On this page
About Timothy Adams Chocolates
Timothy Adams Chocolates is a small chocolate shop at 539 Bryant Street in downtown Palo Alto. It makes filled truffles and bonbons in small batches and sells them by the piece and in gift boxes. The shop also serves ice cream and sipping chocolate in store and runs hands-on chocolate making workshops for groups.
The shop tells its origin story on its website. It began in 1993 with a garden party at the owners' home, where hand-rolled bonbons infused with fresh mint were served to guests that included the actress and singer Eartha Kitt. A week after the party she sent a vintage Lalique crystal rabbit as a thank-you gift. The owners count that moment as the start of their chocolate making. The shop now describes three decades of work shaped by a shared love of chocolate, cooking and fashion.
The chocolates
Every piece starts with a house-made ganache, caramel or praline. The shop says it uses no preservatives, artificial flavors or additives. It works with more than 20 chocolates from producers including Valrhona, TCHO and Republica del Cacao, ranging from a 30 percent Valrhona chocolate to a 100 percent unsweetened one. The shop describes Valrhona, the French chocolate house, as the foundation of its work. Organic fruit for the fruit flavors comes from California markets.
The look is the signature. Each truffle carries a colorful pattern drawn from the owners' button collection and silk-screened on with tinted cocoa butter. The idea, the shop says, is to link the outside of each piece to the flavor inside.
The in-store menu lists 48 truffle flavors. A sample from the current list:
- Crème fraîche: milk chocolate and fresh crème fraîche, which the shop calls its most popular piece.
- Salted caramels in dark, milk and ivory shells, plus dark cream caramel, vanilla cream caramel and coconut cream caramel.
- Floral flavors such as violet with honey and rose with elderflower and honey.
- Fruit flavors such as raspberry simmered in cream and apricot with zest.
Online, the chocolates are grouped into collections such as Fashionable Darks, Fruits & Florals, Caramels & Creams and Firewater, a line infused with spirits. Gift boxes come in 6, 12 and 24 pieces. The lineup changes with the seasons, so check the shop's menu for what is in the case today.
The chocolate workshop
The Chocolate Workshop is the shop's most unusual offer. Guests start with a glass of prosecco served in a classic champagne saucer and a plate of local cheeses, fruit and crackers. Non-alcoholic drinks are available for anyone under 21 or not drinking. Timothy Woods then leads a tasting of chocolates from around the world and answers questions about flavor, origin and how chocolate is made. After that, everyone puts on an apron and makes hand-rolled bonbons from start to finish to take home.
Groups of seven or fewer join a session on Saturdays at 1 p.m. that runs about 90 minutes. Private groups of 8 to 12 guests get the same length of class. Groups of 13 to 36 or more get two hours. Private sessions are offered Tuesday to Friday between 1 and 6 p.m. The shop lists the price as $120 per person, including tax and gratuity. Bookings are paid in full up front and are fully refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours ahead. The shop pitches it as a team-building event or a celebration for adults.
Gifts, shipping and custom orders
You can shop in person, order online for in-store pickup, get delivery through DoorDash or send a gift by FedEx. Gift certificates are sold online. For companies and weddings, the shop prints custom artwork or a logo onto its truffles, with a minimum run of 25 sheets, or 750 chocolates. Its client list includes the City of Palo Alto, Stanford and a long roster of Bay Area companies and arts groups. In San Francisco, the chocolates are also sold at Sue Fisher King on Sacramento Street.
Tips for visiting
The shop's parking page points drivers to free two-hour street parking on weekdays until 5 p.m. and three-hour free parking in nearby city garages, including the garage at 445 Bryant Street and the City Hall garage at 250 Hamilton Avenue. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, it says parking is free. The website does not list store hours, so call before you make a special trip.
A box of truffles makes an easy host gift if you are heading to dinner downtown. Our downtown Palo Alto guide covers the surrounding blocks. For more sweets, see our bakeries and desserts guide and our roundup of gifts and souvenirs.
Location and getting there
Timothy Adams Chocolates is at 539 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 7 minute walk.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
What is nearby
- Ramen Nagi, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- The UPS Store Bryant Street, service business, under 0.1 mi
- Bella Beauty Salon, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
- Zola + BarZola, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- DUXIANA, store, under 0.1 mi
- University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
- King Plaza and City Hall, 0.1 mi
- Lytton Plaza, 0.1 mi
Other bakeries, ice cream and sweets nearby: Alegio Chocolate (under 0.1 mi); Marvel Cake (under 0.1 mi); Salt & Straw (under 0.1 mi); Scoop Microcreamery (0.1 mi). Browse the full bakeries, ice cream and sweets list.
Before you go
- Popular items can sell out by early afternoon, especially on weekends. Go early for the best choice.
- Many bakeries take orders for cakes and large quantities. Allow a few days' notice for special orders.
- Seating is often limited, so plan to take treats to a nearby park if the shop is busy.
About this listing
Checked October 29, 2026 against Timothy Adams Chocolates official website; About us; In-store chocolate menu; Chocolate workshop; Visit us and parking; Corporate gifts. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Timothy Adams Chocolates in Palo Alto?
Timothy Adams Chocolates is at 539 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away.
What kind of chocolates does Timothy Adams make?
The shop makes small-batch filled truffles with house-made ganache, caramel and praline centers. It lists 48 truffle flavors, from crème fraîche and salted caramels to violet, rose and raspberry. Each piece is decorated with a pattern taken from the owners' button collection.
Can I take a chocolate class at Timothy Adams Chocolates?
Yes. The shop runs a Chocolate Workshop that starts with prosecco and a cheese plate, moves to a tasting of chocolates from around the world and ends with making hand-rolled bonbons to take home. Small groups book Saturdays at 1 p.m. and larger private groups book weekday afternoons. Reservations are paid in full when you book.
Where do I park for Timothy Adams Chocolates?
The shop points visitors to street parking on Bryant Street and to two city garages, one at 445 Bryant Street and one under City Hall at 250 Hamilton Avenue. It says street and garage parking are free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. Check the posted signs, since city rules can change.