Sweet Tooth Alert: The Best Chocolate (and Candy) Shops
For a stretch of coastline best known for beaches and boutiques, Florida's Paradise Coast has quietly built an impressive lineup of chocolate shops in Naples, Florida — and a candy shop or two worth a detour. Here's where to satisfy a sweet tooth, from a nationally known chocolatier to a nostalgic candy wall.
Naples' Signature Chocolatier
No list of Naples chocolate shops starts anywhere but Norman Love Confections, the destination's most acclaimed artisan chocolate shop. Founder Norman Love trained as a corporate executive pastry chef for Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world, opening hotel pastry kitchens in Boston, Dubai and Bali. He later opened his first chocolate salon in Fort Myers in 2001 and brought the concept to Naples in 2011. That Tamiami Trail North location now doubles as a chocolate salon, gelato bar and café. His hand-crafted chocolates, shaped and painted like edible art, helped inspire the Food Network Challenge series — a reminder that this isn't just a nice box of chocolates; it's a genuine piece of the region's culinary reputation.
Small-Batch and Nostalgic Finds
For a smaller, more intimate stop, Olde Naples Chocolate on 5th Avenue North hand-crafts its chocolate caramels, toffee and truffles in a small shop that regulars return to for locally hand-delivered gift baskets. On 5th Avenue South, Kilwins Naples has been a downtown fixture since 2003, pairing more than 75 years of Kilwins' chocolate-making tradition with fresh Mackinac Island fudge and super-premium ice cream — a reliable stop whether you're headed to dinner or just wandering the avenue.
If your sweet tooth wants more than chocolate, Candy Grandy inside Coastland Center is a candy shop in Naples FL built for browsing, with a bulk candy wall stocked with more than 300 selections, nostalgic picks from the '50s through the '90s, and even candy-making classes for kids. Pair it with a stop from our guide to free things to see and do to round out a budget-friendly day.
Marco Island's Sweet Stop
On Marco Island, Dolce Mare brings an Italian sensibility to its handmade chocolates, gelato and candy, with turtles, chocolate bark, saltwater taffy and fine Italian wines and Champagne rounding out a menu built as much for an evening stroll as a gift box. It's an easy pairing with dinner along South Collier Boulevard, or with a day spent at one of the top beaches in Naples & Marco Island.
Build a Sweet Stop Into Your Visit
Whether you're chasing a nationally recognized chocolatier or just want a bag of nostalgic candy to bring home, Florida's Paradise Coast has more sweet stops than most visitors expect. Start planning your visit and explore more shopping on Florida's Paradise Coast.