I'm a huge fan of Chocolate Maya! High quality ingredients used and made on site....there's really nothing better. I feel lucky to have discovered Chocolate Maya many years ago. My first chocolate tasting was fun and their chocolate dipped ginger candy is amazing. She delivered them to me along with a box of goodness the second time. Can't wait to visit again! read more

Chocolate Maya - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Loved loved loved this place. Me and my girlfriend stumbled in here during a trip to Santa Barbara. What a wonderful surprise. The chocolate was delicious, the ambiance was cool and cozy, and the staff there was so sweet. The chocolates ranged from everything from a sea salt dark chocolate to a passion fruit white choc to a banana flambé chocolate that was so insanely delicious that it blew my kind and I now I have a new favorite fancy chocolate. There were also chocolates from all around the world and some nice gift baggy things that you can get for friends, which I really appreciated. This place was so delicious and welcoming and cool, I am now considering becoming a chocolatier. read more

Ran into this place after parking in the lot in front. This place has an extensive assortment of chocolates they both make in house and get from around the world. Many names I have never heard of before and I'm a pretty heavy chocolate connoisseur. They had a pretty good selection of vegan options. There were 3 or 4 truffles, marzipan in fruit shapes and some colorful house made jellies. I tried the ginger truffle the rum and coconut one and the strawberry marzipan. When looking over the bars I saw one that said don't eat this bar with a zombie face and in bold letters saying "chiles and chocolate bitch slap...you've been warned! Ok that was it..such an easy call as I was all over it. The lady even said people told her it was ball crushing hot. So pissed to read they use dry milk in the bar so I didn't try but man that got me super excited for a couple of seconds. So instead settled for the more tamer Stella bar with chili which was good but pricey at $8. They also sell hot chocolate and I tried the noir cup and it was pretty rich and good but too small for $4. Took about 20 seconds to down and then Immediately had a frowny face:( If you have a lot of cash to burn and love chocolate like I do you gotta stop on by at least to enjoy the cool chocolate atmosphere. read more

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Delicious, unique, and cute chocolates in a romantic and charming setting. Sweet place to enjoy good times with your loved ones. Although expensive, very worth it! Taste chocolates for here to save money. Chocolate gifts are beautifully and colorfully wrapped in an adorable box. Ask for a Maya Chocolates cup to receive 20% off any coffee or tea drink at SB Roasting Company. read more

Chocolate Maya - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

What a beautiful chocolate shop: maya is the owner and she works in the back actually making-handcrafting each chocolate I will def be back read more

This place feels so legit! It's tiny, but completely covered with beautiful chocolate. They have a wall of chocolate bars made by different companies, of different origins and featuring different flavors. And in the small room off of the main shop there is a place to sit and watch them make chocolate! But what I was there for were the truffles. I tried three.... Praline Milk & Hazelnuts - Smooth, not crunchy. That's the key. So good! Soft Caramel Ganache in Dark Chocolate - I've never heard of such a thing! But I totally loved it. It had the smooth, soft texture of ganache, but the sweetness of caramel. The dark, rich chocolate provided the perfect balance of flavors! Strawberry Vanilla & Ginger in a Dark Ganache - This was my absolute favorite because I've never had anything like it! The strawberry flavor was present, but not overly tart. And the ginger added such a unique note. The whole thing was so creamy, smooth and amazing! read more

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Unique and brilliant collection of tastes, but very pricey (See edit). Though my wife enjoyed most of the chocolates, some were too out there for me. I would've loved to try all of the chocolates they had to offer, but my wallet couldn't afford more than an eight piece box. The staff is very friendly but somehow didn't seem to know much about the different tastes that were offered. They couldn't make knowledgeable recommendations, which seems especially important when the chocolates are so unique. Edit: I was contacted by Maya from Chocolate Maya. She explained to me why the chocolates here cost a little more than other shops. Her business mission seeks to use quality cocoa from select growers at exact points around the equator. She makes sure the cacao is fair trade and that the families that grow and provide the cacao are paid fair wages. Kudos to Maya! read more

Chocolate Maya - Custom box, enjoyed but couldn't justify the price. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Wow. Absolutely amazing. I picked up some truffles for my wife and picked up a few for me. I had the whisky based one which include Jack Daniels and also a Japanese Whisky, Hibiki. These were so wonderful. My wife loved hers a well. I also picked up this Icelandic Chocolate Bar there and I can't wait to get another. Although this was my first time there, I can see it becoming the first of many. read more

