Fran’s Chocolates

Wonderful chocolates. Nice staff. Great packaging. I believe it is overpriced. I went in and bought 6 boxes of chocolates for 130.00 plus one chocolate for my daughter. When I was leaving I decided to add 1 chocolate so I could eat it myself. The boxes were for gifts. I was surprise that the staff did not just give me the one chocolate after spending over 130.00. I think I will find a new store for premium chocolates. The funny thing is Fran’s sometimes gives out free chocolates and I spent what I thought was a lot. Do many people spend 130.00 on chocolates?

What a fancy chocolate shop. A little too fancy for my taste but when it Seattle, why not! I read that they were known for their Gray Salt Caramels so I bought that. Probably the best but also most expensive pieces of caramel I have ever bought! It’s worth it if you’re really a salted caramel person but be ready to cough up a few dollars just for one piece.

After watching a segment featuring Fran’s Chocolates on tv, I ordered over $ 100 of chocolates. I admire how natural ingredients are used and how carefully the chocolate was packaged. It also arrived quickly. The only reason why I am giving 3 stars is because I do not care for the smoked taste of the caramels that others rave about. In addition, I feel there is a little too much sea salt on such a small piece of chocolate. The macadamia nut chocolate — a hit. The coconut bars are delightful and well worth its cost because each bar is huge.
Knowing that samples are given in the store, on the order form I wrote that we would love to try samples, but none were enclosed (not even 1). As a business owner, I welcome the interest and gladly give customers samples of my product.
I would definitely recommend you to try them.

The salted caramels alone are worth the trip. Very fast and approachable service even on a busy day close to Valentine’s Day. Will definitely be back for more.

Used to be my favorite chocolate store. Well, I’ll no longer buy any of their chocolates. Too bad I cannot enter their store with my dog on a leash to spend $ 50 on a box of candy. This is not how the customer service supposed to be in the city of dog lovers.

The salted caramels were amazing!

This place is amazing! they always offer little sample of chocolate when you walk in the store. Their hot chocolate is one of the best that I’ve ever had, smooth, thick and rich

Good chocolate.
Came here and thought the chocolate originated from France. Apparently no! It just happened that the owner’s last name is named Fran. Ok a bit embarrassing. This is Seattle local chocolate.
If you are a tourist this is a must get back home. The chocolate is a bit pricy compared to its competitor brand. But not too sweet and has really good chocolate taste. Will come back for more

A Seattle classic for lovers of confections. Classic European style drinking chocolate, thick, decadent and sweet.

Michelle Obama’s favorite is the smoked salt caramels.
It’s if good enough for the first lady, it’s good enough for me! It’s on the high end for chocolates, so I wouldn’t go here unless it’s for an occasion or gift-​buying. They do have samples but generally they go quickly — it’s not like See’s where the sampling is endless — if I’m going into Fran’s and trying to sample a lot, I better end up buying something.
Delicious and very high quality, you can tell that they know their craft. They have a very distinctive aesthetic, clean and modern-​looking. You can probably think of someone you know whose style would jive well with Fran’s. Give them some Fran’s as a gift, they’ll love it!

What a treat! Literally!
I’ve been a longtime fan of Fran’s but I’m ashamed to admit that I usually end up buying their confections at local market check-​out lanes or the airport. One pack for me, one pack for a friend.
I’ve been in the U-​Village shop before but realized I’d never shared my experiences with anyone on Unilocal about it. Basically it’s like what everyone else says. Clean, cute, and tempting!
The staff are super kind and great at suggesting pieces for friends and family. You can by confections by the single piece, pre-​batch sets, or you can create a box of your own.
If you’re there more than a few seconds or so you might get lucky and get offered a free sample. Be nice though! This is really a sweet gesture but it’s sweet of the customer to also make a purchase.
They had a great scotch bon bon that I bought, along with a chocolate covered apricot. Very happy with my treats!

A very nice little store that presents a strange air of reverence for its products… I admire and enjoy those products so I can’t complain too much but it is more like being in a jewelry store rather than a chocolate store. Everything seems precious and under glass.
Their confections are absolutely, spectacularly delicious and the people who work here are friendly and helpful. I was offered a sample of a salted caramel, which I accepted very happily.
It is expensive… this is most certainly a luxury. But if nothing else, the expense reminds you to savor these chocolates and enjoy on special occasions or «in the moment,» rather than to wolf them down idly the way you might something cheaper.

When I walked in, a man dressed in black with a tray comes up to me and says «salted caramel chocolate?» and I immediately thought «Ok this place is way too fancy for me». So fair warning, if you’re intimidated by that interaction, I wouldn’t recommend you come here.
That being said, this place has AMAZING chocolate. That salted caramel chocolate was amazing, and their drinking chocolate is heaven. This place is a splurge, but it’s great if you’re really into good chocolates. They even offer port to go with the chocolate if you’re into the whole drink pairing thing.

OK so initially I visited Frans chocolates because that’s my boyfriends name and I was also told that they had the best hot chocolate.
I’m not a big hot chocolate fan or a chocolate person really but I went in anyway.
I’m definitely happy that I did because the hot chocolate that I had was truly the best hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was rich but not overpowering– if that makes any sense– it had the tiniest bubbles in it and heated to perfection. They give you a complementary chocolate filled caramel with sea salt on top, not a caramel fan, so I just ate the sea salt and the chocolate on the outside which was pretty delicious.
This location had a few chairs and tables were you can sit and relax and enjoy your hot chocolate. It seems that Fran’s chocolates is a very popular chocolatier in Seattle as they are everywhere.

