Nashville Best Of 2026 · Best Candy & Chocolate
Goo Goo Cluster
America’s first combination candy bar was born right here in 1912. Caramel, marshmallow nougat, roasted peanuts, and milk chocolate still make the Goo Goo Cluster Nashville’s sweetest souvenir, and our pick for the best candy in town.
The Verdict
Why Goo Goo Earns the Title
Plenty of chocolatiers call Nashville home, but only one invented an entirely new kind of candy. When the Goo Goo Cluster debuted in 1912, candy bars were made from a single main ingredient. Goo Goo combined caramel, marshmallow nougat, and roasted peanuts under a coat of milk chocolate, and more than a century later, the original recipe is still the one Nashville loves.
Its downtown flagship, just steps from Lower Broadway, turns that history into a hands-on experience. Browse the full lineup of Goo Goos and handmade bonbons, design your own custom candy bar and watch chocolatiers build it in front of you, or book a chocolate-making class. It’s the perfect stop for a sweet souvenir that could only come from Nashville.
1912
Invented in Nashville
1st
Combination Candy Bar in America
4
Signature Ingredients
15 Min
To Build Your Own Custom Bar
What to Try
Three Sweet Ways to Goo Goo
Start with a classic, then make it your own. Here’s what to grab at the flagship.
The Original Goo Goo
Caramel, marshmallow nougat, and roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate, made from the same recipe created in 1912. This is where it all began.
The Pecan & Peanut Butter
Try the Pecan, formerly known as the Goo Goo Supreme, which swaps in pecans for peanuts, or the Peanut Butter Goo Goo for a creamy twist on the classic.
Design Your Own Bar
Pick your chocolate, layers, and add-ins at an in-store kiosk, then watch chocolatiers build your custom four-ounce bar right in front of you. No appointment needed.
The Story
Nashville’s Sweetest Invention
In 1912, Howell Campbell and his plant superintendent, Porter Moore, were making candy at Nashville’s Standard Candy Company when they tried something no one had done before: combining several kinds of candy into one bar. The result was the Goo Goo Cluster. Early Goo Goos were hand-dipped and sold unwrapped before foil wrappers came along.
Over the next century, the Goo Goo became a beloved part of Music City culture and a longtime sponsor of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2014, the brand opened its downtown flagship just off Broadway, renovated it in 2021, and today it’s a must-stop for locals and visitors looking for a true taste of Nashville.
“Go get a Goo Goo… it’s good!”
Goo Goo’s Classic Slogan
Plan Your Visit
A Sweet Stop off Broadway
The Goo Goo Chocolate Co. flagship sits on 3rd Avenue South, just south of Broadway. Stop in any day of the week, no appointment needed.
Downtown Flagship
Parking
The shop doesn’t have on-site parking. Nearby options include Music City Center, the Premier Parking 222 Garage, and the surface lot at 127 3rd Ave S.
Good to Know
Custom bars take about 15 minutes, a little longer in busy season. Flying out? Grab a last-minute Goo Goo at their BNA airport storefront.
Go Get a Goo Goo
Design a custom bar at the flagship, book a chocolate class, or have Goo Goos shipped straight to your door.