Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery

Bakery · Bethesda

Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery

Bakery · Bethesda

1

4823 St Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

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Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by The main counter at Henry’s Sweet Retreat. Henry’s Sweet Retreat [Official photo]
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null
Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery by null

Highlights

Buzzy candy shop offering cookies, cakes & specialty chocolates, plus ice cream, popcorn & sodas.  

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4823 St Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814 Get directions

henryssweetretreat.com
@henryssweetretreat

$$ · Menu

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4823 St Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814 Get directions

+1 240 483 0485
henryssweetretreat.com
@henryssweetretreat
𝕏
@henryssweet

$$ · Menu

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Jul 10, 2025

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@eater

"This Bethesda sweets shop plans to carry hamantaschens from Saturday, February 24 through early March. Featured flavors include apricot and prune, which can be found in the bakery case or purchased via special order." - Rebecca Gale

Where to Find Hamantaschen for Purim - Eater DC
View Postcard for Henry's Sweet Retreat & Bakery

A C

Google
You can smell the sweetness as soon as you walk in. I sampled some ice cream and settled on mint chocolate chip and cookies and cream. The ice cream was delicious and the cookies looked really good. I’ll definitely be back to try more. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

Tiffany Byrd

Google
The butter toffee cookie was the best!!! So good and just a little crisp. Vanilla cup cake was perfect. Icing not to sweet, homemade delicious buttercream icing. It was so moist and fluffy!!! Definitely will be returning. Stop in. They are so friendly and kind!!!

Matthew Fish

Google
Had dinner at a diner down the street. Looked up dessert near me and this place came up. NOT disappointed! We had brownies, sundaes, milkshake, cupcake and coffee. All of it was DELICIOUS! The small sundaes were huge! Kids could not finish them and at $7ish each hard to beat for the quality! I had an eggnog cupcake. I was not sure it would be good but whatever magic y'all put in it worked great together! The frosting was light and fluffy not too sweet not too bland. And the cake was moist, not crumbly, not heavy just perfect! Had a latte with soymilk because my belly does not care for milk in coffee. Local coffee company supplies the beans. They also have pretty much any kind of candy, pies, and sweets you might need and apparently they cater! Stop in you will not regret it...unless you do not like sweets and then I am sorry.

Katie Hallock

Google
We have now come to visit this place quite a few times as they are the only place in the area that I know of that offers freshly scooped Graeter’s ice cream! I am a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and really miss having this on a weekly basis! LOL. We first discovered this place when we were eating in the area and simply looked around for some ice cream. I couldn’t believe it when I saw pictures posted of the Graeter’s logo and ice cream freshly scooped! I even called to confirm that I wasn’t dreaming! LOL. They also offer another local ice cream, but I have to say that as it isn’t as smooth and creamy or as flavorful. Just my opinion. My kids love this place because of the crazy candy selection they have here! So they usually end up passing up ice cream an order to pick out an extra sugary sweet. This place also offers baked goods, of which we’ve tried a few. Everything I’ve tried has been nice, but not as life-changing Lee awesome as the ice cream. Although my husband was quite a fan of their s’more‘s cookie! The service here has always been friendly and we will definitely go back!

Joseph Marino

Google
Placed an order for “cookies” on Uber eats. They called and didn’t have the cookies I ordered online. So, they wanted to give me what they had instead. I already ordered it through Uber eats and you can’t cancel or they still charge you. So all I can do is write this review to help the next person. It took 2 hours to get 6 cookies together. I finally got fed up after no delivery driver was able to pick it up and cancelled my order. Not their fault but hey they still got their money and got their cookies back on the shelf. I will never order from here again.

Humnah Ibrahim

Google
the ice cream sundae here was great! the service was fantastic and the employees were very kind! the environment was also very nice and my family enjoyed playing the board games in their loft area seating :)

Yukiko Furuya

Google
We had a birthday party for kids. Kids loved decorating and baking their own cookies. Assistants did really good job with kids. Highly recommended place.

makayla hayes

Google
I went there yesterday and there were two white maybe teenage girls. I’m African American. When I walked in I wasn’t greeted at all and then when it was time to pay the one teenager didn’t say anything to me. The candy is good but rude workers

Ellen K.

