Best Hot Chocolate in NYC

Immortalized in romantic comedies and NYC guidebooks, Serendipity III is known internationally for its "frozen hot chocolate." But when you want to warm up, where do you get your fix? Check out these five favorites for a cup of cocoa on these cold New York days.

City Bakery

Any die-hard hot chocolate lover in NYC will point you toward City Bakery, a place so famous for its hot chocolate that the bakery dedicates each day in the month of February to a different flavor of the toasty drink. All year round, you can try the iconic original: a rich, decadent dark chocolate. Order a cup with one of their house-made marshmallows, or just get a $2 shot-sized portion; it’s more than enough to fill you up!

3 W 18th St, Manhattan; 212-366-1414; thecitybakery.com


Jacques Torres

The famous owner of this self-named New York chain is nicknamed “Mr. Chocolate,” and for good reason! His chocolate emporiums have some of the tastiest creations in New York, from classic chocolate chip cookies to creative ice cream sandwiches. Hot chocolate fans will delight in Torres’ piping-hot specialty: the Wicked Hot Chocolate. With dark chocolate and a dose of chili powder, it packs an extra helping of heat in your hot cocoa.

Various locations; see mrchocolate.com

Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Like the name suggests, this is the chic NYC spot for a hot chocolate fix. The three gourmet flavors offer something for everyone’s chocolate tastes: a spicy dark chocolate with chiles, a classic dark chocolate with vanilla bean, and a unique white hot chocolate, infused with lavender and lemon. Pair your selection with one of the specialty truffles and you’ll have a whole chocolate meal.

1100 Madison Ave, Manhattan; 212-717-2929; vosgeschocolate.com
132 Spring St; 212-625-2929; vosgeschocolate.com


The Chocolate Room

Park Slope’s ode to chocolate, the Chocolate Room is a cute café that offers every concoction you could wish for, from cakes to custards. Of course, hot chocolate makes a starring appearance on the menu in many different forms. Their classic hot cocoa, lighter than many of New York’s competitors, benefits from a helping of gooey marshmallow. On warmer days, you can still enjoy it, either frozen (à la Serendipity) or as the base of an ice cream float.

86 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn; 718-783-2900, thechocolateroombrooklyn.com

Otto

Although, unlike the other locations featured here, Otto is a full-service restaurant, you can stop by the bar to sample one of their lesser-known but much-loved creations: gianduja calda. The drink gets its name from a specialty Italian chocolate (“gianduja”) that contains hazelnut paste. Pastry chef Meredith Kurtzman makes her own by seeping hazelnut grounds in milk, then mixing it with liquid chocolate. The result is a deliciously creamy concoction with a hazelnut twist that will have you wanting to lick the cup clean.

1 5th Ave, Manhattan; 212-995-9559; ottopizzeria.com