Absolutely, hands down, the best chocolaterie in the Santa Barbara/Carpinteria area. I have visited other chocolate places in the past (Chocolate Maya and several throughout California/Nevada) and they don't even come close! The owners are super cute and so nice and offer samples to guests when you walk in. It's like every piece is a masterpiece! The way Jean-Michele mixes the flavors into the truffles/bon bons and how they literally melt in your mouth is sooooooo worth every penny! Curry and coconut? Yes please! A little sea salt in my truffle? Yes please! A "French Bisous"? OMG, yes! How about a little Sichuan Pepper and Orange zest? Yum! They are in a little office-type building right off the freeway (where you wouldn't expect) but again, so worth the trip! I'm a huge foodie and chocolate lover and Chocolat du Calibressan is one of the best, if not the best. You won't be sorry you stopped by.... but you may be sorry you didn't stop by sooner ;). A true gem and so happy I live so close =) read more

I am a lover of the salted caramel and have tasted them around the planet. The Chocolats du Calibressan's "buddha belly" salted caramel is the best I've had in the area and second only to Ginger Elizabeth's in Sacramento (5 star) They have a new shop in Santa Barbara, don't hesitate, you wont' be sorry. OH! I almost forgot, the Balsamic Vinegar Caramel.....UNBELIEVABLE. Sounds strange but it's a chocolate like you've never experienced. read more

Great little shop with excellent service. I enjoyed these chocolates, especially the different caramel filled chocolates such as Balsamic Caramel. Yum! Top notch quality! read more

Great little chocolate shop at the end of Carpenteria. Not a lot of other shops nearby but it's worth stopping just for this one. Chocolats du Calibressan also has a location in downtown Santa Barbara and I visited that one first. This one is smaller, no big open lobby or seating for "eating in" with your truffles, but the chocolates are just as delicious and they have a full assortment of flavors and types here. The staff was very friendly and helpful even though I wasn't sure what I wanted and the place was a little busy. Prices are fair for what you're getting and quality is excellent as is presentation. Very beautiful chocolates. If I want to buy a gift for a chocolate connoisseur this would be one of the few shops in the area on my list to go to. Oh, last thing, I love that they have a picture menu to look at to help you make your decision or see what you missed the first go around and what you want to try next time. It does mean their flavors don't change like they do at some other places, but they are good flavors none the less! read more

The chocolates are like little works of art. The ingredients are so unique and there are so many wonderful flavors to try. The owners are always so gracious, both at the State Street shop and the original Carpinteria shop. I do tours in town and always recommend either shop for a nice treat. I once tried another high-end chocolate shop in town and was disappointed by the lack of knowledge and service. If you are trying to decide, honestly, this is the one! read more

It's my guilty pleasure, the Buddha to be exact! Maybe it seems a little overpriced but with the ingredients that they use what you get out of it is completely justified! Of the highest imported quality ingredients possible, definitely not your everyday chocolate. It's best for when special occasions come around... read more

Believe me! This is the best chocolate ever!! I'm an expert at tasting chocolate, so I can't be pleased with chocolate so easily . Chocolats du CaliBressan has very unique and various chocolates. Each chocolate has a rich flavor and it's very creamy so that it melts in your mouth. After the first bite, you don't have to move your jaws. Just close your eyes and enjoy the aroma which comes from the rich cacao and special ingredients. I've tried about 12 kinds of their chocolates so far. Though everything is great, my favorites are Buchette Irlandaise and French Kiss. The former one is a truffle which contains Irish whisky cream. The latter one shapes like red sexy lips and it's flavored with tangerine liquor. I guess French Kiss is the most popular one here. There is no price tug in the showcase, so I don't know how much each chocolate costs. Probably around $2? Of course it's much more expensive than Snickers or Hershey's, but it's worth!! After tasting their chocolate, you will know what the professional chocolate is. read more

Oh My God! I would five this place 10 stars if I could. Utterly fantastic. A bit expensive, but a worthwhile treat. Whenever we drive through Carp we stop in for a piece.....or 2 or 3! My favorite is the Balsamic.....it is a little piece of heaven in your mouth. I can not even begin to describe what it tastes like. Another favorite is the Rocher & the Tahitian Vanilla. The chocolates are smooth, creamy and have the most intense flavors. We recently discovered that they have a second shop in Santa Barbara, in one of the little courtyards that comes off of State street. So you can now fill your craving while taking a leisurely walk in SB : ) read more

Mind blowing chocolate! Surreptitiously located in a business like building, one would never realize it's home to one of the best chocolate establishment around. I was greeted with a friendly smile and a free sample. Yummy! I took home about 15 different chocolates so that I can determine my favorites for my next visit. So far, I've loved their French Bisous (shaped like red lips), champagne, coffee, Buddha Belly, and the balsamic. I still have others to try from the selection I purchased, but so far I haven't found one I didn't like. It's literally right off the freeway, so one could get on and off so easily on their way to and from LA to Santa Barbara. Worth a stop! read more

