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Chocolate is synonymous with Switzerland. If you visit Zurich, your friends and family are sure to ask you if you had any chocolate (and they’re likely to expect you to have brought some back). I visited various chocolate shops in Zurich to find the best ones, including everything from budget options to high-end artisanal chocolate shops.
The Best Chocolate in Zurich
Lindt
Since 1845, Lindt has been one of the most famous names in Swiss chocolate. There are dozens of Lindt chocolate shops all over the world. The international conglomerate also owns the famed San Francisco chocolate brand Ghirardelli and Russell Stover.
The Lindt Home of Chocolate factory & museum is located just a short distance from the Zurich city center in nearby Kilchberg, making it one of the most popular activities in the city. Book Lindt Home of Chocolate tickets & tours here
If you can’t make it out to the Lindt Home of Chocolate, their shop in central Zurich introduces you to a world of chocolate up a waterfall (chocolatefall?) staircase.
The Zurich airport also has a Lindt shop for last-minute shoppers. Or if you forget, there’s a good chance you can buy some Lindt locally & just tell people you bought it in Switzerland. I won’t tell anyone your secret.
Book your hotel in Zurich now!
Lindt pick-and-mix bags of chocolate are the cheapest option for bringing gifts back home if you’re on a budget or for people who won’t know or care if you’re giving them the absolute best chocolate. But there’s no such thing as bad chocolate (except for Hershey’s).
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 89, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Confiserie Sprüngli
Confiserie Sprüngli is actually related to Lindt, though it has been a separate company since 1892. The original company was founded by David Sprüngli and his son Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann in 1836. Following the 1892 retirement of Rudolf Sprüngli-Ammann, he split his business between his two sons, with one getting the chocolate factory that would later become Lindt following an acquisition and the other getting two confectionery stores that would become Confiserie Sprüngli.
Confiserie Sprüngli is perhaps the most popular Zurich chocolate shop, boasting several locations with a wide array of chocolates, cakes, and other desserts. There is also an airport location.
The location I visited was the main store & took up a massive ground floor that included a shop and a cafe, both of which were packed with chocolate-happy customers.
The shop has separate counters for each type of item, including Grand Cru chocolates, chocolate slabs, macarons, truffles, pralines, and more.
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Max Chocolatier
While there are Zurich chocolate makers that are known worldwide & have large factories, there are also a few artisanal chocolate shops in the city that cater to true connoisseurs.
Max Chocolatier is located on a quiet side street in the Lindenhof quarter of Zurich’s Altstadt (old town). Their handmade, handpainted chocolates are all organic, with no palm oil or other additives. The Lucerne-based business was founded by Patrik König & is lovingly named after his son Max.
When I visited the shop, the staff member not only took the time to explain the shop’s ethos but also the various unique flavors they were offering that day, such as the green tea, which had just a fresh hint of the flavor so as not to overpower the exquisite chocolate.
He brought up the good point that with this high-quality chocolate, just a small piece can be satisfying. So, while you might spend more based on weight, quality will win out over quantity. I was able to convince myself that this is also healthier, which is actually true. It’s better to have one piece of high-quality chocolate than several pieces that include low-quality additives.
If you’re seeking the absolute best chocolate in Zurich, head to Max Chocolatier.
Address: Schlüsselgasse 12, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Confiserie Teuscher
Confiserie Teuscher is another well-known chain with multiple chocolate shops in Zurich.
The shop goes all-out for each seasonal holiday. When I visited, Easter was the following weekend, so the shop was filled with easter chocolates and lots of flowers.
Teuscher shops sell various flavored chocolate bars and lots of truffles. Their specialty pieces include champagne or liqueurs.
Address: Storchengasse 9, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 46, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Dieter Meier Oro de Cacao
The pink marble/stone floored Dieter Meier Oro de Cacao is another specialty chocolate shop in Zurich’s old town. Their products are not cheap, but with fair trade, single-origin chocolates & handmade pieces that take three days to make, it’s easy to understand why.
Individual pieces have inventive flavors. They also use unique patented cold extraction to showcase the unique notes of chocolates from all over the world, such as fruity Peruvian chocolate, berry-like Dominican chocolate, and the nutty, caramelly flavors of chocolate from Ghana.
The shop also sells hot chocolate, which is excellent for cold Zurich days.
Oro De Cacao was founded by Dieter Meier, the frontman for the musical group Yello. While you might not have heard of the band, you’ve certainly heard their most famous song, which is perfect for thinking about delicious chocolate.
Note: As of February 2024, the shop is listed as closed, but the website is still active with products for sale, & their chocolates are also available at Globus Delicatessa & Coop City.
Address: Münsterhof 4, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Läderach
Founded in 1962, Läderach is a Swiss chocolatier that bridges between traditional chocolates & modern concoctions.
Their Zurich chocolate shops include everything from cheaper pick-and-mix bags with less fancy chocolate & slabs to pralines & Grand Cru selections.
They also have unique creations, such as mini-mousses, that are not to be missed.
If you can’t make it to Zurich, there are over 100 Läderach stores worldwide.
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 106, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Address: Goethestrasse 24, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Vanini Swiss Chocolate
Founded in 1871, Vanini Swiss Chocolate specializes in chocolate-adjacent snacks & desserts. For example, their shop sells gelato, which looks wonderful for a summer day. They also serve crepes & pancakes topped with sweets.
I especially enjoyed the Gemme Mit Kirsch, a cake soaked in cherry liqueur and covered in milk chocolate.
The chocolate shop also serves traditional chocolates & slabs.
Address: Limmatquai 74, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland (map)
Website
Here are some other great Zurich tours & activities.
Need a place to stay? Check out these Zurich hotel options. For a luxurious stay, I recommend the Park Hyatt Zurich. Zurich is an expensive city, but it’s easy to get around, so if you’re looking to save some money, you can stay at an airport hotel like the Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle, as I have also done.
