frequently asked questions
please click on the question to see the relevant answer
- I don't know which tour to choose. Help!
- How are the tours different?
- Which is the best tour?
- Which tour has the most chocolate?
- Which tour is best for caffeine addicts?
- I don't drink coffee, can I have hot chocolate instead?
- What is included in the tour price?
- Do the tastings on the tour cost extra?
- Will there be time for chocolate shopping during the tour?
- How long do the tours last?
- How far ahead do I need to make a booking for a tour?
- Do the tour itineraries change?
- I want to do a tour but work on weekends, do you run tours on weekdays?
- How many people are needed for a tour to operate?
- How many people will there be in my tour group?
- Do I need to get a group together to do a tour?
- My friends and I would like to do a private tour, is that possible?
- I've got a group of 20 friends who want to do a tour, you say your maximum number is 12, does that mean we can't do a tour?
- My children love chocolate; can they come on the tour with me?
- Can I bring my baby with me?
- I've chosen my tour and know what time it starts and where to meet. Do I have to book in advance, or can I just turn up?
- Can I pay for the tour on the day?
- I don't have a credit card, how can I pay for the tour?
- Do the tours operate in the rain?
- Is there much walking involved in the tours? How strenuous is it?
- Can I reschedule a booked tour?
- Can I cancel a booked tour?
- Can I go on a tour for free to keep a friend company? I don't eat chocolate.
- I am diabetic but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
- I am coeliac/gluten intolerant but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
- I am allergic to nuts/dairy/msg but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
1. I don't know which tour to choose. Help!
Yes there are several different chocolate espresso tours! chocolate espresso operates tours in the Sydney CBD on Thursday evenings, Friday mornings, Saturday mornings and afternoons, and Sunday mornings. We also operate a tour in Darlinghurst on Saturday mornings. For many people, the tour they choose is decided by the day and time which suits them best. And also which location they prefer. If you choose a CBD tour you can perhaps spend the rest of the day in the city to do some sightseeing and shopping; if you choose a Darlinghurst tour you may get to explore a part of Sydney you are not familiar with and which has many places and items of interest. But all our tours contain lots of chocolate! Please read the tour descriptions on the chocolate tours page to choose your tour.
2. How are the tours different?
Each chocolate espresso tour has a different itinerary. Some of the CBD tours visit the same chocolate stops, but some of them have unique places. The Darlinghurst tour has its own unique itinerary and, as well as chocolate tastings, also includes two in depth "meet the chocolatiers" experiences. Please read the tour descriptions on the chocolate tours page to choose your tour.
All chocolate espresso tours are delicious, fun and informative. Whichever tour you choose, you will have a very indulgent and enjoyable time!
4. Which tour has the most chocolate?
All chocolate espresso tours have lots of chocolate. Whichever tour you choose, we are confident that you will have had plenty of chocolate by the end!
5. Which tour is best for caffeine addicts?
All chocolate espresso tours offer good coffee for coffee lovers to enjoy drinking. If you would like not only to drink good coffee but also to learn more about it, and to watch the barista operate the espresso machine, and to be able to ask questions about how to make good coffee, then our espressos and exotic chocs tour, which operates on Friday mornings, is the best tour for you! Please read the espressos and exotic chocs tour description.
6. I don’t drink coffee, can I have hot chocolate instead?
Yes all chocolate espresso tours offer coffee, but it is never compulsory! You can certainly have hot chocolate instead of coffee. The main focus of our weekend tours is chocolate.
7. What is included in the tour price?
Everything you eat and drink during a chocolate espresso tour is included in the tour price, exactly what you eat and drink varies according to which tour you choose. If you want to buy extra chocolates either during or after the tour you will need to bring some money!
8. Do the tastings on the tour cost extra?
Everything you eat and drink during a chocolate espresso tour is included in the tour price. Chocolate purchases are not included in the tour price, but most of the shops we visit offer discounts to our tour participants!
9. Will there be time for chocolate shopping during the tour?
Yes all chocolate espresso tour timetables allow for chocolate shopping time. We know that you will want to buy chocolates for your family and friends who are unlucky not to be on the tour! Most of the chocolate shops which we visit offer discounts to tour participants both during the tour and afterwards, your tour guide will tell you all about those during the tour.
10. How long do the tours last?
Our CBD tours last for about 3 hours, our Darlinghurst tour lasts for about 3.5 hours. The exact end time is not fixed, once you are at the final destination on the tour and you have been served with whatever it is you are going to drink and/or eat to conclude the tour, your chocolate espresso guide will leave and you are able to stay for a while to end the tour in comfort and style.
11. How far ahead do I need to make a booking for a tour?
Please give us as much notice as you can, contact us as soon as you have chosen your tour and a date. chocolate espresso tours become booked out quickly so, if you can, please have a second date in mind in case your first choice is already full.
12. Do the tour itineraries change?
Very occasionally, for reasons beyond our control, we can't visit our usual chocolate or coffee shops – perhaps they are closed for a private function, or for renovations, or have suddenly closed down. We always replace a "missing" tour venue with another similar one and if there are changes to the tour meeting place, we always contact our tour participants to let them know. If you have a requirement to visit a specific chocolate or coffee shop, you can always contact us just before your tour to check the itinerary.
13. I want to do a tour but work on weekends, do you run tours on weekdays?
Yes, chocolate espresso chocolate cocktails and sparkling shopping tours operate on Thursday evenings and espressos and exotic chocs tours operate on Friday mornings. We are also happy to operate our other tours on weekdays on demand, provided that we have at least 6 participants.
