Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery

Family-run Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery employs talented local and international chocolatiers and pastry chefs who create a huge range of treats for visitors to buy and sample. Items are displayed in the impressive showrooms, and you can watch these items being made through large glass windows. If you’re not sure what to buy, they offer samples of chocolate and ice cream. However, they don’t offer free samples of their truffle range. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, these are also sold at the café.

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery can be visited independently, but many travelers visit as part of a guided tour of the Yarra Valley, which includes time at various vineyards and wineries in the region.

• Admission is free.
• You can’t make a booking to eat at the café and there’s no need to, as there’s seating for around 200 people.
• For travelers with dietary restrictions: most items sold are gluten free, and travelers needing vegan, dairy-free or nut-free items are all catered to.
• There’s a “no picnics” policy here, so if you want to dine, use the on-site café.
• All chocolate produced here is sourced ethically through fair trade programs.

The easiest way to reach the square is by tram; Rua Santa Catarina is serviced by tram line 22, which stops a couple of minutes from Batalha Square. From the Ribeira, you can take the funicular train up the hill, which is a non-stop service that takes 5 minutes.

They’re open every day except Christmas Day, from mid-morning until early evening. If you’re traveling with kids, they host kids’ chocolate-making workshops on some Saturday mornings, and during school holidays.

If you’re traveling further afield in the state of Victoria, you can also visit chocolate centers elsewhere that are run by the same owners. The Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie is in the small town of Flinders on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, and the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie is conveniently located near the start of the famous Victorian road trip route.

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery opened in 2012 by Leanne and Ian Neeland, a married couple who have also opened chocolate shops on Great Ocean Road and in Mornington Peninsula. Although Yarra Valley Chocolaterie has plenty of staff, you may end up meeting one of the owners on your visit.

No, you do not need reservations to visit Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Neither the café nor the showroom take reservations. You simply need to show up. If you are short on time, you can view the café menu online ahead of time so you know what to order.

Yes, you can go to Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery on your own, though you will need a car to get there if you’re coming from Melbourne. The Chocolaterie takes about an hour to reach from Melbourne by car and is a popular stop on Yarra Valley tours.

Entry to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is free, and bookings are not required. The shop offers free samples as well as tasting sessions (for a small fee), but most people end up buying treats to eat onsite or take home. Kid-friendly chocolate-making classes are also available, for a fee.

If you like ice cream, consider visiting Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery in summer. However, the sweet shop is open daily, throughout the year, making it a great place to visit, no matter the season. They’re open on public holidays, except for Christmas Day.

Yes, visiting Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is worth it. Not only will you have the chance to try all sorts of delicious chocolate confections, but you’ll also be given the opportunity to learn about chocolate and how it’s made. You can even take a chocolate-making class.