Chocolate Shops We Love: MarieBelle

Location

484 Broome St. New York NY 10013

 

Maribel Lieberman

Growing up in Honduras, chocolatier Maribel Lieberman knew she wanted to work with confections from a young age, starting by making her work candies and selling them to her neighbors as a child. She would later come to New York City to study at Parsons School of Design and in 2000, open her first New York City storefront called Lunettes et Chocolat, a small boutique in Nolita that combined fashion glasses and chocolates. During that time, all of the chocolates were manufactured in the South of France.  

In 2002 Liberman opened the MarieBelle flagship store in SoHo. The shop quickly stood out, as chocolate shops were still a rarity in the neighborhood. “My intention was always to make a chocolate brand not only a chocolate store,” says Lieberman. “I felt SoHo was a perfect place to start since it is a neighborhood visited by national and international tourists."

Now in addition to the original SoHo location, the brand has expanded with MarieBelle at The Kitano Hotel in Midtown and several outposts located in Japan. Today, Lieberman manufactures her chocolates in a 12-square-foot chocolate factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Lieberman’s background in fashion and design is evident in everything she does. The brand is particularly known for a line of decadent hot chocolate that was featured as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things.” In 2021 Lieberman appeared in the documentary Chocolate Road.

 

 

MarieBelle

The Store

MarieBelle’s flagship store is located in SoHo with antique tables and shelves that hold various treats wrapped in signature blue boxes as a chandelier glistens from the ceiling above. The glass case counter showcases the shop’s signature chocolates unwrapped and uniquely designed along with its selection of pastries and macaroons.

The store has luxurious and sophisticated feel that carries through to the branding and packaging with a signature turquoise color that calls to mind Tiffany. Seasonal offerings are in limited edition boxes in dark blue, mock snakeskin red packaging or pink boxes gilded with pink gemstones.

 

 

Top-Selling Confections

MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate

 

Aztec Dark Hot Chocolate

Rich and creamy, the Aztec Dark Hot Chocolate contains 60% South American single-origin chocolate as opposed to cocoa powder for a creamier flavor. “It’s very popular among our customers,” says Lieberman. “It is thick and tastes like a melted chocolate bar.”

 

 
Passion Fruit Ganache

Passion Fruit Ganache

Hand-made with custom designs, the Passion Fruit Ganache is one of the most popular flavors of these sought-after chocolates. “Both the milk chocolate and the passion fruit pulp make a good harmony of flavors,” says Lieberman.

 

 
Cacao Market Orange Peels Bar

Cacao Market Orange Peels Bar

This 60% dark chocolate bar is handmade using all-natural flavors and has a design that features the brand's signature pattern complemented by orange peel. “The dark chocolate and the natural taste of the confit orange make a perfect balance of both flavors,” says Lieberman.

 

 

Also Look For

MarieBelle Cacao Bar

The SoHo location features Cacao Bar, a charming 15 seat space where patrons can order a coffee, one of nine different hot chocolates along with signature pastries, decadent desserts, finger sandwiches, or full afternoon tea service. A specialty is the classic molten chocolate lava cake with warm dark chocolate oozing through its center.

Carissa Chesanek