OMG! Drinking chocolate is the best thing. Stop in for a little cup. Perfect on a cooler day! And don't skip the little chocolates they make. I did a box of 10 for $18 and it was so fun, the variety of flavors and textures. My favorites were the nutella mouse and the jasmine (it was first place in my book) It is easy to spend to much here. There's a variety of artisan chocolate bars for sale too. We tried a couple but the chocolates and drinking chocolate were the best part. There's a cute sitting area in the store on the right so you can enjoy your drink or chocolates there. It's in a shopping center with a parking lot that gives you 75min free. read more

Chocolate Maya - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Box of 5 chocolates including Hibiscus Flower, Lemongrass & Coconut, Jasmine Caramel, Miso & Ginger, Passion Fruit Caramel ($17.25): beautiful chocolates that make a great gift! The Jasmine Caramel was the prettiest with a flower engraved on top. The Passion Fruit Caramel was my favorite flavor because of the fruity-white chocolate flavor combo. read more

Loved this place! The hot chocolate is to die for! Definitely recommend coming here! We bought two different bars of chocolate & excited to try them. read more

Wanna get chocolate wasted? If you answered yes and if you happen to live in Santa Barbara then Chocolate Maya is the place to be! Chocolate Maya is a small shop dedicated to all things chocolate. Right when you walk in you'll come face to face with large bookshelf's fully stocked, from floor to ceiling, with gourmet chocolate bars from around the globe. These shelves also house other chocolate flavored goodies such as hot chocolate mixes, chocolate mints, chocolate dipped goodies and more. To the left is a long glass protected display case where their truffles are housed. They have truffles made from milk, dark and white chocolate and almost all of them are either filled with or topped with other creative ingredients. All the truffles in this case are made in house using the finest ingredients and they're all hand dipped and decorated by hand. All of the chocolate I tried from Maya was great. We got one dark chocolate bar filled with figs and almonds, which was amazing. I also tried a few random truffles that were spectacular. My only issue with any of the chocolates I tasted was a white chocolate truffle filled with habanero milk chocolate filling that had absolutely zero spicy flavor. I was expecting some heat from this truffle but sadly there was none. The woman who was working the day I visited was super friendly and worked as fast as she could to help all the customers in her shop. Prices are a tad high but that's always the case with fine chocolate shops like this. If you live in the area then I highly recommend you check out Chocolate Maya. Next time I'm in the area I definitely want to try their Spicy Sacrifice Hot Chocolate. I just hope it's spicy. read more

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I love the chocolates at Chocolate Maya and the staff is incredibly helpful and enthusiastic about chocolate! The truffles are very fine and made by Chocolate Maya. They also have bars and chocolate products from other companies lining the shelves in this small shop right on State Street (but tucked back behind a day-parking lot. The hardest part is deciding which chocolates to get, and sometimes the waiting since it can take a while to choose and with only one or two staff filling orders... Prices are typical for fine chocolates so bring enough money, but the flavors are bold and complex and he quality is very high. read more

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Every single time my flightcrew land in Santa Barbara, I issue a very rare order. That order? To proceed directly to to Chocolate Maya to stock up on some wonderful cocoa goodness before we take to the skies again. I'm not kidding, I go through physical withdrawal symptoms if I don't get a piece of their chocolate every month or two. This shoppe specializes in bringing the customer chocolates from around the world, many of them single origin so you can taste the delicate nuances of how the cocoa from Brazil varies from that of France or North America. My personal sure fire bets? The Belgium 'Zen' caramel. This thing is a mouthful of caramel with a dark or milk chocolate coating. The thing disappears in your mouth after 5 minutes. You don't chew - it just evaporates leaving you with a complex that says 'Hmm, there was something really, really good in my mouth a little bit ago but it's gone now'! My 110% knockout blow is going to come from a chocolatier Michael Cluizel from France. This guy produces a little piece of heaven called "Les Champignons". This thing looks like I mushroom (and believe me, when I order my guys to pick me up 5 shrooms I get some pretty interesting glances) but it's got an almond sugar cap, a caramel and nougat stem dipped in dark chocolate. These things last for 15 minutes alone and is all I need to put a smile on my face for the next 24-48 hours. Chocolate Maya. Yes please! read more

Walked by this delectable little flavor haven on my way to the car from Backyard Bowls, then walked right back when I realized what this place was! It is a cacao-laden bizarre where choco-philes go to make their dreams come true! The lady behind the counter was so nice and gave me a lil background on the shop and very talented chocolatier; she also let me try a couple of samples that had me hooked! I ended up walking out of there with 4-pieces of artisan chocolate: chocolate lavender, a jasmine-tea infused buddha, Jack Daniels ganache w/cacoa nibs, and fig & honey dark chocolate. Each one was absolutely amazing! I also bought a package of candied ginger pieces dipped in dark chocolate which was also amazing! Aside from the fantastic chocolate selection, the vibe here is just great! From the decor, to the music, and overall ambiance, it is easy to come in and find your chocoZen! read more

