Six of the Best Chocolate Cafes in Sydney

By Zoe Crane, ellaslist explorer

Ahhh, chocolate. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. So delicious is this “sometimes” food that I’ve been known to stand behind the pantry door, stuffing squares into my mouth, hoping not to get caught by my daughter. When it is time for a treat, and we all deserve a treat sometimes, then it’s worth taking the kids somewhere special. After all, life is too short to eat bad chocolate.

1. Zokoko, Emu Plains

With an emphasis on producing “bean to bar” chocolate, Zokoko has been described as some of the best in Australia. The factory uses artisan techniques to create chocolate from scratch, starting with beans sourced direct from the growers, and the café has a large viewing window so the kids can watch the it being made while they (you) enjoy sweet treats like chocolate crackles, fudge brownies or the ‘Ultimate’ chocolate cake. You can choose from their selection of handmade chocolates or single origin bars and wash them down with a cup of Morgan’s coffee.

2. Cloud 9 Chocolate Café, Newtown

Go to Cloud 9 Chocolate Café and try the gelato sliders. Seriously, just do it. Start with your choice of cookie, brownie or banana bread then add a scoop of your favourite gelato and top with milk or dark chocolate drizzle, all for just $7. Bring your kids so you have an excuse to go, they’ll love pretty much everything on the menu, as it is pretty much all chocolate. For little ones try the strawberry dippers, fresh strawberries with chocolate for dipping, or split a waffle pizza. Just don’t leave without trying that slider.

3. Adora Handmade Chocolates Café, Earlwood, Sydney CBD, Parramatta and Rose Bay

Started by two sisters making chocolates at home, the handmade chocolates with no preservatives or artificial flavours at Adora became so sought after, they had to open a commercial business just to keep up with demand, and now have four stores across Sydney. The high tea on offer at the Parramatta and Rose Bay stores will set you back just $20 for a selection of hand-made savoury pastries and sweet treats, a very special way to spend the afternoon with the kids. Bookings are essential so you’ll need to plan ahead. They also run chocolate classes in Marrickville for adults for $75 or kids’ classes for $40.

4. Coco Chocolate, Kirribilli and Mosman

This pretty little shop sells organic fair-trade chocolate, and all the dark chocolate bars are vegan, so now you can eat some of Sydney most delightful chocolate with a clear conscience. Amongst their divine selection of handmade chocolates, Coco Chocolate serve 35 chocolate bars with flavours like dark chocolate with caramel, pine nut and sea salt or lime and coconut. Pair it with one of the luxurious hot chocolates, the black pepper dark chocolate is highly recommended for the grown-ups. They offer high teas and cooking classes at their school in Mosman, and school holiday programs for kids. They also have high tea children’s parties for $28 per child, with mini-milkshakes, Alice in Wonderland cupcakes and more, or if you are ready to really splash out, for $80 per child they have chocolate making kids’ parties where kids can make their own chocolate treats to take home.

5. Koko Black, Sydney City

Once the domain of smug chocolate-loving Melbournians, Koko Black has arrived in Sydney so we can finally see what all the fuss is about. They have two shops selling their sublime chocolates. One is in the QVB and the other in the Strand Arcade, oddly within a couple of blocks of each other. Their chocolate café is easy to miss, hidden down a staircase in their Strand store. The cafe itself is fairly plain looking, but the menu reveals a selection of sweet treats (and a couple of savoury items) that makes deciding almost impossible. Luckily there is a Belgian Spoil tasting plate ($17) or Dessert Degustation ($28), so you don’t have to decide. For the kids, there is the Junior Belgian Spoil, with chocolate mousse, ice cream and a teddy pop for $10 including a babycino. The hot chocolate is double brewed for 2 hours and is so rich and thick it is a dessert in itself, and the baby size is perfect for the little ones.

6. Lindt Café, Martin Place, Cockle Bay wharf, George Street, Miranda

Lindt is a household name in chocolate, but if you are ready to take your Lindt addiction to the next level it’s time to visit the Lindt Café. Here you’ll find a range of macaroons, cakes, desserts and ice creams, as well as chocolates made exclusively for the cafes and milkshakes made with a half a bar of your favourite Lindt Excellence Block (mine is Salted Caramel).

Three more cafes spreading the chocolate love are Max Brenner, Guylian Chocolate Cafe and Chocolateria San Churro, all of which serve delicious chocolate desserts, lush hot chocolates and just generally more chocolatey goodness than you can poke a stick at. Best of all, they are located all over Sydney so you are never too far from your next chocolate fix, I mean treat for your kids which you are totally doing just for them. Honest!