The Best Hot Chocolate in London
London is hot chocolate heaven. It’s a big brag, but we feel pretty confident that with such a wide range of chocolate shops, it’s the best city in the world to sample different styles. So, here’s our list of the best hot chocolate places in London, from classic to quirky to on-the-go.
Most Indulgent: Italian Bear Chocolate, Soho
A hot chocolate so thick you can eat it with a spoon. this one will warm you up on the coldest of days in the capital. These Italian chocolate artisans have been serving the finest hot chocolate since 2012 and are famous for their triple chocolate (pictured) which is a heavenly mix of white, milk, and dark chocolate. The experience is more like eating melted chocolate than having a drink (but we’re not complaining!).
41 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9QL
Best Quirky Hot Chocolate: Dark Sugars Cocoa House
Photo Credit: Dark Sugars
Dark Sugars is a unique business – it was set up by its founder Nyanga to showcase her Ghanaian heritage, and has chocolate products from across West Africa. When you order a hot chocolate you watch her team prepare it, using a knife to shave huge blocks of chocolate by hand into cups, and topping the flakes with steamed milk. Then stir it yourself as you explore more of Brick Lane, nodding at other people who made the same excellent decision.
Dark Sugars Chocolates, 141 Brick Lane London, E1 6SB
Best Chic Chocolate: Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
Photo Credit: Pierre Monetta
2023 saw a touch of chocolate magic come to Borough Yards, the new retail space set on the fringes of the famous foodie paradise Borough Market. The Dorchester’s chef Alain Ducasse brought the oak interiors of his original Parisian shop and the not-to-sweet but rich and perfect flavor of the chocolate. The shop sells artisan chocolate bars, and the café will make a hot chocolate derived from their dark chocolate, all sourced with a loving care for provenance only found from the French. This one’s a firm favorite of our Borough Market food tour guides, we end our Borough food tours here in the winter and love their staff.
5 Dirty Ln, London SE1 9PA
Best Chain Chocolate: Hotel Chocolat
Photo Credit: Hotel Chocolat / @WestgateOxford
We understand – a day spent visiting London can be really busy, and you might not have time to make a detour specifically for hot chocolate. But that’s no reason to go without – of all the chains we think that Hotel Chocolat serves the best hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate is made of finely grated chocolate flakes, giving it a richer flavor in comparison to other chain hot chocolates.
294 Regent St., London W1B 3AP
Best Bespoke Chocolate: Knoops
Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Knoops UK
Knoops is all about choice. Their menu lets you pick your hot chocolate by cocoa percentage, with options ranging from sweet white chocolate to intense 100% dark cocoa. The drinks are consistently well made, and they offer add-ins like cinnamon or chilli powder depending on your taste. With several locations across London, Knoops is a solid option if you want a customised hot chocolate that’s reliable.
Find all of their locations at https://knoops.com/uk/pages/store-locations
So, there’s the Totally Tailored list of the best hot chocolates in London. Is there one you’d like to share? Just head over to our Instagram and let us know where we should head to next!
