London Hot Chocolate Crawl

Cold innit. How’s about a hug in a mug? Nothing like a steaming cup of hot chocolate, preferably frothing over with whipped cream, and marshmallows happily bobbing along on top. As I write this post, the city’s covered in snow and I’m dreaming of my favourite London Hot Chocolate spot.

We could argue over what makes a delicious hot chocolate. My boys like mummy’s best… that’s just cocoa powder and brown sugar, or a slab of chocolate, melted in hot milk. But if you’re a proper chocaholic, you probably prefer yours thick, dark and rich. #Wakandaforever (wink)

In the spirit of our ice cream crawl around the capital, I decided to launch a London Hot Chocolate Crawl to cheer you up during the chillier months. Here’s where to go with (or without) the minis for that chocolate fix.

Spoon it up.

London Hot Chocolate Crawl: Handpicked and Listed from A to Z

In alphabetical order:

Belle Epoque, 262 Upper St, N1 2UQ (Angel/Highbury & Islington tube)
You can’t wander along Upper St, N1, without pausing by Belle Epoque patisserie. Their show-stopping window display beckons you indoors and, before you know it, you’re nose deep in a luscious, dark hot chocolate. Ezra once described this place as a ‘little too exquisite’ for him, but the cakes are sensational and the hot choc is pure heaven. Also find Belle Epoque on Newington Green, N16 and at Selfridges. Upper St opening hours: 7.30am-8pm Mon-Fri), 8am-8pm (Sat), 9am-7pm (Sun). (times vary by branch)

Chin Chin Laboratories (branches in Camden, Soho and Street Feast SE16)
Where there’s good ice cream, you’ll likely find yummy hot chocolate. Several of our Hot Chocolate picks also feature on our Ice Cream Crawl. Experimental ice cream flavour-haven Chin Chin Laboratories’ Valrhona hot chocolate is simply dripping with luxury. Pimp your choc with their handmade torched marshmallow, or try their vegan version with fruity notes. Open daily from around midday until late. (times vary by branch).

Churros Garcia, Canopy Market, Granary Square, King’s Cross N1C (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
If you love those gooey chocolate pots for dipping your churros in, then you’ve come to the right place. The babes are mad about the Spanish fried dough snacks, and here you can either enjoy churros with Spanish hot chocolate, or indulge in the hot dipping chocolate on its own! Ooh, naughty. Open 12pm-8pm (Fri) & 12pm-6pm (Sat-Sun).

Cowshed (Primrose Hill), 115-117 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 8UR (Regent’s Park/Camden Town/Baker St tube)
Members’ club Soho House has cornered the social grooming market with Cowshed spas, shops and products. Select Cowshed cafes serve anything from afternoon tea to a Sunday roast and a topnotch hot choc. Don’t sleep on their Nutella hot chocolate, available at their Primrose Hill branch.

Dark Sugars Cocoa House, 124-126 Brick Lane, E1 6RU (Shoreditch High St overground/Liverpool St/Aldgate East tube)
Only for the hardcore cocoa lovers, Dark Sugars brings West African and South American flavours to Brick Lane. Move to Senegalese rhythms and lose yourself in a cup of their signature Pitch Black Hot Chocolate. Open daily 10am to 10pm.

Ginger & White, 4A-5A Perrin’s Court, NW3 1QS (Hampstead tube)
Head to this Hampstead mecca for families, where your babes can order a babyccino from their extensive coffee menu. Or get them to stir up a creamy hot chocolate with warm milk for the littles, while you indulge in their hot chocolate with chilli! Perfect to spice up your weekend. Open 7.30am-5pm (Mon-Fri), 8.30am-5pm (Sat-Sun).

Godiva, multiple locations
Known for their luxe Belgian chocolates at stores nationwide, Godiva also pulls out all the stops when it comes to hot chocolate. Settle in for a Hot Chocolixir (also available cold), a layered blend of deliciousness that comes in flavours like White Chocolate Strawberry and Dark Chocolate Decadence. Various times and locations.

The Haberdashery, 22 Middle Lane, N8 8PL (Crouch End) and 170 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7JL (Stoke Newington)
This hugely popular, family-friendly coffee shop has branches in Crouch End and Stoke Newington. Enjoy a London hot chocolate, Italian style (regular or white chocolate) that’s ‘festooned with marshmallows’. Goes well with an award-winning breakfast, while the minis munch off the kids’ menu. Open daily 9am-5.30pm.

