French Broad Chocolate Lounge

I have been in here many times. I have always had a great experience. The chocolate of course is great. They have a good selection of things to buy. The real magic is all of the cakes and desserts they have. This time I just wanted a small pick me up and got the liquid truffle drinking chocolate. It was served hot and it had wonderful flavors of chocolate. The staff is always friendly and the inside is nicely appointed. This is a must I}visit when in Asheville.

If you like chocolate this place is for you! Hand crafted bon bons and sweets, melted drinking chocolate - need I say more? It's amazing! A little pricey but well worth the splurge

Sort of busy when my wife and I came by however it did not disappoint! I bought a peanut butter cookie and a prosecco. My wife originally wanted a red wine but they were out of reds (this was around lunch time so maybe they restocked at a later time?) so she ended up getting a prosecco as well. She also bought a very rich crambulee and that was amazing. The place is very nice and has a good vibe to it! If you love anything sweet, you need to stop by!

The best affogato I’ve ever had. This place is worth a detour if it’s not in your travel plans. The chocolate cake is also really good, not too sweet, not too dark.

A bit overrated. We had the chocolate cake, which was fine but not particularly impressive. The staff was nice but there isn’t a very strong sense of customer service since you order at the counter and bus your own table. Truffles are incredibly over-priced at $3 a piece.

We dropped in while waiting for our LaZoom Bus Tour, and our friends insisted it was a must-visit for chocolate lovers—and they were right! You order at the counter, and there’s comfortable table seating inside to enjoy your treats. The selection of chocolates was impressive, and everything looked delicious. They also had some fun branded swag available for purchase, which made great souvenirs. A great little stop to satisfy your sweet tooth while exploring Asheville!

We were recommended by some friends that live in the area. The line was very long but seemingly worth the wait. Staff were super rude. We ordered the dark chocolate creme brûlée, peanut butter cookie, chocolate chip cookie, a vanilla milkshake, a London fog and 2 iced chais. The prices were very reasonable. We received our bakery items and the creme brûlées were burnt, making them inedible. The iced chais were not even chais at all, but regular iced lattes. The vanilla milkshake had a good flavor but like drinking melted foamy vanilla ice cream, not really a milkshake. The woman at the register told us she couldn’t make a London fog then when we ordered it by ingredient, she was able to make it. It would have been better for her to just say she didn’t know what a London fog was then say she couldn’t make it. The menu advertises coffee by bag, and I was directed to double check the shelf and then told after I checked that they didn’t carry it. With all that being said both cookies had a great flavor. That is the one thing that is saving this review from 0 to 1 star.

We drove way out of our way to visit what looked like a charming little French chocolate café. Big mistake. First, the drink I wanted? They were out of that flavor. Okay, no big deal. Then it turned out they were out of every other flavor tea except one. At that point I should’ve taken the hint, but I ordered a hot chocolate instead. What I received was served in, and I’m not exaggerating, the smallest cup I have ever seen in a restaurant. I didn’t even know cups came that tiny. The hot chocolate tasted like someone shaved down a block of unsweetened baking chocolate (you know, the kind absolutely nobody eats on purpose) and melted it into steaming milk. Zero sweetness, zero richness, zero flavor. I ended up mixing in a stevia packet just to make it barely drinkable. To add insult to injury, it was wildly overpriced. I genuinely feel bad for the city of Asheville if this is what they think chocolate is supposed to taste like. They deserve better. Not worth the drive, not worth the money.

Long line but worth the wait at French Broad Chocolate Lounge! We stopped in for a quick sweet treat after dinner and we got into the long line to try out some chocolate. It was dangerous because we ended up browsing the shelves while in line and bought a box of 3 drinking chocolates to take home. The seating was very limited by the time we got our order but we found a spot on the couch. I got a mint brownie and a sipping chocolate - liquid truffle. The brownie was SO good - rich and not too sweet, richly decadent - the brownie of all brownies. And now I'm craving another one. The sipping chocolate was a small serving but given how rich it is, it was more than enough for two people to share. If you're looking to support local business for dessert, definitely recommend stopping by French Broad!