Yelp
Second time visiting. The cupcakes are among the hardest and driest I've ever had, if not the top hardest. They do have a bunch of other sweets and chocolates but I'd rather enjoy what a place excels at than have to spend money and calories on the very subpar. Store also has a bunch of retail candy, colored m&ms and such. I don't like putting up a low review but it's my second time being really disappointed here. I wouldn't have come back but my partner wanted to.

Paul J.

Yelp
After dinner one night, we walked around downtown Bethesda and happened upon Henry's Sweet Retreat. Luckily, we saved room for dessert, and Henry's hit the spot. We got a blueberry pop tart, and some raspberry scones, along with a chocolate covered vanilla cupcake. Yummy! The only problem is that Henry's is not just a dessert bakery - the store may appear tiny on the outside, but it's huge on the inside. In addition to the bakery, they got all kinds of candy and other goodies for sale. I gotta stop back in another day and try all the other good stuff inside. Plus, you can tell from the Rick Astley-inspired sign outside, Henry's has a great sense of humor. This is exactly what small business brings to the neighborhood. Stop by and visit Henry's Sweet Retreat - you'll be glad you did!

Matt F.

Yelp
Had dinner at a diner down the street. Looked up dessert near me and this place came up. NOT disappointed! We had brownies, sundaes, milkshake, cupcake and coffee. All of it was DELICIOUS! The small sundaes were huge! Kids could not finish them and at $7ish each hard to beat for the quality! I had an eggnog cupcake. I was not sure it would be good but whatever magic y'all put in it worked great together! The frosting was light and fluffy not too sweet not too bland. And the cake was moist, not crumbly, not heavy just perfect! Had a latte with soymilk because my belly does not care for milk in coffee. Local coffee company supplies the beans. They also have pretty much any kind of candy, pies, and sweets you might need and apparently they cater! Stop in you will not regret it...unless you do not like sweets and then I am sorry.

Marissa C.

Yelp
When they say they have it all, they are not kidding! There was something for everyone here: candy galore, fudge, pie and cake slices, ice cream (one local type and the other Graeter's) and more. There are also games, puzzles, and activities too. It was very tricky to settle on what we wanted, but eventually we ended up with some cookies, candy, and ice cream. Everything was tasty, and it was quite nice to sit out front on a lovely day and enjoy the goodies. Staff was friendly.

Lindsay W.

Yelp
There were so many candies to choose from, I couldn't pick. The service was great! The ambiance made me feel like I was in the game Candy Land. It was great you should totally go here.

Aarti B.

Yelp
While there's a variety of sweet treats, I wish there were more baked goods made in-house and properly labeled. There are a handful of baked goods - cake pops, some of the cookies, cupcakes, bars/brownies, chocolate covered Oreos, buckeyes, the fudge, and popcorn. While I understand not everything can be made from scratch in-house, they aren't labeled and misleading. It's very hard to distinguish between what's made in-house vs outsourced. After spending $3.50 on a dark chocolate mint truffle, it was disappointing to find out they were generic Birnn truffles. While the truffle was tasty, it didn't have the soft malleable texture of a fresh truffle. While I was told by an employee that the gooey S'mores cookie was made in-house, I found out later from the owner that it's actually from Asher's. The cookie was a bit dry and I question the freshness. Before ordering anything, definitely ask if it's made in-house!

Tim M.

Yelp
It was February 2023, and I was out for lunch with my daughter to celebrate my birthday. To top off the lunch at Momo's we walked around the corner to get ice cream at Henry's Sweet Retreat. They sell Graeter's ice cream here. It is a very popular Cincinnati based ice cream. I moved here from Cincinnati & I always had a delicious free birthday sundae at Graeter's. Getting 2 scoops of Graeter's ice cream was just like being back home! I had 2 scoops, cookies & cream and black raspberry chocolate chip! It was sweet, creamy & loaded with chocolate chips and cookie pieces! It was a warm day & we did a takeout order. What a great birthday it was! This place is much more than just an ice cream shop though with enough sweet treats to make your head spin! It is a bakery & candy shop offering up cookies, cakes, scones, muffins, pop tarts, dessert bars, fudge, coffee & tea, pies & cheesecake and truffles! The shop is bright and colorful with a loft for extra seating at the rear of the store. You can also get Moorenko's a local premium ice cream here. My grandchildren love to come here! Until next time be kind to each other. #graeter's #bakery #bethesdamd #sweettreats

Sabrina K.

Yelp
They made my son's birthday so special with a custom Minecraft cake. The look on his face was priceless.

Kimi Z.

