SPAGnVOLA Chocolatier

oh yum! Came here for affogato and it was one of the best!
Its hard to find good strong espresso in this neighborhood so finding Spagnvola was a pleasant surprise! Chocolates are also amazing but they are pricey… even for an Angelino.

Came in to get bonbons for Valentine’s Day. I got a medium sized box (12 pieces) of chocolates for 40 $. I was mysterious on how great these chocolate must be as I left the chocolatier.
While I was there, I sampled the ginger orange truffle, it was wonderful. Smooth and full of flavor, without giving up the chocolate and tender sweetness of a house made work of art. Each staff member behind the counter greeted me and asked if I needed any assistance. I was also impressed with their patience and care of answering my question fully.
When I presented the chocolates to my wife she was floored to see the nice presentation, colors and shapes of the bonbons. We started with the pyramid shaped white peach. OMG it was amazing, You have to try it!
The passion fruit was equally amazing. It was smooth and didn’t have the unique texture as the white peach. The flavor of the passion fruit explodes in your mouth. (We cut the chocolates in quarters and tried small bites… The small bites were full of flavor!)
The rest of the box was wonderful too!
An easy 5 star rating. If you want something unique to try and place to go, definitely check it out!

I love exploring the different spectrums of chocolate… there is so much more to it than just Belgian or Swiss. I especially love artisan chocolate. That said, I could not wait to pay a visit to Spag n Vola. I expected great things, and I really wanted to like these chocolates so much more than I did. As much as I hate to say it, Dominican chocolate just might not be for me.
I ordered a mixed box of truffles and bon bons in the following flavors: White Peach, Mango, Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Mango, Ginger, Cranberry, Lavender, Blueberry, Rose (?), and Passionfruit. The young lady behind the counter answered each and every one of my questions and she was very patient with me as I made the impossible choice of selecting 12 from the more than three dozen flavors that they had. She boxed my purchase meticulously and carefully: I was very impressed with the care that she took in doing so. I left feeling like I just purchased something very special.
The chocolates were simply gorgeous! I can’t say enough about the aesthetics. You can clearly see the time, energy and creativity put into each piece. They were individual works of art. The different colors, shapes and designs alone made them almost too pretty to eat. I had to restrain myself several times until I set just the right atmosphere (and poured a fresh glass of wine) to enjoy them. I just wish that more time had been invested in developing the flavor profiles. The chocolate lacked the smooth, rich flavor that I expected. It left a slightly bitter aftertaste, as well. What was most disappointing was that I hardly, if at all, tasted any of the fruit in most of the pieces I consumed. I ordered so many of the fruit varieties because I expected (and very much enjoy) a tart/​sweet contrast, or something similar. What I got was a chocolate shell with a chocolate filling that might, at best, have the essence of fruit flavor. It was overkill. I could’ve just as easily purchased a few of their chocolate bars if I wanted the taste of straight chocolate. The only exception was the mango bon bon. That one had a bright, tangy filling inside and was easily a standout against all of the others.
Overall, I don’t regret my experience here. However, I was disappointed that the flavors did not meet my expectations.

super cute café at the kentlands marketplace and great venue to meet with a couple of friends or have a one-​on-​one coffee/​chocolate/​tea date.
after lunch with my girlfriend, we decided to drop by here and check out their selection of chocolates, truffles, and bon bons. they had so many colors, textures, shapes, and sizes, and the bon bons, especially, were like mini works of art. white, milk, and dark chocolates were available, so there is something for everyone.
after much deliberation, i ended up choosing the rosemary olive oil and jasmine rose dark chocolate truffles. as with any other chocolate, i bit into each one very carefully so that i could taste and absorb the flavor as much as possible. the rose petal truffle was very faint, i could clearly see the rose truffles on top, but i had a hard time tasting it. the inside of the chocolate tasted like any other piece of dark chocolate. the rosemary olive oil truffle was rich and luscious, with distinct rosemary herb and olive oil flavors blended into dark chocolate. this was my first time having such a combination and i loved it. would definitely get this one again!
i look forward to visiting this chocolate shop again the next time i’m in town! hopefully i’ll get to try more flavors!

The store was beautiful. The chocolate is very good, and so is the coffee! Will come back!

This place deserves a lot of recognition! I’m a coffee addict and before this place my loyalty was to Peets and Starbucks. The place is in the kentlands and its a very small coffee shop that is so cozy that makes you want to chill in their all day. The owners are from Republica Dominicana. The manager was so nice to me and each time I visit he is there always making suggestions. It’s hard to try new things when you get stuck on one drink but I was brave and I opt to the following: dirty chai, affogato (my favorite), hot chocolate my favorite! The hot chocolate is made homemade, it’s the real deal, it’s definitely no Swiss miss or instant packet, the cappuccinos are great and they do those cool designs with the cream. The chocolates omg! Are do decadent! I was pointing and choosing everything my eyes desired then when I got to the register I was sticker shock! The prices were 2.50
A piece but it was worth it. The older lady that worked there was so nice and helpful. The chocolate bars by the register are so good yet expensive but so worth it! They do chocolate tours in their factory downstairs but only on Saturdays you have to call ahead for that! They need more coffee places like this!

