François Chocolate Bar at Mauboussin in NYC

If you live in the NYC metro area or will be visiting for the holiday season, and love chocolate, let me share with you a sweet spot I recently learned about: François Chocolate Bar. Famed pastry chef and chocolatier François Payard has teamed up with Parisian jeweler Mauboussin to open the François Chocolate Bar on the fourth floor of Mauboussin's Madison Avenue flagship boutique. Described by Payard as "a chocolate jewelry shop," the Chocolate Bar is entirely devoted to chocolate and features signature pastries from Payard as well as a new line of verrines, macaroons, and the "François Quatre Quarts" (pound cakes), along with hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and cappuccino. All the chocolate items are reasonably priced -- from $2.00 for the macaroons to $6.50 for the verrines. The Chocolate Bar also offers signature gifts.

The Chocolate Bar is running a special holiday promotion. Until December 24, customers who spend $100 or more at the store (or a bit more if ordering online) will receive a complimentary Payard signature Voyager Bag and a 15% discount at Mauboussin. One idea for how to ring up $100 is a gift basket. The Chocolate Bar's baskets range from $100 to $200, or you can customize one starting at $15. See the gallery for photos of the Chocolate Bar as well as four gift basket options.

François Chocolate Bar
714 Madison Ave. (between East 63rd and 64th Streets)
Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
212-759-1600

There are 11 tables of two and three seats at the bar. Save me a spot!