cacao — Restaurant in Boston

Niche chocolate gift shop that also serves excellent chocolate drinks.

When I first heard about Cacao, I assumed it was just another boutique chocolate shop specializing in gift boxes. But after stopping by a few months ago to pick up some gifts, I noticed it was different. Relaxing cafe vibes and more diverse offerings. Their main focus is obviously on chocolates, fruit jellies, and small dessert gift boxes, but they also serve sandwiches, pastries, and chocolate specialty drinks.

So far, I’ve tried the Fleur de Sel and Dulce de Leche drinks, and both were excellent. Neither was overly sweet, and they were smooth even when served iced. The milky note in the Dulce de Leche was barely noticeable (still enjoyable), while the Fleur de Sel had a distinct salty edge that elevated the flavor. As for their chocolates, they’re not the best I’ve had in the city, but they’re well-made, reasonably priced, and unique enough to make for thoughtful gifts. The sandwich was also solid, though the focaccia was slightly dry.

The shop itself isn’t huge, but both times I visited, seating was available. On warmer days, they have outdoor tables, so it’s a nice spot to linger. Definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for a place with relatively niche chocolate gifts or just a relaxing...

Cacao is a lovely, clean spot with a great selection of treats and hot drinks. I tried their large spicy chocolate drink, and it was fantastic—rich, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice. I’ll definitely be back for another one.

The young lady at the counter was also very nice, despite the egg issue, which made the experience pleasant.

However, I also ordered the ham and gruyere croissant sandwich, which didn’t meet my expectations. They offer an option to add an egg, and when I asked if the egg was fried, I was told no. Unfortunately, the egg was fried, and it was the only warm part of the sandwich. While the croissant was nice and fluffy, and the cheese was decent, the ham tasted a bit off to me. Combined with the cold ingredients and the fried egg, the sandwich ended up being a $10 waste.

I’ll definitely return for their drinks, but I’ll skip the sandwiches next time. Hopefully, they can improve on this, as their other offerings...

Gorgeous new cafe with delicious offerings and great service. Comfortable seating and a peaceful, quiet and clean interior, despite the bustle outside. Super-convenient location at the corner of Columbus and Mass Ave, with bus routes, the T, and Bluebikes station close by. The cafe has a nice covered overhang with plenty of outdoor seating. I don't usually get excited over coffee, but I had the best-tasting cold brew I can remember. There is a variety of locally-made pastries and chocolates, coffee and espresso drinks, teas, and drinking chocolates. They also have a loyalty punchcard (11th drink is free). Please patronize this cafe - I...