Yelp
We were craving some dessert and stopped by Henry's for a late night snack. The ice cream was phenomenal- the mint chocolate chip had the perfect ratio of mint and chocolate in every bite. The staff were super friendly and cheerful and made this a very pleasant experience. I wouldn't recommend the vanilla cupcake though- it was a bit dry and didn't have much flavor. The base tasted more like bread than cake, but the ice-cream is fantastic! I will definitely be back to try their many versatile dessert options!

Rizma W.

Yelp
After working out, I was craving for some cake in the worst way (What can I say? I only work out so I can eat what I want.) . Most of the places I found online were either rated poorly, or were closed for the day. Fortunately I found this place and raced over. The store was packed with wall to wall sweets, including some throwback candies I haven't seen in a while (Whatchamacallit, is that you? Clove gum, I see you too!!) In addition to candy, I was elated to see that they had a baked goods case, as well as a case full of chocolates, truffles, and other chocolate dipped treats. What started off as a mission for cake became something of a sampling excursion. I left with a slice of their cookies and cream cake, chocolate covered s'mores, a dark chocolate covered marshmallow, a toffee covered pretzel, and a hot chocolate bomb. Mission accomplished!

Katie H.

Yelp
We have now come to visit this place quite a few times as they are the only place in the area that I know of that offers freshly scooped Graeter's ice cream! I am a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and really miss having this on a weekly basis! LOL. We first discovered this place when we were eating in the area and simply looked around for some ice cream. I couldn't believe it when I saw pictures posted of the Graeter's logo and ice cream freshly scooped! I even called to confirm that I wasn't dreaming! LOL. They also offer another local ice cream, but I have to say that as it isn't as smooth and creamy or as flavorful. Just my opinion. My kids love this place because of the crazy candy selection they have here! So they usually end up passing up ice cream an order to pick out an extra sugary sweet. This place also offers baked goods, of which we've tried a few. Everything I've tried has been nice, but not as life-changing Lee awesome as the ice cream. Although my husband was quite a fan of their s'more's cookie! The service here has always been friendly and we will definitely go back!

Lota P.

Yelp
We love the cake we ordered. The cookies are amazing! Service was great. Two young ladies helped me out. Ambience looks clean.

Greg S.

Yelp
This review is based solely on the appearance and walking through the store. We did not try any of their products. We stopped in here while walking around Bethesda in hopes of some good ice cream or dessert. This place is mostly just a retail outlet for other manufacturers. The ice cream is Graeters brand and the truffles are made somewhere else as well except for a couple of chocolate dipped Oreos. The desserts may have been baked there but the items on the shelf were all plastic wrapped and I assume they bring out the actual dessert from the back. Not sure. The rest of the store was full of standard candy store candy in bins that are not very sanitary especially in the current covid situation. The two young girls working there were very nice a friendly. This store seems to be trying to do too much. It may be best to focus only on the best candy or focus on baked goods but make them standout and look fresh instead of wrapped in plastic. This is a good place for kids to have a treat but not somewhere I would choose for a quality dessert.

Kyla H.

Yelp
TERRIBLE cupcake. Threw the whole box away. They were all hard as a rock and had absolutely NO flavor.

Jessica L.

Yelp
This was a great spot to fulfill those promises you may have bribed your kids with . They enjoyed the cookie ice cream sandwich - and the cookies were gluten free! Good ice cream. The chocolate in the case was yum also - get a milk chocolate salted caramel. The chocolate covered marshmallow was worth it too. They have a nice little spot to eat outside and is dog friendly.

John L.

