Rose K.
Yelp
In honor of my lucky 13th Yelp Elite badge (but who is counting?) I'd like to ring in the new year with one of the sweetest topics: chocolate.
My friend J and I took a roadtrip once, and developed a not-so-unique tradition of buying chocolate in every city we visited and then having it as a treat after dinner every night in the Airbnbs we stayed in. As an homage to J, I continued to do this on all of my travels in the years following.
During my stay in Lisbon, I happened to see a short queue outside this chocolate shop as I walked through the neighborhood, and then my eyes perked when I saw the sign declaring vegan hot chocolate. I stood in the very COVID-safe line (everyone was masked, and the chocolate shop had hand sanitizer set out front) for my chocolate.
Reader: I went back three days in a row. This is some of the best chocolate I've ever had in my travels. The tiny vegan hot chocolate was the perfect size, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat but not too sweet.
The staff was kind, and carefully pointed out which chocolate bars did not contain dairy once I informed them of my lactose intolerance.
Some favorites: the ginger felt decadent, the hazelnut oh my gosh the hazelnut, with big hazelnut chunks and the smoothest chocolate ever. The Pimenta e flor de sal was epic as well.
All of the chocolate is made fresh, and if you have the willpower not to eat it all on the spot, they will package everything in front of you, with perfect little stickers and bags to identify which chocolate is which.
There was something special in texting J about the chocolate, and for him to ask if they ship, and for me to say no, that he would have to come to Lisbon to try this special place.
Another tip: if you take your little cup of hot chocolate across the street, there is a nice lookout point and you can enjoy the chocolate on a bench in the plaza.
Happy new year!