Description and review of Café Xocolatl, a chocolate shop and vegan café located on 10th Street across from Roosevelt Park in Downtown Sacramento.
After a weekday lunch nearby, two friends and I stopped by Café Xocolatl. The chocolate shop and café held their Grand Opening on March 26.
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The Venue
The exterior of the row of businesses on the block between P and Q Streets is one continuous colorful mural. The space that Café Xocolatl occupies was previously home to a long-time bagel shop.
The front window signage names Café Xocolatl a “Chocolate, Tea & Elixir Communal Café”. The small café area inside the shop is augmented by additional seating outside on the sidewalk, including a long bar height table facing Roosevelt Park.
As an aside – Unsure how to pronounce “Xocolatl”? The ‘x’ is pronounced like an English ‘sh’ and the accent is on the middle ‘o’ – sho-co-lottel.
Café Xocolatl
Café Xocolatl is owned by Ariel Wolansky. Wolansky also owns Nevada City’s Choquiero Cacao Café. Wolansky is a chocolatier, and he stocks his own Choquiero label in addition to a wide variety of other labels from all around the world.
Of note, per Wolansky, 100% of the items stocked are fair trade, environmentally grown and ethically sourced.
The walls of the small shop are lined with shelves filled with a wide variety of treats including chocolate bars, truffles and drinking chocolates. The majority of chocolate offerings are vegan.
The neatly organized shelves are organized by brand name. As one friend and I were trying to decide on our selections, she commented that it would be helpful if the goods were grouped by country of origin. Her husband had requested that she purchase Mexican chocolate for him.
Afterwards, when I looked more closely at my purchases, I determined that grouping by country of origin likely would not be feasible. For example, the Equal Exchange (brand) 71% organic “very dark” chocolate bar I purchased was made with organic cacao from the Dominican Republic and Peru, organic sugar from Paraguay and Cost Rica, organic vanilla from Madagascar, and produced in Switzerland for the Equal Exchange Co-Op in W. Bridgewater, Massachusetts!
Food Menu
After we made our purchases, I had an opportunity to look over the café menu. In addition to chocolate drinks, beverages include coffee and iced tea.
The vegan menu is compact. Menu items offered include: avocado toast, bagel scramble, empanadas (corn, mushroom), waffles, green salad, spring rolls and cheesecake.
To Sum Up
To sum up, you get what you pay for. The chocolate is both high quality and pricey. No doubt true chocoholic’s will not quibble with the price. As for me, I took note of several items that I thought would make nice gifts.
Comments on Café Xocolatl?
What has been your experience at Café Xocolatl? Have you sampled their chocolate and/or food menu?
Café Xocolatl Snapshot:
- 1607 10th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- (916) 52-2146
- Days/Hours: Monday – Thursday (7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); Friday (7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.); Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.); Sunday (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Small outdoor patio area
- Street Parking (metered)
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