I went into a million artisinal chocolate shops in London searching for gifts and the best chocolate and this was one of my favorite places for fine chocolate! (Tied in 1st for my favorite London chocolate was the Pump Street chocolate curated by Harrod's department store, and one from Whole Foods hah!) Paul A Young is famous and won awards for their salted caramel chocolates, unique and unlike any other I've had because they're much softer than the usual caramels, but at the same time not completely liquid. I personally thought their brownies were the best part - they seemed overly dense but were so rich and perfectly decadent. I also purchased the sampler of different varieties of milk and dark chocolates, and it was my least favorite because I felt the darks were a little too dry and bitter and the milks were too creamy and sweet. I'd recommend you taste the samples on the main table before purchasing. The truffles were beautiful and the flavors unique but personally I was not a big fan (except for the salted caramels). Overall, highly recommend a visit here for the salted caramels and brownies! read more

At a time when investing can be hazardous because of the volatility of the world economy. I have spotted one product which seems immune to the winds of recession. High end chocolate is on the up with chains like Maison Chocolat opening new shops. Paul A Young's flagship shop in Soho follows this pattern of extremely tempting and exclusive chocolates on show with prices which would make your bank manager and my Chinese Thrift Gene blush! My CTG won't allow me to buy these expensive products for myself but it's a good destination for a nice present for someone special. They do sell interesting products like savoury flavours in their chocolate Fortunately, I have more of a savoury tooth than a sweet tooth, so this place won't bankrupt me read more

Paul A Young Fine Chocolates - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - London, XGL

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The chocolates are definitely works of art, especially the ones adorned with gold dust or gold wrapping. Unique flavors give the truffles personality, such as basil, porter with pretzel chunks, PB&J, mango and lime daiquiri, and my favorite named chocolate: Seedy Soho. So they do a twist on classic flavors with fun names, and of course, a beautiful presentation. Each chocolate runs £2 each, with a quantity discount as you buy more, example, a box of 4 will be £7. If you're looking for something the kiddies may enjoy, the chocolate covered brownies are the way to go, and are not only pretty but are fairly large and only run £2 each. Expiration dates vary, so definitely be sure to ask about each before making a purchase, if you are planning to gift them later down the line. Many of the hand-selected chocolates last only about 7 days, others a little longer depending on the contents. I always feel strange about going into a business where people hover and follow around as if I might break or touch something they don't want touched--that's sort of how it's felt the few times I've been inside the store. No doubt, there are phenomenal displays of chocolate out in the open that they simply don't want messed with: a round table in the center of the room with truffles and other delicacies jutting out in intricately placed rows, a vat of "Aztec" hot cocoa that appears as thick as sipping chocolate, trays and trays of chocolate covered brownies, and shelves adorned in boxes of truffles and molded chocolates, so perhaps that's why the staff make it a point to keep a keen and wandering watch over their guests. So I'll definitely return for the chocolate covered brownies since they're so rich that they taste like chunks of pure fudge, an also pop in for hand-selected chocolates for gifts, I just wish it didn't always feel like "big brother" was watching all the time... read more

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I think if it was my last day on Earth and I had to pick a few things to eat Chocolates from Paul A Young would be definitely on the list! (Yes I mean it) The chocolates here will make you drool just like you did while watching Chocolat (the film with Mr Ohh Soo Sexy--Johnny Depp). I am one of those who would probably walk in to any chocolate shop but if you are one of those who think chocolates are just about OK then you my dear surely need to pay a visit to Mr Young very soon! Yes I agree the chocolates are not the cheapest but hey you pay for what you get and its meant to be a treat not a daily habit like a Mars Bar! The store is located in the buzzing neighborhood of soho, its small and not very flamboyant like the delicious little balls of chocolate here! Verdict : Everyone, I insist everyone must try these chocolates once in their life time! read more

Paul A Young Fine Chocolates - Chocolate heaven! It smells sooo good in here! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - London, XGL

I'm not really a chocolate fiend, but I will admit, whenever I'm in London, I have to pop in to Paul A Young for a box. The chocolate smell alone is worth a stop...heavenly! Service is fabulous, the chocolates are always fresh and often unusual flavors, and the presentation is beautiful. I always get an assortment of some of the more uncommon flavors (this trip included pumpkin and roasted garlic!), but you MUST get some of the salted caramel truffles. Absolutely divine. I always swear that one day, I'm going to get a box of only salted caramels, and I'm going to eat them...all....by....my....self!!! read more

