City set for choc and awe

Belgian company Guylian launched its Circular Quay cafe on Thursday night, with Premier Nathan Rees and actress Miranda Otto headlining the guest list. Guylian will open a cafe in The Rocks later this year.

A Max Brenner chocolate cafe opened in Westfield Bondi Junction recently, bringing the chain's Australian outlets to 13. Meanwhile, Lindt has three Sydney Lindt Chocolat Cafes - Martin Place, Cockle Bay Wharf and George Street - which were the first of their kind in the world.

Haigh's Chocolates has 12 stores across the country, including one in Sydney.

Guylian managing director Carl Krefting said chocolate was seen as "recession-proof". "None of us likes what seems to have arrived in the last few months," he said of the financial downturn, "[but] I do not see too much of a problem."