Barcelona has always been known for its stunning architecture, rich culture, and incredible food scene. What most people don’t realize is that Barcelona is also a hub for chocolate.
Beyond tapas bars and wine tastings, you’ll find a city that takes its sweets seriously, with a deep history that ties back to when cacao first arrived in Europe. Barcelona was actually one of the first cities to receive cacao from the Americas in the 1500s, and that early connection shows.
Walking through the city today, you’ll still see traces of that chocolate heritage, from historic spots like Casa Amatller and Fargas, to modern makers like Cacao Sampaka and Blanxart who are redefining what Spanish chocolate can be.
This blog showcases some of the best artisan chocolate brands from Barcelona, explores what makes the city’s chocolate unique, and answers a few key questions like “What chocolate is Barcelona famous for?”
If you love discovering small-batch makers, beautiful packaging, and flavors that tell a story, Barcelona’s chocolate scene is something you’ll want to experience.
What Chocolate Is Barcelona Famous For?
Barcelona’s connection to chocolate is deep. It’s not just a city that makes good chocolate. It’s a place that helped shape Europe’s entire love affair with it. While most people associate Spain’s chocolate origins with explorers like Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés, neither were directly tied to Barcelona. Columbus brought cacao beans back from the Americas in 1493, though he didn’t realize their value. It was Cortés, a few decades later, who introduced cacao as a drink after experiencing it in the Aztec Empire. From there, chocolate slowly made its way into Spanish culture and Barcelona. As one of Spain’s key Mediterranean ports, Barcelona became a major gateway for cacao arriving from the New World.
By the 18th century, Barcelona had developed into a true chocolate-making capital. The city’s artisans began crafting chocolate locally, giving rise to legendary names like Casa Amatller (1797) and Fargas (1827) both of which still exist today.
When you think of Barcelona and chocolate today, one classic image stands out: a cup of xocolata desfeta the city’s signature thick, rich hot chocolate, usually served with churros or melindros. It’s the kind of treat that feels like pure comfort in a cup, thick enough to coat a spoon, and every bit as decadent as it sounds.
In recent years, the story has evolved again. Barcelona is now home to a new generation of bean-to-bar chocolate makers who source their cacao directly, roast it themselves, and focus on sustainable, chocolate. They’re redefining what Spanish chocolate means, keeping its roots in tradition while pushing it toward something modern and ethical.
10 Chocolate Brands in Barcelona You Need to Try
Cacao Sampaka
Founded in Barcelona more than 20 years ago, Cacao Sampaka was created with one purpose to let cacao fulfill its destiny. Cacao Sampaka is known for combining innovation with tradition, sourcing exceptional cacao from around the world and handling every stage of production from roasting at carefully controlled temperatures to hand-finishing each creation. Their philosophy is rooted in honoring cacao’s natural character while elevating it to its highest expression.
Blanxart
Founded in 1954 by master chocolatier Francesc Agrás, Blanxart was born from a deep respect for tradition and a passion for exceptional cacao. What began as a small workshop in Barcelona’s Les Corts neighborhood has grown into one of Catalonia’s most respected chocolate makers, known for preserving old-world methods while embracing the purity of modern bean-to-bar production. Blanxart’s philosophy is rooted in doing things the traditional way, from bean to chocolate. Each batch begins with hand-selected cacao beans sourced from the world’s most renowned origins, including Ghana, the Congo, and Ecuador’s Guayaquil region. Their team roasts, grinds, and refines the beans in-house, ensuring that every bar captures the authentic character of its origin. Today, Blanxart continues to honor its founder’s original vision: crafting chocolate slowly, intentionally, and with complete respect for the cacao itself. The brand works closely with organic cooperatives and small producers, using only ecologically certified cacao that reflects both environmental responsibility and superior taste.
Casa Amatller
Casa Amatller was founded in 1797 by Gabriel Amatller in the El Born district of Barcelona. Chocolate Amatller stands as one of the oldest active chocolate brands in Europe. What began as a small workshop beneath the towers of Santa Maria del Mar quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s chocolate tradition, serving the very first handmade bars to locals in the El Born and La Ribera neighborhoods. Over the centuries, Casa Amatller has become synonymous with heritage, design, and quality. The brand’s signature modernist style seen in its elegant packaging inspired by Art Nouveau posters and Catalan artistry captures the creative spirit of Barcelona itself.
