Mutari - Santa Cruz

This place offers delicious bean-to-bar single-origin chocolate. The staff is not only passionate about what they do but also very knowledgeable and eager to share their insights. We particularly loved the drinking chocolate and truffles. If you enjoy rich, slightly gooey brownies, you'll find those fantastic as well. Overall, it’s comparable to, and perhaps even better than, Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco.

The chocolate tasting tour is absolutely fantastic! We gained a wealth of knowledge about the chocolate-making process and sampled more than 10 different chocolate bars. We were surprised to discover the numerous nuances in chocolate flavors. A big thank you to the owner, Katie, for providing us with such a wonderful experience. Both the brownie and the frozen dark chocolate were delicious! I highly recommend Mutari to all chocolate enthusiasts! Be sure to call ahead to book a tour!

We make the drive from San Francisco to Santa Cruz just for the chocolate from Mutari. Their frozen hot chocolate is simply heavenly—it's incredibly rich, creamy, and full of deep chocolate flavor. The chocolate sauce is the best I’ve ever tasted; it puts Hershey’s to shame, feeling like it's from an entirely different world. I always choose the coconut whip, which is indulgent and pairs perfectly with the freshly roasted cacao nibs, adding a delightful fruity, toasty crunch and a lovely texture. Oh, and did I mention that I’m pretty sure everything is vegan? This means that those of us who are lactose intolerant can enjoy this incredible milkshake without any negative side effects! Their brownie is also out of this world—it's fudgy, deeply chocolatey, and massive. I always make sure to grab at least two of their single-source chocolate bars, which are consistently delicious and sourced from intriguing countries. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with anything here. Yes, it can be a bit pricey, but top-quality chocolate is worth it! There’s a parking lot on the left side of the building that is convenient as well.

Complex, bold, adventurous chocolate whether you get the drinks, bars or snacks. Anyone in SC with an interest in good chocolate has to try the place

Came across this awesome shop as we were walking around DT Santa Cruz. The staff member helping us was super friendly and knowledgeable about the chocolates. He offered us samples and explained how of them varied. There are many options available and all but the milk chocolate are vegan. This place definitely hits the spot when you’re craving high quality chocolates. I’ll be returning to try the chocolate flight.