My eyes were immediately drawn to the different shaped chocolates from mice to Ganesh! The customer service was outstanding and the lady helping me pick out chocolate gave my mom and I a generous sample for each of us. She knew her chocolate too. In my opinion, this is a GREAT place to get the best quality chocolate in Santa Barbara for an affordably, fair price. Plus there is a huge variety and it all is delicious! I cannot wait to go back. read more

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i'm not a chocolatier, nor do i claim to be well-versed in the world of fine chocolates. all i know is this chocolate was damn good. each confection is ~$2. each chocolate i got was AMAZING, and had their own personalities: -sea salt caramel organic dark took me on a journey. this is not a chocolate you let melt in your mouth; you take a bite and get ready for the onslaught and multitude of flavor waves that are about to be released. sweet, salty, savory, smooth and crunchy are all experienced on the journey. -peanut butter dark organic is subtle, and "subtle" is not usually a word to describe anything with peanut butter. melt-in-your-mouth awesome. -milk & honey and champagne. ohhhhhh. can something be delicate and BAM! all at once? this confection definitely was. the sweetness of the honey and champagne was light, yet my mouth was enveloped with the honey. it. was. lovely. read more

Chocolate Maya - chocolate buddha - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A little gem in the heart of SB. Delicate, handcrafted chocolates with ingredients sourced from around the world from Maya herself. I arranged a wedding tour and we stopped by this charming shop (it is one of the bride's favorite chocolate shops). The chocolates are heavenly. The truffles are beautifully decorated, fresh and flavors unique. We tried: Sea salt caramel Pave(dark ganache dusted in cocoa powder) passion fuit fresh mint espresso mango All were good, but my faves were the espresso and mango! Good thing I don't live in SB otherwise my waistline would expand from a daily chocolate diet. What a treat! Thanks Maya! read more

This place is a chocolate aficionados dream come true. They have a plethora of made in-house truffles as well as chocolate bars made by different producers from all over the world. I came here to try their special truffle made with the rare Peruvian chocolate 'Fortunato No. 4' It was $4 and only a 1x1 inch square, but the girl working in the shop was so informative about the rarity of the chocolate she convinced me it was worth a try. I felt like a got a truffle and a chocolate education. The truffle was very good. Dark and smooth. If I'm ever back in Santa Barbara during the colder months, I'd like to come back to try their drinking chocolate. Note: The Santa Barbara Independent named them 'Best Chocolate Company 2012'. In the article it mentioned they have a chocolate bar with tequila and pink sea salt. I wanted to try this but was disappointed to hear they only offer it seasonally. read more

Chocolate Maya - Seating area to enjoy your chocolate treat - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I've enjoyed Lindt truffles, and See's truffles, but Maya's creations are fine chocolates on another level! Beautiful and amazingly good! My wife and I really enjoyed their "flights" of chocolates. Each had just subtle hints of the added flavors which I appreciated. All the staff were very sweet and friendly, and Maya even gave us a sample of a favorite chocolate of her's from Belgium. So kind. Thank you Maya! read more

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I could not love this place more. I drive two hours just to get here and it is always worth it. They make the best chocolate on the planet and going in can brighten anyone's day. I highly recommend any of the drinking chocolates and the chocolate tasting. I cannot wait to go back. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!! They gave me a sample of their pistachio ganache. I think this is the best chocolate boutique in all of Santa Barbara. They have a wide variety of chocolates and they're high quality. I really liked their mint ganache. It was potent and their bars look great too. Friendly, nice location. Will definitely be back! read more

The fleur de sel caramel balls-of-bliss were truly amazing and you're going to want more than one. Everything else was just kind of normal-but-good truffle-ness. High quality but not earth-shaking. The french mushrooms - not living up to the other reviewer's raves. Would pass on those. The place smells like raw, rich cocao. Very unique, cute little boutique. When I was checking out the place, in walks a lame-o tourist: Her, "Hi, we're here for the free samples." Me to her, "This isn't See's." Her, "What, not even broken pieces?" Tourists: don't embarrass yourselves, eh? Jeeze. read more

Jus went and got Peruvian chocolate with ginger It was hard as a rock Wonder how long its-been sitting in case Sorry wi not goback read more

