Chocolat Republic Sannomiya 三宮本店 (Kobe, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

I didn’t have any specific dessert shop planned for our stay in Kobe so this was more about destiny. As we were leaving the parking arcade to head back to our hotel, there it was: my first dessert stop in Kobe.

Originated in Kobe, Chocolat Republic (ショコラ リパブリック) is a French patisserie best known for blending classic French pastries with a modern Japanese twist.

This multi-story flagship features a dazzling takeout pastry counter on the ground floor, plus an elegant café in the basement and on the second floor. 

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to sit down for a drink and a piece of cake.

Ispahan (700 yen) — Honestly, it wasn’t the presentation I expected from an Ispahan without the vibrant raspberries. 

The rose-flavored nama chocolate cream, shaped like a flower, sits on top of a slightly chewy chocolate tart. There were also hints of lychee and raspberry to make it more interesting. 

It wasn’t bad, but it unfortunately needed some brighter fruitiness to really bring the flavors all together.

Food Rating: 5.4/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 4-8-7 Kanocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0001, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Sannomiya

Tel: +81 (0)78-321-3666

Website: http://www.chocolat-republic.com/

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 12:00am (Mon - Sat), 11:00am - 10:00pm (Sun)