For the most exquisite chocolate centrepieces.

Our experience

One of two chocolate specialty sweet boutiques located in Melbourne’s affluent, leafy inner-east suburbs (the other is Xocolatl), Sisko is a most unassuming shopfront along the comparatively quieter Auburn Road in Hawthorn. Seemingly closed, it is shuttered by cream-coloured blinds. Inside, it seems more like a showroom rather than a shop per se. A floor-to-ceiling shelf on the right of the entrance holds ribboned boxes of sculptured chocolate flowers, and upon two glass-topped tables are marbled orbs that swirl like mini-gaseous planets, ornamental birds for decorating and hanging, and glass cylinders filled with moulded cocoa pods. Behind the shop counter is an onsite kitchen.

Unlike other chocolate boutiques in Melbourne, Sisko mostly focuses on creating chocolate sculptures for functions. MoMo & Coco have visited a few times previously, to take away an Easter egg basket, petalled Christmas trees and as pictured below, a lotus flower to place at the centre of the table while celebrating our heritage’s new year. There are magnificent chocolate bird sculptures available too, but are made-to-order, requiring about a month’s notice. Sisko’s creations are exceedingly pricey (usually upwards of $40 for the smallest size), but for special occasions, arguably, worth every delighted gasp elicited. 🙂

For this blog documentation, below is one of Sisko’s signature pret-a-porter flower sculptures, priced at $45 for this smaller lotus-shaped sculpture. There is a larger version that resembles a waratah bloom at $65. Both are available in dark, milk and white chocolate renditions. In MoMo & Coco’s experience, the dark chocolate is a little too bitter for our personal preference, with a strange woody aftertaste; and we don’t like anything white chocolate. Sisko’s milk chocolate by contrast is our preferred chocolate type, not too sweet, not too dark, unfolding with a slight bouquet of berries, running like a rich red wine, and ending dry and somewhat oaky.

Our verdict

Undoubtedly expensive, yes. But, for a different and delicious gift, and a stylish and edible decor item, Sisko’s chocolate sculptures are hard to beat. Can you imagine a function where florist arrangements are entirely replaced with Sisko’s chocolate flowers? That would be akin to stepping into heaven….

Dessert adventure checklist

1. ☑ Dessert destination: Sisko Chocolate Design Studio, 330 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Vic 3122.
2. ☑ Budget: $$$.
3. ☑ Sweet irresistibles: Chocolate.
4. ☑ Must-eat: Chocolate flower sculptures.
5. ☑ The short and sweet story: For the most exquisite chocolate centrepieces.