This time of year, there’s nothing like sipping on some cozy and creamy hot chocolate. January 31st is National Hot Chocolate Day. To celebrate, we rounded up some of the best hot chocolate destinations in New England. You can also check out our blog with hot chocolate recipes and tips for making it at home.
Before diving into these “hot” hot chocolate spots, here’s some hot chocolate 101. While the terms “hot chocolate” and “hot cocoa” are often used interchangeably, turns out they are in fact different. Hot cocoa actually has it’s own national day on December 13th.
Learn more about the differences between hot cocoa and hot chocolate.
No matter what you call it, or which variation you prefer, both are comfort in a cup!
Caffé Vittoria – Boston, MA
This famous and longstanding North End of Boston Italian bakery is best known for its authentic Italian desserts. Their “Cioccolatto Caldo” is the city’s most authentic cup of Italian-style hot chocolate. Those 21 and older can order their drinks with Bailey’s mint and peppermint schnapps or hazelnut liqueur, kahlua and brandy.
Trapp Family Lodge – Stowe, VT
The charming, relaxing Austrian-style resort setting and spectacular hills and mountains provide the ideal spot for a nice cup of hot chocolate at the Trapp Family Lodge. Many of you probably know the Trapp Family Lodge as the setting for the Sound of Music movie starring Julie Andrews.
Le Rouge Chocolates and Cakes by Aarti – Westport, CT
This chocolate shop carries some decadent and creative flavors of hot chocolate. The menu includes double dark hot chocolate, hazelnut dark chocolate, raspberry white hot chocolate, matcha green tea white hot chocolate, and saffron pistachio white hot chocolate. All flavors come in a cup in-store or in a bottle to drink at home.
LA Burdick – Walpole, NH, Boston, MA & Cambridge, MA
LA Burdick’s New England locations are in Walpole, NH, Boston, MA, and Cambridge, MA. From the bakery, you can have your hot chocolate in dark, milk or white chocolate. The shaved chocolate and cocoa powder with steamed milk, topped with foam and a spice ball, make for an amazing hot chocolate. You can choose from different chocolate sources, too, including Grenedian, Venezuelan, Dominican, Bolivian, Madagascan and Ecuadorian.
Tatte Bakery & Café – Boston, Cambridge & Brookline, MA
Tatte has several locations throughout Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline, MA. This bakery and café is known for their lattes and delicious pasties, but their white Belgian hot chocolate is a must-try. It’s perfectly sweet and creamy.
Notes Coffee Co. – Pawtucket, RI
Spice up your morning and go for Notes Coffee Co.’s Mexican Hot Chocolate made with cocoa, a blend of house-made spices and your choice of steamed milk. Or, order their regular hot chocolate and add flavors such as French vanilla, caramel, hazelnut or lavender.
Since I live in Boston, I did a little extra digging to find more hot chocolate destinations in the Boston area. Thank you TimeOut.com for this extensive list.
I also frequent Paris Creperie in Brookline for their Nutella Hot Chocolate. Look how beautiful it is! The taste? DELICIOUS.
They make the hot chocolate using warm milk on the stove and the hazelnut spread instead of a bar of chocolate. The result is a creamy, nutty and chocolaty blend, topped with cocoa powder. You also have the option to add raspberry or mint to the whole concoction.
