Markham & Fitz Chocolate

The smell of roasted cocoa beans does all the heavy-lift advertising for this tiny chocolate factory in the 8th Street Market, as do displays of chocolate creme brulees and truffles. It’s pretty much the Wonka factory of Bentonville, complete with hot or iced chocolate and a variety of boozy stuff made with melted chocolate. Order at the counter and the chocolatiers will bring your dessert or drink to your table, or just swing by to pick up a gift for someone in your life who will appreciate a fascinating chocolate tea made from cocoa bean shells.

Just a short walk from the Markham & Fitz bean-to-bar chocolate shop and café at the 8th Street Market, Bentonville Provisions is a one-stop-shop for all things kitchen related; it even offers cooking classes and has a cooler full of grab and-go fare for easy picnics in the Downtown Square. The retail portion of the store keeps a regular stock of local and artisanal products and kitchen essentials, like tea towels, candles, and small batch simple syrups from Pink House Alchemy.

I am a self-proclaimed “choco-holic”, so sign me up for anything chocolate!. Not only does this shop have everything chocolate that you could ever want, but they also offer a tour for $20 where you can see how they make the chocolate treats you see in the shop. You also get to taste their different types of chocolate and pick your favorite bar to take home with you (or, let’s face it….eat in the car on the way home).

Mark and Fitz Chocolate is where to go if you’re craving some delicious dark chocolate. Markham and Fitz Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer specializing in confections, chocolate bars, and truffles. The factory, located on 8th Street in Bentonville, offers tasting tours and has an open kitchen where you can watch the staff pour the chocolate into molds to make their sweet confections.

Between the handmade chocolate bars and a variety of cocoa-based beverages, this place is a chocolate lover’s dream. They’ve got everything from dark to milk chocolate when it comes to their candy bars, with just about every flavor you can imagine including peppermint and sea salt almond. Their drinking chocolate and cocoa tea options let you drink their sweet flavors as well.

This shop features artisanal chocolates with names like “ooh la lavender.”. Started by two University of Arkansas alumni, Markham & Fitz makes chocolate from the cocoa bean and fashions it into single origin chocolate bars, confections, desserts, drinks and more. They’re advocates of sustainability and have a (near) zero waste initiative and recyclable packaging.

For the chocolate lover, sweeten their day with chocolate from Onyx Coffee Lab (bonus points if you pair it with their favorite coffee.) Markham & Fitz is another local favorite for chocolates with a variety that will please any sweet tooth. To lift their spirits, you can get a local beer from Ozark Beer Co., or a craft cocktail kit from Foxtrail.

Yeyo’s shares the market with a few retailers, including chocolate shop Markham & Fitz (stop in for a Brown Sugar Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookie), craft and home-goods store Hillfolk, and Two Friends Books (an indie bookstore and cafe). There’s also a ramen restaurant, a yoga studio, and a brewery, among other businesses.

For dessert, make sure to visit Markham & Fitz, the local chocolate company serving up artisanal sweets alongside a curated selection of drinks. If that sweet tooth isn’t yet satisfied, Olly Makes Bakery is just down the road. Find a rotating selection of baked goods made from scratch and served in a cozy kitchen.

Whenever I am traveling, I always research the best chocolate shop at my destination. I was more than a little bit surprised to find a bean to bar chocolate maker in Bentonville. We walked over to the shop prior to our dinner reservation on Thursday evening and I immediately fell in love.

Markham and Fitz Chocolate is another great shop located in the 8th Street Market. Here you’ll find gourmet chocolates, amazing hot chocolate, chocolate cocktails and more. The decor of the shop is painted with green floral wall patterns with gold details.

You can’t miss the smell of Markham & Fitz, the chocolatier next door to YeYos. And, there’s also a cute textile store called Hillside and a bookshop called Two Friends Books. Plus, for the kids, there’s a boulder for climbing off to the side.

Starting with something sweet, you’ll want to visit Markham and Fitz chocolate shop. They create bean to bar chocolate that is absolutely divine. Add to that an assortment of chocolate baked goods that every local will rave about.

Walk around 8th Street Market, and check out Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, run by James Beard semifinalist Chef Rafael Rios; CO-OP Ramen; Bike Rack Brewing; and—for dessert—don’t miss the award-winning Markham & Fitz Chocolate.

The 8th Street Market opened last summer with offerings like Yeyos Mexican Grill, Bike Rack Brewing, Markham & Fitz chocolate shop and a Wednesday farmers’ market. But now, there’s so much more.

Experience chocolate at its finest at this dessert bar where single origin chocolate comes to life through drinks, dessert, confections and cocktails.

🍫 Head over to Eighth Street Market and indulge in a chocolate treat or drink at Markham and Fitz. Or snack on some Italian ice at The Happy Wagon.