Favorite chocolates spot in SB hands down! I have been to this place and others in SB and Chocolate Maya has never disappointed. The choices are plentiful- the store is always nice and clean and the staff is always helpful with your selection. If your looking for a spot to bring home some chocolates for your significant other without hesitation I would recommend this spot. read more

12/21/2021 I was so saddened by M.A.E 'S review on 12/9, I simply felt I had to counter the comments. It is time for the holiday spirit to build our community and support our local businesses. I completely agree with M.A.E.'S comment that Maya offers superb chocolates with lovely imaginative flavors. I must add that her store itself is magical and feels precisely like the wonderful boutique in the movie Chocolat. It is great fun just to visit and see Maya's creations. Maya's chocolates are a treasure. Make it your first choice for Christmas gifts. Why on earth would M.A.E. suggest that we locals boycott the store because you disagree with Maya's business decision to sell to individuals who follow the procedures of her web site? Or because in store pick-ups have to be placed in person over the busy holiday season? Small businesses in Santa Barbara have been closed because of the fires, floods, freeway closures and pandemic. Fortunately and with great effort Maya has managed to survive. Finally we have such a busy season that she is overloaded with orders and has set up perfectly reasonable business procedures that are clearly stated to help her meet her customers' needs. Maligning her for making the busy season work is so selfish and another heartbreaking example of just thinking of the world from your own narrow perspective. Please consider working with our local business owners and be extra grateful that they have survived and are so pressed for business now that they have to be efficient in meeting customer demands. That having been said, what on earth are you doing referring to Maya as a "heavily European-accented female". She is our friend and neighbor. Of course she is the owner. The price for delivery in Santa Barbara is simply the price. Maya has been a friend for years and she would never ever be rude, businesslike yes , but not rude. There is an implication here that somehow being from Goleta and native-born English speaker gives this person a unique standing to make these criticisms as if Maya is an "other". The Anglo side of my family have been cattle ranchers in the area since the 1880's. My kids and grandkids have Amer-Indian blood and have probably been here for 20-30,000 years. We all are boat people; we came in dug outs or Mayflowers or airplanes and all of our ancestors had accents of one sort or another. Let's refocus on loving our neighbors and building a community from all of us who live in Santa Barbara in the here and now. I love Chocolate Maya and highly recommend it for your holiday shopping. Open an account or stop by.....support our neighbors. Beth R. read more

While in Santa Barbara with friends, we were looking for the second-most decadent thing to do while out wine-tasting. A chocolate-tasting it is! The drinking chocolate I tried was sweet and pure, since my boyfriend expertly chose the most silky-milky chocolate available. Our tasting also came with truffles of our choice and the staff chose the chocolate bars to accompany the package. Of the chocolate truffles, my favorite was the milk chocolate coconut meltaway. It was pure perfection for coconut-lovers. I also enjoyed the milk chocolate with cardamom - spicy in all the right ways. The sea salt caramel was also delicious and very creamy. We also tried the peanut with both milk and dark chocolate. Overall, we were given a good mix, with our own choices and those of the staff. You also got free water from their water cooler, and trust me, you'll need a bit of a pallet cleanser after the creamy richness of the chocolates. Their little sitting room was a bit small, but I can see not wanting to draw a large crowd that would linger too long. read more

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On my first trip here last fall, I was somewhat disappointed because the woman in line in front of me was given a number of samples. She got to try a lot of different cacao percents. I've never really explored chocolate that much, and was hoping to be offered a small bit either while the other lady was trying some, or once it was my turn. This never happened. Anyways, I made my selection of chocolates (about 4 or so), which were placed in a clear cellophane bag. I left, ate the chocolates in my car, and thought 'meh'. Overall, I was not impressed. Anyways, I decided to give this shop a second chance this past Monday when I had the day off work. The woman behind the counter was so friendly and kind to me. She helped recommend different types of chocolates to me, explained what the funny-looking Mexican grinder things on the walls were, and told me it would be cheaper to just ship a box of chocolates to my sister myself rather than pay $10 for the store to do it. Thank you for the honest tip! Anyways, I was so delighted to have this woman help me. She even wrapped up my chocolates in a little box and with pretty ribbon on top. She asked Maya (in the back) a few questions as well. I suspect that Maya is the unfriendly woman who helped me last fall...just a hunch. How funny when an employee of the shop is much nicer than the owner, hm? Anyways, the chocolates are awesome. I am really enjoying them and taking my time with letting the flavor develop in my mouth. I just hope to have the nice lady help me the next time I visit the store! -1 star for the first time I visited read more

