I've been to Gearharts countless times over the years, and it continues to be one of my favorite places in Charlottesville. As a loyal customer, I can confidently say they have some of the best chocolate treats in town. The staff is always welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind, making every visit a great experience. If you're visiting for the first time, the Chocolate Buttermilk Cake is an absolute must-try, t's hands down my favorite dessert they make. Their chocolate cookies are also incredible and, in my opinion, better than any other bakery's in Charlottesville. Everything is consistently fresh, beautifully made, and clearly crafted with care. Whether you're stopping in for a coffee and a sweet treat or picking up desserts for a special occasion, Gearharts never disappoints. It's one of those places I keep coming back to, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a sweet tooth. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Chocolate buttermilk cake - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A box of Gearhart Chocolates is my go to gift for the person who has everything. I sent a box to my cousin for her 50th wedding anniversary, I send them as get well gifts, and for birthdays. They are the best! read more

Great place for chocolate lovers! Their drinks are at a very reasonable price and good portions. We had their hot chocolate which is only $3 with a huge marshmallow square (you can get it without). Even their coffees are under $4. Their chocolates are $2.60 per piece, $22 for 8pc box, $39 for 16, and $68 for 32. Their cake was also rich with cocoa flavor and not just sweet. The staff were friendly and got our orders quickly. It was a calming environment and fun for the kids to watch the chocolatiers work their magic. read more

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First time in the store front was this past Saturday morning. It was pretty empty and the staff was very friendly and personable. It smells amazing in there and there's lots of seating. Had a cranberry chocolate almond croissant and I think that was the best croissant I've had in Cville. Also got the il bicerin and it was great, the chocolate was very rich. They also have a loyalty program! read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Menu - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Absolutely delicious chocolate! Get a treat for yourself, you are worth it. They also sell bars and I got a blue berry bar for the boyfriend and he loves it! read more

Very nice store. Happened by here on our way to staples (next door) and had to stop in. Counter lady was very nice, excellent service. Had all of the flavors in even at 2pm which was great! Can see through big windows to actual chocolate making station as well. Really loved that the flavors were so unique and delicious. "Infused" one of earl grey was my favorite. Delectable treats! A little pricey, but clearly gourmet ($20 for 8) read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Menu - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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If you have not yet tried Gearharts Chocolates, plan a trip to their VA locations or order some online ASAP. I am very picky about chocolate and absolutely LOVE Gearharts Fine Chocolates. I was first introduced when my brother bought me an assorted box. I finished the box way too quickly. I was so excited this Christmas when he bought me another box. I hope it becomes a tradition. I'm trying to do better this year and eat the chocolates slower to enjoy them for longer but they are pretty irresistible. The delectable chocolates come in unique flavors and are not overly sweet so that you can actually taste and enjoy all the deep notes. My favorites are the earl grey, taj, and Michigan cherry. Although I have not personally ordered from them, my brother mentioned that they have great customer service and were very accommodating since he needed it to ship at a specific time. I definitely recommend Gearharts to others! read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Phat, lush, fresh. Top-notch customer care, even by mail order on Valentine's Day (when, y'know, they're probably a little busy in the shop). read more

I reviewed this place about five years ago - not sure why my review got removed, but anyway. A friend once got me a box of truffles from Gearharts and every single one was amazing. If I ever get to Charlottesville, I'll definitely be dropping in! read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Truffles! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My husband bought me Gearharts Chocolates for Mother's Day, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Chocolate in any form is okay with me, but rich, well-crafted handmade chocolates are pretty much my number one favorite gift. I had the wine chocolates, and they were so lovely. Beautifully packaged and designed so the whole experience from opening the box to eating each bite was enjoyable. The chocolates were made with local wines and they had fitting art on top to designate which winery the wine in the chocolates was from. I would like to try the whiskey chocolates as well. All the chocolates in the shop just look beautiful and delicious. I savored each bite, and can't wait for an excuse to buy some more for myself. (Do I really need an excuse? -- no, but they aren't what I'd call cheap, so I'll save Gearharts for the special occasions!) read more