This shop is unreal, eod! The penultimate stop was at an chocolatie, or perhaps THE chocolatie in London, Paul A Young. Once we stepped into the store we were in kind of coco-heaven! There was chocolate all around and we had the good fortune to taste their salty-caramel and it was like.....well, tough to describe. The caramel was next to liquid so once you had cracked the little bite of heaven open in your mouth there wasn't really any going back. Most on the us bought several of these little master pieces to bring home. === Disclaimer; this was a stop on a SoHo food safari-thing, so the review may seem rather slim but we only had a few items. read more

Paul A Young Fine Chocolates - Just a "small section" - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - London, XGL

The chocolates here are divine! Amazing flavours, beautifully made. The shop itself is a quite small and feels a little dark. I personally don't think they have made enough of the space. The service was OK but a chocolate tour had just arrived so we were ignored and just having to try to fit in around the other people. We bought 4 chocolates which came to £7! Sooo expensive but really worth the money compared with going to Said or Choccywoccydodah round the corner. I recommend all 4: banoffee, cheesecake (it actually had a crumbley bottom, vanilla mascarpone top, all coated in chocolate), peanut butter & jelly and finally a delicious salted caramel! Perfect for an indulgent treat or a special present for a loved one. read more

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You tend to easily recognise artisanal flair if you care to pay attention. Well, you get plenty of it when you enter this little place in Wardour Street. The smell alone attunes you to sample the goods offered in the little jars. And surely enough, once you do - you are bot leaving the shop empty-handed. Splendid marketing. The millionaires shortbread I had was really worthy of the name providing a delightful mix of textures - soft bottom, layered with thick but moist chocolate fudge and finished with thin, crumbly layer on top. Both the presentation and the taste speaks of inventiveness and attention to detail - and that is what i love. 5! read more

Paul A Young Fine Chocolates - Shortbread Bonanza - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - London, XGL

I was visiting London and this shop was recommended by a friend who lives locally. I'm so glad we went, because everything was fabulous! I totally daydream about returning all the time. It's pricey, but good chocolate should be. The flavor combinations are so original and the chocolates are gorgeous. Would love to have a shop to visit in the US, but I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder... read more

I've never been into the shop. I've eaten the chocolate. 5*'s from me. I was at a dinner party (how middle class) and at the end, one of the other guests whipped out a box of these delightful chocolate numbers. Not normally a sweet/chocolate person, especially posh chocolates with overbearing flavours, I politely popped one in my mouth. Stunning. Chocolates all created in the traditional way, no additives. Fresh and unique flavours that change with the seasons. Yum read more

Given the fact that I'm always in Soho, it's a bit surprising that I never tried the chocolates from here until a few weeks ago. I probably should've just stayed away...because they're AMAZING. Inside there's a large round glass table covered with different kinds of bonbons...it was like I walked into dessert heaven. Along the walls are cupboards filled with homemade chocolate bars, and they also sell brownies and a selection of other niche brands. It was ridiculously hard to choose which flavours to get but I ended up with peanut butter + raspberry jelly, flat white (flavoured with espresso), and the whisky chocolate. 5 minutes later, I was chocolate-less, £6 pounds poorer, and wishing that I had unlimited disposable income to buy a stockpile of these chocolates. 5 star quality, but unfortunately a bit too expensive for me! read more

I needed a special gift to be shipped within the UK while I was visiting London recently. Found Paul A. Young online - very central location in SoHo - and loved the place the minute I walked in (and I'm a See's lover, #justsayin). Martin helped me select individual chocolates for a beautiful gift box and when I mentioned that my friend's birthday was a few days away, he explained that they would wait until the day before to package up fresh chocolates (as opposed to shipping the box we had just selected - more work for them). Great customer service. Then I asked about classes that I had seen on their website and there just so happened to be a brownie baking class in THIS location on THAT night. It was fully booked, but allowed me a spot (and in the end, one couple cancelled so it wasn't too crowded) and I had a blast. Their staff at this location (Martin, Francis, Eduardo and Sam) were delightful, informative, helpful and made my trip a chocolate lover's dream. read more

I've always wanted to pop by this chocolatier but I couldn't justify spending £2 on a little truffle for myself! As Yee Gan mentions below, it's a nice place to get some high end luxurious chocolates for someone special, so I picked some up for the chocoholic bf for a special occasion. Their famous truffles are displayed in the centre of the shop with the shop assistants standing by to fill little gift boxes for you. I picked up 4 truffles for £7, yikes! Or there is 9 for £15. Quite pricey but a nice treat. So far, we shared a truffle. I can't remember which one it was but it was delicious. Anyway, at least pop by and take a look, or sample some of their brownies inside! read more

