The best chocolate shops in KL

Looking for chocolates with a Malaysian twist? Artisanal chocolate maker Cocoraw has what you’re looking for at their Bangsar pop-up store, Cocodash. Run by Michael Woo and Lee See Pin, Cocoraw started in early-2016 as an online store that sold nama-style chocolates in two variants: dark or milk. They’ve now expanded that range to include flavours like salted gula Melaka, Ipoh White Coffee, teh tarik, Gin & Limau Nipis (chocolate made with gin and lime), The Alcoholic Anon (chocolate made with sweet rum) and other seasonal specials. The chocolates are priced from RM19 for a box of 12 pieces, and RM30 for a box of 24 pieces. The pop-up store is expected to open until October 2018.

Located inside MyTOWN Shopping Centre is The Dark Gallery, a chocolate boutique and café specialising in artisanal dark chocolate desserts. The selection here includes an enviable collection of single origin variants from around the world.

Start by ordering the tasting platter, which comprises at least three items of varying cacao percentages, and you can choose either the platter of hot chocolate shots, chocolate pastries, dark chocolate ice cream, or if you want to try everything, the chocolate medley (which has a scoop of ice cream, a hot chocolate shot and a pastry).

This chocolate boutique shop in Isetan The Japan Store  specialises in bean-to-bar chocolate using beans from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Made by Chef Shunsuke Saegusa from Palet D’Or, the chocolates here rivals some of Europe's best. Aside from the selection of single-origin chocolate bars, there is also a range of chocolate bon-bons that range from classic flavours like strawberry, passion fruit and mango, to the more exotic Asian flavours like sakura, yuzu and Sarawak pepper.  

Chocolate Concierge uses single origin cacao beans from countries such as Costa Rica, Bolivia and Ecuador, and turns them into pralines, handpiped truffles, brittles and more. The shop prides itself on fresh ingredients, as evidenced in the Mint Leaves Dark Ganache praline which uses, well, fresh mint. If you’re unsure of what to get, ask for samples from the staff who will also gladly share their expertise.

Meanwhile, the pralines at Pierre Ledent are like edible art – just look at the intricate designs on the chocolates. Thanks to award-winning chocolatier Pierre Ledent, the pralines, which contain at least 70 percent cocoa, are not only pretty to look at but are also crafted from quality ingredients (think nuts from Sicily).

An old reliable. If you want to stock up on single origin Valrhona Guanaja chocolate bars, dark chocolate Russian Earl Grey bars or Willie’s Cacao ginger lime chocolate, you know where to go.

Japanese fine chocolate brand Royce’ started with chocolate bars. But it’s the smooth and delicate nama chocolate made with fresh cream that’s got chocoholics making daily pilgrimages to their stores. The must-tries: their addictive chocolate potato chips and chocolate-coated coffee beans.