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A Sweet and Bitter Guide to Finding Vancouver’s Best Holiday Chocolates

From booze-infused to sculptural centrepieces, we've mapped out the goods for every level of chocolate-lover on your list.

A Sweet and Bitter Guide to Finding Vancouver’s Best Holiday Chocolates

From booze-infused confections to chocolate sculptures that are almost too impressive to eat…we’ve come up with a list of locally made goodness sure to satisfy every sweet tooth on your holiday list.

Photo credit: East Van Roasters

Shop East Van Roaster’s Holiday 2020 collection now. This year’s collection includes a 16-piece Holiday Confection box, 8-piece sampler, festive flavoured chocolate bars, chocolate-covered orange peel and a vegan selection. DETAILS.

East Van Roasters Cafe 319 Carrall St. MAP

Photo credit: Kasama Chocolate

Pre-selected and build-your-own gift boxes come complete with wrapping and a personalized card. Kasama’s new seasonal “Winter’s Eve” single origin dark chocolate bar with organic Ceylon cinnamon, cardamom, and spices from Eternal Abundance is an obvious choice. DETAILS.

Kasama Chocolate 2-1244 Cartwright St MAP

Photo credit: Zimt Chocolates

Looking for some extra special vegan chocolate? How about these handsome chocolate snow dudes ($13 each) from Zimt? Or take it to the next level with an all-vegan “Eat My Xmas Treats” collaboration holiday box ($45) – including two Zimt bars, four eggnogg cookies from Bonus Bakery and a pint of The Cider House mulled cider – now available to order for pick-up. DETAILS.

Zimt Café 1336 Clark Dr. MAP

Photo credit: Melt Confectionary

New hot chocolate “bombs”, assorted chocolate truffles, seasonal bars and Melt’s signature chocolate honeycomb (milk and vegan) available to pre-order for pick-up or delivery. DETAILS.

Melt Confectionary 3382 Cambie St. MAP

Photo credit: Drunken Chocolatier

For some cheeky boozy chocolate, hit up the Drunken Chocolatier. Order your pre-selected chocolate boxes or customize a box with holiday flavours including Egg Nog, Cran Apple Cider, Chestnut Ale, Raspberry Port, and Mulled Wine. Vegan options available. LINK.


Photo credit: BETA 5

BETA5 will fix you up with a chocolate fix that’s both cerebral and delicious. Their holiday treats are available throughout December and include a hand painted Santa Tracker chocolate collection, themed cream puffs, “lumps of coal” and “Rudolph noses”. DETAILS.

BETA5 413 Industrial Ave. MAP

Photo credit: Thomas Haas

Looking for a chocolate centrepiece? No one works chocolate magic quite like Thomas Haas: think trees made of truffles, plus chocolate Santas, penguins, reindeer, ornaments and more. DETAILS.

Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie 2539 West Broadway MAP

Photo credit: Mon Paris Patisserie

Special holiday creations are now available to pre-order for delivery December 22nd and 23rd, including nut-and-fruit studded chocolate Christmas trees, an edible chocolate poinsetta and picture-perfect chocolate dioramas. DETAILS.

Mon Paris Pâtisserie 4396 Beresford St. MAP


These all-vegan dark, unroasted, oat milk and zero waste chocolate confections from Living Lotus are also works of art. Christmas tree lollipops, chocolate stars, bars and “hummingbirds” would all make excellent stocking stuffers or go big with one of their chocolate subscriptions. DETAILS.


Photo credit: Thierry Chocolates

Big or small, a box of chocolates from Thierry is always an elegant gift. Plus, Bûches de Noël in five elevated flavour combinations available to pre-order for pick-up on December 23rd or 24th. Call 604-608-6870 or email [email protected]. DETAILS.

Thierry 1059 Alberni St. MAP

From “Frosty’s Chocolate Meltdown” to a wide selection of ready-to-slip-into-a-stocking chocolate bars, Chez Christophe expresses the joy of the holiday season with the enthusiasm of Santa himself. Hook yourself up. DETAILS

Chez Christophe Chocolaterie Patisserie  4717 Hastings St., Burnaby MAP

An Updated List of Where to Grab a Weekday Breakfast Around Vancouver

We've compiled a (non-exhaustive) list of our go-to breakfast joints to share with you, where you can get something beyond coffee and a muffin.

Vancouver’s Best Fries: Nine Versions

Although the origin of French fries may be implied in their name (more likely, Belgian, though), the food has since been picked up and modified by almost every cuisine going. Here are our choices for some of the best versions in Vancouver.

Expert Intel on Vancouver Area Dumplings

William Liu from Kam Wai Dim Sum shares his favourite dumplings and where to get them just in time for Year Of The Dragon celebrations.

The Tricky Business of Finding Vancouver Restaurants Open on Monday

It's the beginning of the week. You want to meet friends for a meal (or just don't want to cook), but so many restaurants are closed that figuring out where to go only leads to frustration, compromise, or a sad frozen pizza... No more! This updated guide is here to help.