Yelp
After having dinner with my wife in Bethesda, we decided to get something for dessert that was a little different. We saw that Henry's had a 4.5 stars rating on Yelp and it was open until 9 PM. That was good enough for us to give them a try. Most dessert shops close early around Bethesda. From the large number of customers coming in, the later hours was a great business decision. After looking at their large variety of choices, we decided to get a milkshake, an ice cream sandwich, peach ice cream, a cafe latte and a cappucino. We picked toffee chocolate chip ice cream for the milkshake. You get to pick the ice cream of your choice for shakes, floats, sundaes and ice cream sandwiches. The shake was as good as it gets for a shake. The thickness, sweetness and richness was just right. They use Graeter's ice cream, a company that is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1870, it has been family-owned for 3 generations. The ice cream is made using the French pot process, meaning only 2.5 gallons are made in each pot. If you love ice cream, give this one a try. The prices here for anything with ice cream in it, is on the high side.    The ice cream sandwich was made with 2 big cookies. You can pick two different cookies. We picked a salted toffee cookie and a hot chocolate cookie. The ice cream flavor we picked was cookies and cream. It was huge and delicious. The rich creamy ice cream matched beautifully with the toffee and chocolate flavors in the soft chewy cookies. This was a combination to remember.    The peach ice cream had a great peach flavor. There were chunks of peaches in the ice cream. It was the best peach ice cream we have had in a long time.    The cafe latte was made using Quartermaine coffee. Quartermaine is a local coffee roaster company based in Rockville, MD. It's good to see a local business support another local business. We got decaffeinated coffee. It tasted fine, but not correct. The problem was too much milk was added. The expresso flavor was too weak compared to the milk. It didn't bother us, but it might bother some picky people.    The cappucino was made using the same coffee as the latte. The flavor and milk foam were excellent. It didn't need sweetening.    The employees were very helpful and very patient. Service was quick. They were wearing masks, but not gloves. A sign at the door said that customers, who are not vaccinated for covid, must wear masks. The restrooms, dining room and shop were clean. The dining area is limited to 12 people and time of use is 30 minutes. This visit was a very good experience. Their service and variety of tantalizing desserts are good reasons to come back.

Carla P.

Yelp
This place is cute, but there's not much of a baked goods selection in store ^ this maybe due to COVID, but I was underwhelmed with what they offered. I will say they have a p big selection of candies and taffy ...if you're into that I think you'll enjoy this place . I got two cake pops and they were okay, nothing surprising honestly. My friend got a blondie and he quite enjoyed it . they have novelty sodas in store, which I think is the highlight of the store honestly. They tasted horrible ( coffee cake and apple pie) but it's the experience! Final thoughts: it's a cute store and their candy selection is good, but I'm more of a pastry person, I don't see myself coming back ^

Gabrielle L.

Yelp
I was SO looking forward to fudge from a local place- especially with the great reviews! Ordered delivery through door dash for 1/2 a lb of chocolate and 1/2 and lb of vanilla as well as four cupcakes. You can see in the photos what arrived. I dropped the fudge on my home scale and the vanilla is 3 oz and the chocolate is only 6. I may not have even noticed if they were both 6oz but the size difference was so off to me since they should have been about the same. The vanilla was over sweet for me but I'd chalk that up to personal preference. The chocolate was good. I'm giving two stars because my husband said his chocolate cupcake was good. ‍ UPDATE: After posting this, the business reached out to me, apologized for the issue and made every effort to make things right. Sometimes someone makes a mistake that doesn't reflect the wishes of the business owner. As I mentioned, my husband enjoyed his cupcake and the chocolate fudge was great so check these guys out. After how kind they were to me, I suspect you will have a great experience.

Miguel I.

Yelp
Dropped in for a quick dessert, had a small S'mores milkshake, which surprisingly tasted homemade (not sure if it is). It is on the expensive side at $7 for a small, but it was so good I wish it was a large instead. The chocolate chunks tasted like Toblerone and were too big for the straw so it was like having an unexpected treat at the end.

Lisa S.

Yelp
Tucked underneath a cheerful green and white striped awning is Henry's Sweet Retreat...such a fun, little shop with candy-covered walls and shelves! Not only does Henry's carry all of your classic favorites, they have fresh baked goods, confections and ice cream creations that are always DIVINE! (Seasonal specials are so fun!!) Owner, Patty Craver, has made her shop so welcoming..and always thinks of cute ways to deliver something special to her customers! Whether it be cookie decorating kits to take home and do as a family, summer camps for little ones, customized cakes and cookies for special occasions..or just the yummiest candy you're craving.. there is always something perfect for anyone at Henry's!!!

Emily S.

Yelp
Stumbled across this place after dinner. Great selection of homemade treats! Got the peanut butter bar and it was creamy and delicious! Want to go back and try the ice cream/shakes!

Justis T.

Yelp
Crammed full of traditional and harder to find sweets, Henry's Sweet Retreat offers all kinds of sweets (hard candies, gummies, chocolate, beverages, baked goods, etc.). One can also find non-edible gifts for kids. It offers a somewhat nostalgic vibe. On this particular visit, I stopped for an unsweetened iced tea. I expected it to be rather bland, as some unsweetened iced teas can be. Rather, the tea had a very pleasant and refreshing mint taste. Unexpected, but no complaints here. Customers should be aware there is a surcharge on card use for purchases under a certain threshold. I don't love it, but it's understandable. AmEx is accepted here.

