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Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake.
Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake.
Erin Perkins

10 Decadent Chocolate Cakes Worth Every Bite

Eat these now

by Maura Hogan
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Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake. Cake.
| Erin Perkins
by Maura Hogan

"A party without chocolate cake is really just a meeting," Julia Child famously said. A superior slice can party up pretty much any eating outing, particularly if the version on offer is unapologetically, indulgently, shamelessly chocolate. Sure, inventive twists on the main ingredient are welcome, be it a spirited liquor soak or a fruity companion coulis.

Decadent, peerless chocolate should remain the unobstructed star. Thankfully, there are more than a few serious choc-full contenders around town for those moments when nothing but the full-on expression of the incomparable cocoa bean will do.

Note: Map points are listed in geographical order and are not ranked. Did we miss your favorite spot? Show it some love in the comments, send us an email, or start a forum thread in its honor.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Once Upon A Treat

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Jim’s Favorite Cake: Vegans can get their chocolate with the bakery/eatery’s gluten-free rendition with rich dark chocolate that foregoes the frosting.
774 1/2 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-6174
(843) 203-6174
Once Upon A Treat

Sugar Bake Shop

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Chocolate Cake: Sugar Bakeshop’s made-to-order offering is a four-layer, fudgy phenom distinguished by the bakers Bill Bowick and David Bouffard’s own simple syrup icing and featuring Colombian chocolate.
59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 579-2891
(843) 579-2891
Leslie McKellar

Chocolate Cake

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Chocolate Cake: Baker Christen Reese won’t divulge just what makes her made-to- order chocolate cakes so good-old-fashioned spectacular, but high-quality chocolate and the perfect amount of sweetness is inarguably in play.
0 Bee St, Charleston, SC 29403

Hall's Chophouse

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Double Chocolate Cake: The ultra-luxe steakhouse amps their cake up to sixteen — by way of a sumptuous sixteen layers of perfect, assertive chocolate. Like a superior steak, it’s all about the quality of the slab, which can stand up to the heartiest Hall's entree.
434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-0090
(843) 727-0090

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Jestine's Kitchen

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Coca-Cola Cake: When it comes to a Southern staple, Coke is unquestionably it, so doctoring a standard with the go-to soda is a natural. A cult hit with visitors in search of a hometown meal with a Charleston accent, Jestine’s Kitchen doles out a Coca-Cola chocolate cake topped with a nutty glaze for a syrupy send-off after Southern-fried fare.
251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-7224
(843) 722-7224
TripAdvisor

Le Farfalle

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Grappa Chocolate Cake: Michael Toscano’s formidable new addition to the Charleston eating scene puts an Italian accent on the treat, spiking it with grappa layering it with a German chocolate-inspired filling of coconut, pistachio and cherries. It’s finished off with a ganache sprinkled with pistachios and served with a pistachio sauce.
15 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401

Charleston Grill

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German Chocolate Cake: The famed fine dining spot offers a powerfully petite personal round encasing rich, moist chocolate in a sleek ganache, and concealing a gorgeous German chocolate filling of coconut and caramel. It’s served with a coconut sorbet.
224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-4522
(843) 577-4522

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Kaminsky's

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Mountain of Chocolate: The long-standing sweet spot churns out dozens of desserts every day in every conceivable flavor, and their time-tested Mountain of Chocolate stacks up three fluffy, satisfying layers that are separated by buttercream.
78 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 853-8270
(843) 853-8270

Carmella Dessert Bar

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Chocolate Fudge Cake: At this newish cafe and dessert bar, an outsize mini-cake is pretty much a party on a plate, dusting its seriously sweet icing with chocolate sprinkles, and oozing with dark, glistening fudge.
198 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Oak Steakhouse

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Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake: The local steakhouse serves up a tasteful sensation that brings on the buttermilk, not to mention chocolate sour cream icing, berry coulis, chocolate crumble and malted milk ice cream.
17 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-4220
(843) 722-4220

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Once Upon A Treat

774 1/2 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
Jim’s Favorite Cake: Vegans can get their chocolate with the bakery/eatery’s gluten-free rendition with rich dark chocolate that foregoes the frosting.
774 1/2 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-6174
(843) 203-6174
Once Upon A Treat

Sugar Bake Shop

59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
Chocolate Cake: Sugar Bakeshop’s made-to-order offering is a four-layer, fudgy phenom distinguished by the bakers Bill Bowick and David Bouffard’s own simple syrup icing and featuring Colombian chocolate.
59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 579-2891
(843) 579-2891
Leslie McKellar

Chocolate Cake

0 Bee St, Charleston, SC 29403
Chocolate Cake: Baker Christen Reese won’t divulge just what makes her made-to- order chocolate cakes so good-old-fashioned spectacular, but high-quality chocolate and the perfect amount of sweetness is inarguably in play.
0 Bee St, Charleston, SC 29403

Hall's Chophouse

434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Double Chocolate Cake: The ultra-luxe steakhouse amps their cake up to sixteen — by way of a sumptuous sixteen layers of perfect, assertive chocolate. Like a superior steak, it’s all about the quality of the slab, which can stand up to the heartiest Hall's entree.
434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-0090
(843) 727-0090

Jestine's Kitchen

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Coca-Cola Cake: When it comes to a Southern staple, Coke is unquestionably it, so doctoring a standard with the go-to soda is a natural. A cult hit with visitors in search of a hometown meal with a Charleston accent, Jestine’s Kitchen doles out a Coca-Cola chocolate cake topped with a nutty glaze for a syrupy send-off after Southern-fried fare.
251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-7224
(843) 722-7224
TripAdvisor

Le Farfalle

15 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401
Grappa Chocolate Cake: Michael Toscano’s formidable new addition to the Charleston eating scene puts an Italian accent on the treat, spiking it with grappa layering it with a German chocolate-inspired filling of coconut, pistachio and cherries. It’s finished off with a ganache sprinkled with pistachios and served with a pistachio sauce.
15 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401

Charleston Grill

224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
German Chocolate Cake: The famed fine dining spot offers a powerfully petite personal round encasing rich, moist chocolate in a sleek ganache, and concealing a gorgeous German chocolate filling of coconut and caramel. It’s served with a coconut sorbet.
224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-4522
(843) 577-4522

Kaminsky's

78 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
Mountain of Chocolate: The long-standing sweet spot churns out dozens of desserts every day in every conceivable flavor, and their time-tested Mountain of Chocolate stacks up three fluffy, satisfying layers that are separated by buttercream.
78 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 853-8270
(843) 853-8270

Carmella Dessert Bar

198 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
Chocolate Fudge Cake: At this newish cafe and dessert bar, an outsize mini-cake is pretty much a party on a plate, dusting its seriously sweet icing with chocolate sprinkles, and oozing with dark, glistening fudge.
198 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Oak Steakhouse

17 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
Chocolate Buttermilk Layer Cake: The local steakhouse serves up a tasteful sensation that brings on the buttermilk, not to mention chocolate sour cream icing, berry coulis, chocolate crumble and malted milk ice cream.
17 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-4220
(843) 722-4220

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