The Chocolate Dispensary is an independent chocolate boutique in Echo Park that hosts private, guided tastings in the shop after hours or offsite at an office or another location you choose.

Over about an hour, your group tastes 10 bites of craft chocolate while the host shares the story and flavors behind each one. I spoke with co-owner Kala, who said her team will work with you to personalize the chocolate lineup around your group.

The store closes at 7PM, so in-store tastings happen after hours. Cheese, wine, and hot chocolate pairings are available as add-ons.

For smaller groups, the shop also offers public tastings during store hours. No booking is needed, and it’s an easy way to fill the hour before dinner.

If you want to get dinner before or after your tasting, Bacetti is a cute local Italian spot down the block with a very Gram-friendly dining room and chic servers.

The Chocuterie board. They also offer a chocolatey take on a charcuterie board to upgrade your next lunch-and-learn, or something unexpected to send a client team for the holidays. The Chocuterie board can be customized by the number of people and chocolate styles. The standard board comes in at $195 for 10–12 people.

Holiday client gifts. The shop also puts together curated chocolate gift packages that can be shipped directly to clients. They can add personalized notes and include your branded materials if you provide them. Worth keeping in mind if you’re looking for a locally sourced alternative to the usual corporate holiday gifts.

Details:

Added value: I live near The Chocolate Dispensary and stop in fairly often when I need a chocolate fix. They also have an in-store scavenger hunt where kids earn a free piece of chocolate for completing it. It’s unsurprisingly effective at keeping them entertained and getting their parents to buy more chocolate.