If you are a chocolate lover or even if you aren't, this is a place you won't want to miss. I can't think of one of their creations I've tried that I don't like, but this latest Hot Honeycomb is a new favorite. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Delicious variety of high quality chocolates as well as other desserts (cookies were very good)! It's fun that you can see them actually making the confections through the window! We found out about this place when our Airbnb host left us a few of the chocolates and we were hooked! Highly recommend! read more

Unbelievable....would not, WOULD NOT, give us a 16piece box to hold 12 pieces (3 each of 4 flavors) on a 90 degree day! This level of customer engagement when we were spending 100$. Never again. !!! read more

This place was ok. I got 5 chocolates and only liked 2. It was my first time here so I didn't really know what to order. I still prefer the Godiva chocolatier shop over this one but it wasn't bad. I think it's also pretty cool that you can see some employees actually making the chocolates and other treats right in the store through the glass window. Not sure if I'd go out of way to come here but if I'm ever around I might give them another try. read more

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This local place will impress you with their incredible flavors and level of commitment to detail. Gearhart's features a variety of specialized chocolates in addition to Some pre-boxed flavors of toffee which I highly recommend. Stopping to satisfy a chocolate craving and appease your sweet tooth you won't be disappointed. read more

This is hands down THE BEST CHOCOLATE!!!!! I eat my fair share of their treats but also send their gift boxes at Christmas, for birthdays, Mother's Day...everyone who receives them raves about how good it is. My mom has a friend who is from Belgium and she shared her box one time and was blown away by the quality and this lady knows her chocolate! Don't hesitate, shop local, ship it anywhere and I promise it's worth every penny. read more

I came here to find a nice gift for my boyfriend's mom. Gearharts is one of the fine chocolatiers in Charlottesville. They have wine chocolates, chocolate bars, truffles, gift boxes, chocolate mixes, and many more products for sale. Everything is freshly made. You can see the process through glass windows in the shop itself! I also loved how they have free samples for people to try out the different flavors. I tried the brownie, Earl Grey, and pecan chocolate. The chocolates are definitely on the bitter side, but they are extremely rich and delicate. I personally liked the Earl Grey the best because it melts so smoothly in your mouth and has a nice after taste. Prices are expensive. I bought an 8-piece gift box for $17. Chocolate bars are a little cheaper ($6/each), but be prepared to spend a lot here! I definitely won't be splurging here for myself, but it is a nice place to get gifts for people, especially for those who don't live in Charlottesville. Finally there are some chairs and tables here. It's relatively empty and quiet compared to most Charlottesville coffee shops so it does make an ideal place to do work or to have quiet conversation. I haven't tried the coffee or pastry myself, but I'm glad they have those as options, too! read more

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First of all, I love how this place was so warm and welcoming. There were also cookies, truffles, and brownies to taste which made it that much more welcoming. I walked away with six chocolates -- all were decadent but my favorite was the butter caramel. So good! The ones with orange were a bit overpowering and the tequila lime had far too much white chocolate for my taste. Overall, great place with wonderful chocolates. read more

So, my wife and I first tried these chocolates along with Copper Fox whiskey on Valentine's day and they knocked our socks off. After the tasting we ordered a 36 sampler along with other goodies. We have been nothing but pleased. Best chocolates we have ever had. They make anything else you've had seem inferior. Godiva? Hahaha. Ghirardelli? Hahaha. The products here are amazing and should be enjoyed slowly. If you buy the candies here you will never be disappointed. The best, period. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The chocolates are SO SO SO good! Seriously go get some. We did a little tour and truffle rolling which was fun but more than anything the chocolates are amazing! read more

