Winter is the time for the hot chocolate. Fran's small chocolat chaud partnered with the complementary sea salt sidekick bonbon is the end-game treat my girls and I look forward to after our downtown Seattle holiday walk. It's the perfect punctuation on the lights, smells and sounds of the holiday. Recommend. read more

Seriously, the salted caramels are to die for. I was first introduced to Fran's by a good friend of mine who brought them back from Seattle, and once I tried them I was SOLD! I simply LOVE their salted caramels, best I've ever had! Over President's Day weekend I was in Seattle and visited this location. The staff wasn't particularly friendly - actually, they're not very friendly at all. But that's fine. I WAS THERE FOR THE CARAMELS!! And caramels I got :) I've tried their milk/dark chocolate covered almond pieces and they really weren't anything special to me. Neither were the dark chocolate thins. Those caramels though, those caramels have got me good. read more

The chocolate is not bad. I think I am just too spoiled after Belgian chocolates. The salted caramels are especially good! There is a small discount available for certain items for UW alums. They are really pricey. They are locally owned. I agree with some other yelpers that the price is a bit too high. Again, I am spoiled but those Belgian chocolates are fresh and much more affordable. read more

Fran bigelow, UW alumni, delicious chocolate maker. Absolutely love Fran's, it is so fitting to have it in U village. I usually buy the box of 40 salted caramels to get the most for my money. No sharing. ;) read more

Fran's Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm always grateful for the service I get when I stop in the store. Vincent (?? guy with the swooshy/cool hair) and Sophie are always so nice and m always so helpful in answering my questions regarding recommendations. I was lost on wine/chocolate pairings and as a special gift and they gave the best suggestions. The person receiving the gift loved it! read more

I love coming to Fran's at uVillage! Not only are there chocolates great but they have a small cafe to the side - their matcha drinks are delicious! They usual actual matcha powder and then melt chocolate pellets - LEGIT!The staff is always so friendly and helpful! They always ask if you'll be walking around because on a warmer day, they'll offer you an ice pack to keep your chocolates from melting -AMAZING! read more

Fran's Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Fantastic chocolate and the staff has always been very helpful and great when going there and last month was extremely helpful with a phone order I placed! read more

The gold bars have an excellent taste! An issue with the delivery date was handled immediately and professionally. We will definitely be ordering more bars. Our favorites were the coconut and the macadamia bars. read more

I first tried Fran's Chocolates last year and I was kinda blown away. I don't like sweets much and am not a huge chocolate person. But these were delicious! They weren't overly sweet and came in a variety of unique and somehow elegant flavors. I recently went to the shop myself to pick up a small box for a friend. I experienced great customer service. The person who helped me was attentive but not at all pushy. She offered to wrap my gift and also notified me of a discount I could take advantage of. It may not seem like much, but sweet and small details like this can really make (or break) the experience! I will definitely be back! read more

***The almond gold bar at Fran's is expensive, but it is also very good; good quality chocolate, crunchy and nicely toasted almonds and lightly chewy and sweet caramel*** read more

Fran's Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a treat! Literally! I've been a longtime fan of Fran's but I'm ashamed to admit that I usually end up buying their confections at local market check-out lanes or the airport. One pack for me, one pack for a friend. I've been in the U-Village shop before but realized I'd never shared my experiences with anyone on Yelp about it. Basically it's like what everyone else says. Clean, cute, and tempting! The staff are super kind and great at suggesting pieces for friends and family. You can by confections by the single piece, pre-batch sets, or you can create a box of your own. If you're there more than a few seconds or so you might get lucky and get offered a free sample. Be nice though! This is really a sweet gesture but it's sweet of the customer to also make a purchase. They had a great scotch bon bon that I bought, along with a chocolate covered apricot. Very happy with my treats! read more

At the risk of being booted out of my gender for saying this, I'm not a huge chocolate fan. I like it, and when the mood strikes I enjoy it. I just don't get gaga over it or re-write songs about it. I received some Fran's chocolates as part of a multi-present Christmas gift from a dear friend. His face when I didn't pass out from joy at receiving the gift was a little heartbreaking, but I tried my best to make up for it eating a piece in front of him. At least I was able to get a smile out of him for proving yet again I am no 'average predictable girl'. I won't deny they were pretty damn good, and i did manage to get 3 pieces out of the box before they were discovered by the little sugar hunters in the house and devoured in seconds. Given my leaning towards being a bit "meh" about chocolate, I doubt I will consume much Fran's chocolate in the future, but should I be in the mood I wouldn't rule out tracking these down for an enjoyable bite or two. Nor would I say no to them as a gift in the future. read more

