The master chocolatier from Koko Black has defected to South Yarra to open his own chocolate store and cafe, Ganache Chocolate Lounge. The cafe tables and leather sofa make a cosy retreat from the South Yarra shopping strips and the selection of handmade chocolates and gelatos are a nice alternative to a restaurant dessert.
For summer I recommend the strawberry and chocolate chip gelato, dusted with chocolate flakes ($3.50). For the colder climes, the hot chocolate ($6) made with 60% dark chocolate and the chocolate mousse cake were both soothing and rich. We also took home a bar of distinctively creamy dark chocolate with almonds ($6.90), which we devoured over more episodes of Mad Men.
Eeep! Talk about stealing Koko Black’s ideas! This place is such a clone.
It's got a completely different ambience to Kokoblack – and the products are heaps better quality and better priced.
Kokoblack always lets me down whenever I go there, but Ganache never!
Personally I think I prefer Koko Black, but only the original Royal Arcade store. The upstairs lounge has a cosy ambience, particularly the big leather chairs next to the bay windows overlooking the arcade.