From rich drinking chocolate to hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows or paired with ice cream, there are a wealth of options for the warming drink. We’ve sampled our way around the city to put together this list of some of our favorite spots for great hot chocolate in Philly when the temperatures plummet.
Click the red markers for exact addresses.
Shane Confectionery
Known for their candy and chocolate, Shane Confectionery also serves a variety of drinking chocolates in The Chocolate Cafe, the back portion of their restored historic building. The decadent drinks–which include Thomas Jefferson’s drinking chocolate and the Royal Spanish with cinnamon and chili pepper–are made from cacao beans that are roasted and ground on-site. The drinks are served with marshmallows and/or whipped cream. It may seem glutinous to get both, but it’s totally worth it.
You’ll also find brewed cocoa, milkshakes, and mixes to take home to recreate your beverage of choice.
Café y Chocolate
If you’re bold enough to put “chocolate” in the name of your business, you better know your stuff. Thankfully, Café y Chocolate brings its “A” game.
This breakfast and lunch spot in South Philly offers specialties like chilaquiles and huaraches served with sweets and myriad drinks. We opt for the Mexican hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon (chocolate Oaxaca) and a similar version that includes espresso (café con chocolate). The drinks are also available frozen.
RIM Café
At RIM Café, hot chocolate isn’t just a drink, it’s an experience. There is steaming chocolate, a spinning platform, and sometimes even a blowtorch involved in the making of these delicious drinks.
Located in the Italian Market, RIM Café specializes in hot chocolate. They offer a dozen different options, including peanut butter, salty caramel, and even sweet potato. You can also get a version complete with a scoop of their homemade gelato. If you’re anywhere in the area, make a beeline here.
Anthony’s Italian Coffee & Chocolate House
One of the most popular spots for coffee and pastries in the Italian Market, Anthony’s Italian Coffee & Chocolate House is also one of the best places for hot chocolate. This family-run shop makes thick Italian drinking chocolate and hot chocolate in a range of flavors. For a special treat, try the peanut butter, Nutella, or amaretto, which is perfect alongside a famous Anthony’s sfogliatella.
Milk Jawn
We’ve loved Milk Jawn’s ice cream since their pop-up days. Now, you can find their exquisite frozen treats paired with hot chocolate in their South Philly and Northern Liberties shops. Our preferred combo is hot chocolate with a scoop of candy cane ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. This perfect drink is available weekends only.
Càphê Roasters
Kensington’s Càphê Roasters brings the same care to making a decadent cup of hot chocolate as they do to their Vietnamese coffee and specialty lattes. Made with dark chocolate and Milo syrup plus steamed condensed milk, it’s topped with marshmallows.
Gran Caffe L’Aquila
The drinking chocolate at Gran Caffe L’Aquila is so thick you could eat it with a spoon. It is great as is, but don’t be surprised if the barista offers you some sugar in the raw to sweeten it up a bit, if that’s more to your liking. We found a packet and a half to be plenty.
Sazon Restaurant & Cafe
After years as a restaurant on Spring Garden Street, Sazon now frequents farmer’s markets around the area with their Venezuelan specialties and curated chocolates from around the world. Their exceptional drinking chocolates include the Clasico with four types of cacao, hazelnuts, and maple sugars, and Cacique, which is a vegan option with a touch of vanilla. Their vending schedule is available on Instagram and often includes the Rittenhouse Square farmer’s market, East Falls, and Clark Park.
Aqimero
There are few more atmospheric spots to enjoy a hot chocolate than Aqimero in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton. It’s a sumptuously decorated space where you can linger over your drink that comes piled high with toasted marshmallows and a cookie on the side. I usually prefer my hot chocolate a little more chocolately than the one I had here, and it comes with a price tag to match the surroundings. Still, you can’t beat it for an overall elegant experience on a cold day.