Cocova made me crazy about chocolate...centers. ...because, there's something slightly strange and mildly disconcerting about the glossy outer coating of the truffles...I mean, there's nothing natural about the shiny yellow encasing of the buttered caramel...and there truly is too little chocolate to taste Cocova's claim-to-fame... ...and while the chocolate tasting at Cocova is worth a gander...and you could probably fill up on the multitude of morsels (varying degrees of dark, milk, and white with chili, salt, and fruit), the real wonder of Cocova's chocolates are in the truffle fillings... ...which are all amazingly succulent. Melty fillings, like the honey lavender, will ruin your car seat, and your diet, but make your taste buds squirm with delight. Just the right blend of champagne and chocolate make this creamy truffle filling equivalent to the shiny wonders found within the ugly rock casing of geodes. So the moral is: 1. Sharpen fangs and rock-breaking tools 2. Go to Covova 3. Pierce strange coating with fangs or un-encase filling with said tools 4. Suck out filling or peel out center as appropriate 5. Be happy read more

There is a reason no one has given this amazing gem of a store 1 or 2 stars. And I'm surprised to see that someone only gave it three. I went to Biagio chocolate for a "tweet-up" through DC Foodies Do Good (check it out at http://dcfoodiesdogood.com/ --- one foodie event, and one community service event each month for FREE!). We had a chocolate tasting hosted by the store owner, Biagio, and it was incredible. If you're looking for a fun event for your office, an engagement party, or just about anything that doesn't require shots at a bar, call and ask about setting up a chocolate tasting. We arrived to everything already set up in the tasting room, with a "chocolate menu" for what we'd be savoring, generous portions of the 9 different chocolates, water (and extra pitchers), and information cards about chocolate tasting, chocolate making, and just why dark chocolate is an essential part of a balanced diet. The eight different dark chocolates were from bars ranging from $3 to $19 for a 100 gram bar, from all around the world. Our guided sampling was prefaced by nearly an hour of history about chocolate and how it is made. I learned everything from what the percentage on a bar means (it's the total percentage of cocoa butter and cocoa solids in the bar) to how the conching and tempering processes work. History is interesting, but of course the chocolate was the crown jewel in the event. And, I was the lucky winner of a $75 basket of delicious artisanal chocolate --- so wonderful to take home! Long story short, if you like chocolate, or are one of the few who haven't learned to love this delightful, sensual, amazing concoction, head over the Biagio. The owner, who was a language-major turned flight attendant who has lived all over the world, knows his stuff, and I have faith that his staff is the same. He loves what he does, he loves what he sells, and he has a discerning palate that would make me trust just about anything he said about chocolate. This is a store for foodies, but not the ones with their noses in the air: just the ones who want to taste little morsels of heaven and bond over the pure joy of quality chocolate from around the world. Even if that happens to be white chocolate. read more

Went here the other night for a wine and chocolate tasting event (they have a studio in the back). The service was immaculate! There were a range of chocolates from all around the world. Me and the tasters had Tempranillo wine which complemented the chocolate very nicely. And while each piece of chocolate is very special (especially the milk chocolate from France) the truffles and chocolate fillings is where the action is really at. Using the surface of the chocolate as canvases, these people make flowers, trees and swirls of color. They are beautiful. And to put it simply-- they display them like jewelry, under glass. I saw women oooh-ing and ahhh-ing. My favorite was the cherry blooms and the hazelnut creme. Also don't forget to ask to try the 100% coco bar-- apparently it is their most popular bar and is a unique taste. Oh! And also there is a bacon and chocolate bar! Say wha'?! read more

I truly appreciated the chocolate display. There is only ONE chocolate of each variety on display and there are about 20 or so types. They are each respectively labeled with a title, the ingredients, and the city from which it was imported from. Very unique flavors available from French lavender to Mexican peppers. The chocolate is very rich, so one piece goes a long way to quench your craving. They are also beautiful and artistic in appearance. Aside from the glass display, there are various chocolate bars and items around the store from all over the world! I bet there are bars you have never heard of. I was pleased to see a lot of fair trade brands available as well. And many range in cacao content from the milky mid 30's% to even a 100% cacao bar! read more

Next time you walk by Biagio, please step in and get a salted caramel chocolate from J Chocolatier. If you don't, you're an idiot. Really. Because they are so incredibly delicious. So delicious you can't think or move while you eat it because it consumes and overwhelms all your senses. Besides J Chocolatier, Biagio offers a large variety of fine chocolates-- including Vosges, which has amazing flavors such as the bacon bar and many other combinations of savory and sweet. The owner (I'm pretty sure she was the owner...) was lovely and we talked about the different wine bars in DC (Enology and Veritas also have the aforementioned heavenly caramels). I can't wait to go back. read more

