Elevate Your Afternoon: How Läderach Swiss Chocolate Turns a Good Day Into a Great One

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse boutique at South Coast Plaza — Treat yourself to fresh Swiss chocolate at the Laderach chocolate store?!

I know a lot of people who take the holidays for granted. They plan their entire “shopping day” at the mall as meticulously as they would a marathon. I’m not usually one of them. My holiday ritual is much more pragmatic and usually starts at Costco. If you have a membership, you know the sense of satisfaction of walking through the huge lines. But this year, I decided to do an experiment: go beyond the usual lineup and see if a day at South Coast Plaza in Orange County? can really turn an ordinary afternoon into something special.

The grand interior of South Coast Plaza is the perfect starting point for my experiment.

I must admit, the atmosphere here is truly inspiring. This is not just a shopping mall, but rather a gallery of high fashion. Walking through the corridors, you involuntarily stop at each window.

Lanvin boutique at South Coast Plaza, Orange County? — Lanvin boutique, where minimalism meets high fashion elegance.

Even if you’re not planning on updating your couture wardrobe, the aesthetic of brands like Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, or Stone Island sets a special mood. The light installations and creative window displays make an ordinary walk an event.

Louis Vuitton boutique at South Coast Plaza, Orange County — The inviting entrance of Louis Vuitton, ready for some retail therapy.

After the Louis Vuitton opulent installations that make you freeze in awe for a moment, you’re caught in a different rhythm. South Coast Plaza is amazing for its ability to combine classic “heavy” luxury with bold modern style. As you walk past the bright lights, you feel the dynamic around you change: from calm sophistication to active urban drive.

Shopping at South Coast-Plaza — Every corner of South Coast Plaza, from Kate Spade to Stone Island, is energizing and stylish.

This is the kind of place where you can meet both connoisseurs of timeless classics and those hunting for the latest street style trends. Every window here is a story in itself, inviting you to peek inside, even if you’re just passing through and your main goal for the day is completely different.

Toward the end of my stroll through the mall, I thought back to a past experience I had with premium chocolate. It was in Las Vegas, at Dandelion Chocolate, located in The Venetian. I still remember their star-shaped truffle bars—they were so exquisite that they set a high bar for me as to what true artisanal chocolate should be.

Dandelion Chocolate truffle bars — A taste of nostalgia—the star-studded truffles from Dandelion Chocolate at The Venetian Las Vegas.

So we started looking for something similar at South Coast Plaza. And that search for the sweet ideal led us to Läderach. The aroma of real Swiss cocoa is felt as you approach the store. It instantly lifts your spirits.

What makes Läderach special to me is probably their combination of Swiss precision and incredible cuteness. I just couldn’t get past their chocolate figurines. It’s hard to be an adult when you’re staring at a chocolate teddy bear with a bow, especially when it’s made of dark chocolate with caramel and Fleur de Sel.

Dark chocolate chocolate bears by Laderach Chocolate — Handmade chocolate bears – the dark chocolate and sea salt version is simply incredible.

Regarding the Laderach Chocolate price?, it’s not cheap, but that’s okay, you can’t eat too much. To give you an idea, a 65g chocolate bar costs about $10. The cheapest is the Läderach milk chocolate diamond heart at 24g, which Filled with a creamy hazelnut gianduja cost $7.50.

For some reason, I am attracted to chocolate that has a non-standard shape, for example, chocolate bars in the form of a star or a heart. And in the store I found it. So I bought one bar each of FrischSchoggi Star Hazelnut Milk 200g (cost about $35) and FrischSchoggi Heart Hazelnut dark 100g (cost about $20).

Chocolate stars from Läderach — The festive entrance to Läderach, with “FrischSchoggi” stars and seasonal sets.

In addition to the bears, there is a whole “zoo” here, for example, chocolate chanterelles. But my real discovery was the Raspberry Chocolate Popcorn. The tartness of raspberries combined with the smoothness of chocolate is a flavor profile that I have not encountered anywhere else.

Laderach Raspberry Chocolate Popcorn — A playful assortment with chocolate chanterelles and the brand’s raspberry popcorn.

As we approach the season of romance, the boutique is already ablaze with red hearts. It’s almost the perfect Valentine’s Day gift—it’ll say more than any card can. Exquisite candies from the romantic collection now cost from $26.

Boxes of chocolates - Laderach Chocolate store? — The bright heart boxes are a sweet confession that’s hard to resist in Laderach chocolate store?.

I ended my day by picking up a few boxes to take home. Whether it’s the minimalist white Truffle Selection series or the premium wooden boxes, the packaging is as impeccable as the taste. I purchased Praline Selection 24 pcs per box for $54 each.

Laderach Truffle Selection chocolate — The Truffle Selection series – elegance in every detail.

My verdict: A “shopping day” at South Coast Plaza is a great idea if you allow yourself to slow down and enjoy the moment. Läderach proves that even a good day can be made “great” with the right piece of Swiss chocolate.

Laderach praline collections — A final look at the variety of praline collections – the perfect souvenir after a great day.

Not forgetting the classics: Costco and Groupon

Although I’m now officially a fan of Swiss luxury, I’m not giving up on my favorite store. Costco remains my favorite place to shop for the holidays. And it’s not just because of their prices, cool deals, and atmosphere. I especially love their gift baskets. I have to look for Swiss goodies at my favorite store.

Costco gift baskets for gourmets — My holiday tradition is Costco’s gourmet gift baskets.

If you don’t have a Costco membership yet but love these baskets as much as I do, head over to Groupon. They’re currently offering a one-year Costco membership with a $20 or $40 digital Costco Shop Card starting at $65. It’s a great way to combine your love of chocolate with smart savings on big purchases!