Boston's best: Confectioners

Beacon Hill Chocolates
The search for the perfect truffle may end at this shop on the flat of the hill, thanks to proprietor Paula Barth’s cocoa obsession. Glass cases beckon with artisan chocolates from around the world. The macarons, made in-house each Thursday, satisfy locavores with a sweet tooth. 91 Charles St, Beacon Hill, Boston (617-725-1900, beaconhillchocolates.com)

Chocolee Chocolates
This tiny, artisanal shop seeped in decadence is what you get when one of the city’s finest pastry chefs goes off on her own. Lee Napoli, who honed her sweet-making skills at Icarus, handcrafts all of the chocolates here herself. The result is an assortment that looks almost too precious to eat, but the salted caramels enrobed in dark chocolate are impossible to pass up. 23 Dartmouth St, South End, Boston (617-236-0606, chocoleechocolates.com)

Eldo Candy House
This Chinese sweet shop is the place to go if you’re looking for candy that’s a little out of the ordinary. Sold by the pound out of bins lining the walls, gummies, dried fruit, mochi and more are the perfect dessert after a meal of steamed buns at the adjoining bakery. 36 Harrison Ave, Chinatown, Boston (617-350-7977)

Fastachi
Like nuts? (No, not that kind—get your mind out of the gutter!) Fastachi hand-roasts their own fresh, crunchy morsels; seasons them with sea salt; and covers them in fine dark, milk and white chocolate. There’s also chocolate-dipped dried fruit and other gourmet snacks, all tied up in pretty packages and ready for gifting. 598 Mount Auburn St, Watertown (617-924-8787, fastachi.com)

Hidden Sweets
Wade past the Harvard t-shirts and the plush lobsters, and you’ll find a delicious treasure trove of over 250 bulk candies. Jelly Belly beans, gummies and chocolates abound for your scooping pleasure, in addition to a fun selection of party supplies and cheeky gifts. 25 Brattle St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (617-497-2600, hiddensweets.com)

L.A. Burdick Chocolate Café
More than a candy store, the L.A. Burdick Chocolate Café is a cozy spot for sipping what is perhaps the best hot chocolate in the area. Grab a table and dig into some sinfully rich pastries, then buy a box of Burdick’s famous chocolate mice to munch on at home. 52 Brattle St, Harvard Square, Cambridge (617-491-4340, burdickchocolate.com)

Serenade Chocolatier
Fine chocolates handmade in the Viennese tradition are nothing to turn up your nose at. Combine them with the childhood pleasures of smashing a piñata, and you’ve got pure heaven. Serenade’s piñata cakes are hard chocolate shells filled with artisan candies, and they come complete with a hammer for smashing. You can also buy chocolates individually, but what’s the fun in that? 5 Harvard Sq, Brookline Village, Brookline (617-739-0795, serenadechocolatier.com)

Sugar Heaven
A conveyer belt covered in candy sets the mood for this Wonka-like shop, with more bins of scoopable candy than you’re likely to see anywhere else. Sugar Heaven also sells packaged sweets, including all the classics, plus British chocolate bars and the ever-popular Haribo gummies. Don’t miss the cotton candy machine behind the counter or the ice cream bar downstairs. 669 Boylston St, Back Bay (617-266-6464, sugarheaven.us)

Taza Chocolate
Taza Chocolate is not the smooth, creamy style of bar you’re probably used to, but it’s twice as delicious. Made right here in Somerville, the 100% organic chocolate is stone ground in the Mexican style for an earthier texture, and everything this company does lives up to strict sustainability and fair-trade principals. Be sure to sample the nibs of unique flavors like cinnamon, salt & pepper and yerba mate. 561 Windsor St, Somerville (617-284-2232, tazachocolate.com)