Valrhona and Lenotre. They sell a variety of chocolate bonbons, nuts, and other sweets. The second floor of the café also offers a view of hanok-style houses and Mount Bukak. Their chocolates can also be ordered online!
Mirabeau Address: 6, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 자하문로5길 6)
Toudou
Of course, this French handmade chocolate shop is in Seorae Village, the French village of Seoul! The quality of the chocolate designs is truly beautiful, and it is dangerously close to an area that I stroll through from time to time.
Toudou Address: 5, Seorae-ro 5-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울 서초구 서래로5길 5)
Ganache Blette
Ganache Blette is a chocolate shop and cafe located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Besides the delicious assortment of truffles, whipped-cream topped coffee, and cakes, the owner also holds baking classes.
Ganache Blette (가나슈블랫) Address: 93-7, Donggyo-ro 27-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 동교로27길 93-7)
Jung’s Chocolate
You can purchase some beautiful floral-themed, handmade chocolates at Jung’s Chocolate in Mapo-gu. Want a bouquet of roses made of chocolate? They got you.
Jung’s Chocolate Address: 6-8, Yeonnam-ro 5-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 연남로5길 6-8)
Guylian
Another famous Belgian chocolate shop has set up a cafe in Seoul, South Korea, at the popular Lotte Mall in Songpa-gu. You can find their exact location (with a map) on their website. They don’t sell directly online, but it’s still fairly easy to find their chocolate seashells just about everywhere.
Guylian Cafe Lotte Mall Address: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울 송파구 올림픽로 300)
L’Éclat Chocolate
You can purchase an assortment of pecan pies, cookies, and handmade chocolates at L’Éclat in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Online ordering and delivery is available, as well as chocolate-making and baking classes in their offline store.
L’Éclat (레끌라) Address: LECLAT, 2nd floor, 266-6, Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울 마포구 동교로 266-6 2층 LECLAT)
Where to Buy Chocolates in Incheon
Armeria Chocolat
Armeria Chocolat is not actually in Seoul but in Incheon. I felt it was worth mentioning as these chocolates can be ordered online and are so pretty!
Armeria Address: 2nd floor, Canal Walk Bom-dong, 149 Art Center-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon ARMERIA (인천 연수구 아트센터대로 149 커낼워크 봄동 2층 ARMERIA)
Chocolate Events in Seoul
Though many public events in Seoul and around the world were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s worth bookmarking the Salon du Chocolat trade fair, held annually in Seoul at the Coex Mall Exhibition Center.
Keep in mind that it is the Coex Exhibition Center, so festival — in my opinion — is a bit of a misnomer. It really is a trade fair. I have attended a few for work purposes when we’ve had to set up a booth to represent our company for interested B2B buyers. Still, I think it is a wonderful opportunity to check out what products are available in South Korea and snag some samples. The chocolate industry in South Korea has come a long way.
Whether or not we’ll see another cancellation this year depends on the government’s social distancing restrictions and the state of the pandemic. I guess there’s always next year, hopefully?
Salon du Chocolat
Salon du Chocolat is a chocolate trade fair, held internationally in 20 cities in 11 countries, starting with France. Salon du Chocolat encompasses all chocolate-related products and technologies, including chocolatiers and patissiers, ice cream makers, producers, chocolate manufacturers, raw cocoa producers, educators, and books.
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Loved your article and selection of chocolate shops in Seoul. Found this while searching out a teacher at Valrhona Chocolate School in New York that I might attend. I particularly fell in love with CocoaDada. Makes me want to visit Seoul just for r the chocolate.
Thanks for reading! It’s a fun little list for a city not typically known for its chocolate. Seoul is definitely worth a visit!