Hotel Chocolat, multiple locations
We’re big fans of this premium chocolate brand, and whenever I’ve run a Hotel Chocolat giveaway, their prizes fly out! Good news is that you can spend extra time in one of their London cafes, fuelling up with limited edition cocoa drinks like the Hot Crossed Caramel. Mmm.

Melt at 59 Ledbury Road London, W11 2AA (Notting Hill Gate tube) and 6 Clarendon Road London, Holland Park W11 3AA (Latimer Rd/Holland Park/Ladbroke Grove tube)
Another famed London chocolatier. Visit the flagship store in Notting Hill, where you can savour a hot chocolate while watching Melt’s chocolatiers at work in the kitchen. If you want to recreate the comfort factor at home, buy a Melt Hot Chocolate Block and dissolve in hot milk. Just so good. Notting Hill hours: 10am-6.30pm (Mon-Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun); Holland Park hours: 9am-6.30pm (Mon-Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun).

Ottolenghi, 287 Upper St, N1 2TZ (Angel/Highbury & Islington tube)
Islington-based restaurant Ottolenghi is a foodie favourite, and it’s one of our best London hot chocolate stops — actually make that our best, full stop. The boys find it too dark (add extra milk and sugar for fussy nippers), but it’s just the right texture, richness and flavour to satisfy on a chilly day. Simply lush. NB: Ottolenghi also has branches in Notting Hill and Spitalfields. Open daily 8am-10.30pm.

The Parlour, 181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER (Piccadilly Circus/Oxford Circus tube)
Also a hit on our London Ice Cream Crawl, Fortnum & Mason’s The Parlour is a dessert lover’s paradise. If you can peel yourself away from their incredible ice creams (afternoon tea sundae, anyone?), you can’t go wrong with a frothy hot chocolate. Kids will love toppings like honeycomb, salted caramel, shortbread and toffolossus! Open 10am-8pm (Mon-Sat), *11.30am-6pm (Sun, *browsing only from 11.30am-12pm).

Peyton and Byrne, multiple locations
The Babes crew were all *sad face* when Peyton and Byrne disappeared from St Pancras station, as that was our afternoon tea and London hot chocolate go-to spot. But you can find this gourmet restaurant and cafe chain at a number of family-friendly venues. I’m a big fan of their soupy, not-so-dark, totally soothing chocolate drink. Enjoy with a slice of their amazing Victorian sponge for a special treat. Find a P&B menu at National Gallery Cafe (Trafalgar Square), the Royal Academy Grand Cafe (Piccadilly Circus) and the IWM Cafe at Imperial War Museum, Peyton & Byrne’s first family restaurant.

Rococo, 5 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU (Knightsbridge/Hyde Park Corner tube)
Award winning Rococo has an amazing organic chocolate drinking gift set (perfect for Mother’s Day, hint hint!). You can also make a trip to their Chocolate Cafe at the flagship venue in Belgravia. Book in for a Chocolate Breakfast or Afternoon Tea, or just grab a mug of warm and welcoming hot cocoa, made with real chocolate Rococo style. Branches also in. Belgravia opening hours: 9.30am-6pm (Mon-Wed), 9.30am-6.30pm (Thu-Sat), 11am-6pm (Sun).

Said dal 1923, 41 Broadwick St, W1F 9QL (Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus tube)
Something of a London hot chocolate best kept secret. Italian chocolatier Said creates the handmade chocolates of your fantasies. Just one look at their artisan hot chocolate oozing and dripping all over its cup will have you running to their Soho shop. Drool. Open 10am-11pm (Mon-Sat), 11am-10pm (Sun).

Tina, We Salute You, 2 Olympic Park Ave, London E20 1FT (Stratford tube/rail/DLR/overground)
Former Dalston cafe Tina, We Salute You, is now based in E20 at the Olympic Park’s East Village. They serve up a creamy hot chocolate that’s not fancy, but warms the cockles just the same. Head to Tina’s blog (well, Steve’s blog really) for delicious recipes like Millionaire’s Shortbread and Chocolate Cheesecake. Open weekdays from 4pm-late, weekends from 3pm-late.

William Curley at Harrods, Brompton Rd, SW1X 7XL (Knightsbridge tube)
Oh my googly eyes. William Curley’s website makes my mouth water. You can order the award-winning patissier and chocolatier’s own brand hot chocolate (choose Aztec or Mayan for added spice). Or visit William Curley at Harrod’s food hall to drink it in-store. Dark magic. Harrods opening hours: 10am-9pm (Mon-Sat), 11.30am-6pm (Sun).

Do you have another London hot chocolate crawl tip? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list (full credit to source)!