I do like how chocolatiers try to set an ambiance in their stores. With See's, you go in, the store's brightly lit, and these women dressed like Mama Celeste in white starched uniforms and aprons greet you warmly by practically stuffing a candy in you mouth, when you open your mouth to ask a question. With Fran's, you've got the employees dressed in black, walking quietly and talking in subdued voices, acting like valets of an exclusive hotel, or caretakers of an expensive rehab center for chocoholics. Instead of chocolates CHOCOLATES ***CHOCOLATES*** displayed everywhere in shiny bright boxes wrapped with foil and sparkly things, or chocolates in the shapes of rodents and runny eggs, Fran's has only a few boxes strategically displayed and a small glass with individual chocolates. Nothing gimmicky here - just straight chocolate that's 200 times more expensive than it (or you) weighs...even if you weigh yourself after eating a box of Fran's chocolates. I've been here on several occasions buying boxes of chocolates as gifts, and while I wasn't overwhelmed with the samples they gave me - a piece of chocolate so small it got lost in the gap between my teeth (I believe they give you half of the actual candy, which is the size of your thumb) - friends rave about the chocolates, so I keep coming back to buy more. This location also has a little cafe filled with similar subdued patrons. For all the chocolate and caffeine ingested here, I'm amazed how Fran's can maintain its sober facade. Personally, I like my chocolate vendors to be much more effusive and open - someone who greets me with a sexy lambada, while rubbing melted "chocolate of the day" all over my body, then charging me as much as a high-class escort does for the experience. read more

I have loved Fran's Chocolates for as long as I can remember. I'm pretty sure its one of my favorite Chocolate companies out there. I used to work at U Bookstore and we sold the gold bars and salt caramels and I would buy them frequently...I even have her cookbook...I am such a fan! My favorite things are here are the Macadamia Gold Bars, Coconut Gold Bar, The chocolate dipped figs, truffles and of course the salt caramels. I honestly think she was the first one to start the whole "salted caramel craze" I remember eating these like 7 or so years ago... Aside from caramel the chocolate is amazing here, it comes in many shapes and forms here. They have great baking chocolate, truffles, Chocolate Sauce etc.. A box of chocolates form Fran's makes a wonderful gift and you can customize it to your liking with just about anything they have to offer. I remember I made a box for my bf last year and I had a couple of truffles, salt caramels and dark chocolate dipped orange peel (he loves oranges). The Bars at Frans are amazing! The Macadamia Gold Bar is delicious! Tons of Macadamias with soft caramel and dark chocolate. The Coconut Gold Bar is like the grown up luxurious version of a Mounds...its ridiculous.They also have some pretty amazing things during holidays like Halloween, Easter, etc. The caramel chicks are to die for. I really like the U Village location, they are nice and helpful and I like how they give you a salt caramel to snack on when your in the store. A little pricey but definitely worth it and has a lot of wow factor. 5 stars and beyond. read more

What a fancy chocolate shop. A little too fancy for my taste but when it Seattle, why not! I read that they were known for their Gray Salt Caramels so I bought that. Probably the best but also most expensive pieces of caramel I have ever bought! It's worth it if you're really a salted caramel person but be ready to cough up a few dollars just for one piece. read more

I really love chocolate. Hell, I worked in a chocolate factory for a few years. So needless to say, I know a lot about chocolate and love and respect it. Fran's makes beautiful chocolate creations. 5 stars all the way. Truly, their caramels are award winning and once you have one, it's easy to see why they are so coveted. Any of the other truffles are just an indulgent. I have yet to have their chocolate drinks. Which brings me to the reason they lose 2 stars. One is they are a tad overpriced. Yes, the caramels won an award so you can make people fork over a little more for them. Understandable. But not everything in there is award winning and should reflect that price wise. But you are in University Village and the prices reflect that. Which is my main problem with this store, most of your clients are jerks. Absolute selfish jerks. I've never been able to stomach being in the store waiting with these people to get a beverage. And I've come in numerous times and left empty handed because the staff is accommodating some chatty yuppie cougar, while I'm waiting to buy a quick box and leave. It's happened so often that it seriously takes away from the experience. How do you fix a problem like this? I'm not sure. All I know is that I would buy on line than deal with it. read more