What a fantastic space to get some group work done! Plenty of seating options and ideal spots for photos! The Liquid Truffle was incredible as was the Mocha Stout Cake!

This place is amazing! Their truffles, their ice cream, and their drinks are all out of this world! They have great gift items too, chocolates and hot chocolate mixes. I did lots of Christmas shopping there this weekend. I love being able to support Asheville businesses.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Pack Square tends to be one of the places I stop during my trips to Asheville. The blue building will catch your eye. I was introduced to the business many years ago on a food tour and have been going back ever since. They have a large seating area to mingle if you want to enjoy the ambiance there or you can buy chocolate; ice cream liquid chocolate or pastries to go. The prices are on the higher side but the bakery items are much cheaper than another pastry shop in the area. The service has been great on my visits here and my items are wrapped up nicely.

Atmosphere: French Broad Chocolate has a nice, comfortable area to relax and enjoy some sweet treats. Service: Though there is a good bit of foot traffic in the area, the line inside moved quite quickly. We got our pieces of chocolate and paid probably in the span of 1 minute. Food: We ordered the Mango Lassi and a souvenir variety box of Asheville restaurant-inspired flavors. We've only tried the Mango Lassi, which was delicious! The slight fruitiness of the mango balanced out with the richness of the chocolate, and the kick of spices gave the overall bite a unique complexity. Overall: We recommend stopping by French Broad Chocolate and trying a bite or two of their sweets. It was a great energy booster in the middle of a sunny, Asheville day, and the wide flavor offerings ensure there's something for everyone.

OK, I come back here every single time I visit Asheville. I have no idea why I gave this 4 stars originally but I'm updating to 5 because this is one of my favorite spots in avl. I love their milk and cookies ice cream and the specialty chocolates never disappoint.

Stout cake was incredible-they should keep that on the menu if it isn't already a permanent fixture! Friendly staff and plenty of comfy seating. I'd go back.

So I was obviously very excited for some super rich and thick hot chocolate , but it ended up being just ok. It looked a lot more rich than it was. Next time I'll go for some of their other tasty looking treats.

Tried this place because of reviews online. I had to do takeout so I got the chocolate stout cake, the chocolate creme brûlée, the coconut Black Forest mousse, and the expresso cheesecake. The best two were the creme brûlée and the mousse. The stout cake was dry. The prices are a bit steep. The service was decent. The place was quite busy. I found it to be a bit overrated. The take out portions were significantly smaller than what was on display for dining for the mouse and chocolate brûlée and it was the same cost.

The service offered us free tastes of the ice cream and made jokes and were great to talk to. In addition, there was lots of seating, a place to take pictures, and great lighting. We enjoyed the ice cream. The chocolate crème brûlée and the liquid drink was bitter which was something that we weren't used to and didn't like.

Hands down to the chocolate crème Brûlée. Prices were a bit steep though the ambiance and service were good. We also tried the Affogato which was like any other affogato.

Delicious choices and good ingredients. The chocolate espresso cheesecake was amazing. I will try the Ice cream and more chocolate tomorrow.

The line was long but it proved worth the wait. My husband and I shared a salted caramel brown and salted caramel ice cream, and we each got an adult beverage to match. The brownie was sinfully delicious, and we enjoyed our treats in their lovely dining area filled with big, bright windows and lots of hanging plants.

Wonderful Hot Chocolate and their Cake..... Delicious! Easy walk from our rental- staff was friendly and helpful

What a great downtown respite!!! After walking off a sizable brunch, we found ourselves at the doors of French Broad. (That is a lie. We went there totally on purpose). As we waited in the sizable line, it snaked through a maze of delicious chocolate offerings and my arms were indeed full of fancy boxes of delightful candies as I hit the register! We ordered a few lovely desserts that were gone before I could even snap a pic, and also enjoyed a lovely coffee and espresso. There were plenty of seats and a plethora of Insta-worthy backdrops throughout... even at almost full capacity, it didn't feel crowded and seemed like everyone had a place to seat and enjoy their treats throughout the establishment. Loved it!

