The Best Places to Celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day
National Hot Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on January 31. Originating in Central America, hot chocolate was first crafted by the Mayans and Aztecs using ground cacao beans, water, and spices. Over time, it made its way to Europe and eventually became a beloved drink worldwide, evolving into the sweet versions we know today.
Modern hot chocolate comes in various forms, from rich and thick traditional recipes to lighter milk-based versions. Popular additions include marshmallows, spices, alcohol, and plant-based alternatives for vegan options. In many places, hot chocolate isn’t just a drink but a staple of dessert menus.
Here are the best places to enjoy hot chocolate in its many styles.
MarieBelle in New York, NY
MarieBelle is a SoHo chocolate shop uses traditional European copper pots and imports rare cacao varieties. Their two-story space includes a chocolate bar and a tea salon, with hot chocolate served in hand-painted porcelain. They maintain direct relationships with cacao farmers in South America and process beans in small batches.
Highlights:
Aztec Hot Chocolate: Spiced with cinnamon and ancho chilies
Classic European: Made with 65% dark chocolate
White Hot Chocolate: Madagascar vanilla bean infusion
Milk Chocolate: House blend with French chocolate
Spiced Hazelnut: Dark chocolate with toasted nuts
Recommendations: Their Aztec blend works especially well with citrus pastries. The tea salon's window seats offer views of SoHo. They sell their drinking chocolate in tins to make at home. Weekend reservations needed for the upstairs salon.
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in Boston, MA
Using antique German grinders, LA Burdick processes chocolate blocks daily. Each variety has a specific water-to-milk ratio calibrated to the chocolate's origin and percentage. They're one of few American shops still using traditional Swiss tempering methods, and their hot chocolate recipe hasn't changed since 1987.
Highlights:
Dark Drinking Chocolate: 70% house blend
Milk Drinking Chocolate: Single-origin milk chocolate
White Chocolate: Tahitian vanilla infused
Harvard Square Special: Dark-milk chocolate blend
Single Origin Flight: Three origin-specific chocolates
Recommendations: Start with their single-origin flight to taste the differences between regions. Their chocolate mice are a signature pairing. Early afternoon on weekdays is quietest. They offer warming spice add-ins during winter months.

Photo Credit: tripadvisor.com, google.com

Katherine Anne Confections in Chicago, IL
Katherine Anne Confections, located in Logan Square, they use local cream from a small Wisconsin dairy and blend it with chocolate in custom-built warming vats. The shop makes all marshmallows fresh daily, rotating through 20 different flavors monthly.
Highlights:
Classic Dark Hot Chocolate: 72% dark blend
Salted Caramel: With house-made caramel
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Spiced with chili and cinnamon
Hazelnut: Dark chocolate with praline
Peppermint: Dark chocolate with fresh mint
Recommendations: Try their marshmallow sampler with any hot chocolate. The salted caramel pairs well with their chocolate bark. Weekday mornings are less crowded. They often experiment with seasonal flavors not on the menu.

Photo Credit: instagram.com/katherineanneconfections/

indi chocolate in Seattle, WA
indi chocolate, located at 1901 Western Ave D, Seattle, WA 98101, is the only workshop at Pike Place Market that produces bean-to-bar chocolate. The process begins with roasting cacao beans sourced directly from farmers in Ecuador, Peru, and Madagascar. All products, including their hot chocolate, are crafted by hand in an open kitchen where visitors can observe the process. The shop also offers educational workshops, providing insights into chocolate-making techniques.
Highlights:
Classic Hot Chocolate: Made with melted 72% dark chocolate and milk.
Spiced Hot Chocolate: Features cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg for a complex flavor profile.
Vegan Hot Chocolate: Uses almond or oat milk, maintaining a rich chocolate taste.
Frozen Hot Chocolate: A chilled version served over ice, perfect for warmer days.
Cacao Shell Tea: A light drink with a mild chocolate aroma, brewed from roasted cacao shells.
Chocolate Bars: Handcrafted with varying cacao percentages, including options with spices or nuts.
Recommendations: Try the Classic Hot Chocolate to experience the pure taste of their handcrafted chocolate. For those who enjoy spices, the Spiced Hot Chocolate pairs well with their artisanal chocolate bars. Vegans will appreciate the Vegan Hot Chocolate made with almond milk. Attend one of their workshops to learn more about the chocolate-making process and consider purchasing the Cacao Shell Tea for a unique, lighter beverage with chocolate undertones.

Photo Credit: instagram.com/indichocolate/

Stargazer Fine Chocolates and Coffee in Denver, CO
Stargazer Fine Chocolates and Coffee, located at 700 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80206, offers a unique experience combining chocolate production and a café under one roof. The shop features an open workshop where visitors can watch the chocolate-making process—from tempering to forming the finished products. The business uses traditional methods to craft chocolates with intricate textures and rich flavors.
Highlights:
Classic Hot Chocolate: Made with a blend of dark and milk chocolate, melted over steam.
European Hot Chocolate: A thick, rich drink with a high cocoa content, served in small portions.
Mexican Hot Chocolate: Prepared with natural cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.
Chocolate Bars: Options include dark chocolate with dried berries or candied orange peel.
Handmade Truffles: Crafted using original recipes, featuring seasonal flavors.
Recommendations: Try the European Hot Chocolate for an intense, creamy drink. If you’re interested in chocolate bars, go for the option with dried cranberries for a balance of sweet and tart. Their seasonal truffle boxes make an excellent gift. Be sure to visit the open workshop to see their chocolate-making process in action.

