by Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler
Courtesy of Dylan's Candy Bar
Looking for a golden ticket? These next-level candy stores are the biggest, brightest, and sweetest in the world.
1. Candylicious
Multiple locations
If the candy itself isn't enough of a draw (although it should be, with more than 5,000 varieties on offer), then this shop's fairytale-like decor will certainly pull you in. The columns embedded with candy and three to-scale lollipop trees will evoke some serious Hansel and Gretel feelings--minus the evil witch. The flagship store is located in Singapore's Resorts World Sentosa (pictured), and the other Candylicious locations in Singapore and Malaysia are just as impressive.
2. The Candy Room
Melbourne, Australia
All of the shops on this list qualify as a "world of pure imagination," but perhaps none more so than The Candy Room in Melbourne. By using black lines on blank white space, the store's designers created a childlike, illusional depiction of a furniture-filled room. Even the fixtures and appliances are drawn onto the walls, allowing the rainbow of candy to be the visual star. Something tells us Mr. Wonka himself would approve.
3. À la Mère de Famille
Paris, France
The next time you're in Paris, make a point to stop by À la Mère de Famille. Founded it 1761, it is the oldest confiserie in the city--and it shows (in a good way). As soon as you spot the iconic Belle Époque type on the storefront and the glass jars full of bonbons inside, you'll feel like you stepped straight into 18th-century Paris.
Courtesy of À la Mère de Famille
4. Dylan's Candy Bar
Multiple locations
Ask anyone in NYC and they'll tell you: Entering Dylan's is like winning a real-life Wonka golden ticket. Since opening in 2001, Dylan's has expanded to Los Angeles, East Hampton, and Miami, but the Upper East Side flagship store (pictured) is our favorite. With its kaleidoscopic decor, cupcake booths, and candy-inspired libations (such as the Jolly Rancher Cosmo and Sour Patch Margarita), it's no wonder more than 2.5 million people flock here every year.
5. Honeydukes
Orlando, Florida
"There were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-coloured toffees...." J.K. Rowling made Hogsmeade's Honeydukes sound so fantastic, it was hard to imagine a shop that sweet in real life--until the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010. Vibrant colors help recreate the magic of the Rowling's fictional candy shop, and Universal Studios wisely decided to offer the same treats mentioned in the book, from Chocolate Frogs to Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
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