Cute little place with plenty of seating. Loved sitting by the window looking out to the street. We heard this place usually has a long line but we got lucky. The carrot cake was delicious! Perfect mix of fluffy cake and not too sweet frosting. The salted caramel is extremely sweet so be prepared if you don't have a sweet tooth. Chai latte has just enough spice and sweet.

This is my new favorite place for affordable chocolate desserts! I love the sign in front "Chocolate is my Love language. I got the coconut macaroon brownie which was amazing. Husband got two truffles which he devoured. I would come here every day if I lived here'. Lots of tables inside and outside to meet with friends or date.

Walking through town I came upon this cool (no pun intended) chocolatier that served ice cream. They let e try a couple samples before I selected the Budha ice cream, which tasted great! Staff was friendly and the vibe is fun. Worth stopping in!

Asheville downtown is so lucky to have two top dessert/ pastries within walking distance. Chocolate lounge and Old Europe. I don't know why I haven't try the main lounge yet, maybe because I always get ice cream first and then no room for more. Any week night, the place is busy with shoppers. Everything looks so good and there are chocolate souvenirs for visitors.

Wonderful hot chocolate, limited baked items available. Can tell they were under staffed, will try again next visit.

Things were sold out when I got here. I was able to grab a hot chocolate and it was pretty good. The line went by super quick and there is a lot of seating so no having to leave or wait for a table even though it's packed. Everybody at the front was super nice and helpful. This was my first time here, I wish they had more chocolate to choose from around this time but knowing that things were sold out must be a good sign.

This place might have the best plain chocolate brownie I've ever had. My kids and I marveled on the melt-in-your-mouth texture and the fantastic flavors. My daughter thought the "Quintessential" chocolate cake was the best cake they ever had, and I'm still laughing at the idea of the warm liquid truffle, like drinking a chocolate bar and much different than downing a glass of hot chocolate. All of this said, we thought the overall experience was good, but not perfect. The space is our main issue; nothing about it feels like a lounge. It is not the kind of space that is inviting enough to say "let's get cocktails at that lounge around the corner." It felt very much like eating at the Ghirardelli shop in Chicago (not the ones in San Francisco); a little too fancy, with lights that are a little too bright. Thankfully, the prices don't feel very big-city, so I can get down with ice cream and chocolate treats that don't break the bank here. The line at this place can get pretty epic, and that was on a random Sunday night in March. I can only imagine what it's like here when it warms up or on a big holiday weekend; no way I'm waiting 30-45 minutes to get a brownie. Also, we thought the triple chocolate mousse was tasty, with white chocolate that was not too "white chocolatey", my wife's term.

Cute mural and seating in the store. The line to order moved very quickly. We ordered two of the triple chocolate mousse to go. It was the perfect treat for after dinner in the hotel room.

Strawberry bonbon was sweet and had a good strong strawberry taste and melts in your mouth. Wildflower honey bonbon was more chocolatey with a floral aftertaste Rose cardamom and pistachio had the perfect pistachio taste Cinnamon hot chocolate hit the spot if you're craving a hot chocolate. Cinnamon flavor was light not overpowering. Staff was friendly and drink came out very quickly It's nice and quiet (wednesday night).

While walking through downtown Asheville I stumbled across this little gem. The minute you open the door you get the smell of chocolate. The lounge is spacious, with seating indoors and outdoors. There was a line that moved very quickly and the service was excellent. They have a large selection of handcrafted chocolates and bon bons, they're honestly delicious. They have a little ice cream bar and a variety of desserts. I picked up a little box of chocolates for my wife. I treated myself to a chocolate crème brûlée and a cup of well brewed coffee. They pull the crème brûlée from the cabinet and crusted the top right there with a little blowtorch, what a great touch that was! From the first bite to the last it was delicious. So I would definitely recommend this little slice of chocolate heaven in Asheville.

