Sweet shops aren’t just for kids anymore. And they’re not just chains. Though Rocket Fizz and Lolli & Pops might dominate malls nowadays, there are some excellent places to get sugary snacks all over NoVA. These are three of our favorites.
Dunbri’s Dessert Café
What to ask for: Pure Barry, 99 Flake
Owners Karen and Graham Maclean hail from Scotland, and it shows in the treats available at their strip-mall destination. The Pure Barry makes use of the soft-serve ice cream at the shop, surrounding its waffle cone with a lush halo of cotton candy. The 99 Flake? It’s a vanilla ice-cream cone topped with a whole crumbly Cadbury Flake chocolate bar. That’s not the only British chocolate on offer. Whether you’re craving a Wispa or a chocolate-covered Cadbury Turkish Delight, it’s in the case. 6410 Trading Square, Haymarket
Mocatinas
What to ask for: Cookie Monster Macarons, Italian Creamosa
Sit down and let a server bring you the sweets you desire at this full-service dessert emporium. Guests can order some Leesburg-local Zoe’s Chocolates and pair them with a glass from Stone Tower Winery. But some of the best things at this two-story, 3,000-square-foot site are exclusives. A variety of whimsical macarons include ones that look like Cookie Monster, complete with a miniature chocolate chip cookie in his mouth. Wash it down with an Italian soda enhanced with a soft-serve float. 3 E. Market St., Leesburg
Artisan Confections
What to ask for: Bittersweet Bark, honey-thyme truffle
The folks at this sophisticated chocolate shop know that ingredients matter. The chocolate itself is from Valrhona, and homemade truffles are flavored with fresh, local produce and top-shelf liqueurs in unusual combinations. The honey-thyme explodes with the flavor of the herb, amplified by the sweetness of honey. Looking for something a little less rich? Grab a dark-chocolate bark studded with dried blueberries, toasted almonds, and white-chocolate pearls. 1025 N. Fillmore St., Ste. H, Arlington
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
