The phrase “Berlin’s best hot chocolate” had us hopping on the metro and in search of the world’s largest chocolate store. Fassbender & Rausch is Berlin’s oldest chocolate shop; Heinrich Fassbender first opened a chocolate store in 1863. Wilhelm Rausch followed, opening his own very successful shop in 1918, and in 1999 these two master chocolatier families came together to form Fassbender & Rausch Chocolatiers at the Gendarmenmarkt.
Still a family business with Jürgen Rausch at the helm of the flagship store, the two story chocolate shop and cafe overlooks the Gendarmenmarkt. Regarded as fine enough to supply the royal court, the cafe was the perfect spot for Tim and I to escape the cold and snow for a bit (and have a little birthday dessert)!
Visitors tend to be lured into the ground floor shop and miss the second floor cafe and chocolate restaurant. We hopped in the elevator and headed straight upstairs to the cafe to indulge our sweet tooth. The menu boasts no less than 10 kinds of hot chocolate, some like hot chocolate with chili or orange essence. Tim chose a whole milk hot chocolate with espresso, amaretto, and cream.
While Tim read over the almost poetic menu, deliciously describing the hot chocolate and cakes, the 16 types of cakes at the counter caught my eye. I picked out a little pink striped chocolate cake topped with a cherry. While the drinking chocolate with Maraschino liquor, Cointreau, and cream sounded absolutely delicious, I thought all that chocolate might be a bit much. Always a fan of loose leaf teas, I chose a pot of Roobios Hot Chocolate Tea with my cake.
Our cakes were practically art: cherry with yogurt and an almond mouse wrapped in cherry chocolate for me and tiramisu wrapped in dark chocolate and topped with grated dark chocolate for Tim. Chocolate heaven on a little plate!
Tummies full of chocolately goodness, we checked out the ground floor chocolate shop. It was like entering Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Room! A chocolate volcano erupted little spurts of molten chocolate and all of Berlin’s landmarks were there in chocolate: the Brandenburg Gate, the TV Tower, and the Reichstag. An A380 airplane soared above and an intricate Fabergé egg stood amongst a field of chocolate rabbits.
There’s plenty more of not-just-eye-candy with rows of truffles and pralines lining the shelves. Europe’s longest truffle counter is enticing and we couldn’t help but notice the Rausch Plantagen Chocolate map on the wall. In production since 2000, individual plantations in exotic locations like Trinidad, Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea are engaged in ecologically sound cocoa production and maintain the standard of quality outlined in the Rausch cacao manual. We bought a sampler box from the plantations around the world (Madagascar was my favorite!).
We found the chocolates to be reasonably priced and they make a great gift! The shop also sells the delicious loose leaf Roobios hot chocolate tea in 100 gram bags and I’m happy enjoying a pot as I write this post.
Know Before You Go
- The Fassbender & Rausch Chocolate Cafe is open Monday – Sunday from 11am – 8pm; the Chocolate Shop is open Monday – Saturday from 10am – 8pm and Sundays 11am – 8pm
- Fassbender & Rausch is located at Charlottenstraße 60; U-Bahn: Stadtmitte
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Brett Domue says
I still remember walking by Fassbender & Rausch late at night on my first visit to Berlin and being so totally blown away by some of the large creations in the windows. But on my two subsequent trips, I still haven’t been inside! Blew it last week!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You must go on your next trip, Brett! The chocolate was really delicious and we were surprised at how inexpensive it was for such high quality chocolate.
Theresa Osullivan says
Very true Jennifer. I was there last week and in my 6 days in Berlin I visited the store three times. Just could not resist their chocolate. Brought back enough with me to last a while lol
Cathy Sweeney says
That chocolate A380 is too cool! Can’t believe I still haven’t been to this place. It wasn’t open when I strolled by there on one trip, and last week, I just ran out of time. Mouth-watering pics, Jennifer.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Too bad it wasn’t open, Cathy! It’s like a delectable chocolate museum in there and the prices were so good for such quality chocolate.
Jenny says
I’ve just added this to my list of places to visit when we spend some time in Berlin in May. My chocaholic husband is going to love it!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
He will love it, Jenny! So delicious and so reasonably priced too. Mmm…now I am craving some of the Madagascar chocolate.
Andrea says
Almost too beautiful to eat!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Almost…but as soon as I plunged my fork into the chocolate, it was a delicious chocolate party happening in my mouth. Yum!
Turtle says
Looks and sounds (and I imagine tastes) incredible. That Brandenburg Gate is amazing. But I’m with Cathy – as a travel geek, the plane is my favourite. I wonder if first class tastes better.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s too funny, Turtle! The detail of the chocolate creations is just amazing. And we loved the plane too. 🙂
Leigh says
What a find – and something for me to bookmark for a trip to Berlin which will happen one day soon. I can’t get over how many flavours of hot chocolate offered – holy caffeine overload!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
It was a great find thanks to talking with the locals. And we were surprised at how many tourists would be lured into the ground floor shop by the big chocolate displays in the windows, but didn’t even realize there was the chocolate cafe and restaurant upstairs. Definitely visit when you go to Berlin!
Ali says
OMG this looks amazing! I loved the chocolate place we went to in Brussels last summer, so this is definitely on my list for Berlin now. Yum!
Miss Chen says
Hi. Just wonder if your chocolates are suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians (meaning can consume eggs and milk products)?
Thank you.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
You would need to contact Fassbender & Rausch directly. We’re not vegetarian so this is not something we researched.
Dudung Suwito says
Loved the chocolate so much. Was introduced by our friend who had been in Berlin for 14 years. Definitely the best chocolate you could find with such affordable price. Will visit Berlin again for sure.