Caroline J.

Yelp
Yum! Husband and I split one of their homemade ice cream sandwiches! You get to pick the cookie flavors and the ice cream flavor! What a yummy treat. Cute shop to walk around in and see the fun and unique candy/chocolate choices! Even have games to play such as connect four & Jenga!

Kathryn L.

Yelp
I called my WomanBaby to say, "Hi my sweet treat, I just left Henry's Sweet Retreat & I thought of you & your nickname", she responded, "Hi Mommy, did you get any Vegan treats?" She knows me too well. Yes, Henry's offers 2 Vegan Chocolate candies, Coconut & Hazelnut Coriander Truffles, very quickly did I realize I didn't buy enough! Another Vegan sugarism; Henry's use to offer a Vegan cupcake, yet they weren't a hot item...hard to imagine. Yet don't fret, after meeting & speaking with the engaging Confection Chef Stephanie, she is more than happy to create special orders. & if you're a fan of Molly's Bakeovers (honey ingredient, w/o gluten, peanuts, dairy, egg & soy) you can have another almost Vegan option of sweets. Thus, I would not have this glacé of insight without meeting & chatting it up with the friendly Tom & his fashionable green striped tie. I am going bet all the Jelly Beans in this magical store he's the same Tom from Mike B.'s (MDBurbs CD) review...whom copied & pasted the information from the company's website as eloquently as an exquisite éclair. Indeed this is a sanctuary of sweets with a remembrance of general stores & soda fountains from the past, with a modernized flare. Yelp me enthusiastically explain; you can get boxed, bulk, isle, retro, pack a bag candy, unlimited chocolate creations, ice cream (in the serving bins), sorbet (in the cooler), milkshakes, scones, signature desserts, other bakery goodies, coffee, tea, homemade kettle & popcorn, old fashion soda pop (they got Nehi!), gifts & so much more. & for the party people, you can do an in-store event or have candy buffets brought to you. The splendid prices allows you to double delight from your pockets. There is plenty of seating to relish in your sugary choosing, the green hue upstairs with TV's, bright orange chairs providing a mini fountain counter atmosphere or relaxing on the covered patio. Tom & Stephanie exuded such affable customer service, I wanted to ask if they had the Candyland Game so we could play a round & treat ourselves with the myriad of goodies from Henry's Sweet Retreat. Your inner kid in a candy store experience will certainly be worth your visit.

Aveeda G.

Yelp
Henry's Sweet Retreat is pretty adorable. I saw pictures on yelp of cookies, fudge, and ice cream, all things I love deeply, so I had to stop by. Henry's basically sells any candy and chocolate you can imagine. They have folks behind a counter showcasing delicate little chocolates next to a section for Greater's ice cream next to a section for freshly baked goods (cookies, cupcakes, POP TARTS) which is next to homemade fudge. On the other side of the counter, they have vintage candy and chocolate as well as some of the more modern offerings. There were families inside getting just as excited over some 1950's penny candy as they were over the vegan chocolate bars. Seriously, this place has everything. I also saw a second level loft area that is reserved for parties or events. Adorable. We had to get in on the pop tarts so my boyfriend and I got 1 s'mores and 1 caramel apple. Both were pretty good with a flaky, phyllo dough crust that I now believe needs to be the norm for ALL pop tarts. However, it was a lot of crust and not really much filling. Mostly just an air pocket that should've been oozing with it, but really just a thin layer inside. It was good, but definitely left me wanting more. I also got a Caramel Turtle Pecan bar which was so rich with a smokey sweet flavor to the caramel. I don't say this often, but it was a little too sweet for me. I should've gone with my all time fave Peanut Butter in bar form right next to it. I didn't love anything I tried from Henry's Sweet Retreat, but I would certainly go back and try something else here. Peanut butter bar, I'm coming back for you.

Shannon T.