This place is cute and very intimate. I love the designs they make on cappuccinos/​lattes etc. without it the coffee probably wouldn’t taste as good. The chocolates are very fancy looking and they offer a tour in the back. Got a box for a friend’s birthday. A box of six pieces was pretty steep in price. I hope they were delicious.

The best hot chocolate I’ve ever had — indescribable! And the chocolate candies, especially the truffles, are delicious. Definitely worth the drive to Gaithersburg. Tours of the chocolate making kitchen are offered and very interesting, would be a fun experience for school kids.

Quaint little shop that has an entrance in both the front and back of their store.
As I walked on Main Street looking for the address, I completely walked by it — it wasn’t until I looked for the name is when I saw the round awning (brown) with the name of the place.
As you walk in, the first thing you see is the gelato and even though you don’t have that on the brain and may not want to eat at the moment, you give into temptation and get a scoop or two like I did on my visit. I got the Crème de Mint and the French Brandy Caramel Fudge. I don’t like chocolate, but after tasting that last one at the recommendation of the employee there, I had to have it.
You get more than enough gelato in your cup, so don’t let the sizes of the cup fool you. My cup runneth over as gelato was falling over my cup in a few spots, but I was able to catch most before these drips fell on the floor or table. Yum… Yum…Yum is all I can say.
They had chocolates too, hot chocolate and some other items. I spent more time chatting with folks as I was there with a bunch of them and less time seeing what other things they offered or maybe my gelato had put me in a temporary food coma. You need to visit and get your own taste to truly understand.

Chocolate bonbon review only.
I agree with Hannah H and I wasn’t too impressed with this place.
The store is really beautiful inside, and more spacious than I thought.
When I read on Unilocal that this place was good, I immediately thought of Artisan Confections in VA and was excited to have a decent chocolate shop in MD.
However, this place is more expensive than Artisan Confections ($ 2 for bonbon on website), yet it is not as good. We ordered passion fruit, cherry, white peach, and blueberry, and their bonbons were $ 2.50 per piece and the fillings just tasted like gooey thick cream.
On top of it, we were never told that they would charge us $ 3 for bonbon box. The server girl asked me if I wanted a bag, and I asked her if she would charge me for it, and then she said no. When we walked out of the store, we realized that the bill was almost $ 20 (6 pieces of bonbons -$ 15 plus $ 3 box and tax) so we went back to ask about the bill. I think they should be more clear about the box policy.
For the same/​similar price, I would definitely choose Artisan Confections over SPAGnVOLA, or I will order from Vosges Haut Chocolate online.

SPAGnVOLA Chocolatier is located in Gaithersburg and offers a variety of handmade/​hand-​crafted chocolates, using the cacao beans from their own farm in the Dominican Republic. They offer chocolate bars as well as signature boxes for gifts, and only makes small batches of a modest collection of bourbon, rum, wine, and caramel chocolates (mostly made with the 70% cacao). I tried the following: the White Peach Bonbon (white chocolate ganache with natural white peach purée, dried fruit, and 70% dark chocolate), Strawberry Bonbon (54% dark, milk chocolate ganache, strawberry purée, and dried fruit with a 70% dark chocolate), Cherry Bonbon (54% milk chocolate ganache with cherry purée, dried fruit, and 70% dark chocolate), Pumpkin Spice Truffle (54% milk chocolate ganache with pumpkin and spices, and 70% dark chocolate), Blackberry Kiwi Truffle (62% semi-​sweet chocolate ganache with blackberry purée and kiwi, with 70% dark chocolate), and the Four Roses Bourbon Truffle (54% milk chocolate ganache infused with lavender and caramel, coated with 70% dark chocolate). Honestly, I was a little disappointed as each of these tasted pretty similar, and the flavors that it was described it being was extremely subtle and more dark chocolate in taste. I was, however, pleasantly surprised with their Sweet Ginger Plum Truffle, as this was so delicious and creamy — I liked the hint of ginger and the sweetness from the plum. Just note that any ‘box’ you get is at an extra charge — if you’re cheap, you can just request them to put it in a bag. Also, make sure you look at the chocolates behind the case closely, as some has some broken tips and edges! Besides the chocolates, they also have artisan gelato/​sorbettos and hot/​cold beverages. There is also a free weekend Truffle Factory tour in which you can learn about the manufacturing process (roasting, winnowing, pre-​grinding, and refining) and the art of making chocolate bars/​truffles/​bonbons; make sure you reserve in advance, as while walk-​ins are welcome, there may be groups/​parties that force you to come back at another time! Service was friendly, and there were some tables inside for you to enjoy your chocolate purchases.
+Sweet Ginger Plum Truffle
+some chocolates have broken tips/​edges
+gift boxes are an extra charge!
+Free Truffle Factory Tour (weekends only; reservations highly recommended!)
+limited free parking along Main St

I finally had the opportunity to take the factory tour a couple of months ago. It was a nice experience. The tour itself is quick, but the guide is able to provide lots of useful information during that time regarding cacao planting, harvesting and processing and regarding the making of chocolate itself and the crafting of confectionary. You also get to try some delicious 75% and 80% pure cocoa mix.
Reservations for the tour can be made through their website at:
This is a great place! Stop by! =D

This the best chocolate I have ever put in my mouth. The owners are the sweetest people. OMG. that is all.