Fargas
Step inside Fargas, and you’ll instantly understand why it’s one of Barcelona’s most beloved chocolate shops. Founded in 1827, their space feels timeless, warm wood counters, the scent of freshly ground cacao, and that old stone mill still turning after nearly two centuries. What makes Fargas special isn’t just its age, it’s the way they still make chocolate the traditional way. The process is slow and simple, roasting cacao in small batches, stone-grinding it to preserve its texture, and shaping it into bars and truffles that taste rich, pure, and unapologetically old-school. Their chocolate has a distinct flavor, deep and comforting, with that natural grainy texture that reminds you it’s hand-made, not mass-produced. Every bite feels like a step back into Barcelona’s past, when chocolate wasn’t just a treat, it was an art form. Fargas has stayed true to that idea, proving that sometimes, the best way forward is to keep doing what’s always worked.
Enric Rovira
Enric Rovira is one of those makers who perfectly captures what Barcelona chocolate is all about, creativity, precision, and a respect for tradition. Born and raised in the city, Enric learned the craft in his family’s pastry shop before deciding to take chocolate in his own direction, treating it as an art form instead of just a sweet. His workshop sits just outside the city near Montserrat, where he creates everything from small, beautifully designed bonbons to chocolate bars. What makes Rovira’s work stand out is how naturally he blends Barcelona’s artistic energy with chocolate making, every piece feels thoughtful, balanced, and a little surprising, just like the city itself.
Bubó Chocolate
When Bubó opened in 2005, it brought something completely new to Barcelona’s chocolate and pastry scene. Instead of the classic neighborhood bakery, Bubó felt like walking into a jewelry store, clean design, beautiful displays, and desserts that looked like art pieces. Every chocolate and pastry is handmade with top-quality ingredients, and you can taste the care in every bite. What we like most about Bubó is how they’ve managed to stay creative without losing that sense of quality. They use more natural ingredients now and focus on sustainable cacao, keeping things modern but thoughtful. Even though Bubó has grown and built a big following abroad, it still feels like one of those true Barcelona spots where design and flavor come together perfectly.
Utopick
Utopick is one of those brands that proves chocolate can be both simple and striking. Founded by chocolatier and designer Paco Llopis, Utopick is a true bean-to-bar maker, meaning every bar starts with raw cacao beans that they roast, grind, and refine themselves. You can taste that care, the flavors are clean, balanced, and honest, without any shortcuts. What sets Utopick apart, though, is how much thought goes into the design. Their bars come wrapped in folded paper that looks like origami, each one hand-sealed with a wax stamp. It’s the kind of packaging you almost don’t want to open. Everything about Utopick feels intentional, from the sourcing to the finish, making it one of the most creative and thoughtful names in Barcelona’s bean-to-bar scene.
Where to Experience Barcelona’s Chocolate Culture
If you really want to understand Barcelona chocolate, you have to experience it. The city is full of spots where history, design, and cacao all come together.
Start with the Museu de la Xocolata in El Born. It’s part museum, part playground for chocolate lovers. You’ll see incredible chocolate sculptures, learn how cacao first made its way to Europe, and even join a workshop where you make your own bar or truffle. It’s the perfect place to get a sense of how deep Barcelona’s connection to chocolate really is.
Another must stop is Cacao Sampaka’s flagship shop and tasting room in Eixample. It’s part boutique, part café, and everything inside smells like roasted cacao. Order a cup of thick hot chocolate or grab a bar to take home.
If you explore the city on foot, walk through Passeig de Gràcia and the Gothic Quarter, especially Carrer Petritxol, a narrow street lined with historic chocolateries and cafés. Here, you’ll find old-world charm mixed with modern flavor, it’s where you can sip xocolata desfeta and feel like you’re tasting history.
For something more immersive, there are a few chocolate tours and workshops worth checking out. Barcelona Chocolate Tours offers small group experiences through the city’s best chocolateries, while the Delicious Chocolate Tour adds a pastry-chef-led tasting through nine different spots.
To discover the taste of Barcelona chocolate from home, shop the selection of Blanxart and Cacao Sampaka bars on our website.
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