Leonidas

Pasadena, United States

4

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 626-577-7121
Website:
www.leonidaschocolatecafe.com
Address:
49 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91105
Pasadena
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miMemorial Park
0.3 miDel Mar
0.6 miFoothill Transit 187
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Bussiness info

Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Valet, Garage, Street
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Pasadena) 6:31 PM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Leonidas Chocolate has produced some of the world’s finest chocolates since 1913. We have over 70 varieties including dark, milk, and white chocolates filled with everything from hazelnuts to caramel to butter cream. We are famous for our Gianduja and locally for our Chocolate covered Orange Peels. All are imported from Belgium!

We are proud to announce that we now carry Peet’s Coffee and Tea in our stores. We serve lattes, cappucinos, espressos using Peet’s espresso beans, and we carry 6 types of Tea (Lemon Rose, Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Decaf English Breakfast, Peppermint, and Jasmine Green). We also make Chai Lattes and Tropical Iced Tea.

Our famous drink, though, is our Hot Chocolate and our Mochas. It is really unique how we make them: We Melt down chocolate chips and add steaming hot milk. It is very special and you should try all the varieties including the Mexican, Raspberry, and Orange. The Mochas here are essientially hot chocolate with espresso added.

History

Established in 1913.

Leonidas was founded in Belgium in 1913 by Leonidas Kestikedes, for whom we are named. In the last 100 years we have grown to have over 1500 stores in 53 countries, all the while keeping production in Brussels.

We never freeze our chocolate and have always used only 100% cocoa butter. We are still making some of the same recipes that the founder began with so many years ago. We strive each day to live up to our motto of Freshness, Generosity, and Tradition.

All of the ingredients in our chocolates come from the finest locations in the world including hazelnuts from Turkey, almonds from Italy, and Walnuts from Grenoble.

The Pasadena and Santa Monica locations (both opened in 2004) are the first Leonidas worldwide to incorporate the Chocolates and Café model, and have been instrumental in the development of the hot chocolate and mocha recipes being used internationally. We also proudly continue the tradition of giving a small square of chocolate with every drink ordered.

Meet the Manager

Ron H.

Manager

Ron has been running the Pasadena and Santa Monica locations since May 2007. He has been in the chocolate business in general since 2003.

