Sometimes, the best solution to whatever problem you’re facing is slow down, have some chocolate, and think it over.
Chocolate is one of my favorite things in the entire world and we’re so lucky that people here in Columbus take chocolate-making very seriously. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the total art that is making a chocolate treat from scratch.
Every shop below makes its chocolate here in Columbus, and each one was checked open in September 2026. You’ll find gift boxes, truffles, fudge, buckeyes, and one factory tour below.
Schmidt’s Fudge Haus
Located in Historic German Village, you’ll find some of the best fudge ever at Schmidt’s Fudge Haus. In addition to their creamy, old-world fudge, you’ll also find gourmet chocolates, vegan chocolates, chocolate buckeyes, and more.
They use all kinds of high-end ingredients in their fudge, like rich Belgian chocolate, roasted pecans, walnuts, almonds, creamy caramel, smooth peanut butter, and fluffy marshmallows. The fudge is still cooked in copper kettles and finished on marble tables, the old-fashioned way.
Location: 220 E Kossuth St, German Village
Website: Schmidt’s Fudge Haus
Phone: (614) 444-2222
Pure Imagination Chocolatier
The chocolate truffles at Pure Imagination are like little works of art. This charming little shop is located in Grandview Heights. Daniel Cooper started Pure Imagination as a North Market stall before moving it to Grandview, and Yelp named it Ohio’s best chocolate shop in 2022.
An assortment of truffles from Pure Imagination really is one of the best gifts ever, just in case you happen to need some chocolates in order to celebrate an upcoming holiday or something.
Location: 1205 Grandview Ave, Grandview Heights
Website: Pure Imagination Chocolatier
Phone: (614) 468-1308
Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppe
It’s impossible to talk about chocolate in Columbus without mentioning the iconic Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppe. You can gain a whole new sense of appreciation for the candy you’re eating when you visit Anthony-Thomas for a factory tour, where you’ll see exactly how your favorite chocolates are made from scratch.
In addition to chocolate assortments and holiday/gift boxes, you can also find some of the city’s most delicious chocolate-covered strawberries (seasonally). The tour costs $4 and everyone leaves with a free sample.
Location: 13 shoppes around Columbus; factory tours at 1777 Arlingate Ln (walk-in Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m., $4 adults, $2 kids)
Website: Anthony-Thomas Chocolates
Phone: (614) 272-9221 (factory store)
Winans Chocolates + Coffees
Winans is one of the most underrated spots in town. It’s kind of a one-stop shop for both coffee and chocolate, which just so happen to be my two favorite food groups. There’s something that feels luxurious about Winans chocolates.
You can pop in and grab handfuls of each chocolate whenever you’d like, but you can also order assortment boxes for special occasions as well. The German Village shop runs a full espresso bar and a pour-over bar, so the coffee half of the operation is not an afterthought.
Location: 897 S 3rd St, German Village, and 1125 Yard St, Grandview Yard
Website: Winans Chocolates + Coffee
Phone: (614) 445-6464
Eagle Family Candy
For four generations, the Eagle Family Candy Company has been serving delicious chocolate to Columbus. While they make a variety of chocolates, they’re most well known for their buckeye candies and chocolate-covered strawberries.
You can swing into nearby Crimson Cup for some local coffee to go with your local sweets and make a whole afternoon out of it.
Location: 4590 N High St, Clintonville
Website: Eagle Family Candy Company (Facebook)
Chocolate Cafe
At the risk of showing my age, it feels like Chocolate Cafe just opened. It’s hard to believe they’ve actually been creating some of the most enjoyable bites of chocolate in this city since 2007.
The cafe serves up breakfast and lunch, but we’re all here right now to talk about chocolate so let’s get into it. At Chocolate Cafe, visitors will find it fully stocked with chocolate candies including truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels, and chocolate and caramel turtles.
Location: 1855 Northwest Blvd, Grandview (full cafe) and Chocolate Café Express, 730 S High St, Brewery District (carry-out only, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. daily)
Website: Chocolate Cafe
Phone: (614) 695-6949
Krema Nut Company
Krema has been roasting peanuts on the edge of Grandview since 1898 and is one of the oldest peanut butter makers still manufacturing in the country. The chocolate-covered nuts and the fresh-ground peanut butter are the reasons to go. Retail hours are weekday-heavy, so plan a lunch run rather than a Sunday one.
Location: 1000 Goodale Blvd, Grandview
Website: Krema Nut Company
Hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–2 p.m., closed Sunday
The Candy Spot
The Candy Spot opened just south of campus on Aug. 1, 2025, and it’s the one place on this list where the chocolate bar is customized to order. The rest of the store is an international candy section that runs from Sweden and Germany to Mexico and Asia, with the Swedish candy selling best so far. It’s a candy store first, so go for the novelty, not the truffles.
Location: 1611 N High St, University District
Website: Instagram @thecandyspot.usa
Buckeye Candy Company
Buckeye Candy Company in Olde Gahanna is a candy store first, with what the owners call the largest gummy selection in Columbus alongside a gourmet chocolate counter and nostalgic favorites. It moved a quarter mile up Granville Street into a stand-alone building in November 2022, more than doubling its space.
Location: 355 Granville St, Gahanna
Website: Buckeye Candy Company
Phone: (614) 269-7116