By far, my favorite chocolate shop of all time! My boyfriend and I visited this location as part of a private food tour and we literally could have stayed here for hours deciding what to purchase for ourselves and as gifts for our friends/families. Unique flavors and all made in-house. Their award-winning salted caramels are our favorite. We also enjoyed their goat cheese truffle, the cigar leaf caramel truffles, jasmine tea and mango truffles, and the champagne truffles. The store was nicely set up with the focal point of the room on the amazing chocolate drops of heaven on a platter. Word on the chocolate streets is that they will open up a store in New York?! One continent closer to loosening my wallet and fattening my arteries. read more

EXPENSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE !!!!!!! :( Being a HUGE chocolate lover, well I'm Swiss P I try to taste every chocolate I find on my many many travels around the world. Here the chocolates are very good (not the best I've eat though) and with very original flavous (bloody mary, cucumber mint basil, amaretto raspberry, mago litchi) but for these only 4 small chocolates bites, it cost me 7£ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if they were the best chocolates in the world it's not a decent price at ALL !!! In every places I went to (Switzerland, USA, France, Italy, Germany, UK, and more, even in famous high standing places), chocolates never cost more than the half of this one !!! It's really sad cause even if they were very tasty, the outrageous prices didn't allow me to appreciate them :( read more

Imagine, if you will... a sunny day in London (I know. Seems like a dream.), you are walking along Wardour Street, you just had a delicious lunch at Wahaca, you have purchased some delicious Ricotta Cakes from Princi (for later!), you stare longingly at the goodies in the window at L'Eto Cafe, and then you see... Paul A Young Fine Chocolates. If you haven't eaten your way down Wardour Street... DO IT! I walk into the store and I can smell chocolate. There are a few staff members at the counter, one carrying some melted chocolate across the room to the hot plate at the end of the counter. That's what I am smelling! I look at the lovely display of chocolates on the table in the middle of the shop. Very interesting flavours... I believe I saw one with red onion, another with hints of cigar, and another with stilton! However, I ended up with a Peanut Butter and Raspberry chocolate and a Salted Caramel chocolate. They do have bowls of samples around the store of various chocolates... including the famous brownie! They had a few different versions of the brownie, but at £5.50, I could not justify the Sea Salted Caramel Brownie with cocoa nibs. However, at £3.00, I went with the original brownie. Keep in mind that this is an artisan chocolate shop, so it is a bit on the expensive side, but clearly the quality is very good. The brownie... it is fabulously rich... so chocolatey! The only thing (I know...) is that for a brownie it is beyond the squigy, chewy, moistness... it is almost like fudge that hasn't quite set. That being said, I savoured every bit of it... just make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand! It took some time before one of the staff members helped me... I pretended like I was going to touch their displays on the table and one rushed over. I know, but I was ready to purchase or eat the chocolates straight off of the table. I would like to try some of the more interesting flavours, but it will have to be a special treat every now and then. read more

I went there two nights in a row while staying in London. Both times were outstanding. Really enjoyed the sea salt and milk chocoloate.

I was extremely lucky enough to go to the press launch of this place. With the best brownies in the world (in my opinion), some of the best chocolate in the world and all on public display, Paul A Young Shops have always been a great place to visit but now... well... The centre of the store houses a table upon which all the chocolates are laid out. I don't know how they don't worry about people sneezing on them or handling them but people seem really respectful. The shop is nicely proportioned with lovely purple walls and brownies in the window. The chocolates here are to die for. They are really absolutely lovely and the staff are tops. Look for the blonde woman and she was really lovely when I was there! read more

Yep. LIke Judith mentioned in her lovely review I was also a lucky duck invitee to the press launch as well. Paul and co create and sell some of the best chocolate in London (and maybe the world) and opening up Soho flagship seems like a no brainer to me (from both the business and consumer's perspective). Now drool: Gorgeous sea salted caramels, love/hate Marmite truffles, a new seasonal range of truffles including tomato, basil and olive oil, orange and tarragon, wild strawberry, balsamic and black pepper and lots more chocolaty innovations await. But don't worry, it's not all about the weird and wonderful. You can still get a killer classic brownie (best in London I reckon) or simple bar of chocolate. And even more drool-worthy: Everything in shop is hand made with the vast majority of treats created in the shop's downstairs kitchen, with Paul et al eschewing preservatives and additives in preference of fresh herbs and spices, organic pure distilled essential oils and fresh fruits. read more

