Luxury Chocolate in the Heart of Osaka! Pierre Marcolini at Grand Front Osaka

I first discovered the world of Pierre Marcolini’s gourmet chocolates in Ginza, about 10 years ago. At the time, it was the only location in Japan and I remember each decadent bite of the parfait I ate, thinking “This is the place!” Fortunately, now we have a location here in Osaka that opened in May of 2023. You’ll find their cafe and chocolate shop on the 1st floor of Grand Front Osaka.

Reliving My Magical Moment: Another Delectable Chocolate Parfait

Pierre Marcolini is a Belgian chocolate brand created by the chocolatier Pierre Marcolini. The Ginza location opened in 2001. And when I had my first bite, I was immediately struck by the richness of chocolatey flavor in such a small piece of chocolate.



Because, their only domestic location was in Tokyo, I could only purchase their chocolates during Valentine chocolate fairs, so it felt particularly special. I still have that photo from when I first tried their chocolates in Ginza 10 years ago.

Luscious chocolate in both the ice cream and mousse imbues this dessert with a rich flavor, without being too sweet. It was delicious it all the way to the last bite. 
And so when I visited the Osaka Pierre Marcolini location, I just had to have it again.

The angle you see is different, but the parfait hasn’t changed one bit in the last 10 years! You can see the chocolate ice cream in the front. That bitter chocolate flavor goes splendidly with the whipped cream. Taste them individually and eat them together, this is the beauty of a parfait, since you can mix and match the flavors. 


Although there is a lot of creamy elements in the parfait, it is well-balanced and doesn’t feel too heavy. Naturally, there is no added sugar in the whipped cream.


And just when I was getting close to the bottom of my glass, I found a delicious layer of chocolate sauce. When I was finished the parfait left behind the lingering pleasure of having eaten a chocolate parfait. You may think the parfait is on the small side, but that’s just another reason to want another one.

Terrace Seating at Grand Front Osaka Lets You Feel Like You’re on the Streets of Paris

The terrace seating on the first floor of Grand Front Osaka’s South Building is amazing! It is not too big, with only 12 seats, but the tables look out over a tree-lined street. It feels open and refreshing, like what it must feel like to sit along Champs-Élysées.

When the weather is pleasant outside, it can feel just like being on the streets of Paris. In addition to the parfait, you can also order waffles or a selection of chocolates from the menu. Plus the cafe menu includes eclairs. 



Of course this chocolate shop serves delicious chocolates, but their desserts are not to be scoffed at. Pierre Marcolini is not only known as a chocolatier, but a world-class pâtissier too. No matter what you order, you can’t go wrong. 
And they create seasonal desserts as well, so you’ll want to come back to try them all. 


Seeking Out the Finest Cacao Beans—The Grands Crus Assortment, a Dream Come True for Chocolate Lovers

Although there are a number of chocolatiers who tout Bean to Bar production (the process of handling the entire process of turning cacao beans in the final chocolate product), Pierre Marcolini is a pioneer in the field. He traveled the world in search of the highest quality cacao beans to select them for his products. 


He has an undying respect for the cacao producers and sends his chocolates to share with the farmers. The end result is here. 


This small box contains 7 pieces of chocolate in 6 varieties—The Grands Crus Selection. The chocolates look very plain, but they can take you on a tasting journey around the world, with chocolates from Bali to Madagascar to Cuba, all in this one little box. 


Tart, bitter, and robust, cacao can have a nuanced flavor profile and this one box has so much variety. They’re all on the bitter side, so if you are a bitter fan, this is the perfect box for you!



The shop also sells pastries and macarons, so you can bring home something else sweet with you.