French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe — Restaurant in Asheville

The French Broad Chocolate Factory & Cafe located on Riverside Drive is a delightful place to seek out should you be in and around the local Asheville area. I attended one of their tours this past week and learned a great deal about the complicated process of producing chocolate. The factory is unique. They manufacture chocolate from the steps needed to process raw beans to the final product you see for sale. Most of what they produce is produced with organic methods and reflects the outstanding taste of the chocolate they manufacture. The French Broad Chocolate Factory manufactures single-origin chocolate sourced from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru, India, etc. They work directly with local farmers and production methods. These are responsible for the farm-to-table product you eat.

The chocolate factory tour I took was quite educational. It lasted approximately 45 minutes and cost $12.00. The class was limited to 12 people and intermixed a classroom presentation with a walking tour of the production facility. Participants were given chocolate samples as part of the overall presentation. I found everything educational, and I came away with a greater appreciation of the multi-stage process involved in chocolate production.

After the tour concluded, we received 10% discount tickets. You could use these to purchase the chocolate products for sale in their cute factory shop. I decided to sample the hot chocolate from their cafe, the quality of which was beyond reproach. The hot chocolate I tasted was the best I ever tasted and is not something you can get at your local coffee shop. My partner sampled their ice cream and was equally satisfied with the taste. I purchased an orange rosemary dark chocolate bar with pine nuts and can say that the chocolate was of the highest quality and taste. Prices were not inexpensive, but as they say in the business world, you get what you pay.

If you are in the local area, do take the opportunity to visit the French Broad Factory production facility. I think you will come away as enlightened and...

Always An Unforgettable Experience at French Broad Chocolate Lounge!

I have been coming to this local gem each time I am in Asheville!!

Here's a snippet from my most recent visit:

From the moment I walked in, I was enveloped in warmth--not just from the rich aroma of chocolate, but from the incredible service. A special shoutout to Owen, who went above and beyond to make the experience truly memorable. Knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely passionate about chocolate, Owen added a personal touch that elevated the visit to something extraordinary.

The Hot Chocolate & Liquid Truffle? Absolute Magic. The classic hot chocolate was everything you dream of on a crisp Asheville day--velvety, chocolatey, and perfectly balanced. But the star? The liquid truffle. Decadent, intense, and absolutely divine!

Chocolates That Tell a Story I also picked up some of their handcrafted chocolates--each one bursting with flavor and artistry. It's clear that French Broad takes pride in ethical sourcing and artisanal craft, and you can taste the love in every bite.

Support Local, Taste Global French Broad isn't just a chocolate shop--it's a pillar of Asheville's vibrant local scene. They combine heart, hospitality, and high-quality craft in a way that makes every visit feel both cozy and elevated.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, don't miss this gem. Come for the hot chocolate, stay for the soul. And if you're lucky, Owen will be there to...

The highlight of the tour was the fabulous instructor! He acknowledged my 50th birthday by singing to me with his beautiful voice and had the others join in as well!!! Extremely kind and I very much appreciated it!! He was very knowledgeable on everything and I just wanted more!! He made it so so fun!

However, I felt a little cheated along with others in the tour group that we chose the wrong time to tour. We wished we selected the 2pm instead of 4 pm since all the workers were done for the day and preparing to leave. I’m still confused why there’s a 4pm tour knowing that all we’d get to see is the cleanup process from the day. The instructor acknowledged and mentioned that unfortunately we wouldn’t get to see a lot since it’s late in the day which left us all thinking darn it I should’ve chosen the 2pm tour.

I enjoyed the classroom part of the tour but didn’t get much out of the walking tour because nothing was happening. I would suggest earlier tours when the chocolate is being made and or have someone physically demonstrating each part of the process during the tour instead of just on video.

Also, the noise from the open air cafe was very distracting during the walking tour at the viewing windows of the tour .

In conclusion, I really enjoyed myself and would recommend to others just the 2 pm...