Born from the Aztecs and now an integral part of our cosy season activities, hot chocolate has been on one hell of a ride. Poured over marshmallows? Drizzled with melted chocolate? Drenched in liqueur? Served perched on the riverside? However you like it, these gorgeous restaurants, bars and cafes have got it. Get your winter warmers on with our guide to the best places for hot chocolate in London. You know you want to...
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The Best Hot Chocolate In London
The Bottomless One: The Chocolate Cocktail Club
One for all you chocoholics, The Chocolate Cocktail Club implores you to join them for a mouthwatering afternoon tea fuelled by classic sandwiches, warm scones, truffle tortes and decadent profiteroles. This Farringdon fave is going all-out in the drinks department too, with 2.5 hours of unlimited hot chocolates, teas and coffees (£25pp) or chocolate cocktails (£32 pp).
Choose from chocolate cocktails and hot toddies.
The Boozy One: Fire And Fromage
If you're after something on the spirited side, then check out Fire And Fromage's steamy little number. Whether you've been naughty or nice, their hot chocolate (£5) is the only present you need. Made with an optional creamy Black Cow vodka (£4), it's the ideal treat after a feast of fondue and steak.
Enjoy this boozy hot chocolate under twinkling lights.
The Cocktail One: Circes
Snuggle up in a toasty igloo under the winter night sky with a glass (or two) of Circes' ultra-decadent chocolate cocktails. Yup, you heard that right. This mythical wonderland has teamed up with Hotel Chocolat to bring you a special menu of indulgent chocolatey drinks like the Salted Caramel Chocotini (£13.95), a luxurious mix of amaretto, almond, and salted caramel liqueur.
Circes promises a super sweet treat on a cold winter night out.
The Marshmallow-Flamed One: Chin Chin
Since starting as a small shop in Camden in 2010, this dessert haven has become well-known for making sweet treats with liquid nitrogen and going big on flavours. A viral favourite that you can't miss on Instagram, Chin Chin's hot chocolate (£4.95) is thick, indulgent and finished with torched marshmallows. Whether you're craving a hot chocolate in Soho or Camden, or would rather a kit delivered, it's well worth a try.
Got a sweet tooth? Try the best hot chocolate Soho has to offer.
The OTT One: Dark Sugars
From spirited and spiced to classic and vegan, Dark Sugars have something for all palates. Born in 2013, when Nyanga brought her artisan handcrafted chocolates to Brick Lane, the store has grown, with a four-storey flagship store in Greenwich. Expect authentic African cocoa and quirky flavours in these hot chocolates. And if you fancy creating your own? Their DIY kits contain traditional utensils and quality chocolate to brew at home.
From white hot chocolate to dark and delicious, it doesn't get much tastier than this.
The French One: Ladurée
The most famous hot chocolate in London? Parisian brand Ladurée is up there for its luxury spin on the classic. Get a taste of France right here, as you pair yours with macaroons (fun fact: it invented the very first macaron in 1930) and fancy patisserie treats after a day of shopping or Christmas light swooning in the West End.
Feast your eyes on one of the tastiest places for the best hot chocolate in Covent Garden.
The Customised One: Knoops
Giant fluffy marshmallow? Autumnal spiced? Made for vegans? Whichever way you want it, Knoops will deliver (from £3.75). Choose your chocolate percentage, pick between add-ons like sea salt and chilli and - better yet - get it to take away from locations including Kensington, Chelsea, Covent Garden and Richmond. The brand also has stores outside of London in Oxford, Brighton and Rye. This one's a must on your hot choc hit list.
Knoops hot chocolate in London is a perfect, thick pour.
The One From A Fountain: Badiani
Not only known for an epic selection of authentic gelato, Badiani should also be on your radar when winter rolls around. Served from a fountain, this luscious Italian hot chocolate is richer, thicker, and creamier than your bog standard cocoa, and can be finessed with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, wafers and pistachio sauce drizzled on top. This year, it's introducing a Chocolate Affogato, with a scoop of signature gelato, to the menu, plus a Hot Pistachio and Buontalenti Mocha.
Badiani has shops all across Central London.
The Ube One: Mamasons
If you thought you'd seen it all before... think again. The Filipino dessert specialists at Mamasons have created all sorts of quirky sips from calamansi-ade to black buko koko. Get your hands on this ube hot cocoa (£5) made with ube and white chocolate, then smothered in ube whipped cream and wafer.
If you've never had ube, now's the time.
The Italian One: Italian Bear Chocolate
Located in the heart of London's West End, Italian Bear Chocolate has been running since 2012, whipping up decadent treats with authentic recipes rooted in Italian culture. Its hot chocolate (from £4.90) is a must-drink on your Soho and Fitzrovia ventures - choose from milk, Gianduia or dark chocolate and add a little twist with the likes of cinnamon, ginger and chilli, or add its signature 'triple chocolate' for £1.90 more.
Ciao bella: this hot chocolate is something else.