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20 reviews of Leonidas

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Place rating: 4
Arcadia, CA
The hot chocolate was very good! GF had raspberry hot chocolates and it was good also! Chocolates were yummy too! If your ever in the neighborhood, you should check it out. =)
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Absolutely delicious. It’s probably the best chocolate I’ve ever had. I first discovered Leonidas in Europe and was so happy when they opened a location in Pasadena and Santa Monica.
The chocolates are pricey but I think you get what you pay for. I’m just glad I’m not a chocoholic junkie. Otherwise, I would never be able to afford my habit.
They have pre-​packaged boxes or you can have them assemble customized ones. These make excellent gifts for the connoisseur on your list/​One time, I even had them make a box with only sugar-​free chocolates for a friend who watches her blood sugar. I tell you it was a big hit!
Place rating: 5
Lakewood, CA
I totally forgot to post this the other day,
So here it is: The Leonidas of Pasadena is C L O S E D (!??)
and if you have been there recently consider yourselves lucky!
Place rating: 3
Ontario, CA
The truffles here are good but not special to the point that makes me come back often.
The sales lady looked tired but she helped explain to us about the different varieties.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
MEXICAN COCOA!!!
One of the best hot drinks I’ve ever tasted! Rich and flavorful, with a bit of zesty zing! My bf was smart enough to get that one but I got the regular Leonidas hot chocolate instead. Mine was pretty good… but tasted a little too watered down. Definitely not as good as the Mexican Cocoa. Next time I’m going to get that one for sure! It’s perfect to get one to-​go on a cold evening and walk around Old Town sipping on it.
They also sell lots of different kinds of chocolates here but I have yet to try one. Supposedly sometimes they give you a free sample with your drink but I didn’t get one. :(
Place rating: 4
Arcadia, CA
I used to visit Old Town a lot. and I can’t believe I’ve never stopped by this place. Finally stopped in Tuesday night and it wasn’t too busy.
While the exchange was brief, I had a pleasant experience with the cashier. Guess I was almost expecting the worst seeing the other reviews about their service.
Picked out a couple chocolates to try. Mostly anything with hazelnut. mmmmmm the chocolates were very yummy! I also ordered a White Mocha Frio (cause who doesn’t like a cold blended drink on a cold night.?). It came out quickly, even with 3 other people in front of me it felt like no wait at all. Drink was alright, not too sweet but I didn’t feel like I was drinking a mocha flavor.
I’ll be back here to try the hot chocolates and more of the chocolates themselves, definitely worth walking on over if you’re already in the area :)… oh and a major plus: they also serve several flavors of ice cream from Fosselman’s!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
I had a great experience. Perhaps I was just having a lucky day. Two friends and I went around closing time and ended up with free hot chocolate (2 mexican and 2 regular) for the three of us! We were ready to order some but apparently someone ordered, paid and disappeared. They were so thick and rich and delicious, I’d return in an instant. Bought some chocolates to go along with — mostly randomly out of the case with the suggestion of a lady worker… again, fabulous. We sat around while they cleaned gazing out the window at the folk walking by in the cold. ALL ENJOYABLE and next time I’m in Pasadena, I’ll be back. Without a doubt.
I’m not sure it’s a summer time chocolate adventure, but in the meantime, hit them up in the winter.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I tried the Leonida’s Mocha because in general I’m a huge fan of Belgian chocolate and I thought I’d be able to enjoy some of it in this form. Maybe it was a bad selection on my part, but the drink sounded nothing like what they described to me. It was certainly super-​rich though.
Place rating: 3
Van Nuys, CA
High marks for the warm social atmosphere and classic décor. High marks for the variety of coffee drinks it offers. High marks for the yummy enticing handmade chocolates that seem to lure you into a possible eating frenzy regret! Leonidas seem to have it all… including huge lines of customers. You’d think this was the only coffee and chocolate place left in this world!
Upon looking through the holiday crowd (it was Christmas time and cold outside) and perusing the coffee drink menu a few time while in line, I decided that a hot cup of Valencia Orange Mocha was for me! For some reason, Valencia Orange screamed «Happy Holidays» to me. It was one of the more pricy items on the menu and my taste buds were anticipating something flavorful and delicious. I couldn’t wait!
Got the cup of Valencia Orange in my paws. From the time I took my first sip, it was game over. My hot cup of orangy mocha was just lukewarm and to add fuel to the fire, there was hardly any orange flavor. For almost $ 5, I went back to the counter and complained to the gal at the register. She had the barista make me another mocha which I thought would fix the problem. Not really… the second cup was hotter in temperature but the blandness was still there. Rather than fighting through the crowd again, i took it for what it’s worth: a plain mocha with a (very small) hint of orange.
Got myself a small bag of dark chocolate which was good. That small bag of goodness saved the day…
Place rating: 4
Washington, DC
*** I come here for their Peppermint Leonidas Cocoa ***
Quirky little story behind this, I first learned of this drink from an online blogging friend of mine, whom I never met… pre-​yelp era. hehe =)
Just a small cup of hot peppermint cocoa takes the edge off the cold weather and adds a bit of zing back into my step. =) Wonderfully rich milk chocolate with hints of peppermint subtly infused in.
They also give you a piece of their chocolate for you — last time I got the milk chocolate with orange (I believe), this time I got the dark chocolate with nibs. =) Perfect way to finish off the drink.
Delicious.
They also sell peet’s coffees and tea, their own ice cream … but most notably they sell their famed chocolates which are there in alluring array for your viewing and tasting pleasure. =) Perfect-​o!
Place rating: 2
Irvine, CA
5 stars for the chocolate.
0 stars for the staff.
Average 2.5. I’m rounding down.
Helpful girls but really lacking any and all ability to mask their lack of desire to work. They do their job, they smile plastic, and you’re done.
Yes, the chocolates are good. I’ve been a Leonidas fan for years, but I have yet to have a positive customer service experience here.