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Got myself some treats after work. Love them love them love them! Please try the southern sampler. They are my favorite. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The products are excellent but their online ordering system is sad for a business in 2022. Email literally said "We're giving you 10% off storewide this weekend! " Ordered to pick up at the shop but they don't prepare orders on weekends. Who knew. It certainly wasn't clear on their website. After picking 3 different bars, online ordering put the entire order into one flavor. I missed that but frankly didn't expect it. Apparently incapable of putting together an order in the store that matched what I wanted. So you can't even pick out several bars when you make the time to go to the shop. Frankly, unbelievable. I would suggest L.A. Burdicks (https://www.burdickchocolate.com/) for excellent products and more reliable service. read more

Best chocolate in the worst presentation! When you buy a "luxury" item...the packaging is part of the experience. It's quite deflating to be given such extraordinary chocolate wrapped in tissue paper in a humble & generic white paper bag, in which the pieces tumble about upon leaving the store. Understandably, the more lovely brown boxes with the orange ribbon are reserved for set amounts. My children and I have stopped by the store for years, treating ourselves to a few pieces of chocolate which were presented in a simple white box. Now the store is asking one to pay for the simple white box. It just feels cheap for such special chocolate. read more

All you need is one piece and your mouth will be happy. This is hands down one of the best chocolate I have ever tasted. So very good, their flourless chocolate torte is to die for and all of their chocolates are amazing. The depth of flavors, the texture and the designs, Gerharts produces edible masterpieces. I received a mixed box for my birthday and I have hidden them from the family. Every now and then I sneak off and treat myself. :) Go check them out, you will not be disappointed! read more

**Stop 7 of 7 on the Taste of Virginia Charlottesville Food Tour** Whoa - so this is what high-end chocolate tastes like. I'll never look at a Hershey bar the same way again. The final stop in our food tour, the girlfriend and I were able to sample some of Gearharts Fine Chocolates. The quality of the chocolate the the unique flavors they offer totally had me sold. Some of the flavors we sampled included: Earl Grey - bittersweet dark chocolate with a hint of the tea flavor in it. This was my favorite. Mint Julep - milk chocolate ganache with mint and Kentucky bourbon. Because the alcoholic drink wasn't delicious enough. Tequila Lime - Tequila and fresh lime fondant dipped in white chocolate. It was surprisingly delicious. Almond Mocha - milk chocolate espresso ganache and marzipan with a roasted almond. If you love coffee you'll love this one. In conclusion, this will be some the finest chocolate you'll ever eat. read more

There is nothing finer for your mood and taste buds as Gearhearts Fine Chocolates! I give the 8-count gift boxes as Christmas gifts to my employees every year and now also include them as thank-you gifts to my AirBnb guests. Needless to say, I often treat myself to a box, as well. read more

TERRIBLE coffee. Chocolate was good. I know that coffee isn't what "they do"...but if it's gonna be burnt and gross, stick to using it in your recipes and not serving it to customers. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Gross coffee, but you get to watch the chocolate being made - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

With one star being chocolate like Hershey's and five stars being the finest "artisan"/"artisanal" chocolates, I would give Gearharts 3.5 stars (rounded up to be generous). The chai-spiced, chocolate-dipped pecans were excellent. They displayed a complex blend of complimentary flavors that went beyond the usual spiced/caramel/chocolate nuts. The Maya was okay; the ganache matched the description with subtle lavors of cinnamon, chili, and orange, but the dusting of cocoa was off-putting. The intensely bitter cocoa was a drying assault on the palate that was subdued only after I was able to wash it away with the flavorful ganache. The Taj was the most disappointing of the three items I tried. While the flavors of ginger and cardamom (I could not taste the rose) complimented each other and certainly evoked Eastern flavors as intended, the ganache was grainy (not from the candied ginger pieces), a basic mistake. read more