I absolutely love this place. The shop is nice and cozy and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I've only been there twice but I was very pleased with both experiences. On my first visit I wasn't sure what to do, I told the guy what I was looking for and he made some excellent suggestions. Although I didn't enjoy some of the pieces he liked I was impressed with his patience and honesty. I think I relied too heavily on his suggestions during my first visit and I didn't think about that fact that one person's sweet could be another man's bitter or vice versa. On my second visit though I went with my gut and an open mind. We rated all of the things we got out of 3 stars , 3 = I must have more 2 = very yummy 1 = good NA = never again will I try this so here's our view on what we've had so far, remember what works for me may or may not work for you ts take this with a grain of salt :-) 3 Stars: Caramel Fleur de Sel, Chocolate Silk, Salted butter Caramel ( I never thought salt in my chocolate could be so delicious) 2 Stars: Peanut Butter Caramel, Cafe au Lait, Wink of the Rabbit Caramels 1 Star : Tahitian Vanilla, Coffee Hazlenut, Coffee Caramel, Grand Marnier NA: Rosemary Caramel, Cabernet Caramel, Butter and Scotch Will update as we get more. read more

Let me preface this review by stating that this place carries (albeit sporadically, though through no fault of their own) Al Nassma chocolates, and as far as I can tell is one of only two stores in all of the Americas that does. If you've never had the Dubai chocolate maker's camel milk chocolates, you're in for a real treat. I searched for years before I found this place, and if it was a rat-infested hole in the ground with abysmal service and astronomical prices, I probably would've still given it 4 stars. Lucky for you, it was none of those things. So, they sometimes carry Al Nassma. They also carry a wide variety of other chocolates, and have frequent tastings and events. Sign up for their mailing list and check it out! Also, if you're ever in NYC, check out The Meadow! read more

Extensive selection of the best chocolates from around the world, lots of little bowls with free samples, very knowledgeable and friendly staff... As Will Ferrell might say, this place is mind-bottling. And they have Waialua chocolate from my home state of Hawaii! My favorite truffles so far: Earl Grey, rosemary, caramel butter, lime, passion fruit, and chipotle chile. Note: Biagio is below street level and a bit hard to find. read more

Just had a chocolate tasting and it was a very thorough 360 approach! I had never been to one before and we learned the history/origins of chocolate. Then we primed our smelling sense through lots of different element smelling and then our tastebuds with different sips and nibbles of other ingredients. We were given the opportunity to try cocoa butter and cocoa nibs as well. Loved Marisol - she's so knowledgable and passionate! Then we tried the chocolate too, and it was AMAZING how different each one was. I felt really prepared to sample each different one :) I plan to go back to a truffle-making class! read more

Holy mackerel! Biagio is amazing. I went over Easter weekend looking, not for egg shaped candy (which there was plenty), but for Vosges' "Mo's Bacon Bar." And whoa Nelly, did I find it. The bacon bar is salty and sweet and perfect for sharing, (and priced cheaper at Biagio than at Whole Foods). Biagio is PACKED with a delicious selection of chocolates from around the world. Lush truffles, exotic bar flavors, fair trade, single origins, you name it. This is the spot to broaden your chocolate horizons. read more

Best truffles in DC! No room for discussion. I have finally found my Luisa Bruhn Chocolatte :D read more

This is a place for pastry. We went here to buy some chocolates as gift. This place carries a variety of special chocolates that you don't find it elsewhere in the town. You choose what flavors and how many you like. There are flavors like bourbon, raspberry, caramel mint etc., its nicely arranged in a jewel box kind if a thing. The chocolates just look like precious stones in a box. Shiny and lustrous. A must visit in metropolitan DC area. read more

Great little shop filled with delicious chocolates and truffles! They were very knowledgeable about the chocolates and were friendly and helpful. read more

The Chocolate House - Truffles - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely recommended, why aren't you here? Like, right now? What a beautiful assortment of chocolates. Pretty enough to impress the gift-receiver and equally as scrumptious. I purchased a large mix and my favorite in the box was the fleur-de-sel. But seriously, they are all very good. A great alternative from the traditional chocolaterie. read more

