A woman, Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) comes to a sleepy French provincial town and creates a stir by opening a chocolate shop. The stern townspeople view her with distrust. However, Vianne befriends an old woman, Amande Voizin (Judi Dench), who is a diabetic and does not speak to her daughter. Vianne also befriends an abused wife (Lena Olin). Little by little, some of the people begin to be seduced by Vianne’s wonderful, sensual chocolate. The townspeople become accustomed to the presence of Vianne, but then a group of wandering Gypsies stops at the town. Vianne befriends their leader Roux (Johnny Depp), and a romance develops between them. But there is a destiny Vianne believes she has to fulfil: she has to roam the world, spreading her magic chocolate everywhere, just as her mother before her, a Maya princess, used to do. Will Vianne pack her belongings and once more set off on her wonders, dragging her reluctant daughter, or is there something that will make her remain in the small French town?