It’s no secret that I love food. I mean, love food. And some of my favorite food can only be found in Europe—including chocolate, which should be a staple in any Generation-Y traveler’s diet, right? I began to think about some of my favorite places and where I would return in order to have the perfect chocolate bar. Here’s what I came up with:
Lucerne, Switzerland
There’s a reason people laud Swiss chocolate as some of the best in the world. It’s some of the creamiest chocolates you’ll ever have, and there’s nothing like curling up in a chair with a piece of it up in the Alps. There are plenty of locations and gift shops where you can buy some to bring home, but there are also some specialty shops like Frey Chocolate that offer some great options.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels has a lot of reasons to visit, including some fantastic beer and waffles. But chocolate might be the best thing about this tiny city. Walking through the streets, you’ll find plenty of chocolate shops, including ones with fountains. The hardest part? Choosing the best one to enter and to purchase as a gift. I would recommend Neuhaus, which has been open for since the 1800s. Also, don’t forget to try the varieties of chocolate on your waffles.
Venice, Italy
I may be a bit prejudiced when it comes to finding chocolate in Italy, because Venice still remains my favorite city there. However, it does have a long tradition of serving up some of the best hot chocolate in the world (I’m not just making it up). Want the true Venetian experience? You’ll want to stop by Piazza San Marco and duck into Café Florian. It’s been a meeting place for artists and writers for decades. It’s expensive, but worth the treat.
Paris, France
In a city of decadence, it seems only right that chocolate would be a major part of the Parisian culture. Although there are so many different shops in Paris, the best ones are usually the ones who have upheld family traditions for years. I recommend Fouquet, which has hundreds of different kinds of chocolates available and numerous recipes you might want to bring home to the people you love.
Do you have a special place in Europe that you like to get your chocolate? Disagree with any of the choices I’ve made?