Posted in South Carolina Dining February 11, 2021 by

This Road Trip Takes You To The Best Chocolate Shops In South Carolina

South Carolina is home to more than one chocolatier and that’s great news for chocolate lovers both far and near. Today we’re channeling our inner Willy Wonka and taking you on a tour de force of the most scrumdiddlyumptious chocolatiers in the entire state! This road trip takes you to the very best chocolate shops in South Carolina, and it’s easily the sweetest adventure you’ll ever take. Let’s go!

Google Maps
You can start at any point, of course, but we move from the top of the state down, landing in a treasure trove of chocolate shops on Hilton Head Island! Here's a link to the above Google Map. Let's get started!
1. ChocolatBoutique - Fort Mill
ChocolatBoutique/Facebook
ChocolatBoutique/Facebook
Forget designer clothing boutiques, chocolate boutiques are where it's at. This adorable little shop is a chocolate lover's dream: homemade truffles, chocolates, European chocolates, and pretty much any chocolate-dipped confection you can come up with. You'll want to get multiple boxes. ChocolatBoutique is located at 1012 Market Street, Fort Mill, SC, 29708.
2. Vaughn Russell Candy Kitchen - Greenviille
Google Maps Street View
Vaughn Russell Candy Kitchen/Google Local
Never tried a Mint Pecan from Vaughn Russell? It's maybe not the most traditional combination, but it totally works -- trust us. This specialty chocolatier has been creating homemade confections in South Carolina for more than 60 years; one taste, and you'll understand why. Vaughn Russel Candy is located at 401 Augusta Road, Greenville, SC, 29601.
3. The Peanut Man Candy & Nuts - Columbia
The Peanut Man Candy & Nuts website
The Peanut Man Candy & Nuts/Facebook
If you're looking for the full Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory experience, this is it. The Peanut Man offers all sorts of sweet and chocolaty treats: chocolate clusters, chocolate-covered pretzels, and chocolate-dipped strawberries are just a few. You'll find the very best road trip snacks sure to keep your passengers very happy! Find The Peanut Man at 3905 Fernandina Road, Columbia, SC, 29210.
4. Kilwins - Charleston
Kilwins website
Kilwins Charleston/Facebook
It's hard to resist the sweet treats found at Kilwins. From chocolate-covered apples and strawberries (that totally counts as health food, by the way) to their delicious homemade fudge (created in-store for all to see), Kilwins is a South Carolina institution. Find them in Charleston at 59 S. Market Street, Charleston, SC, 29401.
5. The Chocolate Tree - Beaufort
Maureen Kilcoyne/Google Local
drcathylbagleydotcom/TripAdvisor
If you've ventured to Beaufort anytime in the last few decades and haven't made it to The Chocolate Tree, then you've been missing out - big. All of their sweet chocolate confections are made on site, and they also carry the perfect gift to pair with a box of chocolates: beautiful trays and platters upon which to serve these splendid works of edible art! The Chocolate Tree is located at 507 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902.
6. Chocolates by the Sea - Hilton Head
Mayestj/TripAdvisor
Chocolates By The Sea website
Visitors and locals alike flock to this old-school chocolate shop in Hilton Head for the finest hand-dipped chocolates, signature barks, and specialty items on the island. Their whimsically shaped chocolates (think flip flops, sea shells, and star fish) also make great gifts! Chocolates by the Sea is located at 24 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928.
7. The Chocolate Canopy - Hilton Head
The Chocolate Canopy/Facebook
The Chocolate Canopy/Facebook
We end our tour de chocolate with a charming little candy shop in Hilton Head. The Chocolate Canopy has been the island's local chocolate company since 1982, molding up the most delicious dark (and milk) chocolate 'gators that are almost too cute to eat! If you're on vacation, skip the silly souvenirs and go for delicious, locally made chocolate that's a fun reminder of your visit. The Chocolate Canopy is located at 55 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928.

So what do you think: is this not the sweetest road trip ever? Do you agree with our picks for the best chocolate shops in South Carolina? What are you most excited to try? And if you’re Team Dessert First, you’ll be right at home at The Cottage Cafe, a charming little restaurant in South Carolina that’s got some of the most incredible sweet treats around!

Address: 1012 Market St #6537, Fort Mill, SC 29708, USA
Address: 401 Augusta Rd, Greenville, SC 29601, USA
Address: 3905 Fernandina Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Address: 59 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Address: 507 Carteret St, Beaufort, SC 29902, USA
Address: 24 Palmetto Bay Rd # D2, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
Address: 55 New Orleans Rd #101, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Chocolate Shops In South Carolina

February 16, 2021
Sarah

Does South Carolina have any old-fashioned candy shops?

If our road trip to the best chocolate shops in South Carolina gave you an insatiable sweet tooth, then you absolutely must visit Candy Kitchen in Charleston. Located in the city’s historic Market Street, Candy Kitchen is like taking your taste buds on a walk down a nostalgic candy-filled lane. It’s a large, old-fashioned candy shop filled with shelf upon shelf of candy. This includes the Great Wall-O-Candy, a bulk choose-your-own system where you can package exactly what you want in a mix-and-match style. If Willy Wonka were to design a candy store, this would be it.

What dessert is South Carolina known for?

That would be coconut cake, which is said to have debuted at the Charleston-based restaurant Peninsula Grill in 1997. Legend has it, guests who scored a table on Peninsula Grill’s second-ever night of service (which just so happened to be Valentine’s Day) witnessed history in the making during the dessert course: a towering, 12-layer coconut cake that, well, took the cake. The rest, as they say, is history: this item has appeared on Peninsula Grill’s menu ever since. This restaurant is one of our absolute favorites, by the way. The award-winning food at Peninsula Grill is only a part of the unforgettable meal you’ll have at this long-running restaurant in The Holy City. Weather permitting, ask to be seated in the enchanting outdoor garden and enjoy the twinkling lights and hand-lit candles in the glow of a Charleston evening.

What are some other fun foodie road trips in South Carolina?

We suggest taking a road trip to any of these country diners in South Carolina; they’re all a little out of the way, but totally worth the drive. Highlights include Johnson Creek Tavern, where you’ll find one of the best low country boils in the state; Harry and Harry Too, which is as much about the ambiance as it  is about the food (the fresh-cut french fries are killer, though); and Seewee, where the fried seafood dishes are legendary.

Address: 1012 Market St #6537, Fort Mill, SC 29708, USA
Address: 401 Augusta Rd, Greenville, SC 29601, USA
Address: 3905 Fernandina Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Address: 59 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Address: 507 Carteret St, Beaufort, SC 29902, USA
Address: 24 Palmetto Bay Rd # D2, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
Address: 55 New Orleans Rd #101, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA