Manhattan boasts a variety of candy and chocolate shops to satisfy a range of tastes and budgets. Offerings range from iconic American brands such as Hershey’s and M&Ms to specialty labels such as Li-Lac Chocolates and MarieBelle, to smaller local chocolate shops.
MarieBelle
Chocolatier Maribel Lieberman believes that life is about the leisure and happiness we find in food, art, and beauty. Indulge in her sweet offerings of ganache, chocolate bars, truffles, hot chocolate, and beyond at MarieBelle New York. Items are packaged to perfection, so they make ideal gifts. The collection includes a colorful Impressionist Box—a tribute to the Impressionist painters—and a Japanese matcha truffle box. For Easter, they offer their purple dark chocolate—an oversized egg filled with three mini eggs in milk, dark, and white chocolate. Yum! 484 Broome St., 212-925-6999, ext 1., mariebelle.com
Economy Candy
Since 1937, Economy Candy has been enticing candy and chocolate aficionados with its extensive menu of sweet treats. Beyond its chocolates, the shop offers candy, nuts, and dried fruit. For Easter, it offers milk chocolate bunnies, Cadbury Crème Screme eggs, Hershey’s eggs, colorful jelly beans, and beyond. 108 Rivington St., 212-254-1531, economycandy.com
Hershey’s Chocolate World
In the heart of Times Square is Hershey’s Chocolate World, which recently relocated to more spacious and impressive locale. New experiences at the shop include the Amazing Candy Machine, which invites guests to mix and match up to 12 of their favorite Hershey treats. Guests can also customize their own wrappers. Made-to-order S’mores are also among the offerings. They're served from an authentic camper. A new in-store bakery—in partnership with The Culinary Institute of America—is now serving warm, freshly baked goods and beverages, as well as a lineup of new, Hershey-inspired treats. 212-581-9100, 20 Times Square building (701 Seventh Ave. on 47th St.), hersheys.com
IT’SUGAR
Trendy candy shop IT’SUGAR boasts several New York City locations. Always buzzing, the colorful, vibrant shop comes alive with pulsating music and a kaleidoscope of candy and novelty items. It offers fun items such as its bunny poop candy, fruity gummy bunnies, and a one pound bunny gummy, as well as a vast selection of chocolate and other candies. itsugar.com
Li-Lac Chocolates
For Easter, Li-Lac Chocolates whips up thousands of pounds of gourmet chocolate for delivery to its four Manhattan locations. It’s signature Easter Eggs are made from the original Li-Lac recipe, which was created in 1923. The fillings include butter cream, marzipan, and peanut butter, which are among the faves. Other fillings include hazelnut truffle, lemon chiffon, and maple walnut cream. Chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs, and ready-made Easter baskets are also available. New York-themed candies include the Big Chocolate Apple, and chocolate renditions of the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, King Kong, and beyond. 212-924-2280, li-lacchocolates.com
M&M’s World
Up the fun factor by visiting Manhattan’s 25,000 square-foot M&M'S World New York store in Times Square. It offers an array of yummy candies and sweet treats, as well as fun and funky toys. The fun zone boasts a two-story color wall packed with thousands of colorful M&M’s candies. Other fun experiential features include a Color Mood Analyzer and a personalized printer, which enables shoppers to create customized candies in a New York minute. 212-295-3850, 1600 Broadway, mmsworld.com
The Meadow
If chocolate bars are your thing, head over to The Meadow in the trendy Nolita neighborhood. Originally from Portland Oregon, The Meadow opened its first New York location in the West Village, but that location closed in 2020 when the pandemic hit NYC. Luckily for New Yorkers, The Meadow bounced back, reopening at a new location on Mulberry street. The shop carries over 350 unique chocolate bars, including many single origin bars. The also carry a variety of gourmet salts, spices, and bitters, making it a great place to find gifts. 503-305-3388 , 240 Mulberry St. themeadow.com