14. How many people are needed for a tour to operate?
All chocolate espresso tours operate with a minimum of 6 people.
15. How many people will there be in my tour group?
As a general rule, chocolate espresso tours operate with a maximum of 12 people. Very occasionally we will have 13 people in the group but never more than that. We like to keep our tour groups small so that everyone can be involved in what is going on and our tour guides can easily interact with all the participants.
16. Do I need to get a group together to do a tour?
You don't need to get a group together to be part of one of our regular Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday tours. Just book in and meet some other chocolate (and coffee) lovers!
17. My friends and I would like to do a private tour, is that possible?
Yes we will be pleased to operate a private chocolate espresso tour for you provided that you have a minimum of 6 people.
18. I've got a group of 20 friends who want to do a tour, you say your maximum number is 12, does this mean we can't do a tour?
For your group of 20 we will operate the tour with 2 tour guides.
19. My children love chocolate; can they come on the tour with me?
Children aged 13 and over are welcome to come on the tour with you, please be aware that there is no reduced price for children (it is our experience that they can eat just as much chocolate as an adult!).
20. Can I bring my baby with me? S/he is very well behaved and won't get in the way and I may not be able to arrange child care.
chocolate espresso tours are designed as grown up entertainment experiences and are not suitable for children who are younger than 13. Please try to find someone to take care of your baby, not only so that you can get the most enjoyment from your tour but also out of respect for the other tour participants. It is our experience that a lot of people book chocolate espresso tours as adult time treats away from their children. If they have arranged child care they don't necessarily want to meet other people's children!
21. I've chosen my tour and know what time it starts and where to meet. Do I have to book in advance or can I just turn up on the day?
Bookings are essential. As tours fill up quickly, please contact chocolate espresso as soon as possible.
22. Can I pay for the tour on the day?
No, sorry, we can't accept payment on the day. Payment in full in advance is required to confirm a booking. Please view the payment methods available.
23. I don't have a credit card, how can I pay for the tour?
You can pay by electronic funds transfer from your bank account into the chocolate espresso bank account. Or you can send a money order to chocolate espresso. Our address is at the botton of every page.
24. Do the tours operate in the rain? I'm booked on a tour this weekend and the weather forecast says it's going to rain; will the tour still go ahead?
Yes, we've never cancelled a chocolate espresso tour because of the weather! Please bring an umbrella so that you can enjoy your tour. The chocolate and coffee shops we visit are all indoors, and as we walk from place to place in the CBD we are under cover most of the time. In Darlinghurst there is less cover available so if it is rainy please come prepared!
25. Is there much walking involved in the tours? How strenuous is it?
The walking in all chocolate espresso tours involves strolling along city streets with pavements. Our CBD tours are mostly along the flat although there are a couple of gentle inclines and some steps. In the CBD, where there are steps you always have the option of taking a lift or escalator. Our Darlinghurst tour involves a little more walking, still a stroll along streets with pavements but there are some hills and some sandstone steps without the option of taking a lift or escalator. If walking is a major concern, please contact us to discuss.
26. Can I reschedule a booked tour? I'm booked on a tour this weekend. Something else has come up and I need to reschedule the tour.
Please see our cancellation policy below. If it's fewer than 5 days until your tour, your only option is to transfer your booking to a friend or relative. Unfortunately you cannot schedule another tour and no refund can be given.
27. Can I cancel a booked tour?
- if you cancel your booking more than five (5) days before the booked tour, you may book another tour (subject to availability) or request a refund. A refund is subject to an administration fee of $10.00.
- if you cancel your booking fewer than five (5) days before the booked tour, you may transfer it to another person (to a family member or friend, for example). That other person is committed to the date and tour of your original booking. No refund is given.
28. Can I go on a tour for free to keep a friend company? I don't eat chocolate.
You can certainly keep your friend company on the tour, but you will have to pay the full tour price. This is because the price covers not only the chocolate tastings, but the whole tour experience offered by the chocolate and coffee shops you will visit on the tour and the chocolate espresso guide.
29. I am diabetic but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
Please bear in mind your medical advice before you decide to book on a tour and eat chocolate. If you decide to join us, talk to the staff of the chocolate shops before you eat anything. Please be aware that you don't have to eat all the tastings and treats during the tour, all tour participants receive a chocolate espresso bag which is useful for taking away items for later consumption. And of course you can always share your tastings and treats with your friends and/or family who are on the tour with you. Please be aware that chocolate espresso can take no responsibility for any food reaction that you may have.
30. I am coeliac/gluten intolerant but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
chocolate espresso tours may include tastings of products with gluten. If you are a coeliac or gluten intolerant please make us aware of this when you make your booking so that we can make special arrangements for gluten free tastings where possible. And please talk to the staff of the chocolate shops before you eat anything. Please be aware that you don't have to eat all the tastings and treats during the tour, all tour participants receive a chocolate espresso bag which is useful for taking away items for later consumption. And of course you can always share your tastings and treats with your friends and/or family who are on the tour with you. Please be aware that chocolate espresso can take no responsibility for any food reaction that you may have.
31. I am allergic to nuts/dairy/msg but I love chocolate; are your tours suitable for me?
chocolate espresso tours may include products with nuts/dairy/msg. If you decide to join us, talk to the staff of the chocolate shops before you eat anything. Please be aware that you don't have to eat all the tastings and treats during the tour, all tour participants receive a chocolate espresso bag which is useful for taking away items for later consumption. And of course you can always share your tastings and treats with your friends and/or family who are on the tour with you. Please be aware that chocolate espresso can take no responsibility for any food reaction that you may have.
