The country is taking on Willy Wonka scale proportions at this stage, with the number of amazing chocolate brands available.
Some our stocked in well-known supermarkets, others can be found in indie grocers around the country, still, more of them can just be found online. We’ve collected a list of some of the best artisan chocolate brands available in Ireland:
19. Sugar Loaf Dublin
The Brazilian Bakery in Dublin’s Dorset Street has been slinging out an array of drool-worthy creations over the last while. No strangers to using unusual flavours, the team at Sugar Loaf have been loading their eggs and chocolates with everything from pineapple cream to strawberries.
You can find Sugar Loaf Dublin in Dublin 1’s 80 Dorset Street Lower, for more information visit their Instagram.
18. Noo Chocolates
Drawing on ingredients from their local area, the team at Noo Chocolates in Ballina have created some truly artisanal chocolates. Launched by Mary and Damien Corrigan in 2017, the name for the family business comes from Mary’s childhood nickname.
You can find Noo Chocolates in Mayo’s Ballina, for more information visit the website.
17. Nobó
Known for their exceptional plant-based creations, the team at Nobó keep their products simple with few ingredients and minimal processing. Stocked in a range of independent grocers and shops, Nobó has a wide variety of products but are perhaps best known for their ice creams and chocolate bars.
You can find Nobó in Dublin 6’s 47 Dunville Avenue, for more information visit the website.
16. Magic Mayan Artisan Chocolate
Founded in 2012, the company keep things pretty simple with their chocolates, selling bars, hot chocolate and a limited amount of fancy chocolate. They produce bean to bar, using 100% organic products, and the products are also gluten-free and vegan.
You can find Magic Mayan Artisan Chocolate in Ennis’ Ayle House Gaurus, for more information visit the website.
15. Lily O’Briens
Lily O’Brien’s are known for their lux chocolate boxes, which always contain a refreshingly nice mix of chocolates. The company is one of Ireland’s leading chocolate manufacturers, making everything from advent calendars to cookies.
You can find Lily O’Brien’s Factory Shop in Newbridge’s IDA Business Park, for more information visit the Instagram.
14. Butlers Chocolates
No list about Irish chocolate would be complete without a nod to the OGs. Butlers have been dominating the chocolate scene for decades and for good reason. Founded in 1932, the company have dedicated itself to spreading their quality chocolates to all four corners of the globe.
For more information on Butlers Chocolates visit the website.
13. Bragadeiros
The first shop in Ireland to specialise in brigadeiros, the team at Bragadeiros have done a roaring trade selling all manner of Brazilian treats. The products are all handmade and based on the owner Jana Braga’s family recipes.
You can find Bragadeiros in Dublin’s Mountjoy, 1 Frenchman’s Lane, for more information visit the website.
12. Chez Emily
Opened in 1996 by Ferdinand and Helena, Chez Emily is so named for their only daughter Emily. The handmade chocolates are based on original family recipes drawn from Helena’s Belgian roots.
You can find Chez Emily in Dublin’s Coolquoy Common, for more information visit the website.
11. The Proper Chocolate Company
Based out of their Dublin facilities, the bean-to-bar chocolate makers hand-sort, roast, crack and winnow cocoa beans then refine, conch, age, temper, mould and package their chocolate. The team are known for creating bars in their micro-batches, but also for their collabs with class Irish companies like Lotts&Co, Imbibe and Rascals.
You can find The Proper Chocolate Company in Glasnevin’s Slaney Close, for more information visit the website.
10. Cocoa Atelier
In their “chocolate lab” the team of chocolatiers handcraft Cocoa Atelier chocolate with a variety of different flavours, from yuzu to smoked sea salt. Specialising in beautifully hand-decorated chocolates, the team also make hot chocolate, marshmallows and sweet snacks.
You can find Cocoa Atelier in Dublin’s Park West, for more information visit the website.
9. Skelligs Chocolate
There are a lot of nice sights at the Skelligs, one of them is the chocolate factory located on The Skelligs Ring. It’s home to Ireland’s only fully ‘open plan’ chocolate production kitchen, which welcomes visitors to see the production process and allows them to have a few samples in the process.
You can find Skelligs Chocolate in St. Finians Bay, The Glen, Ballinskelligs, for more information visit the website.
8. Bean and Goose
The gift of a Bean and Goose bar of chocolate is always a good idea. The team use some truly exciting and thoughtful flavour combinations in their bars and make them using raw materials of the highest quality.
You can find Bean and Goose in Gorey’s Ballyloughan Business Park, for more information visit the Instagram.
7. Hazel Mountain Chocolate
Opened in 2014 on the Wild Atlantic Way, Hazel Mountain Chocolate is a bean to bar company, with sustainability at its core. Sourcing their cocoa bean from farmers and co-operatives in Madagascar, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba, the team makes an amazing range of small-batch products, from chocolate chicks to spreads.
You can find Hazel Mountain Chocolate in Clare’s Oughtmama, Bellharbour for more information visit the website.
6. Koko Kinsale
The team at Koko are very well-known in the world of Irish chocolates. The team out in Kinsale take an immense amount of pride in their work, while still having a bit of fun with their chocolate creations.
You can find Koko Kinsale in (yes you guessed it) in Kinsale’s Sleveen on the Pier Road, for more information visit the website.
5. Grá Chocolates
The name derives from the Irish for love, and these chocolates are crafted with a lot of it. Made in small batches in Galway, these confections are hand finished by award-winning pastry chef, Gráinne Mullins.
You can find Grá Chocolates in Galway’s Ballygunneen, for more information about stockists visit the website.
4. Lir Chocolates
Created in Dublin in 1987 by Connie Doody and Mary White, Lir Chocolates has become synonymous with quality and taste throughout Ireland. Specialising in hand-finished and hand-decorated chocolates based on a mix of traditional recipes and trialled combinations.
You can find in Navan’s IDA Business Park, but for more information about their stockists visit their website.
3. Áine Hand Made Chocolate
Founded by master chocolatier Ann Rudden in 1999, whose products have won 25 Great Taste Awards including 9 gold medals. Rudden sells her chocolates direct to customers from her shop in Cavan, as well as shipping her products direct to customers in Ireland and around the world.
You can find Áine Hand Made Chocolate in Stradone, Cavan, for more information visit the website.
2. Praliné Chocolatiers
The Praliné Chocolatiers team out in Athlone have created quite a stir online, with a video of their sweet and salty Easter egg setting the Twitter community’s stomach rumbling.
You can find Praline Chocolates in Athlone’s 83 Sean Costello Street, for more information visit their website.
Inside look at our ‘Sweet & Salty’ Easter egg! Made with Irish dairy, Oriel sea salt, Swiss milk chocolate and @valrhonauk Dulcey😍 This comes with hand rolled salted caramel truffles too, extra indulgent! pic.twitter.com/C0VP9Qp36A
— Bon Chocolatiers (@bonchocolatiers) March 29, 2022
1. Arcane Chocolate
Based in Kildare, Arcane’s eggs are hand-painted and layered on the inside with your choice of toasted biscuit and caramel, fruit and yoghurt or pistachio and praline. Based on traditional Belgian craftsmanship, the team led by Erik Van der Veken combines Irish ingredients with raw Cacao, to create truly unbelievable creations.
You can find Arcane Chocolate in The K Lodge at Straffan’s K Club for more information visit their website.
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