The best hot chocolate in NYC
Kiss Swiss Miss goodbye—the best hot chocolate in NYC features fiery chilies, marshmallow “flowers” and, yes, booze
Winter isn’t coming—the blistery, cheek-blushing chill is here, and there’s no better way to combat the cold than the best hot chocolate in NYC from some of the city’s best coffee shops, best bakeries and best chocolate shops. But these aren’t your average cup ‘o cocoa—they come laced with Nutella, packed with pink peppercorns or spiked with whiskey as warm winter cocktails. Merry sipping!
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Best hot chocolate in NYC
Blooming hot chocolate at Dominique Ansel Bakery
It looks like magic but really, it’s just dessert-world ingenuity—pastry maestro Dominique Ansel crowns his rich cup of hot cocoa with a marshmallow flower that’s wrapped in a band of chocolate. When the chocolate hits the warm liquid, it melts and the flower “blooms” and reveals a chocolate truffle in the middle. $4.25
Brownie batter hot chocolate at El Rey
The team at the Lower East Side luncheonette stirs their hot cocoa with egg-less brownie batter and a sprinkle of sea salt for a decadent, salty-sweet rebuttal to winter's chill. $4
Hot chocolate at City Bakery
You'll have to wait until February to try the myriad incarnations presented during the bakery's annual Hot Chocolate Festival; for now, sate your sweet tooth with an oversize serving of the traditional version. Thick and potent, the cult favorite can be ordered with a dense, gooey, housemade marshmallow that bobs at the bubbly surface. $5, with marshmallow $5.50.
Cioccolata calda “al bacio” at Grom
Steamed to order, this indulgent version of the wintry classic gets a distinctive essence from Venezuelan gianduja milk chocolate and Tonda Gentile hazelnut chips. Cut only with a hint of white cane sugar and whole milk, the nutty flavors from the chocolate and the chips come through very clearly without being cloyingly sweet. Westfield World Trade Center, 185 Greenwich St (212-931-0663) * 1796 Broadway at 59th St (212-974-3444) * 233 Bleecker St at Carmine St (212-206-1738) *grom.it. Medium $5.50, large $6.50.
Lavender hot chocolate at Maman
What better accompaniment for the bakery's exceptional chocolate-chip cookies than a steamy mug of creamy hot cocoa made with melted dark chocolate and infused with dried lavender. $3.50
Hot chocolate at MarieBelle
The Cacao Bar of this chocolate boutique has a hot cocoa for every palate: Opt for a warm milk chocolate cup with freshly ground hazelnuts or natural banana pulp, or a white-chocolate rendion with Tahitian vanilla. $5 each
Nutella hot chocolate with brandy at Boqueria
No need to spoon it from the jar anymore—Nutella nuts can glug down this hot cup at Yann de Rochefort’s tapas bar instead, where two tablespoons of the hazelnut spread are splashed with a shot of oaky, lightly nutty brandy. $12
Mexican hot chocolate at Choza Taqueria
Venue says: “Healthy food that is also a guilty pleasure, thats the Choza way! Order online for $5 off your $20 order.”
From their taco-and-tamale counter inside Gotham West Market, Matt Wagman and David Albiero heat up classic cocoas with a hit of chili pepper—soothed with and a dash of more soothing baking spice— that will transport you from nippy New York to a lounger on the Gulf Coast. $3
Hot chocolate at Amy’s Bread
This pared-down cup brims with a ganache made of artisanal chocolates that's whipped with milk until smooth and creamy. A big ol' house-made marshmallow is plopped on top for even more sweetness. $4.95
Matcha hot chocolate at MatchaBar
Matcha-loving masters and brothers Max and Graham Fortgang whisk a teaspoon of Japanese tea into hot water until foam appears, then fold in cacao powder and steamed milk to create a chocolatey tea latte. $5.50
Green Chaud at Meadowsweet
To riff on the French cup, pastry chef Jared Rubin (Bouchon, Dover) serves this chartreuse-splashed cocoa with a scoop of green-chartreuse gelato and a gooey chocolate chip cookie. $9
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Thanks for the article and all the comments! Happy Holidays 🎄✡
My favorite is La Maison du Chocolat's hot chocolate. I usually stop by on my way to the office for a cup to go. It is true, sometimes they don't have it in the store simply because they sold out! According to what i was told by one of the store managers they ship the product from France so they run out of it once in a while, specially during busy seasons. As replacement, I also like Maribelle and Le Pain Quotidien (they have a very good one and they were not listed).
How could you miss Chocolate By The Bald Man's spicy Mexican hot chocolate; dark or milk with chili's, or their "Dark Italian" more puddingy and chocolatey and less crazy rich than The city bakery...really, chocolate by the bald man 14th and Broadway. Do not venture in on any friday saturday or sunday; go on a random weekday morning to avoid the madness...
As recommended, we showed up at La Maison du Chocolat after going to see the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center 2 days before Christmas, and were told they weren't serving hot chocolate. We persevered and took the bus (and a long walk on a cold, windy day) to La Maison on Madison and 78th, and were told they had run out of hot chocolate. So much for Time Out's savvy holiday recommendations.
You also missed my new favorite, which has turned into a veritable addiction, really, the VEGAN hot chocolate at Cocoa V on 9th ave at 21st--so freaking good it;s unreal, and i'm not even vegan!
OMG- you missed my NU favorite: hot chocolate at NUNU. It's like you landed in hot chocolate heaven and you never want to leave. Union Square Holiday Market and 529 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn 917-776-7102 www.nunuchocolates.com