Yelp
I must say as much as I wanted to patronize this business, I didn't. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because it had an array of treats to choose from Unfortunately, I chose not to try anything main reason is the lack of food safety practices. I ordered a Large Lemonade while trying to decide which treats I would the home. I noticed the person assisting me, with her bare heads, flung her hair not once but twice. Without washing her hands she proceeds to grab the ice scoop to get ice out of the ice machine. I mention it to another staffer that I feel uncomfortable purchasing the Lemonade. The individual comes over and states that she's using a scoop. Seriously, you are choosing to argue with me (the customer) when you are dead wrong... Employees SHOULD wash their hands before handling food-contact utensils or surfaces whether it's ice or not. Hair should also be pulled away from face with a headband, ponytail holder, or hat. Hair can cause physical and biological contamination. Wanting to be a new customer, I'll pass.

Silia H.

Yelp
Wanting to support a local business in the area, I ordered 18 chocolate-covered strawberries and five chocolate bombs to share with friends over Valentine's Day weekend. Before going to the store this past Friday the customer service was stellar. Patti promptly took my order and payment information over the phone. However, that changed once I arrived at the storefront. I also managed to pick up a pint of ice cream and ordered açaí bowl, which according to other reviewers, "Henry's Sweet Retreat" is known for. I found my açaí bowl to be fantastic. But, once I paid for my additional teams the young lady behind the counter said that, "I can wait outside, if I want to." Despite being in a pandemic you're going to suggest to a customer who has difficulty walking that they may wait outside in 28 degree weather is a little dumbfounding. Granted, the store isn't huge, but I was the only customer in the store at the time. To top things off, a voicemail message was left on my cellphone last night by Patti, the owner, to discuss my previous two-star review, which in her view was a bit harsh. The matter was chucked up to be a "misunderstanding" or "miscommunication". The last time that I checked this is still the United States, and each person is entitled to their opinion. I just happen to be using Yelp as a vehicle to express mine. Although I appreciate the store's ownership reaching out. "Henry's Sweet Retreat" leaves much to be desired for. Save your time, money and any angst. If you're interested in supporting a local business, "Bethesda Chocolates" is down the block off of Woodmont Avenue.

Chris F.

Yelp
Amazing place for a quick and delicious treat. Had the Vienna Coffee Ice Cream and it you could tell it was made with real quality coffee. If you are a coffee lover than it is a must try. Picked up a homemade mixed berry frosted pop tart to take with. Nice flakey pastry style but with the classic feel of a typical pop tart like you would eat growing up as a kid.

Mike B.

Yelp
While we lie in wait for Bethesda Chocolates to open up it's doors (which could possibly be in it's 4th year of it's build out- I'm half convinced it's a front for an underground government facility? Possibly Men In Black's Headquarters), there's a sweet (pun intended) little spot that has opened up just about a half a block down St. Elmo from Woodmont Ave called Henry's Sweet Retreat. First, let's get this out of the way: Who is Henry? "Tom's grandparents, Henry and Martha, raised their family in middle Ohio in a different era when grandmas baked homemade pies with cherries from Mr Starkey's tree next door while grandpas smoked cigars in the living room while reading the evening newspaper. A big Friday night included a bucket of Colonel Sanders chicken and on the 4th of July, a town parade. When the grandkids were in town, Henry gave us each a dollar to spend in town. Past the town fountain (sometimes filled with bubbles) we walked unsupervised across a busy road, where drivers stopped and waved, to what seemed like heaven on earth: the local five & dime."1 *Pulled From Company Website How amusing and adorable is that? A candy store that is opened in memory of the owners Grandfather. #Love. There is old fashioned treats for sure. My friend pointed out the soda case that is full of unique old fashioned sodas like Cheerwine, and new fangled fashioned sodas like a take on Harry Potter style Butterbeer. I think one of the most special things about this store is the homemade treats, which include fudge, poptarts, cakes, and other pastries. And no, I'm just not enamored by the name and that they cook their confections in store. I got the pumpkin fudge and it was incredible. I also got a brown sugar pop tart which was tasty and 100 times lighter and fluffier than it's gross sandy cousin that I for some reason enjoyed as a child. Large circular lollipops hang from the ceiling for decoration, one wall is lined with bulk candy that spans everything from white chocolate bacon pretzel candy to a rainbow of blank m&m's for party decor. The customer service is fantastic. The young man who helped me saw me eyeing the fudge and offered me a sample. Each one I tasted was delicious. I ended up buying a quarter pound for myself, and a quarter pound for my local bartender. So, what is different about this place? How about the fact that they have large lofted dining/party space where kids can have parties that include soda flights, guess the jelly belly flavor, and a game I wished I played everyday called the "Candy Memory Game." Can't wait to stop in again and grab more treats, gifts, and ice cream cookie sandwiches AND root beer floats. Citation 1: Quote pulled from company's website

Stefanie Y.

