After thorough candy research, I visited some of the top–rated stores in Philly to see if their candy was actually worth going all the way downtown. It was.
Shane Confectionery feels like the candy stores you see in movies with vintage–looking decor, old–fashioned candy, and beautiful displays. The candy was just as amazing as the store itself: there wasn't a single piece that didn't have a rich chocolate coat filled with the perfect amount of sweetness. If you like sweets, stop by and try their vanilla buttercream, lemon buttercream, brandied cherry, or dark salted caramel—they even have vegan options. Inside you will experience the old candy shop aesthetic and, I promise, you won't be able to resist buying yourself a treat.
TL;DR: Vintage candy shop and its charms
Location: 110 Market Street
Hours
Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Price Range: $$
Lore's Chocolates has been running for 51 years, making a lot of their own (delicious) chocolates in the store. Luckily, I visited during Easter season, which meant the store was covered with decorations, chocolate eggs, and bunnies. I didn't get to try any of the eggs, but I did try Irish potatoes (which have nothing to do with potatoes and are actually made of coconut, rainbows, and sunshine). Some of the popular candies included chocolate caramel, chocolate peanut butter (think Reese's, but better), chocolate marshmallow, and vanilla buttercream. If you're looking to gift chocolates for a holiday, this is definitely the place to come to.
TL;DR: Perfect for Easter.
Location: 34 S 7th Street
Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 am–5:30 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Price: $$
Unlike the other shops, Rocket Fizz is a franchise and has a wider variety of candy, including non–chocolate ones. For the most part, this meant candy from other manufacturers (like Kinder, because you still need some chocolate) as well as their own production of taffy candies (try the green apple, be amazed) and licorice loops. The most popular product is apparently the "Bacon Soda," which is quite literally a soda meant to taste like bacon. The drink was actually maple–syrup–flavored, but tasted more like diabetes than bacon. The store itself had a very '80s inspired look with many vintage posters covering the wall, probably a good photo op if you feel like instagramming your food.
TL;DR: Rocking all those childhood favorites
Location: 302 Arch Street
Hours
Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Price: $