Gearharts is pretty much world-class exquisite chocolatier that cannot be beat except by the finest Belgian artisan shops. The fact that we have amazing chocolate within driving distance is absolutely a joy. Prices are fair but pricey and I can only afford a small box or two before I feel guilty, both for my wallet and for my caloric intake. There are also some incredible hits and some awkward misses, but even the misses are better than most 'commercial' chocolatiers like Godiva or the ilk. Why chocolate? Why not? Gearharts is awesome. read more

Nice selection of chocolates and presented well. Very clean and inviting place. They have a giant window to thr chocolate in process. Would love to see them making the chocolate but weekdays only. read more

We are SOOOO excited to have been so surprised!! Without any expectations we ordered these chocolates for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We have found it by chance, while looking for a local, Virginia-based artisan and truly don't regret it!!! Several reasons why: - The chocolate is absolutely delicious. Owner and chocolatier Tim Gearhart makes smart marriages between spices (cardamom, cinnamon,...), alcohols (Kirsch, Kentucky bourbon ,..), dried fruits (dried Michigan cherries, oranges), Earl Grey tea or coffee and of course aromatic cocoa (dark, milk, white). The fragrances and delicately flavored background notes transform these ingredient into fine, mouth-wakening chocolates. Although the variety isn't enormous, the quality is truly fulfilling, deemed to belong to the select club of Artisan Chocolatiers. - When your mouth meets Gearhharts' chocolates, you feel as if you had entered in a small French Chocolaterie (European store specialized in making and selling only chocolates). I would compare the experience to the movie Chocolat! :) - The chocolates are as visually stunning as they are delicious, almost too gorgeous to eat. Love the perfected technique in which the colored designs for each piece makes them each unique and appealing, reminding me of the finest chocolate imported from Belgium, France, or Switzerland. Give them a chance, and order a couple of boxes. These make excellent gifts, only for your best friends. read more

Gearharts is an amazing small business with excellent and prompt customer service. The very friendly owner answered my call on the first ring (which is so rare these days) and was able to accommodate my last minute Mother's Day request on a Saturday afternoon. It was 100% my fault for waiting until the last possible second to place an order but he was very helpful, completed my order quickly and had it ready for curbside pickup within the hour. Thank you!! read more

Stunning, world-class chocolates right there in Charlottesville. I highly recommend you eat them every day. I did. But I didn't get fat because I then went for a long hike in Ivy Creek Natural Area, or that insanely steep hike just a few miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway. Charlottesville totally rocks. And Gearharts is one of the best things about it. read more

Ordered boxes of chocolates for Christmas; they were beautifully packed and timely shipped! Very satisfied and highly recommended;)

I came in for breakfast and grabbed a chocolate croissant and hot cocoa, it was fresh and delicious, the lobby allows you to watch them make the chocolates and the customer service is so good it'll change your whole day. read more

Amazing chocolates, this judgement coming from a Frenchman who has had the BEST in Paris. These are even better than the French artisan chocolatiers in DC, and that's saying a lot! read more

There's Richart...Fauchon...then Gearharts Fine Chocolates. My favorites are their cherry, raspberry, cardamon, earl grey, maya chocolates. I also love their blueberry bar. I have been indulging since I was introduced to Gearharts since Feb. I could finish a large box in one day! read more

There's really nothing more to say about the product that hasn't been, but the customer service is almost worth the 5-star rating alone. Really the only downfall of the place is that if you try them once you will be compelled to return. read more

Gearharts Fine Chocolates - Foil printed, textured box with ribbon. - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I came here for my birthday and loved it. We booked a tour and it was amazing to see how the chocolate was made up close and learn all about chocolate. We also go to sample some chocolate and we got a discount at the end. The chocolate is amazing and seeing the history of the place is worth it and makes you love chocolate more. Would definitely recommend for chocolate lovers and the chocolate makes great gifts. You have to call to book a tour and times are specific so book ahead. You can also get a glimpse through the window into the chocolate decorating lab. read more

Their cup of hot chocolate is for true chocolate lovers. Every sip was luxurious! If I lived around here, I would be a regular customer.