Recchiuti's chocolate from San Francisco...so good and wonderful, so sad that I missed my annual trip to the Bay Area in order to replenish my supply. Who knew that they also send their Extra Bitter Chocolate Sauce here? I did, once I cried into the empty jar from which I had scraped every last possible molecule of the stuff and then decided to order some online (at really scary shipping prices). "What's this?" I said to myself, glancing at the Recchiuti's website. "They have their stuff in other shops? Perhaps somewhere on the East Coast...?" And so, I convinced a co-worker that we had to drive to get some chocolates. We were not disappointed at all. Small shop, lots of great chocolates represented (although I didn't see Fran's of Seattle...just Theo's, which I don't like). Will definitely make the drive at least quarterly now to stock up on chocolates. Yay! read more

The truffle making class was a hit! My friends and I really enjoyed the process and we had very clear instruction. Even though the class is two hours, it wasn't too difficult. They provided a recipe for us to take home, but we didn't need to refer to it at all during class. There were some period of down time (waiting for the ganache to freeze), but we used that time to peruse the shop and buy some chocolate. We all had a great time and really liked the truffles, toppings/spices, and instructor. It was fun to experiment with the different flavors. The only small tip would be to double or triple the ingredients if there are two or three people in a group. Everyone paid the same amount for this class, but when you take the class in teams of two or three, you get half or one-third the amount of truffles in the end. I ended up going home with 4.5 truffles. :( Also, the truffles the store was selling were divine. Highly recommend true lemon, vanilla/hazelnut, and strawberry champagne. I also bought a corn and peanut butter chocolate bar that will change your life! read more

Friendly, knowledgeable, and patient staff! It's so important to have these qualities when teaching customers about chocolate. I was so impressed with them and their diverse, global chocolate inventory. I'll go here far too often for my own good... They asked me a series of questions about what I like and don't like and were able to suggest the PERFECT chocolate bar for me. I'll take a case! Seriously, they know their stuff and want you to have a positive, fulfilling (literally!) experience there. Biagio is awesome. read more

Minus a star because I nearly slip on the stairs when it's snowing/there's ice on the steps and because I had a significant issue back when it was Biagio's. The staff are very friendly, helpful and accommodating. I like to pick up chocolates when I head out of town to visit family and Cocova doesn't let me down! They are thoughtful in how they package/place in the bag and offer great advice about overhead storage compartments and suitcases, so be sure to let them know if you're traveling. Oh, and I used to be on their email list but I was getting bombarded by too many emails after the shop was sold, so I opted out; wish I still received updates but one a month max is enough! read more

I went here for a chocolate tasting class with my partner - we learned a lot and had a blast doing it. Marisol was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and made the whole experience worth it. Highly recommended for the class and the chocolate (their truffles are amazing). read more

This is a crazy serious chocolate shop - very classy. They have hard to find high quality chocolate products from around the world. They have a case with these beautifully designed and delicious looking truffles - it was similar to shopping for jewelry. We went for a truffle making class. It was a good time - our instructor, Robert, has been in the choco biz for 20 years and was very informative, laid back and helpful. You see, truffle making is quite the science based on exact proportions and most importantly some of the temperatures the chocolate must get heated to, cooled too, etc. to make the perfect truffles. Ours were delicious. Thanks Cocova! read more

This place is truly a chocolate lovers dream come true! Not only do they have every possible kind of chocolate that you could want -- and then some -- but they also have incredibly friendly and patient staff. Oh, and the chocolate samples are great, too! I highly recommend it. read more

This is a gem for chocolate fans! This place has changed hands a couple of time but to help you find this place its where Sticky Fingers and then Biagio, then Cocova. Place has a large variety of chocolate and chocolate pieces from all over the US and the world. Really a fantastic place to try a vast variety. read more

I love chocolate. I looooove chocolate. Baiagio is my fantasy! It's a bit expensive, but the selction is rediculous, and the owner is super knowlegable and friendly. Super high quality. I love chocolate, I love cholate. I really like Biagio. Chocolate shops are great. read more

I visited Biagio for the second time this Memorial Day weekend, and again was not disappointed. I love the array of unusual and eclectic bars I can't find where I live. The staff was friendly and helpful and I came away with a nice collection to savor until my next trip to DC. I think next time, though, I will call ahead. There is one brand I enjoy and they were sold out when I got there. read more