Great location in downtown Asheville... All of their desserts and chocolates are made by the company that is local to Asheville. The liquid drinking chocolate truffle was outstanding... Very smooth and just the right amount. The cream Brulé was creamy with a nice sugary top... the dairy free chocolate ice cream might be the creamiest and tastiest !!!!! Always fun to break the ice on that. The ambiance is nostalgic and classy with ample seating. This is a must for anyone visiting downtown... If you'd like to see the factory, it's a couple of miles away on Riverside Drive.

When we were visiting Asheville, we decided to stop here because one of our friends recommended it. When we first entered, there was a super long line. There was nothing to tell us that there was another room on the side that basically has the same stuff plus ice cream. I noticed the prices. They were pretty high! I only got a small hot chocolate and it was almost $7! It's more expensive than Starbucks! The location is great and aside from the long line, the ambiance is good. The one thing I really liked was that it had chocolate from Costa Rica. I've tasted chocolate from Costa Rica before because I've been many times so I skipped buying it. I honestly don't think I'll be going in here again when I visit Asheville. Oh, and parking was horrible!

It's fine but definitely not worth the wait or hassle. Their chocolate cake was good, not the best I've had and their coffee and cappuccinos are also good. Food and drinks are 4 stars but when you add the prices and massive line and lack of seating etc it's just not worth it. There are other places that are just as good if not better and you don't have to stand around in line forever.

Chocolate tastes like chocolate. We came in 15 minutes before closing and they already had put chairs* up and served us in a to-go box without asking, clearly signaling us to leave despite being "open"--we just ate there anyway ‍. We were done well before closing time, but food wasn't plated and we wasted to-go boxes for nothing. It was one chair on each table...they didn't actually even do the work of putting all the chairs up, lazy mfers. Now I'm staying here later typing this review rn out of spite. Anyway, go here if you like chocolate.

Another great place to stop in and enjoy the chocolate. Had a coconut brownie and it was very tasty ..small and cozy

Been coming to Asheville for 4 years and just tried FBCL for the first time. Really regretting not trying it sooner. We came in a couple weeks ago and got some things to go back home. The location is beautiful. Large inside but feels cozy and smells great. The person working the counter was very helpful and patient with us as we looked over every single truffle and dessert. We ended up getting a chocolate ginger cookie that was amazing. We got a few other desserts as well but nothing stood out for me like that cookie. I could be a bit bias as I love cookies. We will absolutely be returning for desserts and coffees.

I was so excited to finally visit their actual store after getting French Broad chocolates from Asheville airport the last two years. We actually decided to go here for dessert after our dinner at Pack's Tavern. We ordered a vanilla milkshake, chocolates, and a hot chai latte. All wonderfully satisfied our sweet tooth. I loved the ambiance, Instagram worthy wall, fast and friendly service and the comfortable couch that we settled into. For a Monday night, the place was fairly busy with both inside shoppers and people enjoying hot chocolate at their few outside tables. We also bought a few of their bars for back home. My go to favorites are their sea salt and the chai masala. The sea salt is dark chocolate, while chai masala is milk chocolate. If you're looking for some great chocolate that is locally made in Asheville, look no further because this is your place. And while they're known for their chocolate, French Broad has so many things other than just chocolate, like amazing desserts, ice cream, milkshakes, and beverages. And don't forget to bring a few bars for back home ;-)

I was drawn to this fancy-looking, cute cake/ice cream place when visiting Asheville. The ambiance is quite chic, but unfortunately, the food was mediocre at best. The chocolate cake was too rich and sweet, and it felt heavy after a couple of bites. The ice cream was good and helped cut the sweetness of the cake. The service was quick, but due to the long lines, I felt quite rushed when placing my order. Additionally, the pricing was a bit expensive.

It's expensive, but when I am shopping for a birthday treat for my friends that already have everything they could ever need this spot is an easy slam dunk. The woman behind the counter was so helpful. I got an assortment of dark chocolates but they have premade boxes you can swing in and grab quickly. Parking is convenient and I was in and out in 5-10 minutes. Even snagged a healthy ish "soda" for the road but if it had been earlier in the day I would have had a coffee. If you have some time to kill they were running tours and there is a brewery nearby that looks fun. I paired my box of sweets with a bottle of wine and I had one happy birthday girl. Check it out, treat yourself, you will not be disappointed!