This review will be short & sweet like the Chocolate Figs.
Came by to buy some chocolates and also try out the Chocolate Fig I saw on tv. WoW! If you like figs, you should check this out. It was pretty darn good, not overly sweet, decadent, chocolatey but still able to taste the fig. The center is also filled with chocolate as well so you’ll get a nice chocolatey surprise!
Great place to buy some nice chocolates, they will give you samples to reel you in, but its worth it to buy something. Staff was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and will help you find a gift that you are looking for.

Oh yes! I LOVE this store. Last time I went there after dinner and had a hot chocolate, one piece of ginger covered with chocolate, and one salted caramel chocolate. I love the service, all the information they give you about their chocolates and the shopping bags are so cute. Delicious chocolate! I can’t wait to visit again!

Fran’s is to chocolate what Ferrari is to cars! If you are a lover of dark chocolate you can’t miss here. Creative and gorgeous confections rule but… be prepared to pay for this deliciousness.
I have been going to Fran’s since Fran herself waited on you at her store in Madison valley. The one complaint I have is that over the course of time there has been a slight degradation in the quality of her chocolate, a bit of «waxiness» has crept in.
The store in University Village is beautiful and the staff treat the wares reverently but we, the consumers, are paying for the upgrades. Of course chocolate is not something one needs to sustain life so, I guess if the price was truly too high there wouldn’t be enough buyers to pay the rent so, what do I know!

I’ve been a fan of Fran’s chocolates for many years. Now living nearby one of its boutiques is fantastic because I get to try seasonal offerings. Fran’s is known for salted caramels but they have truffles, marzipan, and my favorites this season: single malt whiskey truffle and their refined take on the cordial cherry.
Customer service: 5 stars.
Quality of product: 5 stars.

This is irrelevant but I totally thought I reviewed this place when I saw that Denise L. had already reviewed it. What are the odds that the last reviewer has the same name as me?! Anyways, mindblown moment over.
NOW TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF. I love Fran’s! I am not a chocolate fan; 80% of the time, I don’t care for chocolate. Fran’s is an exception. Though pricier than other chocolates, the quality is noticeably better. This is the only place where I’ll eat something sweet & salty at the same time (grey salted caramel). Everything is so smooth and not overly sweet. I don’t know if anyone else notices this, but the way the chocolate handlers oh so delicately put the chocolates in the boxes… I feel like I’m buying diamonds. They’re so gentle with it; I feel like just organizing the chocolates in a box is an art.
The store is spotless. I appreciate a clean, organized store!

Heard a lot about Fran’s chocolates, and was so excited to finally try! Their grey salt caramels are tiny and $ 2, but they are the most perfect bites of sweet and salty! I also got a box of grey salt thins, and savoring each bite!
The chocolates are a little pricey, but so worth it!

Ended up at this boutique chocolate shop because my sister and I saw an episode of Seattle sweets on Unique Eats haha.
When you walk in you can tell you’re walking into a posh chocolate shop. It’s very clean and minimal. Lots of wood detail. totally appreciate the simplicity of it all. My sister and I were greeted by one of the workers with samples of chocolate. We nibbled on Fran’s coconut cream enrobed in chocolate. DELICIOUS.
We leisurely walked around the store looking at the displays of chocolate goodness. Then we moved onto the good stuff. The chocolate case. We settled on the smoked salt and grey salt caramels, tax de noix (macadamia nut and caramel covered in chocolate), and a pistachio marzipan roll. I also grabbed a bottle of rosé wine after the guy who helped us said it tastes like strawberries. that alone sold me.
If you want some yummy chocolate this is definitely a place to check out. They have 2 other locations. One in Seattle by Pike Place and one in Bellevue. Be forewarned. it’s not cheap. It’s about $ 2-​$ 4 per piece of chocolate depending on what you get.

I do like how chocolatiers try to set an ambiance in their stores. With See’s, you go in, the store’s brightly lit, and these women dressed like Mama Celeste in white starched uniforms and aprons greet you warmly by practically stuffing a candy in you mouth, when you open your mouth to ask a question.
With Fran’s, you’ve got the employees dressed in black, walking quietly and talking in subdued voices, acting like valets of an exclusive hotel, or caretakers of an expensive rehab center for chocoholics. Instead of chocolates CHOCOLATES ***CHOCOLATES*** displayed everywhere in shiny bright boxes wrapped with foil and sparkly things, or chocolates in the shapes of rodents and runny eggs, Fran’s has only a few boxes strategically displayed and a small glass with individual chocolates. Nothing gimmicky here — just straight chocolate that’s 200 times more expensive than it (or you) weighs… even if you weigh yourself after eating a box of Fran’s chocolates.
I’ve been here on several occasions buying boxes of chocolates as gifts, and while I wasn’t overwhelmed with the samples they gave me — a piece of chocolate so small it got lost in the gap between my teeth (I believe they give you half of the actual candy, which is the size of your thumb) — friends rave about the chocolates, so I keep coming back to buy more. This location also has a little café filled with similar subdued patrons.
For all the chocolate and caffeine ingested here, I’m amazed how Fran’s can maintain its sober façade. Personally, I like my chocolate vendors to be much more effusive and open — someone who greets me with a sexy lambada, while rubbing melted «chocolate of the day» all over my body, then charging me as much as a high-​class escort does for the experience.

Though I don’t splurge on it very often, myself, it’s my go-​to when I need a quick gift that says, «I was thinking of you.» From the chocolates, to the boxes, and the gift bags with tissue paper, this place is perfect to find that extra special chocolate gift for anyone (SO, boss, relatives, friends, etc.).
You can pick from pre-​selected/​assorted chocolate boxes or select individual pieces. The store is small and inviting and the service has always been great too; the employees are eager to help if you need it, but will stand back and give you space if you don’t.
Definitely stop in if you’re stumped for gift ideas.