Hey Fran, you've got a fan in San Jose! I ordered a box of the gray salt dark chocolate caramels and smoked salt milk chocolate caramels online after reading that they were a favorite of President Obama. I'm glad I did! Great stuff! No question that these are bipartisan chocolates as I offered them to a registered republican and they were readily devoured. I'll look forward to checking out the shop when next in Seattle. Not sure if I'll be able to hold out til then, so it's great to be able to order online. read more

I don't get the fuss over this stuff. Salt with caramel is not a revelation to me - maybe cuz I grew up eating ice cream sundaes made with caramel sauce and salted peanuts. It's chocolate... I like chocolate... a lot. Hmm. Oh! I know... I like my chocolate like I like my men - all kinds a different flavors. I'd say this chocolate is like the men in my life: I've had better, I've had worse, and sometimes I'd just rather not. Unlike THE man in my life, it is not the best I've had. (Happy Birthday Hunny) read more

Some say I can be a chocolate snob... OK, fine. I am a chocolate snob. If you're going to eat chocolate, whether it be to fix that craving, or as a special treat, or just to keep the blood chocolate level stable, go for the good stuff. Because a bite of good chocolate is worth fistfuls of the bad stuff. *** And Fran's... is the good stuff. *** The chocolate covered caramels are the standouts. Get 'em salted. Truffles are good, but not as amazing as the caramels. This snob's advice? Go get yourself some Fran's! read more

I am clapping. Clapping. Clapping. And you know what? I am also jumping. Small, little jumps. Yes, I look dumb. I don't care. All I care about is that there is chocolate and caramel aftertaste in my mouth. My palate still tickles. My taste buds giggled. Mmmmm, salty. Mmmmm, creamy. Mmmmm, chocolaty. Yes, I did it. I just tried Fran's Chocolate Grey & Smoke Salt Caramels. I told you. This is my first official updated review. Now I am off to try to concentrate and live with my fabulous aftertaste. read more

Though I don't splurge on it very often, myself, it's my go-to when I need a quick gift that says, "I was thinking of you." From the chocolates, to the boxes, and the gift bags with tissue paper, this place is perfect to find that extra special chocolate gift for anyone (SO, boss, relatives, friends, etc.). You can pick from pre-selected/assorted chocolate boxes or select individual pieces. The store is small and inviting and the service has always been great too; the employees are eager to help if you need it, but will stand back and give you space if you don't. Definitely stop in if you're stumped for gift ideas. read more

I've been gifted their chocolates before on a few occasions, and then later considered buying them after seeing them at the store... until I noticed the price. Seriously? You guys charge that much... *for that*? I hate to break it to Fran's and all these people who are pining over them as if Fran's themselves invented chocolate, but their product is not that great. It's not bad, sure, but the quality is nowhere even remotely close to what they charge. It's mediocre and WAY overpriced for what it is, bordering on phony fad "local hero" status item for people who are... 1) easily wowed by packaging and presentation (thus losing sight of actual quality) 2) easily swept away identity-crisis-style by the idea of attaching themselves to a so-called "elite" local boutique name/brand 3) easily confused when it comes to encountering uncommonly high prices for globally appreciated commodities (hey, if that chocolate costs that much, then it MUST be good, right? "OMG! Fran's is amazing!!!") Furthermore, as a personal rant, the whole Salted Caramel fad is as stupid and nonsensical an idea as cheese on fish. It's a horrible combination, and Fran's (for some reason) is hailed as god's gift, as if they invented the concept of combining sugar and salt. In light of hundreds and hundreds of years of culinary evolution, there's a reason why the combination of salt and sugar is not common, and very often (and basically universally) is frowned upon when used as "feature" of food. Why? *It tastes bad*. It is a clashing combination that makes no sense on the palette, and from a practical standpoint it goes against the very concept of desserts' core purpose as a digestive at the end of a meal. So, let's add another to that list: 4) ... people who are easily impressed with, and for some reason highly approving/accepting of, unusual things just because they are unusual (that is, people who don't know how to stop, think, and measure quality or gauge experience validly). Anyway, whatever. More power to Fran's I guess... because as long as people are suckered into emptying their wallets into Fran's cash registers, Fran's is the one laughing... all the way to the bank. Golf clap for Fran's. - - - Summary: Fran's is nothing special, and way overpriced. If somebody gives them to you, eat them. But otherwise don't bother. Delusional sucker bait, it's not worth it. read more