SnV seems unique. Recommended by a local friend who is «in the know», we checked the place out and really enjoyed everything that we tried. We even came back the next day for the «factory tour». Granted, this is a tiny chocolatier, with a tiny production operation under the storefront, but we felt very welcomed and a part of what they’re doing.
As a single-​source chocolate maker, they have a feeling of authentic craftsmanship and skillful knowledge. SnV is good people, doing good things with good chocolate.

This place is always a treat. I found them several years ago when they first opened giving samples at a book fair. We’ve been loyal ever since.
The tours are s great learning experience.
The shop is pricey. But as another commenter said, it’s worth it.

This place is great.
The chocolate is amazing! The product is high quality and the prices are fair. We have done the free tour a few times and our kids just love it. The staff is always friendly and amazingly patient.
I do wish they would make a change with the gelato… it is purchased from a supplier and is not the same high-​quality as their other products. We just stay clear…

Really love this place. Went here because Gazebo café closed early and had 3 hours to kill before I saw the Sherlock Holmes play at Arts and Barn theatre. I got 4 of their macaroons: Pistachio, Strawberry, dulche de leche, and the pumpkin as well as one of their Honey Truffles.
The pistachio and the strawberry were the best ones. The fillings in each of them were so tasty without it being too rich and I wanted more! I also really could taste the Dominican honey in the truffle. It was actually pretry good and wished I had tried more of their chocolates but really wasn’t craving chocolate that day.
The girl who helped me was super friendly and accommodated all my needs and answered all my inquiries. She was also very informative and told me about their tours and chocolate making classes they have. I was super interested in it. Next time whenever I get the chance to go to Gaithersburg, I’m definitely coming back here for the classes and tours and most importantly to try more of their beautifully molded and delectable looking chocolates.

The aroma from the outside: chocolate!!!
Peering in the window: gelato! Chocolate! Tours on Saturday and Sunday 2−6pm!
Walking in: the smells and soooo many choices!
As I walked in the gelato counter is right there. I tried some and had to have it! You can mix two flavors so choose carefully! Creamy goodness! They let you sample before you choose so you can choose wisely…
Next is the bon bons and truffles. They do have seasonal ones such as pumpkin spiced… and other odd flavors. Just try it! You will probably be pleasantly surprised! I was. Take a risk…
Then there’s a nice little seating area to wait for your tour to start… the tour is informative and fun!!! The passion with which chocolate is talked about and cared for… wow!
What a way to spend an afternoon!

It’s amazing how a little 15 minute tour can be so eye opening. Until I came here, I did not know how to properly appreciate a tiny piece of chocolate nor did I understand how much passion could exist behind the heart of chocolate-​making.
I could repeat what our tour guide Justin told me, but rather, I encourage everyone to go on a chocolate tour and experience the eye opening experience yourself. Nothing I say could compare to how passionate Justin was about the fine art of chocolate. You have to hear it for yourself!
The tours seem to run Saturdays and Sundays from 2PM-​6PM. Go in, sign up, and as you wait for the tour to start, grab some gelato or some truffles/​bonbon or all of the above! You’re going to have to wear hair caps, so keep that in mind.
I’m very thankful to this place for teaching me what I otherwise would have never bothered to learn myself. Also, for doing what they do – for creating an unspoken beauty with each and every piece of their chocolate!

Bonbons or Truffles? So many different pieces of yummy chocolate, so difficult to choose. Every piece of chocolate at SPAGnVOLA is beautifully crafted and there are so many unique flavors. Don’t they look like pretty gems? I usually go for the bonbons. When you bite into it, the smooth creamy ganache filling oozes out. I love it! Try the pistachio, passion of the sea, and Dominican rum! Everything is awesome!
In addition to chocolates, they have outstanding gelato. Not made in-​house, though. The Pistachio Nut is exquisite! It’s the best! It’s got a good amount of pistachio in it. It gives Talenti brand’s Sicilian Pistachio a run for its money!
The Banana Caramel Praline is good too, but really sweet. It seemed a little on the melted side though. They also have refreshing flavors like Mango and Coconut.
SPAGnVOLA has a cute, cozy set-​up. Plenty of chairs for you to chill out while you enjoy your chocolate or gelato. The price for each piece of chocolate is pretty pricey, but totally worth it for their quality ingredients. They import their cacao beans from the Dominican Republic. Plus, they are all made in their factory downstairs! Free tour of their chocolate factory on Sundays from 2−6pm!