If you’re hunting for artisan chocolate in East London, Dark Sugars Chocolates on Brick Lane deserves to top your list. Dark Sugars Chocolates, one of London’s most loved artisan chocolate shops, offers handcrafted truffles and decadent hot chocolate drinks that will transform your Brick Lane experience.

In a corner of East London already renowned for its culinary delights, Dark Sugars Chocolates stands as part cocoa cathedral, part edible gallery. On vibrant Brick Lane, this eastern offshoot of Dark Sugars Cocoa House (the flagship store is in Greenwich) offers a unique chocolate shop experience.

And…ok, cathedral might be a stretch (it’s a small shop), but I couldn’t resist the alliteration

A feast for the eyes: artisan chocolate as art in East London

What immediately strikes you about Dark Sugars Chocolates is the artistic presentation. The shop transforms chocolate into visual art, displaying hundreds of handcrafted truffles in sculptural wooden bowls that are works of art in their own right. These organic bowls cradle mounds of cocoa-dusted truffles, making each truffle pile into an installation piece. In contrast, elsewhere in the shop, pralines are displayed with mathematical precision, forming patterns that are oh-so-pleasing to the eye.

Nothing is under glass – this is a touchable, smellable chocolate experience. (Pssst… I know it’s hard, but – for the sake of the people who’ll visit after you do, do resist the urge to touch, though… )

Artisan chocolate in an array of mind-blowing, tongue pleasing flavours

Dark Sugars Chocolates on Brick Lane is truly a chocolate lover’s paradise. They have chocolate truffles, shimmering chocolate pearls (those are so pretty!), pralines and – is that fruit and nuts-studded florentines I spy? Oh, do try those! All in about a hundred different flavours. OK, maybe a bit less, but who’s counting?

Vegan options? Yes, they sure do have vegan options, too. Gift boxes? But of course! Artisan chocolate deserves nothing less than special packaging.

And needless to say, they have seasonal specials. So if you’re looking for artisan Easter eggs in several sizes, head to Brick Lane.

Dark Sugars indulgent hot chocolate and its chocolate shavings

Hot chocolate lover? Dark Sugars offer an impressive selection of hot chocolates that include chili, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, hazelnut praline, white matcha, “Love Potion,” salted caramel, Irish hot, and the intriguingly named “Pitch Black”. All £5.50 at time of writing, except the Irish one, which is £6.50.

The chocolate shavings are actually extra, but are well worth it. They really do add layers of flavours as you sip, and it’s fun to watch them slowly melt into the steaming drink below. I had the classic one, and I’ll definitely come back for the salted caramel one and…ooooh, I bet that Pitch Black one taste amazing. I’ll sure be disappointed if it doesn’t taste like a molten chocolate truffle.

Now, the hard question: is the hot chocolate better than Knoops hot chocolate? The honest answer…actually, you know, I think I’ll have to go back and make a proper evaluation, with notes and everything.

Insider tips for visiting this popular London chocolate shop

• While there’s no seating inside the shop, there is a handy bench just outside where you can sit and savour your purchases while watching the bustling Brick Lane scene unfold before you.

• Given the shop’s popularity and limited space, it can get quite crowded, especially during weekends and peak hours. So here’s a pro tip… if you’re in the mood for chocolate for breakfast (and why wouldn’t you be?), pat yourself on the back: arriving early will help you avoid the crowds.

Where to go from there

You’re on Brick Lane, so you’re spoiled for choice.

• Make your way to the Rough Trade East shop for some good old fashioned vinyl shopping (or just browsing). Or wander around and explore all the vintage shops around Brick lane: Spitalfields is vintage shopping heaven.

• That’s even more true on the weekends, when the Truman Brewery Markets are in full swing.

• There’s even a branch of Shop from Crisis. Nothing like balancing out a sugar high with some good old-fashioned thrifting high, right?

• Grab a bagel for later. Your future self will thank you.

• Or simply wander around Brick Lane soaking in the atmosphere and taking pictures…

• Or go north on the Windrush line (from nearby Shoreditch High Street) and get off at Hoxton for the Museum of the Home (worth a visit any time), and Haggerston for Toconoco, the nicest Japanese food by the canal.

• Alternatively, go south on that same line and visit Crofton Books in Brockley, one of London’s best second hand bookshops.

Dark Sugars Chocolate: plan your visit

Address: 141 Brick Ln, Bethnal Green, E1 6SB

Website: https://www.darksugars.co.uk/

Dark Sugars Chocolate on Google map

How to get to Dark Sugars Chocolates: the nearest tube stop is Shoreditch High Street (Windrush line), about a 5 minutes walk. The nearest bus stop is Brick Lane, which is served by bus number 8 and number 388.

Dark Sugars Chocolates opening hours: open daily 10am to 8pm