Local chocolate makers enrich SZ's culinary map

As more independent coffee shops continue to emerge in recent years, providing Shenzheners with a wider range of tasting options, there have also emerged shops dedicated to another food made from beans — chocolate.

Although inconspicuous in terms of their number, these independent chocolate makers, with their crafted fine chocolate, are increasingly earning a reputation among chocolate lovers and food connoisseurs. They have also been winning prizes in domestic and international chocolate awards, adding a splash to Shenzhen’s already diversified culinary map and making the city’s chocolatier community one of the most vibrant in China.

Independent chocolatiers source high-quality cocoa beans produced in different regions around the world, and produce chocolate in small batches to highlight the unique flavors that are a result of the beans’ places of origin and the shops’ processing techniques. Dark chocolate bars made from single-origin cocoa beans are usually their flagship products, although some feature other types of chocolate. Drinking chocolate is also available, and some shops serve chocolate desserts.

Although these shops’ storefronts are usually small with only a few tables, the dining experiences are generally nice, as shop owners are eager to introduce their products, provide free tastings, and exchange ideas with customers about chocolate.

Butchoc

Nestled on Industrial 1st Road in Shekou, Butchoc is a small shop specializing in chocolate and chocolate desserts. Its chocolate has grabbed awards at domestic and international chocolate competitions, such as the CFCA Chocolate Talent and the International Chocolate Awards.

Chocolate bars by Butchoc. Photos by Yu Yuanfan unless otherwise stated

Butchoc’s single-origin chocolate bars are made from cocoa beans from regions such as Ecuador, Peru, Tanzania, Uganda, and Haiti. Desserts served include brownies, lava cakes, chocolate tarts, and chocolate salami. If you are visiting on weekends, you may have the chance to taste a soda made with the juice of fresh cocoa fruit.

Chocolate desserts served at Butchoc. 

Opening time:1:30-8 p.m., closed on Mondays

Address:Shop 103, Shunfa Commercial Building, Gongye 1st Road, Nanshan District 

南山区工业一路顺发商厦103铺

Metro: Line 2 to Shekou Port Station (蛇口港站), Exit C

AllYouWant Coffee & Cocoa

AllYouWant has two stores in Shenzhen — one in OCT, Nanshan District and another in Yuanling, Futian District. Initially launched as a coffee shop, it now serves both fine coffee and fine chocolate. In 2024 alone, its chocolate won two silvers and two bronzes at the International Chocolate Awards, and one gold, three silvers, and one bronze at the Academy of Chocolate Awards.

Chocolate bars by AllYouWant. 

From time to time, the store owners host tasting sessions, sharing both chocolate and coffee of their own brand and those sourced from around the world.

Posters in AllYouWant sharing with customers its chocolate has won awards in chocolate competitions. 

Outside Shenzhen, the brand has a store in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Its new store in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province is scheduled to open in late August.

Opening time:

9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Nanshan store)

10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Futian store)

Address:

106, Building 12, Zhongxin Street, Nanshan District

南山区中新街12栋106

107-2, Building 46, Yuanling Xincun, Futian District

福田区园岭新村46栋107-2

Metro:

Nanshan store: Line 1 or 2 to Window of the World Station (世界之窗站), Exit A, then walk around 900 meters

Futian store: Line 9 to Hongling Station (红岭站), Exit E, then walk around 900 meters

Buono

Situated within the Nantou Ancient Town, Buono is eye-catching with its chocolate bar-inspired facade.

Buono features a chocolate bar-inspired facede. Photo from Buono's Xiaohongshu account. 

The shop’s chocolate offerings span chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, nama chocolate, chocolate ice creams, chocolate-coated dried fruits and nuts, chocolate slabs sold by weight (similar to those of Laderach), and more. It is among the few dessert shops in the city that serves home-made Dubai chocolate.

Dubai chocolate by Buono. Photo from Buono's Xiaohongshu account

Opening time:

10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Address:

1/F, 94 Zhongshan South Street, Nantou Ancient Town, Nanshan District 

南山区南头古城中山南街94号1楼

Metro:

Line 12 to Zhongshan Park Station (中山公园站), Exit D, then walk around 800 meters

Sanyay

Sanyay is located in Yuanling Xincun, a decades-old residential compound in Futian District, which is also home to dozens of coffee shops and dessert shops.

A cup of Sanyay's drinking chocolate, served with chocolate beans for a more comprehensive tasting experience. 

A brand serving both fine chocolate and fine coffee, its chocolate is made from cocoa beans sourced from around the globe, including China’s Hainan and Yunnan provinces.

Cocoa fruits display in Sanyay. 

It is a winner in multiple domestic and international awards, with its 70% Tanzania dark chocolate grabbing a gold at the International Chocolate Awards 2024 for scoring highest among entries from the Chinese mainland in the Micro-batch Plain/Origin Dark Chocolate Bars category of the competition’s Asia-Pacific section.

Opening time:

11 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Tuesdays

Address:

101, Unit 1, Building 112, Yuanling Xincun, Futian District

福田区园岭新村112栋一单元101

Metro:

Line 9 to Yuanling Station (园岭站), Exit B

Echocolate

一棵巧克力

Most chocolatiers focus on single-origin chocolate bars. Echocolate is a rare exception — its specialty is bonbons, a confection with a chocolate shell and a sweet filling.  

Bonbons by Echocolate. 

Echocolate’s bonbons feature an exquisite shell in mellow colors, which already feast your eyes before you begin to taste them. Inside the Valrhona chocolate-based shell are fillings of various flavors, from the more convention options such as caramel apple earl gray tea to the more novel ones such as Sichuan pepper pineapple. All are freshly made and to be consumed within 10 days.

More bonbons by Echocolate. 

Besides serving bonbons, the shop is also a Japanese sake bar, with both founders being professional sake sommeliers.

Opening time:

1-11 p.m. (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays); 1 p.m.-1 a.m. (Fridays and Saturdays); closed Tuesdays

Address:

H008, top floor, YIMALL, Meiyuan Road, Luohu District

罗湖区梅园路艺茂中心顶楼H008

Metro:

Line 9 to Hongling North Station (红岭北站), Exit D

ShocoMark

ShocoMark is located in Luohu District’s Huangbeiling area. Formerly called Ventti, its founder used to learn chocolate making in Switzerland.

Chocolate bars by Shocomark (formerly Ventti). Photo from Shocomark's Xiaohongshu account

ShocoMark’s portfolio spans single-origin dark chocolate, flavored chocolate, and chocolate desserts. It is also among the few local chocolatiers who produce chocolate using cocoa beans sourced from China’s Hainan.

Opening time:

1-7 p.m., closed on Mondays

Address:

Shop 18-4, Xingzhi Comprehensive Building, 18 Beidou Road, Luohu District 

罗湖区北斗路18号行知综合楼18-4铺

Metro:

Line 8 to Huangbeiling Station (黄贝岭站), Exit D