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Fun little store with some really good fresh made treats. My wife and I did the chocolate tasting, which was worth it, and it was fun to try the different truffles available. Much better selection than other similar shops around, and very knowledgeable staff. I will be back my next time through. They also have a nice selection of international bars if you are into that. read more

Great selection of chocolate bars from ethical chocolate makers. (5/5 green stars) I wanted to try Chocolate Maya's chocolate but I only had time for a really quick look before I needed to jump on a train. So I didn't get to try their own chocolates, but I could see that they have a really good selection of bars - many of which I've tried before. Most of the bars that they stock are from good chocolate makers that also rank highly for sustainability and human rights. Some of them are a bit pricier, such as like Bonnat (France) at $11.50 or Dandelion (San Francisco) at $9. But if you're not in SF (Dandelion is normally around $8) or don't want to pay shipping for Bonnat, then it would make sense to pay a dollar or two more. Others, such as Theo and Equal Exchange, are also available in supermarkets like Whole Foods but they are also well selected (EE make some great chocolate bars). I'm giving Chocolate Maya 5/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: * First off, there's a big difference between brands of chocolate in terms of impact: child labor and even child slavery are big issues (esp. in West Africa) and there's also a large difference in impact on rainforest habitats (e.g., some nasty pesticides used on conventional cacao; Shade-grown cacao cultivation helps preserve biodiversity). * Their own chocolate is sourced from fair trade or direct-trade suppliers such as Valrhona and Mesocacao. * The bars available for sale are also at similar (or higher) standards in terms of workers and the environment. * Maya mention that they some organic ingredients and local honey for their own chocolates. * They use paper-based packaging for their own chocolates and for all of the bars they've chosen to stock. * They stock bars from established ethical fair trade and/or organic chocolate makers like Theo and newer, smaller direct-trade operations like Dandelion. * They are aware of and promote some good organizations like the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative. * Even their T-Shirts and hoodies are made by decent companies like American Apparel and Alternative Apparel. Find out more about green-star ratings at Green Stars Project dot org. read more

I got here right at closing, so all I had time for was to grab a Eurochoco...hot drinking chocolate!! OMG!! I'm sooooo happy!! Just wish I had time to check out all their other tasty morsels!! Guess I'm coming back! :^) read more

Really yummy hot chocolate and beautiful single chocolates. Great for gifts or just a vacation treat. read more

Chocolate Maya - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Very expensive chocolate. $9 bar and $12 bar. Very unhappy I was charged $0.50 for a Chocolate Maya bag without them saying I would owe $0.50. Cheap on their part and unacceptable to me. read more

So good! Quality chocolate that melts in your mouth... and preservative free! Great gift idea! read more

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Fantastic chocolate shop! I've been to Chocolate Maya numerous times. This weekend we had a private chocolate tasting with Maya and it was put of this world! She is knowledgeable, passionate and a joy to talk to. Thank you so much! read more

The absolute best in Chocolate! Maya's gift to all of us is beautifully offered and so appreciated read more

Chocolate Maya is always on my list of "must do's" when I'm in Santa Barbara. I LOVE this place! Yes, it is expensive but it's worth every penny! The chocolates are out of this world and they have a ton of unique combinations. Pineapple, lavender, thyme, chipotle, you name it, they have it! I always see something new in the display when I come in and they have a great selection of chocolate bars as well. My favorite chocolate is the green tea Buddha, but they change it up quite frequently. Last time I was there Buddha was a caramel. Don't think about the price, just treat yo self!! read more

Love chocolate? Then you must go here. The selections are not only beautiful to look at, but they are beyond delicious. They have chocolates infused with herbs, nuts, and flavor combinations you would never imagine putting together and yet they are fabulous. Take time to savor your selection in a sweet sitting area. If you time it right, you can watch as they create these delicate delicacies. If you're looking for a special gift, there's a wall of chocolates to choose from. Can't wait to go back! read more

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A great spot with an excellent chocolate selection, and even better customer service! They also have one of my favorite bars, the Madagascar, by esteemed chocolatier Patric. read more

If you are a chocolate lover/addict, you should stop by Chocolate Maya. They have the prettiest and interesting flavored chocolates in the area. So pretty that you would think to yourself "This is too pretty to eat!". We had a few pieces that we tried. I don't really remember what they were mixed with but there was a Jack Daniel's, Rose and another floral flavor, Banana Coconut Melt, Eucalyptus, and Jasmine. They were really good! They also offer different bars of chocolate from around the world! One that interest me the most was the "Do not eat this Chocolate". It's one mixed with Ghost Chili pepper! We didn't buy it because we were not up for the challenge. Anyways, do visit this local chocolate shop! read more