Delicious. Expensive. For those who only live once. Not for those with chocolate allergy. Pleasant worker. Not sure why there was a rainbow flag at the window, but the whole world seemed more gay after I ate a dark chocolate shell with a fruity filling, and that's a good thing. read more

Excellent artisanal chocolate shop. The staff was very helpful in explaining their products as well as those of other local chocolate makers they stock. The quality was excellent. I tried marmite for the fist time and liked it. Their truffle chocolates are creative and fun. read more

Nice little chocolate shop chain that I've been meaning to stop into for a long while. I finally went in today and there was so much around! Lovely. I have an obsession with sea salt in my chocolate so I bought a bit of their 64% with sea salt and that was really yummy :) The salt doesn't hit you until halfway through chewing but it's a lovely flavour. I also bought a salted caramel pecan brownie (I think), and I have yet to try that but if what all the other reviewers say about the brownies is right, I'm sure I'll be blown away :) It is quite expensive, not something I would get every day obviously. But for a nice treat after a long day, so far I would love to come back. read more

Heavenly chocolate that melts in the mouth and gorgeous soft brownies a bit expensive but worth it. Paul A Young has won many awards for his amazing chocolate creations from passionfruit chocs to salted caramel. All choc are so fresh you have to eat within a matter of days. Would visit again. read more

Love this, very French, very small and very different. I picked up some liquor filled chocolates for my coworkers. They were very friendly and willing to assist. read more

This store is a more spacious/relaxing and friendlier place than any other branches. The staff is really friendly and helpful and the best of all, Paul's chocolate is simply outstanding. He is such an innovative chocolatier and even a Marmite hater like me enjoyed his Marmite Ganache chocolate. He uses the best and freshest quality ingredients and combines interesting flavours like an alchemist. A few of my favourites are Dark Chocolate-covered Salted Caramel, anything contains almond, and Whisky Ganache. It is so exciting to try a new flavour which you will not see anywhere else and I can easily chomp away his lovely dark chocolate-covered concoction all day long. But his chocolate should be savoured slowly, so I would refrain myself (darn...). Anyway I will be a very happy bunny if I receive his chocolate as a gift. read more

Chilli dark chocolate, white chocolate with ??? And nuts milk chocolate. Sorry... Maybe I bought the wrong one... But it not taste like it says... Didn't feel the special whatever... Maybe I should by the assorted selection. lol very limited choices. read more

I was the grateful receipient of a complimentary box of choccies from Paul A Young and I remain an ardent fan of his work. A 30+ box of chocolates gives you such a wonderful selection, from the sea salted caramels (to die for) through some of the more eclectic tastes (such as a the marmite chocs mentioned above!). Amazing read more

The best chocolate shop ever! Recently I received a gift from Paul A Young chocolates and I really liked it and this is the main reason to visit that place. Here you can not only buy chocolate, but you can also learn how to cook it. Great! read more

Wow. I've been lucky enough to taste a few of Paul's limited edition chocolates before, as well as his hot chocolate that is currently being sold at the Ice Cream bar Freggo in Swallow Street. But I only visited the shop fairly recently. It is incredible. Enticing, decadent and filled with heavenly scents. The staff are friendly and helpful without being pushy. They seem to genuinely love the work they do and are just happy to be there, surrounded by World-class chocolate all day long (well, wouldn't you be?). The central display is out of this world. I wanted to skip around it like a child and fill a basket with 10 of everything (except that would have quickly bankrupted me). Instead, I was insanely lucky enough to walk away with the Signature Salted caramel Easter egg free of charge (I won the Qype eggy-pun competition). However, this is now what I'll be requesting every Easter. It blows every other egg (or indeed chocolate) I've ever had out of the water. Rich, smooth, velvety and lingering. It's sweet without being sickly, bitter without leaving an aftertaste and silky without being cloying. And don't even get me started on the salted caramels that appear like jewels in the little golden drawer beneath the egg. Divine. I'll be back on Wardour street again very soon to try some of the more adventurous blends from this chocolate master. read more

Expensive, but if you are looking for great, fresh chocolates with a short shelf-life span, because of the quality of the ingredients, then this is the place to shop. Paul also stocks chocolate from small-batch chocolate makers and these are truly inspiring to try. My advice is to go for a salted caramel and then take it from there (avoid the marmite stuff, unless this is your thing!). read more