Chocolats du Calibressan - My box of yumminess - Desserts Near Me - Carpinteria, California

This chocolate place is incredible, a little piece of Europe hidden in Carpinteria of all places. So far, this place ranks #3 in the world for chocolate for me, and I've tried a lot of chocolate. Trust me when I say this place is on par with what I've had in renown shops in Europe. How this French chocolatier ended up in Carpinteria I don't know. The chocolate is of excellent quality and the flavors are excellent. Prices are pretty standard for this type of quality chocolate. I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. The owner even listened attentively to our recounting of the chocolates we tried in Ghent during our recent trip to Belgium. This is a great place to pick up a romantic gift, a gift for a chocolate enthusiast, or bring some home to eat late at night while writing Yelp reviews. (YUM!) read more

The chocolates here are amazing. I actually have a hard time eating any other chocolate now. It just doesn't taste good after having the good stuff! My husband and I like the tropical ones, but also the Buddha, it's nice and salty! I also had strawberry chocolate truffle things which were incredible. The staff is super nice too! The only issue with this location is they sometimes aren't open because they have a staff shortage... so frequently I show up outside the door and it's closed! It's usually on my way though so not a huge deal. read more

During a recent camping trip to Carp beach, I ventured out on my bike to find these chocolates that were so highly rated on Yelp. After a week of camp food these chocolates were a slice of heaven! The Balsamic was my favorite but they were all delicious. They were almost too pretty to eat....almost. read more

The 5 stars is well-earned. Wonderful service as well. The chocolats are just like out of a chocolats boutique in Paris. Beutifully packed as well. Thank you for bringing your craft of chocolate making to Carpinteria. Yes, life is a box of chocolates...hopefully from Calibressan. Be a hedonist, and try one, or two, or three .....etc. read more

You will not find better chocolates anywhere. If I drive past Chocolats du Calibressan and don't stop and buy some for my wife, I'm in the dog house for sure. I've been going here for years and never been disappointed. Super convenient to stop at heading south on Hwy 101. read more

My sweetie surprised me with a box for Valentines Day. combo red lips and St. Patricks Day truffles..so scrumptious, you can view the video of how the French Chocolatier, Jean-Michel Carre. creates his yumminess! https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chocolats+du+calibessan+video&view=detail&mid=629D796014889329D387629D796014889329D387&FORM=VIRE read more

If you want to purchase someone some chocolate, this is the place to go. A colleague of mine would buy me boxes of chocolates from here when I was pregnant. ...every couple of weeks I would have a new assortment box so I have pretty much tasted all of the chocolates that they offer. My favorite is the French Bisous. (It's a pair of red lips.) It's dark and milk chocolate ganache flavored with tangerine liquor, covered with white chocolate. It's incredibly decadent and definitely a flavor that is unique to Chocolats du Calibressan. Note: For those who are vegans - they even have a vegan friendly offering. Highly recommend! Try it...you'll llike it! :-) read more

Excellent hand made chocolates! A very nice small business with nice owners. Treat yourself to an exceptional treat or give as a gift to someone who deserves something special. read more

Bed chocolate in Southern California! Definitely get there before or after your camping trip!

Best chocolates around! I learned to love chocolate in France, and this is definitely equal to the wonderful chocolate shops in Paris. Not expensive for such great quality! You can buy individual chocolates or gift boxes or chocolate bars, etc. Such a great variety! There's something for everyone! read more

Got chocolates for my mom from here and she loved them! Great confections and extraordinary taste!!!

Chocolate at it's finest! Recomend... Order and immediate eat salted caramel Chocolate Buddha. Then order the following: 2 more Buddha's, Caramel Turtle, Passion Fruit, Grenache Lips and a Peanut butter chocolate fish. They are absolutely work of art and decadent! read more

Great chocolates. I adore how lovely the detailing is and the attention the staff gives each customer, I love treating my friends to chocolates from this shop :) read more

This is the best chocolate! Remember to write down the address, it's in a kinda out-of-the-way location. Small, cute, cozy store. The name comes from the two owners: the woman is Californian and the man is a very well-trained chef from France. You can actually see him through a window making all the chocolates in the back. There is a wide variety of unique combinations like coconut milk, curry, earl grey, etc. And each chocolate is only $1.75, which I think is a pretty good price. The chocolates at Robitaille (over-hyped) are $1.50 each and didn't seem nearly as good. They sell chocolates through their online store. I might need to order the chocolate roses they said they were specially making for Valentine's. read more

