If you're looking for a treat for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day, consider heading to one of the city's specialty chocolate shops.
Whether you're looking for a classic heart-shaped box or a bundle of single-origin chocolate bars, here are six places to pick up your gifts:
Aigner Chocolates, 103-02 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills
Aigner Chocolates has long been a staple of Queens, operating in Forest Hills for more than 80 years. After buying the business from the Aigner family, current owner Mark Libertini announced that he would keep the family's traditional recipes. The shop offers various heart-shaped boxes from $23.95 to $69.95 as well as a large Valentine heart pop ($5.95) for a whimsical gift.
The Sweet Life, 63 Hester St., Lower East Side
The Sweet Life, which has been around since 1982, is a quaint store that still has barrels of nuts and candy for scooping out by the pound. While they stock different brands of chocolate, they also make some in house. It’s done in small batches with imported Belgian chocolate. For a sweet surprise, try a pound of the champagne cordials which have a liquid center surrounded by decadent dark chocolate ($12.95).
Nunu Chocolates, 529 Atlantic Ave., Boreum Hill
This is the flagship location of Nunu Chocolates, which uses single-origin cocoa beans from a sustainable family farm in Colombia. If your Valentine likes their chocolate tipsy, try the Beer Box, which mixes craft beer into the ganache, or the Booze Box, which features liquors like absinthe and rye (both $15 for a box of 6). You can also visit Nunu Chocolates Park Slope location at 179 Fifth Ave.
Fine & Raw, 288 Seigel St., Bushwick
Fine & Raw, which says it's mission is "to save the world through silliness and chocolate," uses low-heat techniques to lock in the chocolate's flavor. Pick up a classic eight-piece truffle set ($28) or five-bar collection of "Brooklyn Bonnie" chocolate bars ($45).
Varsano's Chocolate, 172 W. 4th St., West Village
At Varsano's Chocolate, the chocolate is handmade with creations such as nut patties, truffles and caramels. The vanilla marshmallows are covered in dark or milk chocolate and can be purchased by the pound ($39). In addition to shipping, Varsano's has same-day delivery service for Manhattan.
Schmidt's Candy, 94-15 Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven
Schmidt’s Candy has been around since 1925. Some of the chocolatier's Valentine's specialties are an assortment box ($25) and wrapped cordial cherries ($30), which are both wrapped in a heart-shaped box. You can also build your sweetheart a bouquet of rose pops ($3).