So expensive...but oh so good. I am a sucker for Biagio's spicy pepper dark chocolate dusted almonds (whatever they're called - $15/bag I believe and oh so good). Perfect for those of you with or without a sweet tooth (my bf doesn't like sweets, and he liked these!) Note: I first encountered Biagio chocolate at a tasting at Schneider's of Capitol Hill (a wine-chocolate pairing session). So ask them for wine suggestions! They also have an extensive chocolate bar selection. If you want to dress it up a little, I recommend going for their truffle selection. They have amazing truffles, drinking chocolates, exotic chocolate bars, etc. However, if you're not a fiend who will down a whole bag of chocolate in one setting, you can definitely find something in your price range to savor. Obviously super busy around V-day and Christmas. The customer service is *excellent* at this place! Plus, they supported Hands on DC last yr, so I will heart them forever! read more

Pros Cute little spot under the toe path basement Entrance. Bathroom accessible clean not a mess. Variety of chocolate that melts and lingers in your mouth. Get the burnt white chocolate and the dark chocolate tabs to make hot coco. It's almost a Hazelnut flavor but better. Guy working counter is knowledgeable and patient. Cons I live to far! None Recommend after a nice dinner or gift for someone. read more

Hidden little gem. I went in expecting overpriced chocolates, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was going in to get a gift and had no idea what to get. The lady behind the counter was very helpful. She helped pick out chocolates (very inexpensive). They had a pretty varied selection where you could build a custom box of varying sizes. They also had these cool chocolate scented candles. read more

The chocolate store I didn't know I'd been missing. After receiving a gift from Biagio I decided to see what it was all about. I was hoping for a chocolate store, not a confectionary, and that's what I got. So many beautiful bars of chocolate, tins of drinking chocolate, little packages of chocolate morsels. Love it. Will be my go-to place for gifts and treats. read more

I took the beginners truffle making class as a double-date with some of our close friends through something called a Capitol Deal (another version of Groupon for the DC area). I really enjoyed the class, as it takes you through the history of cocoa and the step-by-step process of making the truffle. When we first arrived at the location at noon sharp, the lights were still off and the saran wrap was still on the sample chcocolates so they were still opening up shop. I felt the shop should have been open by the time the customers come in so they do not have to wait to get started on the class and to show professionalism for their trade. We did however have some time to sample some of the eclectic chocolates in their store area. Delish. The truffle class itself was pretty educational. We learned about the origin of chocolate and how it all began with drinking bitter cocoa, to the cocoa bean and how it is partly the bean and partly cocoa butter. Solid chocolate didn't come around until much later in time. The instructor was pretty well informed about the chocolate making process, although at times I felt her instruction and the owner's instruction varied a bit, regarding the method of coating the ganache with chocolate towards the end. Not sure if all the classes do this, but we ended up making very small truffles with the batter we had. One thing I must add is that our class was way overbooked with three extra groups. The mistake was relayed to us as "the system accidentally overbooked the class" so three out of the four groups had one extra person who was split with the partner they came with. This was meant as a double date for us so I did have some feelings about this which I did not express in an effort to try to enjoy the class from start to finish. Technically, the groups with the extra person should have been told to make extra truffles since in addition to the truffles being tiny, at the end of the class when you divide the truffles, you do not have an equal share to take home. Either that, or we could have been given money back or a voucher of some kind. All in all, I enjoyed the class, and our mocha truffles and our friends' anise truffles turned out delectable! read more

Upscale chocolate carefully chosen from chocolatiers all around the DC metro area. The guy working there was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and was very patient as we pained over the options. There's a huge variety of single bonbons as well as bars of chocolate, definitely something for everyone. This place is also great for dates, since most of the chocolates can be split and shared! read more

Biagio, a crucial lifesaver. If I didn't shop there for a certain 5 days a month, my girlfriend would have turned ME into lunchmeat!!! ;) read more

Formerly named "Biagio", this place has my heart. Thank you for kick starting my journey as a chocolate snob and for giving me countless knee-weakening foodgasms. Make sure you check their events page or subscribe to their newsletter to find out when the free chocolate tastings are! read more

I took a class yesterday - how to make chocolate truffles. Our teacher Carlton was so friendly and knowledgeable. He made what might have been a daunting endeavor really enjoyable! And you get to take your treats home. The store itself is full of delicious chocolates from all over the world. I recommend the store and the class. It was terrific! read more

I can't believe it took so long for me to stumble upon this chocolate oasis. Chocolate House is on 18 and T right next to a cat boarder. It's a small location with a lot of variety and samples. The truffle case is the real attraction though, and the staff member was so helpful and friendly. Also had some great chocolate tea while I browsed. I bought a gift box and he was very helpful as I chose truffles; I ended up getting two to eat while I was in there and his suggestions were delicious. I will certainly be back to grab some gift boxes for myself and I plan to try as many truffles as I can! read more