Indulgent- yes expensive-sure worth it- definitely. My husband stopped in to get some mocha for us and I am absolutely in love with it. Not sugary like majority of the places. I will be returning to try other items. But I was not disappointed and I am picky about my coffee and chocolate. read more

Gray sea salt harvested off the coast of Brittany on top of a dark chocolate caramel highlights the very best treat ever in the history of the world! I cant vouch for the rest of the collection, but certainly the sea salt caramels alone makes Frans the best around. read more

Fran's Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was the first place I've ever experienced the salted caramel phenomenon, and I've been in love with it ever since. Now Fran's makes thin squares of both dark and milk chocolate sprinkled with grey or smoked salt that are equally to die for -- even without the caramel. Ms. Bigelow, you are truly a master of your craft. The giant double chocolate-stuffed fig is heaven on earth. Tas de noix are perfect little pieces of decadence. And the hot chocolate is just like the kind you'd find in Paris: thick, intense, and almost too rich to finish an entire cup. I said almost. read more

A coworker came back from a Seattle trip with a box of Fran's Chocolates to share and I must say that it was delectably sweet and wonderful! I tried a piece of their popular and famous dark chocolate salted caramels and was surprised by how densely sweet and rich it was. It is incredibly rich in caramel and that still might be an understatement. As such, I found that it went well with a cup of coffee that is more on the earthy side. Even with such a small piece, I ended up eating it in four bites, each of which felt like a true indulgence. The bits of salt atop the piece not only act as a decorative sight for the eyes, but also complements the caramel just right. The result is an experience that consists of a perfect ratio of salty, bitter, and sweet flavors. For those who absolutely love salted caramel chocolates and want to either gift or self-indulge in the richness of it all, I highly recommend Fran's Chocolates! read more

I don't see what the big deal is about Fran's. There are way better chocolateries in Seattle like Theo's or Chocolati Cafe. PROS: 1. Convenient location. 2. Meh chocolate. Just average. Tastes kinda corn syrupy. CONS: 1. The chocolate is just not very good. The flavors are boring as are the decorations/design. Nothing but caramels and traditional things. Theo's on the other hand has very unique flavors (e.g., chai, curry coconut, chilli, rose, etc.). And, Theo's is fair trade and organic. Much better taste than Fran's. 2. Overpriced. $1.60 for a small salted caramel that's half the size of the salted caramels at Theo's. Theo's are double in size and only $2.00 for one. Chocolati, likewise, has better flavors and better prices. 3. Uninterested, unfriendly staff. Why would anyone go here when there is Theo's or Chocolati? I don't get it. read more

This past weekend we had free samples of their dark chocolate hot cocoa mix....OMGx100!!! For this I would give up TV...... read more

grey salt chocolate covered caramels are really so good! And who doesn't love a good chocolate shop! I got the hot chocolate here once, but admittedly, it was too chocolatey for me. It made me want water... or a HUGE glass of milk :) read more

They have great customer service! I could try anything I was interested in! Love this place!

