Sometimes I wonder if chocolate has magical capabilities, if it is a potion that can cure all ills, a tonic to heal all broken hearts, or a remedy to make the bitter days a little sweeter. Twenty five hundred years ago in the Mayan civilization, chocolate was thought to be a divine gift; isn’t that a lovely sentiment? I dare say that chocolate is not treated with half the respect as it once was!

When first moving to San Francisco I searched in vain for a place where I could indulge my chocolate fantasies while staying within the limits of my vegan diet. For those out there who scoff at the thought of vegan confections, let me tell you, it can be done and done well. And when it is, it is positively delightful! After much research (which left me in a chocolate coma) I have been able to put together my favorite vegan treats in San Francisco.

On days when one would like something chocolatey and fluffy I would recommend Pebbles Donuts, located in the San Francisco Ferry Building. These are a must for all donut lovers, the batter is made fresh daily and has the added ingredient of care for the body and planet. My favorite is the Mexican hot chocolate donut, each bite makes me positively weak at the knees, soft and delicious and did I mention 100% organic? These donuts will be appreciated by any true chocolate lover whether they are a vegan not. The more I searched in San Francisco the more I was charmed to find vegan chocolatey treasures around every corner. Just a few doors down from the Kensington Park Hotel in Union Square, is a lovely café called La Taza. I went in expecting to get a latte and to my surprise discovered that they made vegan cookies! I chose a chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips, it is quite possible that that was the highlight of my day, the cookie was chewy and rich something that is difficult to achieve in vegan baked goods. And on the occasion that one is looking for a more upscale vegan experience the place to go would be Millennium, an entirely vegan restaurant located on Geary Street. You can go for the entrée but make sure you stay for dessert! From their bourbon and black salt molten chocolate cake to their chocolate almond midnight, the desserts will remind you of the first time you fell in love with chocolate and make you forget that what you are eating is vegan.

San Francisco is home to my new favorite chocolate treats that have confirmed that chocolate truly is a divine gift!