A must-try for chocolate connoisseurs! Truffle drinking chocolate is what drew us to the French Broad Drinking Lounge. However, the dark chocolate sea salt tart stole our hearts. Everything single sip and bite--a delight!

Stopped in for a quick treat! Everything smelled and looked delicious! I could have tried everything but my kid wanted a quick ice cream treat. It was the peppermint and it was very good! Everyone who worked there also was very kind and nice!

Forgot to take food pics because it was so dammed good. Stumbled on this place by accident and what a glorious accident. The ice cream was delicious and there were vegan options for me! We also tried some truffles, wine and a chocolate dipped peanut butter cookie. The cookie wasn't as fresh as it could have been but that's only a minor complaint to an otherwise perfect visit.

I loved this place sooo much when I went to Asheville 5 years ago but this time I was just a bit disappointed. It still has yummy chocolates and ice creams but the selection in the bon-bons and caramels section that I only saw 2 flavors that I wanted to try. My original thought was to get a dozen of various types but I didn't see enough to fulfill that wish. I did get a chocolate salted caramel tart that was delicious and I sat in one of their lovely sofas to enjoy it with a friend. I was also disappointed by their coconut macaroon brownie. It was only ok and for the price I think it should have been amazing! It was still nice and it was still good but just not quite as good as I had hoped. The service was only mediocre. I wanted it to be as incredible as last time and I just didn't find it to be so.

Stopped in to try the liquid truffles and they did not disappoint. So smooth and delicious! The counter service was fast and friendly. My husband and I enjoyed the experience of enjoying our truffles in the cafe area.

French broad is always on the list of must go places in Asheville so expected a lot coming in. Had a pretty long line when we got there but it moved decently quickly. They had a lot of options as you can imagine. Ice cream and a bunch of desserts and drinks. Opted for two kinds of chocolate cake (forgot what they're called). The slice was just alright - kinda disappointing since expected more. Lacking in deep chocolate flavor and was more crumbly vs moist and fudgy. The second one was better and richer like a ganache. This was good. Not the best I've had but decent. Also tried their chocolate ice cream (okay) and hot chocolates (skip - too watery and lackluster). Overall, for a place that claims to specialize in chocolate, the desserts and even the hot choc could be better - more chocolatey flavor

BEST COOKIE EVER!!! We came while looking for dessert downtown. I sampled some delicious ice cream, but opted to get a peanut butter cookie and a Matcha latte. The peanut butter cookie covered in dark chocolate and sea salt was one of the best cookies I have ever had in my life! The Matcha latte was absolutely delicious too, sweetened with honey. By the way, if you come on your birthday, you get a free bonbon! They have a lot of bonbon flavors, including very unique flavor combinations. The staff here is very friendly and it is a warm and inviting place. They even lit a candle for my friends birthday, and put it in her ice cream. I am definitely going to return.

What a find! We asked where we could find a place to have an ice cream plus other desserts. This place was spot on! I had the Java and cookie dough with their homemade chocolate sauce. Simply delicious. Nearly licked the bowl clean!! My husband had the triple chocolate mouse. It was smooth and just the right amount of white, milk and dark chocolate mousse. He only shared one taste with me but did say it was the best he has ever had, and he has had plenty as that is his dessert of choice when it is offered on a menu. Service was very friendly and seating was fun as we chose a high top looking out the window where there was a street performer playing an acoustic guitar and singing. Definitely recommend this spot. Lots of items for gift giving or to take some of their chocolates home. Very clean and welcoming when you walked in the door you were greeted immediately.

This place is super cool, mainly because I have a sweet tooth and love chocolate. They have amazing bean to bar chocolate and a great variety of baked treats here, ice cream, cookies, cake oh my! We really enjoyed the liquid dark truffle and many other treats. Highly recommend getting here and coming back. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They don't have a ton of gluten free options but they do have some thankfully.