Yelp
I walked into Henry's Sweet Retreat completely full after a massive dinner, sure that I'd just look around and skip dessert...I ended up eating 1/5 a pint of their raspberry chocolate ice cream, it was that good. Henry's feels like neighborhood ice cream stores twenty years ago - pastel colors, walls lined with colorful candies, a selection of homemade fudge and all-American pastries, and tubs of creamy ice cream. Since there were five of us and we all wanted the same flavor, the lady behind the counter recommended the pint from the freezer in the back, which was totally the right call. There's ample seating up the stairs in the back, as well as a few tables under their awning in front. Onto the ice cream - the chocolate in the ice cream was chunky, yet creamy and soft. I'm still confounded by how they managed to get the chocolate to maintain that easily bitten consistency within a frozen chunk of ice cream - the best explanation I've come up with is magic! The ice cream itself was super creamy, flavorful, and not too sweet. We all felt there could have been a bit more raspberry tang, but really, that's just nitpicking what's already an incredible ice cream flavor. I seriously considered buying another pint to take home with me.

Shah R.

Yelp
I hate this place......because everything here is so good and I can never decide on just one item! At one point, when I was cutting weight for a training camp, I used to plan my cheat days for Friday and would go here and just buy up a good $30 worth of sweets. No pizzas, no alcohol, I just wanted the sweets from here. Though I will say, if you try their red velvet brownie, heated up of course, you will go into a great depression, because you will never taste anything that good again. I am literally a fat kid (adult, whatever) in a candy store when I go here. Yeah, their prices are a bit high, but once you try the food, you'll understand why. Cookies, ice-cream, fudge, literally everything they have, is delicious. The owners are really nice and friendly people, as are the other people who work there. The owners actually take the time to get to know you and they take the time to actually chat with you, which is something you just don't expect anymore and it makes you feel so warm and welcome there. The place is really cute as well and looks like something that should be in Hogsmeade Village (from Harry Potter). There's two other chocolate/sweet shops right next to them and this place makes them both look like amateur hour. One of the only things I don't like about working from home (cause of COVID) is that I don't get to go here anymore (they are across the street from my office).

Melissa C.

Yelp
Paid $9.50 for half pound of fudge and received 6.4 Oz (including paper bag). I'm not sure why the food cannot be properly measured? Hoping this is corrected.

Kelly S.

Yelp
We had a wonderful experience ordering 60 pop tarts for our holiday party. We were able to have them individually bagged and with a red ribbon. Guests could choose from four flavors - mixed berry, cinnamon sugar, apple and blueberry. Service was personal and professional. We would definitely purchase again or recommend to anyone looking for a custom treat.

Paul M.

Yelp
Overpriced, especially given the mediocre quality of many items. The caramel cubes are - Brachs!! At $14/lb!!! I was dumbfounded to open my bag and see Brachs wrappers on my caramels. Instead of a yummy, quality caramel taste, I got the most basic of caramels, something I could have picked up nearly anywhere else, for a fraction of the price. At least sell Kraft caramels, guys! So, I have to wonder.... what else are they skimping on in quality, at $14 per pound? I feel scammed.

Sofia R.

Yelp
Cookie dough Sunday is delicious! Definitely great to share Service was really friendly, and made the order promptly.

Marc B.

Yelp
This is a great little gem in Bethesda. My daughter and I had stop by after dinner and had an amazing assortment of ice creams and candy Great service

Christen D.

Yelp
We had my daughter's sixth birthday party at Henry's today. I literally had to do nothing. They baked the cake, organized the cookie baking, jelly bean game and flower making activity. They bought the pizzas. I'm usually a control freak when it comes to parties for my girls. But I just threw caution to the wind and let them handle the whole shindig. It was great. My daughter said "It was the best day ever!!" I'm so happy we had her party there. The pricing was in line with other venues, but I feel like it was a unique and fun party for the kids.

Amber F.

Yelp
This shop has a little bit of everything! Candy, ice cream, cookies... basically, sweet retreat indeed! Our family were walking the streets after dinner and came by this shop wanting some ice cream. Their ice cream selection is rather small compared to other full-fledged ice cream shops, but it has pretty much all the essential flavors: cookies and cream, cookie dough, coffee, fruity flavors, etc. Except for mint. A scoop of icecream is HUMONGOUS; my husband and I shared a scoop and couldn't even finish. They are good, though! Pretty small inside, but they have some seatings outside the shop.