Larchmont Village location is closed and renamed «Chocoholics.» Idiotic moniker but same great chocolates. Go there instead if you’re so inclined. Service is better.
Place rating: 5
Long Beach, CA
Wanted Coffee on a nice evening! We saw a sign that they serve Peet’s coffee! we stepped in! I ordered a winter special Pepperment Mocha. Hot Damn! It was so good!!!
Along your coffee, they give you a piece of their chocolate. OMG! Coffee and chocolate… who can resist?! Definately not me! LOL!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Their idea to sell Peet’s is great however they had great coffee already! Their leonidas hot cocoa is pretty yummy!
Their chocolates are DEELIICCIOUS.
Of course I had to admit that I thought it was named after 300, too. What a distracting name! Haha. Kidding.
I really hope they don’t close though! If you havent’t been, go go go! They even serve ice cream now :)
They have AWESOME workers, great service even when they’re super busy!
Place rating: 2
San Jose, CA
Okay … whoever marked this place coffee & tea must be joking. Came here expecting some good coffee and ended up at the chocolatier instead. I guess their chocolates are good but they don’t even use it in the coffee (or at least most of the coffee since its usually just Peet’s coffee) so I was extremely disappointed. They really should specify which kind of chocolates they use in the coffee and allow you to pick the strength of chocolate, or something …
Also they’re open quite late on Saturdays for coffee … no go there. They have a good selection of chocolate and truffles which I’m sure will make any sweet tooth chocolate person go nuts, but COFFEE AND TEA? They don’t even serve tea!
Place rating: 4
Alhambra, CA
I really, really like this place. Mrs. C and I were looking for a slightly off-​the-​beaten-​path wedding favor, and are so happy we went with this place. Trinket? NO. Godiva? Yes, the gold box is very distinctive, but everyone does that. Enter Leonidas. WOW this chocolate tastes amazing! And (wait for it)… it ended up being cheaper than Godiva. They even let me pick the selections for the 2 piece favor box. Godiva wouldn’t let me do that. Mrs. C. picked a ribbon color that matched her bridesmaid’s dresses and we were good to go. We got the dark chocolate Alexander (caramel center) and orange ganache and got so many comments afterwards, «Where did this chocolate come from?» «Oh, it’s a small strore in Pasadena.» SO glad we didn’t go with the trinket.
Place rating: 5
Inglewood, CA
holy HOLY je-​heezy, THIS PLACE IS THE BOMB.
i just had a wildest-​dream-​come-​to-​life experience here.
PEETS + LEONIDAS ESPRESSO DRINK
= bestest
MOCHA
in
the
entire
PLANET.
the beverage was out of this world. using the most fresh, organic & leed certified beans roasted in california and the best rich & creamy top notch belgian chocolate?! who ever thought of this is a genius. from the first sip to the last, it had this mildly sweet, deep chocolate & full bodied espresso flavor, with a buttery smooth ending.
Place rating: 3
Irvine, CA
Needed a caffeine pick-​me-​up on a dreary, drizzly Friday afternoon, and happened to spot this place from across the street. Cute little place with about 3 small two-​seater tables inside and then a recessed area where they sell the chocolates and coffee. The girl behind the counter was very nice. I ordered up a short (12 oz) mocha for about $ 3.45 (thank you, bf). It was hot and good, but tasted more like chocolate than coffee. But the good thing is that although the chocolate taste was strong, it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. Signs of good chocolate.
Didn’t really have a hankering for chocolates that day, so browsed the fully-​stocked display case. They did look beautiful and would probably be a place I would go to if I wanted to buy gifts and deviate from the now-​mainstream Godiva that can now be found from here to Japan and Taiwan.
Place rating: 5
Pasadena, CA
Wonderful chocolates! I haven’t tried their hot chocolate or coffee yet but I should! They package them up so cute with a ribbon and a sticker. You know it’s really high quality chocolate when the sweetness and bitterness is just right and it melts in your mouth instantly.
Ditch the M&M’s and go in there and taste the difference when it comes to high quality chocolates!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
I have a HUGE SWEET TOOTH!!!
After every single meal, I NEED to have chocolates, cookies or anything sweet (this includes a spoonful of honey from my mom’s kitchen cabinet, a bag of brown sugar from local coffee bean store or a piece of tootsie roll from last year’s Halloween) in my mouth. Or else. I will suffer from severe toothache. Just think about it for a minute… Not just for me but everyone needs a right dose of sweet and sugary fluid in your stomach after eating hot spicy garlicky kimchi or sometimes after feasting on el taurino’s xx-​extra hot taco sauce with grilled jalepanos in your carne asada burritos. I’m not exaggerating here!!! I’m dead serious. It’s much better than having a heartburn or in some cases that extra hot taco sauce thinning the muscular stomach wall of yours. Then you’re in serious trouble…
Leonidas DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) clinic specialized in «Sweet Tooth» syndrome is the best place to be CURED (Sorry to say but not permanently cured. You may have to come in for several sessions). He came all the way from Belgium to Pasadena, California. The clinic is located on the famous Colorado boulevard of Old Town Pasadena.
I often go to the clinic for Valentine’s day, Christmas and for other special occasions, but I don’t limit myself on visiting. Whenever I have the toothache or suger rush, I think of Dr. Leonidas.
For most of the time, I would order «Caremel Javalanche.» I recommend this to EVERYONE. It’s so~ good!!! It’s very sweet, delicious and at the same time thirst quenching. I would compare this to Coffee Bean’s caramel latte ice blended but it’s much softer and right mix of milk chocolate and coffee. They give you a piece of Leonida’s famous dark chocolate with an order of any drinks. (Please see the photos I posted for visual reference) You can eat the chocolate before you drink or after… Perhpas it’s better to save the piece in case of emergency. =)
Place rating: 4
Pasadena, CA
All their drinks are rich and full of flavor. The quality of their drinks is much better than the Starbucks down the street, but maybe it varies depending on who is making it. You just know from the first sip that these drinks are going to be bad calorie wise.
I recommend their Mexican Hot Chocolate drink.
It is confirmed that they give out a free sample of their chocolate, when you say you are a first time customer there.
This is a nice shop, but there are only a couple small tables inside to sit at. So its not a place you feel welcome to stick around and chat some friends. You just go in grab your drink and continue to walk around Old Town.