My wife used to work for Fran's and while I could care less about chocolate before meeting her after getting all the free samples and rejects I changed my tune. Nearly all Fran's items are made by hand in a small factory on Capitol Hill. The love that pours in from the small army of Vietnamese workers is palpable in the finished products. Wait that might sound sarcastic but it is not...the love is in there. They not only do Chocolate but also Ice Cream, Tortes, Cookies and more. read more

Fran's Chocolates - A shot of the factory. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I dig the hazelnut ganache stuffed figs. I gave them to my mother, to a good friend and also to my once-girlfriend-now-wife before I ever got a chance to taste one, but I am fully in love and must have them, even if they are about $4 or $5 a piece. The dark chocolate enrobed salted caramels--yes. H. digs the ground chocolate, which we use to make dangerous hot chocolate. We sometimes add Frangelico, Cointreau, or Amaretto to add to the danger. I'm a sucker for the chocolate enrobed cacao nibs. The truffles are always a big hit when I give them as gifts. I don't think I've had any, because they are guarded jealously. Fran's may or may not have led to my marriage, but I try to delude myself into thinking that I had something to do with it. read more

Less grand than the downtown location, but still tempting for chocolate stops. The petite shop had small to large boxes, gift packages, individual chocolates & caramels, and specials treats. I tend to stop in for a sleeve of caramels or two+ special pieces picked from below the glass for a U village shopping treat. FYI's~ * You can buy just one piece :) * The salted caramels come with a choice of salts- gray- smoked- etc * Made famous when President Obama stated he liked their salted caramels * Individual chocolates/caramels are $1- 2+ each read more

I've only had their gray salt caramels (w/ dark choc). I was NOT a chocolate person for the longest time. Fran's brought me back: chocolate every single f'in day. SF: You can buy them online, at Whole Foods, Fog City and I'm sure other places. read more

Stopped by after dinner to pick up a birthday present. Got a small box of candy and lil something for myself. It's not cheap. But service was good. I kept asking questions about the product and the nice young girl/lady knew all of the answers with confidence. They were also friendly and were about to close. I will go again and next time try the salt candies- we'll see how my friend rates their assorted truffles. read more

My friend told me this was Obama's favorite chocolate shop so we made a stop here while shopping at the University Village. This place reminded of Godiva except it wasn't a franchise and privately owned by Fran who is still alive and well. We were able to get samples of the salted caramels which I believe is also Obama's favorite. The staff was extremely friendly and we made some hefty purchases. Fran's salted caramel are certified fair trade and organic. You can also get assorted truffles too. I usually like getting See's Candies but I don't mind getting Fran's if I'm in the area. You can also get Gold Bars, nuts and caramels, Fran's Sauces, chocolate-dipped fruits and more. There's basically a million different ways to gift these chocolate if you want to make it a present. Check out the little brochure at the store. If I wanted to give someone a high end box of chocolate, this would be the place to be! read more

Great service, tasty samples, a clean well lit store and amazing products. Granted their prices are high; however, you are getting a quality local product from a company with a good reputation. Am very glad I found Fran's Chocolates! read more

Sea salt caramels: heaven. Chocolate: heaven. Prices: not heaven, but I can't cringe too much when I'm eating heaven. Fran's is the kind of place I'd want to shop at when I know a friend's coming to town, just so I can put a little treat on their pillow. It's also the kind of place to go if you want to cheer someone up, make your evening a little sweeter (Frans goes great with candles, flowers, and big comfy blankets to cuddle in - hint hint) or just treat yourself to something upscale without dealing with the snootiness. I'm tempted to drive there now, but I've got housework to do...eh, screw it. *grabs keys* read more

Not much to say except for: delightful salted bits of chocolate and caramel heaven. It's embarrassing how quickly I go through a 7pc. box of their gray or smoked salted caramels. The caramel is substantially chewy yet still smooth and melts in your mouth with a well complimented kick of salt. Oh yeah, and the port they sell is tasty as well! I'm interested to taste Theo's salted caramels to see how they compare... Bonus: each purchase gets you a complimentary chocolate! read more

After a looooong day of Christmas Shopping I was really craving some chocolate (I have to have chocolate EVERYDAY), so we asked the nice sales clerk who was helping us to recommend us a place that had some seriously good chocolate. He said Frans had this really really good hot chocolate. HE TOTALLY LIED! It was the most AMAZING, LIFE ALTERING, KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR SOCKS hot chocolate you can ever imagine! I literally had an out of body experience drinking this thing! From the first sip, it was total BLISS! It's Fran's chocolate shavings mixed with 2 % and whole milk and that's it! Sooooooooo yummy, and you can even get it with whipped cream! Their sales clerks were really really helpful and knowledgeable about their chocolate, and they even perfectly gift wrapped the hot chocolate mix that we bought. I'm going there again for my chocolate fix! read more