Attention, chocoholics: This shop might ruin all others for you.
qponx
2026-01-24
Chocoholics, a Jakarta shop called Better Chocolate Than Never might be your new obsession. Tucked away in Panglima Polim, this minimalist, all-white spot serves up seriously sophisticated treats. Don't miss the criminally rich chocolate ice cream, the moist Black Forest cake with a hint of rum, or the legendary Shiopan that sells out before noon. It's a pricey but worthwhile indulgence for true chocolate connoisseurs looking for a quiet place to work or chill.
Honestly, every time I hear someone hyping up"the best in Jakarta," my eyes nearly roll into the back of my head. But this time, at this little shop in Panglima Polim called `betterchocolatethannever`, I admit, I was proven wrong.
This place looks really unassuming from the outside, just a plain white storefront. If it weren't for its high 4.9 score on Google, I probably would have just walked right past it. But the moment I pushed the door open, the whole world went quiet. High, arched ceilings, a minimalist all-white design, sunlight streaming in from the high windows, and the air filled with the aroma of cocoa—the vibe was just perfect. It's so perfect for spending an afternoon here to Nongkrong with your besties, or bringing a laptop to get some work done on your own.
We didn't pick any duds and went straight for the signature items:
- Rich Chocolate Ice Cream[1]: Anjay! This ice cream is criminally rich! The texture is incredibly smooth, like eating a piece of melting nama chocolate. The key is, it perfectly balances sweetness and bitterness[2], and has that sophisticated quality that means you can finish a whole cup without feeling overwhelmed.
- Baby Black (Black Forest)[3]: My friend ordered this, and I snagged a bite. The cake itself was unbelievably moist, and the subtle rum flavor perfectly cut through the richness of the chocolate. Plus, with the black cherries in the filling, the layers of flavor were incredible.
- Shiopan (Salt Bread)[4]: We got there late and almost missed out on this! The outside was crispy, while the inside was so soft and chewy you could pull it apart into strands. The buttery aroma was explosive. Trust me, it's worth making a special trip just for this bread.
Hold on, let's get real for a second
To be fair, this place isn't perfect. First off, the price. A hot chocolate is 45k and two scoops of ice cream are 100k, which is definitely on the high-end for desserts in Jakarta. The cake portions aren't that big either[5], so guys might not find it filling enough.
The biggest complaint is the parking[6]. There are only two or three spots out front, so coming during peak hours is basically a game of chance. Also, I don't know if we were just unlucky, but there were some small fruit flies in the shop[7]. While it didn't affect the food, it did kind of ruin the atmosphere a bit.
Shop Guide (Highlighting the key points for you 👇)
All in all, if you're a true chocolate lover, are particular about flavor, and hate that artificial, saccharine taste, then you absolutely have to give this place a try. Mantap
- Want to try the Salt Bread? Promise me, get there before 12 PM! Otherwise, they sell out in minutes[8].
- Drivers, take note! Parking is extremely limited. I recommend taking a cab or coming during off-peak hours, otherwise you'll be searching for a spot until you question your existence.
- For those of you who can't drink alcohol! Make sure to ask before ordering! Some of their cakes contain rum[9], like the Black Forest, so don't order the wrong thing.
- WFC-friendly! If you're looking for a quiet place to Chill or get some work done, this spot is great. They have a good number of power outlets, too[10].
- Tall arched ceilings, pure white minimalist. Premium cocoa scent. Ideal for girlfriend Nongkrong or quiet work.
- Sinfully rich chocolate ice cream [1] is silky, like melting raw chocolate. Balanced sweet-bitter [2], you'll devour it all!
- Butter-fragrance-exploding salt bread [3]! Crispy crust, soft, chewy. A must-try, but go early!
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