It’s Still Hot Chocolate Season! Here’s Where To Get London’s Best
The warming rich lava that’s a cold weather essential, nothing beats a hot chocolate on a brisk Autumn afternoon. But we’re bypassing the typical Pret cups and looking for London’s richest and most indulgent offerings. We think we might have just found them…
From Dark Sugars’ chocolate curl loaded number to Said Dal 1923’s Italian take, here’s where to head for London’s best hot chocolates.
1. The Chinoiserie
Located in the Carlton Tower Jumeirah, this cocoa is pipping hot with popularity and taste. Coined the most Parisian cup you can get in London, this holiday beverage is a must-sip this season.
Watch your hot chocolate created before your eyes as a waiter freshly brews a heaping serving of chocolate delight. Pair your cup with any and all of the condiments and goodies provided: Radiant chocolate pearls, wonderfully fresh whipped cream, sweet strawberries, and to top it all off, mini chocolate chip cookies. We give this high-hot cocoa experience all the gold stars this festive season!
1 Cadogan Place Ground Floor The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, London SW1X 9PY
Jumeirah.com
2. Knoops
Experts in the chocolate field, Knoops serve up some of the best creamy chocolate-y drinks in the capital.
Starting life in the picturesque town of Rye, East Sussex, their concept is centred around the chocolate percentage. Visitors can choose their chocolate percentage, milk type and add on extra flavour touches too, from orange zest to sea salt, to really take the chocolate experience up a notch. Now with four venues spread across the city, you can enjoy their hot chocolates any time.
Chelsea, Kensington, Richmond, Covent Garden, Oxford, Rye & Brighton
www.knoops.co.uk
3. Maison Ladurée
If Parisian chocolate is your favourite, you’ll want to whizz over to Ladurée, the already famous Pâtisserie we all know and love.
With locations all around London, and a status that goes unchallenged, Ladurée is a staple place to sip on a warm, chocolatey cocoa.
Sit in and order one of their hot chocolates from locations like Covent Garden, or after a shopping spree in Harrods. Just make sure you are prepared for a chocolate coma afterwards.
Various Locations
Laduree.co.uk
4. Dark Sugars
Brick Lane’s Dark Sugars takes chocolate lovers on a whole new journey. Fall in love with the founder’s inspiring journey and indulge in one of the best hot chocolates you’ll ever try. Their hot chocs are piled with layers of shaved chocolate that’s topped over warming, frothy milk. Watch as it melts its way into the milk, spilling over the sides and getting your fingers covered in chocolatey goodness.
As well as hot chocs, visitors can expect to search through mountains of handmade goodies, from truffles and pearls to vegan friendly treats.
141 Brick Lane, E1 6RU
www.darksugars.co.uk
5. 108 Brasserie & Bar and Pierre Marcolini
Nothing screams Christmas like hot chocolate and Marylebone Village, right? Starting on 9 November you can enjoy all the festive fun at this one time only event. Enjoy the cheerful lights and bundle up with their special “choctails” that’ll make you fa la la!
108 Marylebone Ln, London W1U 2QE
www.marylebonevillage.com
6. Hotel Chocolat
Looking for a range of hot chocolates to choose from this festive season? You’ve come to the right place. Hotel Chocolat crushes the basic cup of cocoa with its variety of flavours and goodies to choose from.
Looking for something not too sweet? Try the creamy, award-winning milky hot chocolate made with 50% cacao. How about something to spice up your holiday season? Try the chilly-dark hot chocolate made with 70% cacao and habanero chilli. Tasty and tongue-tingling!
Various Locations
Hotelchocolat.com
7. Rococo Chocolates
Established back in 1983, Rococo Chocolates now boasts seven London shops bursting with the finest luxury chocolate blends, handcrafted truffles and astounding hampers.
The chocolatiers pride themselves on using only the finest, most ethically sourced ingredients, for sustainability purposes but also to maximise the taste. Rococo continues to wow all year round, with their innovative creations and specialty products. But for the hot chocolate lovers out there, look to them for a creamy filled blend made with the finest quality chocolate. Rich, indulgent and every bit as delicious as you could imagine.
Various Locations
www.rococochocolates.com
8. Venchi
Home to 11 London locations, Venchi is the place to shop for traditional Italian style chocolates.
From indulgent spreads to pick and mix that’ll win over any chocolate fan, there’s something for all hidden inside one of Venchi’s stores. Including their hot chocolate offering that’s creamy and full-flavoured.
For those wanting to recreate their hot choc offering at home, buy the Cacao Due Vecchi Cocoa Powder Drinking Chocolate and mix up your own warming concoction at home.
Various locations
www.venchi.com
9. Melt London
Rich, thick and delicious. So thick you could eat it with a spoon, Melt London’s hot chocolates are hard to beat. They use a range of chocolate caddies to make the most indulgent cup, whether you’re in your dark or milk choccie. If you’re a fan of the taste, you can even buy them by the jar to recreate the experience for yourself at home – although nothing quite beats one made by the professionals themselves.
Various locations
www.meltchocolates.com
10. The Connaught Patisserie
This one might be on the more expensive side, but a trip to The Connaught Patisserie is a must this Autumn-Winter.
The space, decked out in light pinks and booth seating, is the perfect backdrop to any hot chocolate experience. Enjoy their rich homemade hot chocolate alongside their iconic Hound chocolate hazelnut cakes – a chocolate lover’s dream date.
The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL
www.the-connaught.co.uk
11. Italian Bear Chocolate
Rooted in Italian cultural heritage, Italian Bear Chocolate creates the best cup of cocoa curated by their own chocolate artisans. Enjoy locally based ingredients with these rim-lined and chocolate filled cups.
Feel free to indulge on their cakes and other goodies as well – nothing goes with chocolate better than more chocolate!
Soho & Fitzrovia
Italianbearchocolate.com
12. The Apple Blue
This cafe serves up some of the best Brunch in South London, and some of the best cocoa too!
Enjoy their classic French toast with a cup of thick cocoa. Made from a blend of columbian chocolate, milk & cream, and bourbon vanilla bean, this chocolate rimmed cup is ideal for a cold, cosy winter day.
212 Balham High Rd, London SW12 9BS
Theappleblue.com
13. Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream
Explore hot cocoa through a Filipino lens with this ube bev. The purple yam that is ube is a symbol of Filipino resilience and adaptability, and what better way to celebrate its importance in Fillipino culture than by enjoying it this winter.
Enjoy the beautiful colored ube cocoa with any and all of their other treats: ube brownies, buko pie, or halo halo!
Kentish Town, Chinatown, and Westfield London
Dirtyicecream.co.uk