Nicole G.

Yelp
Really happy to have a store that makes me feel like a kid again so close to the office! Nice selection of candy to buy by the scoop lining one wall. Further down the wall is a shelf full of throwback candy bars including candy cigarettes and bubblegum cigars. The center is filled with seasonal candies, and brand name specialties (tons of Hammond's bars!). The other wall is a huge counter with a fudge area, a case of cookies, cakes and pies, then a nice selection of ice cream, then a case full of truffles, and finally the check out area. A big chalkboard menu is overhead displaying even more choices and prices. In the back was a upright freezer full of ice cream and cookiewiches next to another full of fun flavored sodas. Seating areas were available upstairs and out front. Prices are definitely reasonable for what you get and the area we're in. I grabbed a soda and a sprinkle cookie to bring back to work, but I'll definitely be back to try their store popped kettle corn and other sweets!

Rory R.

Yelp
Stopped by here about 10 minutes before they closed for the evening. Ordered a single chocolate chip ice cream which was pretty good for an ice cream. Nothing outstanding but better then store brand ice cream. Also had a chocolate cup cake which was moist and it along with the frosting was not overly sweet qhich is a nice change from some shops. The person who helped me though seemed rushed as appears they were prepping for closing and then when preparing to box the cupcake the phone range and they answered that rather than ignoring it and finishing assisting myself and the customer behind me.

Michael D.

Yelp
Can't speak for the chocolates and such, but the Ice Cream is amazing! And like so many good, local joints, a small is, frankly, huge. 5 tasty stars!

Jorge Y.

Yelp
What the heck else you want? They got acai bowls and more! Chill vibes and sweet treats

Pegah Y.

Yelp
Henry's Sweet Retreat, located in the Woodmont neighborhood of Bethesda, MD, is an adorable all-purpose candy and sweets shop! I stopped in on a chilly November afternoon and was instantly charmed by how whimsical and cute this place is. They have a wide array of candies, including jelly beans, fudge (my personal favorite here), cookies, pastries, ice creams in a carton, etc. They even had Thanksgiving pies (I visited the day before Thanksgiving) - So cute! I was seriously impressed with the variety of sweets this place offers. And even with all this, they have an upstairs lounge area. Awesome! I got a rainbow cookie, vanilla fudge, and chocolate fudge. All of it was tasty! Totally worth at least one visit to this amazing place - I need to visit again soon!

Beth S.

Yelp
We had a festive birthday celebration by ordering 2 cookie kits. My kids and I had so much fun decorating, and the cookies are delicious. We added a few decorations that we already had at home, and we used some food coloring for some extra colors. The staff at Henry's was so gracious and put together the winter birthday themed kits with short notice. Thank you!

Ebonie J.

Yelp
Live close by and always see the sign for the açaí bowls...decide to try the original one ..the bowl was pretty basic in taste compared to others near by and pretty pricey for the quality.

Brian C.

Yelp
For the size of a regular scoop, at 945pm and 30 degree weather outside, it is more than enough to share. I had the mint chocolate chip. This ice cream had large chunks of fudge inside and had a crispy and fresh minty taste. I would definitely want to come back to here.

John D.

Yelp
They got me hooked because of their milk shakes and homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches. But I like everything I try. They have a great candy selection and I recently tried their cupcakes and ordered a birthday cake from them.

Atefeh F.

Yelp
Me and my friend decided to try this cute place and we were pleasantly surprised! I got a single scoop two flavored on a waffle cone ( black cherry and cookies n cream). Delicous!! There are an assorment of candies and other sweets as well. Only neg was that I was waiting to pay while another employee was having a long convo with a customer. I didnt expect her to stop the convo but seeing I have a huge belly ( i am 8 months pregnant) an acknowledgment wouldve been nice rather than feeling ignored.

Bill P.

Yelp
Great place. Too many delectables under glass. Cookies, candy, ice cream.....a Willie Wonka dream date with party room upstairs. Awesome owners who truly care.

Sophie Z.

Yelp
Amazing açaí bowls. The best bowl I've had in Bethesda. Also very friendly staff. WiFi upstairs on the mezzanine. Usually they have kids birthdays in Saturdays. Will be back again soon!