Photo Credit: facebook.com/stargazerfinechocolates/

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Cafe in Austin, TX
Unlike typical chocolate cafes, Sweet Paris Crêperie & Cafe combines French drinking chocolate with a full mill menu. The space features a unique U-shaped crêpe bar where chocolate drinks are prepared alongside desserts. They're known for incorporating chocolate into both sweet and savory dishes, and their hot chocolate recipe changes based on the seasonal menu. The owners travel to France twice yearly to source ingredients and learn new techniques.
Highlights:
Classic European Hot Chocolate: Made with French dark chocolate
Nutella Hot Chocolate: Blended with authentic Nutella
S'mores Hot Chocolate: With torched marshmallow topping
Dulce de Leche: Caramel and chocolate blend
White Chocolate Lavender: House specialty
Recommendations: Try hot chocolate as a crêpe dipping sauce - they provide special dipping cups. The savory-sweet combo of salted caramel hot chocolate with ham and Gruyère crêpe is a local favorite. The last Tuesday of each month features experimental chocolate flavors not on the regular menu. They host monthly chocolate and crêpe-making workshops. Late afternoons are best for laptop work - they offer a "digital nomad" special with unlimited hot chocolate refills. Their chocolate room maintains specific humidity levels for optimal drink consistency.

Photo Credit: google.com

Schakolad Chocolate Factory Fort in Lauderdale, FL
This European-style Schakolad Chocolate Factory stands out for its viewing windows where customers can watch chocolate-making in action. The family-run business follows three generations of chocolatier traditions, with recipes originating from Argentina. What makes their hot chocolate unique is their use of chocolate shells that melt into steamed milk, rather than powder or syrup bases.
Highlights:
Classic Dark Hot Chocolate: 72% dark chocolate shell
White Chocolate Strawberry: Made with fresh Florida berries
Sea Salt Caramel: With house-made caramel pieces
Orange Grove: Dark chocolate with local citrus
Coconut Dream: Caribbean-inspired blend
Recommendations: Order the chocolate shell separately to watch it dissolve in your milk. Best time to visit is during morning production hours to see chocolate-making. They offer chocolate-making classes every Thursday. The outdoor seating area overlooks the marina. Frequent visitors should join their Chocolate Club for monthly specials. Hot chocolate tastes different each season as they adjust recipes based on Florida's humidity levels. Their gelato makes an interesting hot-cold pairing with any hot chocolate variety.

Photo Credit: yelp.com

Legacy Chocolates in St Paul, MN
Legacy Chocolates, located in the historic Pioneer Endicott Building, specializes in high cocoa content beverages. They're unique for using single-batch roasted cacao and maintaining five different chocolate percentages (41%, 70%, 85%, 99%, and 100%) for their hot chocolate menu. The shop features the original bank vault doors from 1889, now used as their chocolate aging room.
Highlights:
100% Pure: Unsweetened single-origin chocolate
Classic 70%: Their most popular blend
Maple Dark: Enhanced with Minnesota maple sugar
Triple Chocolate: Three percentage blend
Ghost Pepper: Infused with house-made pepper blend
Recommendations: Try the chocolate flight featuring all five percentages. The 85% pairs especially well with their fresh cream truffles. Visit during off-peak afternoon hours to chat with their chocolate makers. They offer detailed origin cards for each chocolate percentage. Best seats are by the vault where temperature changes affect drink taste. Winter menu includes special blends for subzero days. Their chocolate-covered espresso beans use same origins as the drinks.

Photo Credit: instagram.com/legacychocolates/

Tempered Fine Chocolates in Nashville, TN
This chocolate shop in Germantown combines Southern flavors with European chocolate-making techniques. What sets them apart is their custom tempering method that creates different chocolate crystallization for drinking versus eating. They collaborate with local distilleries, using bourbon barrel-aging techniques for their cacao beans.
Highlights:
Tennessee Whiskey Hot Chocolate: Aged in local bourbon barrels
Music City Dark: House 72% blend with vanilla
Belle Meade: Mint julep-inspired chocolate
Southern Comfort: Brown sugar and pecan notes
Nashville Hot: Spiced with local hot chicken seasoning
Recommendations: The Whiskey Hot Chocolate comes with bourbon-infused marshmallows. Morning visits offer fresh chocolate croissants as pairings. They do chocolate and whiskey flights on Thursday evenings. The shop provides detailed tasting cards explaining bean origins. Best seating is at the tempering bar where you can watch chocolate production. They offer "chocolate happy hour" with special pricing from 2-4pm weekdays. Weekend tastings include pairings with local spirits.

Photo Credit: instagram.com/temperednashville/

Melt N Dip in Fishers, IN
Melt N Dip features a unique dipping bar concept where hot chocolate is served with matching chocolate treats. The space features a chocolate fountain wall and uses a special hot chocolate tap system with different temperature zones for various chocolate types. They're known for creating interactive chocolate experiences where customers can customize their drink additions.
Highlights:
Classic Dipping Chocolate: Served with dipping treats
Triple Chocolate Blend: Dark, milk, and white layers
S'mores Station: DIY marshmallow toasting
Cookie Butter: Speculoos-infused chocolate
Chocolate Covered Strawberry: Fresh berry infusion
Recommendations: Try the dipping flight that comes with four chocolate varieties and matching treats. The chocolate tap samples are complimentary before ordering. Visit during "happy hour" (2-4pm) for special dipping combinations. Weekday mornings are best for kids' activities. They offer chocolate-making workshops every Saturday. The fountain wall provides great photo opportunities. Sign up for their monthly flavor preview events. Large groups should book their chocolate experience room in advance.
Best hot chocolate and they made it with Oat Milk!