What a cute place to stop by for a coffee or a sweet treat! They have lots of different bakery items, ice cream, and beverages alongside lots of chocolate. We ordered the chocolate creme brulee, carrot cake, 3 tier chocolate mousse, matcha latte, macchiato, and a cold chocolate drink. My favorites are the carrot cake and matcha latte. FYI, the matcha latte is not sweet like you'd find at a starbucks. I prefer a not sweet matcha so I loved it. The carrot cake was also not too sweet. Everything else, SUGAR OVERLOAD. My sister loved everything aside from the cold chocolate drink (it was like a watered down pudding, very weird to us but fun to try). Definitely a place to visit when in Asheville!! Workers were all kind here.

This place was packed on this cold Saturday morning, but we were so glad we stopped and waited. A friend suggested we check the chocolate lounge while exploring Asheville for the day. And of course we did...who could pass up a CHOCOLATE lounge. I wanted to try everything but there was just the 2 of us and we had to be reasonable. One of us stood in line and the other claimed a table. Which were at a premium. I got the task of ordering. Besides buying chocolate bars and truffles, I ordered a piece of the Carmel popcorn cake, a cup of liquid truffle, and an afagoto. The cake was super moist with Carmel butter creme icing. Very good. We tried the milk chocolate liquid truffle which is sipping chocolate. I was surprised how thick it was. It was not my favorite. I might try the dark chocolate next time or maybe the Mexican hot chocolate. The afagoto was fabulous. The coffee was nice and strong and tasted perfectly poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's a definite reorder. Even as busy as it was, it was clean and they offer complimentary water.

Wasn't really wowed to be honest ... coffee was mediocre .... Dessert took forever to come out and they only had stevia .... Over priced not worth the hype ....

Tasty little shop with seating so you can enjoy your chocolate goodies right away! They have ice cream, cookies, brownies, chocolates and coffee/hot drinks for purchase!

Came here twice over the last few days during our visit to Asheville. Once on our own and once on a culinary tour. We had a peanut butter cookie covered partially in chocolate with sea salt sprinkled over the top and milk and cookies ice cream. Both were equally delicious! The second time we were served salted caramel ice cream with a side shot of warm chocolate truffle drink which we ended up pouring over our ice cream, decadent! Cute decor with various seating options. Clean bathroom and street parking.

WARNING: this chocolate is so good, all other chocolate will taste inferior! This chocolate shop is truly one of a kind! Located in downtown Asheville, I highly recommend going after dinner for dessert. Their signature item is their sipping chocolates. On a cold night especially, they're so delicious and soothing! The chocolate here isn't just any ordinary chocolate. French Broad is 'bean to bar' which means they source their cacao direct from the farmers and process it completely from the cacao bean to the chocolate bars they use for all their made in house desserts. They have a factory in Asheville you can visit and go on a tour to see how the whole process works. This store is split up into two areas, the chocolate lounge and the chocolate boutique. The lounge has full service with all the offerings, whereas the boutique mostly has gift items, bonbons, and ice cream. The lounge has all of the above in addition to their liquid chocolates, cakes, custards & mouses, brownies & cookies, and all of their caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Their ice cream is definitely worth getting. It's home made with local milk and ingredients. I personally love the "Golden Milk" ice cream. They also have flavors like mint chip without the artificial dyes. My favorite thing by far are their bonbon chocolates and caramels! These delicacies come at a steep price, but are oh so worth it! My absolute favorite is the Honey Sea Salt Caramel made with local honey. It's melt in your mouth goodness with the perfect combo of their decadent chocolate, honey sweetened chewy caramel, and a touch of maldon sea salt. The prices in store are better than online so stock up while you're here! The more you buy, the better the price. They also have collections that are sold at even better prices like the Asheville Grown collection or the Buddha collection which is vegan. If you are in Asheville, do not miss this spot! It's become a yearly tradition for my family and I always take home a piece of Asheville chocolate to savor it longer!