London


<p>Whether you need a sugar boost mid-shop or a hug in a mug, a hot chocolate usually hits the spot. Not all are created equal, however, so to avoid the bland and boring here&#8217;s our list of the best places in the capital serving everything from rich velvety bowls of goodness to whipped cream and marshmallow-topped creations. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-parlour-fortnum-amp-mason-piccadilly"><a href="https://www.fortnumandmason.com/the-parlour-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THE PARLOUR</a>, Fortnum &amp; Mason, Piccadilly </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-683x1024.jpeg" alt="Fortnum &amp; Mason hot chocolate " class="wp-image-7608" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-1024x1536.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4-1365x2048.jpeg 1365w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-3-4.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Fortnum &amp; Mason </figcaption></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re out shopping or sightseeing on Regent Street/Oxford Street/New Bond Street/Piccadilly this winter and want to warm up, make your way to one of London&#8217;s fanciest foodie department stores and secure a table at The Parlour. Order a shiny bronze cup of Fortnum&#8217;s hot chocolate (milk/dark/caramel) served with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and relax. We recommend doing this several times throughout the winter. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-italian-bear-chocolate-soho"><a href="https://www.italianbearchocolate.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ITALIAN BEAR CHOCOLATE</a>, Soho </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="961" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50-961x1024.png" alt="Italian Bear Chocolate " class="wp-image-7616" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50-961x1024.png 961w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50-282x300.png 282w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50-768x818.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50-1442x1536.png 1442w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.15.50.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/italianbearchocolate/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@italianbearchocolate</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Milk, dark or gianduia (hazelnut) chocolate? Small, regular or large? Cinnamon, cardamon, chilli, black pepper or ginger twist? These are the tricky hot choc questions you&#8217;re going to face when you finally get a table at Italian Bear (it&#8217;s a TikTok sensation so you&#8217;ll need to book). Muddy encourages you to go all out and, for £2 extra, order the Triple Chocolate &#8211; milk, dark and gianduia &#8211; because life&#8217;s short. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-knoops-various-locations"><a href="https://knoops.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KNOOPS</a>, various locations </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="Knoops hot chocolate " class="wp-image-7618" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Unknown-7-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>We had to include Knoops, which has branches in Chelsea, Covent Garden, Kensington, Richmond, Notting Hill and Knightsbridge and is entirely dedicated to chocolate drinks (warm and cold), meaning you&#8217;re never far from a sugar-laced pick me up. The menu reads like a sophisticated wine list, &#8220;72% single origin (Peru), a balance of fruity and bitter notes with hints of caramel and cashew&#8221; so no surprise to learn it was set up by a chocolate sommelier. A visit here will put you off a basic Starbucks hot choc for life, you have been warned. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-william-curley-soho"><a href="https://www.williamcurley.co.uk/product-category/hot-chocolate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WILLIAM CURLEY</a>, Soho</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1017" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00-1024x1017.png" alt="William Curley in Soho " class="wp-image-7617" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00-1024x1017.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00-300x298.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00-150x150.png 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00-768x763.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-11.25.00.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNrv_TcHojF/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@Williamcurley</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>No surprise that one of the best hot chocolates in the capital can be sipped at one of the city&#8217;s best chocolatiers, William Curley. Tucked away in Smith&#8217;s Court, it&#8217;s worth tracking down because the rich velvety flavours will blow your mind and your tastebuds (think Aztec with chilli). Pick up some edible Christmas gifts while you&#8217;re there and it&#8217;s a win win situation. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peggy-porschen-belgravia"><a href="https://www.peggyporschen.com/pages/menus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PEGGY PORSCHEN</a>, Belgravia </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Pegg Porschen cakes " class="wp-image-7622" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/PP_Xmas24_Lifestyle_048-web_900x900.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>This pink-hued patisserie is one of London&#8217;s prettiest cafés and a top spot for a hot choc. Choose from the pink Ruby (whipped cream, heart sprinkles), Classic (topped with mini marshmallows) or toasted hazelnut (Muddy&#8217;s fave, with whipped cream and praline). Don&#8217;t forget to pick up some of the store&#8217;s famous cup cakes while you&#8217;re there. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-badiani-various-locations"><a href="https://www.badiani1932.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BADIANI</a>, various locations</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="624" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-624x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7623" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-624x1024.png 624w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-183x300.png 183w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-768x1260.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-936x1536.png 936w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15-1248x2048.png 1248w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-12.43.15.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Badiani&#8217;s pistachio hot chocolate </figcaption></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s famous for its ice creams, but right now it&#8217;s the pistachio hot chocolate that&#8217;s  a viral sensation and it&#8217;s justified as this nutty, chocolatey cream-topped treat tastes as good as it looks. With outlets in Notting Hill, Covent Garden, Angel, Canary Wharf, Westfield and the Fulham Road, there&#8217;s no excuse not to sip and savour. The desserts are crazy good too &#8211; try a gelato croissant and ride that sugar rush. </p>


Sweet thing! London’s best hot chocolates

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