4 Decadent BHAM Chocolate Shops You Need to Know About
These four Birmingham-area chocolate shops are churning out some SERIOUS confections. Image: Instagram / Chocolatá
Any chocolate lover knows there’s chocolate, and then there’s chocolate. The difference is undeniable, and these local chocolatiers pour their hearts into every square. Their passion for the craft results in melt-in-your-mouth perfection you have to taste to believe. Whether you’re shopping for your sweetie for Valentine’s Day or just in the mood for a treat, check out these local chocolate shops around town!
Chocolatá
Neighborhood: Forest Park
More Info: chocolatachocolate.com
Owner and head chocolatier Kathy D’Agostino uses only ethically sourced, 100% pure Latin American cacao in her divinely sweet treats at Chocolatá in Forest Park. Kathy’s first job as a teenager was at the very first Peterbrooke Chocolatier shop in Jacksonville, Florida (which now has a franchise in Birmingham and is on our list below!). She went on to enjoy a winding career path (including modeling in Japan) before returning to her first job and true passion, chocolatiering.
Chocolatá is known for its exquisite bonbon menu, and it offers stunning Valentine’s Day chocolate boxes in several sizes, featuring wonderfully whimsical bonbons and chocolate treats that taste as good as they look.
The signature chocolate bars are also not to be missed, with flavors like white chocolate matcha, milk chocolate with rosemary and brown sugar-roasted pecans, and dark chocolate with sunflower seeds, candied oranges, lavender, and blueberry sea salt.
Chocolatá also carries specialty treats like the “chocolate charcuterie,” which resembles a salami but is made with dark chocolate, hazelnut praline, biscotti, dried fruit, nuts, and a hint of citrus. Pair it with wine, cheese, and fruit for a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s charcuterie board.
Michelle’s Chocolate Lab
Neighborhood: Pop-Up
More Info: michelleschocolatelab.com
Michelle Boykins likes to say that anyone willing to make fine chocolates while contending with Alabama’s humidity must be a mad scientist, and she gladly assumes the title. Having trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Michelle has worked in the food service industry for more than three decades and in chocolate for 10 years.
She began making artisan desserts specifically for events a few years before the pandemic, but when things shut down in 2020, she decided to take the treats to the streets, popping up in neighborhoods, parks, markets, and events.
She takes her small-batch chocolate creations all over the Magic City and offers dessert catering for events, as well as made-to-order gifts. She also hosts tasting experiences with chocolate, wine, and spirit pairings.
Michelle imports Belgian chocolate Callebaut to use in all of her chocolate candies and confections, from truffles to cookies and brownies to chocolate-dipped anything. She also offers boozy chocolate snacks, including whiskey truffles, screwball peanut butter cups, and Maker’s Mark-filled chocolate bars. For Michelle, the craft is all about providing an unforgettable chocolate experience that starts with the first bite.
Elizabeth Moore Chocolates
Neighborhood: Pelham
More Info: elizabethmoorechocolates.com
Chef Susan Notter is well-known as a leading educator in the pastry world, and she shares her wealth of knowledge and chocolatiering expertise with Magic City dwellers from her Pelham storefront, Elizabeth Moore Chocolates. She’s led national culinary teams to global victories and has served as a judge for international competitions.
You’ve got to visit the shop and see her legendary sugar sculptures and chocolate creations for yourself. They look (almost) too good to eat.
Along with beautiful Valentine’s Day boxes of bonbons, truffles, and chocolates, Elizabeth Moore Chocolates is hosting a mousse class on February 16 as part of her French pastry series, where you can learn to build and decorate your own layered chocolate, vanilla, and fruit-based mousse desserts.
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Neighborhood: Cahaba Heights
More Info: peterbrooke.com
The first Peterbrooke Chocolatier shop opened in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1983 (the very shop where Birmingham chocolatier Kathy D’Agostino, mentioned above, worked her first job as a teenager!). Peterbrooke now has shops throughout the South, including one in Cahaba Heights.
This Southern chocolate shop is built on the sophisticated flavors of European chocolate-making and is beloved for its theater-style dipping experiences and quality chocolate sweets.
Peterbrooke makes everything in-house, from chocolate-covered popcorn to truffles to assorted chocolate boxes. You can grab one of the ready-made gift baskets or build your own, order custom chocolates, or just pop in for a yummy snack or a scoop of gelato.
The chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate flowers are popular for Valentine’s Day, and there are tons of other special treats for your special someone at Peterbrooke’s.
Stay Sweet, Birmingham!
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Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.