My girlfriend and I came to DC for her Bday, while walking around we came across The Chocolate House. Even though it was closed for the night, Carlton greeted with with open arms and smiles. We automatically started munching on the samples, any chocolate fan will tell you that each one you try is better than the last. The chocolate house is a must for any chocolate fan or anyone with a sweet tooth! We went back the next day for more! read more

This little place is heaven. The chocolates are as beautiful as they are tasty. The lavender bon bons look like little jewels. Very easy to miss because you have to walk down from the street, but I think they usually have a sign out front. There are tons of samples around the little shop and the staff is very knowledgeable and generous with letting you sample things. I tried three types of chocolate before I even purchased anything! There are rows upon rows of filled chocolates and bon bons from which to choose (good luck trying just one!) When you want to taste in store, they serve you piece by piece on a little tray. I especially enjoyed the tea and lavender flavors because I like earthy tastes. Next time I want to try the Cherry Blossom and Fig. A great romantic stop for a date-- its intoxicating! I can't wait to go back for one of their tasting nights. I'm salivating at work just thinking about Biagio.... read more

A unique little chocolate store with decant pieces that are as artistically beautiful as they are delicious. I stumbled on this store before dinner a few nights ago. It's tucked away down stairs next to a store thats a cat sanctuary or something, I'm not kitting...see what I did there? Anyway the chocolate store apparently has been around for 10 years. However, the name has changed a few times. The store is full of various types of chocolates from all around from dark, milk and white etc. I had a friend visiting from the Netherlands and so went here to get her a quick gift. Last min shopping totally pays off. I bought a couple pieces for myself and they put them in a small box. I put this box in my purse and forgot about it until today (3 days later). Its been bounced around and survived several dashes for the metro and daily commutes and the chocolates were totally intact in this box. I ate the salted caramel one before I took a pic but there's a photo of a beautiful cherry one that's decorated to look very spring like. They offer chocolate classes here also. So if you check in on yelp you get a voucher for a free class. Give it a try. read more

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This is a great place. You really couldn't cut on it despite the cost. Sometimes you just feel a little fancy because you spent some bucks in a fancy chocolate store. And it feels good. Why? I don't know. I'll go ask my shrink and discuss the correlation between expensive chocolate and positive feelings. It's just one of those things you cannot explain, I guess. Sometimes you just want a hershey's kiss and sometimes you want a $10 bar of chocolate. If you live in Adams Morgan, I say try it at least once. I like how they feature local chocolate makers as much as possible. They will let you sample a truffle here and there. I like the owners of the store (and there are several) because they are always very welcoming. During the holiday season, it's a great one-stop shop for those special nutcases in your life. read more

When I gave birth to my son, I received many lovely gifts-- flowers, baby clothes, etc. But nothing sweetened my immediate postpartum period like the incredible gift basket that dear friends ordered from The Chocolate House. A thoughtfully curated selection was hand-delivered to my door, and it included some of the tastiest chocolates I've ever had. From the locally made to the globally sourced, milk to darkest dark, silky to nutty, the variety was incredible. So naturally The Chocolate House was top of mind when a chocolate-loving family member's birthday rolled around, and my in-store visit did not disappoint. First of all, SAMPLES GALORE! Of course my gift basket had but a dusting of the many offerings...just. so. much. chocolate. And I think it's worth noting that though this is a boutique shop with some very high end product, it is not inaccessible. There are a variety of price points, and the quality is so high that one needn't spend a fortune to be satisfied. Further, there are lots of different flavors to suit any palate, adventurous to classic. I purchased beautiful truffles, a couple bars, and mentally dogeared a bunch of things for next time. The people assisting me were incredibly personable and helpful-- just a lovely environment. And they do classes! This place is a D.C. gem to be sure-- so glad to have it nearby. Thank you! read more

For those driving by looking for Cocova, it's a basement storefront. You're not going to see it from the street so stick with the street address and find parking wherever you can. Small storefront but nice. All the truffles are displayed in a jewelry case. Nice touch given the prices. Some of the chocolates actually do look like jewelry! The pear reisling especially....a blend of jewel tones from yellow to red. In addition to the pear I got the warm clove, sal de fleur, and a whiskey walnut based upon recommendations from the employee. I got a box of ten for my girlfriend as thanks for picking me up from the airport. I did try the clove and it was very good. Clove is tricky. It's hard to get just the right amount of flavor without dominating the experience but this did it. It tasted as how I imagine Christmas in the 1800s. Clove, dark chocolate, maybe a bit of nutmeg and mincemeat, all warm and savory without the sweetness. read more