For awhile yesterday I felt I was in France in a candy shop. What a unique experience. My daughter took me on the tour which included a glass of Champagne. Which is a must for any chocolate lover. I learned so much from the chocolate pod, different % levels, the making of the finished product Totally awesome. If you are into high quality chocolate this is a must. To top everything off everyone so nice. read more

This is THE best chocolate in the Santa Barbara area. Chef Jean-Michel is a master at producing the most stunning flavor combinations, and his wife Jill is just plain adorable. I would gladly eat anything in the shop, but some favorites include pineapple, coconut, or the tanzanien. We did the chocolate tasting they were offering one Thursday night and it was pretty amazing to watch Jean-Michel in action over a glass of champagne. Highly recommend this wonderful place! read more

Best chocolate ever! Came here with a group of 4 and bought 3 for every one. The gave us all a whole piece as a sample. It was expensive but I have been other places that are more expensive and not as good. All the chocolates were so beautiful. I will definitely come here again. I didn't think I would like the balsamic but it turned out to be my favorite. I would recommend this place to everybody. read more

We lived down the street from this place when it opened, and I'd often stop by for a few after-dinner chocolates. Now I live far away and I'm looking forward to buying some chocolate almost as much as to seeing my friends this weekend! These chocolates have to be tasted to be believed. They really are something totally different. The mint one is probably my favorite, but the geranium one is high up there for just a cool food experience. read more

Come taste what it's like to have the narcotic sweetness of a French chocolatier explode in your mouth! Chocolats du Calibressan is an unforgettably orgasmic experience! read more

I came for a small but special treat for a friend's birthday. The wife of the husband-wife owner was so patient and friendly while helping with my three-piece selection. She even tied the chocolates to the card with a bow for me. I was touched that she spent so much effort with my little purchase. Not only are their chocolates amazing (caramel Buddhas!) but the experience of such customer service was really touching. I saw another reviewer say that they would still go here even if they weren't so nice - I'll say a friend used to go to another chocolate place and finally stopped because that owner wasn't very kind. Luckily, this is the place for both! read more

Really nice staff and a vast improvement over the service at the nearby bakery. Coffee gelato was definitely 5 stars, my husband's peanut butter cup one however tasted strangely like a DQ blizzard, and the chocolates were a bit unpredictable. They're gorgeous, of course, but the chocolate doesn't shine through even in the darkest ones and they tasted fairly generic. I will say the banana rum white chocolate was lovely, but the others didn't scream "we must have more". Also the 1970s rock blaring kind of messed up the ambience of what was otherwise a cute shop. read more

Fabulous! Espresso and the most lovely chocolates ever. Must go every time I pass Carp.

Pricey as a mo-fo, but the best chocolate you will find outside of Europe.

this chocolate is amazing. I thank the chocolatier and his wife for such sensual flavors that are slowly melting in my mouth. So amazing! My favorite so far have been the caramel with balsamic vinegar. Unbelievable textures and taste, the taste kept evolving...each chocolate is an experience. Will return and have more money for more chocolate!! Life is too short read more

Thank you for the delicate choc. Been to long since last visit to a chocolatier (Boulevard CA). And I loved the creative presentations and unusual ingredients like geranium, beer, balsamic caramel, sichuan pepper spiced choc and coconut curry. Until next time au revoir. read more

Amazing chocolates! I adore this place! My hubby and I love going to get gifts for family and friends and of course we always have to get a dozen for ourselves! Get at least 2 Buddha's!! Mmmmmm read more

How do you spell BLISS?The best local chocolatier! My favorite: a long list follows :)

Chef Jean Michel is charming and talented.. Highly recommended.. Stop by, you won't be disappointed read more

Chocolats du Calibressan - Desserts Near Me - Carpinteria, California

The owner was rude and snobby toward me and my family. He gave me and my daughter a sample but not my 2 grandsons (7yr olds). When we asked if they could have a sample as well, he gave us a look of annoyance, and reluctantly handed them each a piece. He then told us the name of the chocolate samples and we told him thank you but the boys are allergic to nuts. Next, he rolled his eyes and gave them each a little waifer. The boys were very well behaved the entire time. I guess he doesn't like children. We ended up purchasing 4 pieces of his very pricy chocolate from a very nice lady behind the counter. The chocolate was nothing special and was also way too sweet and sugary. Will never go there again due to the owner's rudeness, and the below average chocolates. read more

The chocolates are good. But very expensive and not worth the price of nearly $2 a small chocolate. Nothing special - just expensive read more

Wow, best chocolats, I have ever had. Didn't know, that I have to go to California to taste it. The price is ok, because it is so special. And the new store at St.Barbara ist lovely! read more