London


<p>Whether you need a sugar boost mid Christmas shopping or a velvety hug in a mug, a cup of quality hot chocolate usually hits the spot. Sure, we could whip one up at home, but where&#8217;s the fun in that? Our curated list of the best hot choc stops includes some of the prettiest cafés in the city, plus they throw extra sweet treats like marshmallow fluff toppings and pistachio flavoured ice cream scoops into the mix. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galeteria-danieli-richmond"><a href="https://www.gelateriadanieli.com/hot-chocolate-in-richmond/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galeteria Danieli</a>, Richmond </h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-instagram ig"><div class="ig-img"><a href="" class="ig-title"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/01/Unknown-8.jpeg" alt="Gelateria Danieli" /></a></div><div class="ig-text"><div class="ig-body"><p>It lays claim to London&#8217;s thickest hot chocolate, and we confirm this is so rich and creamy, it&#8217;s best served with a spoon. No dairy, no bad stuff, just 70% dark chocolate blended in-house. Pick your own combinations &#8211; we recommend the hazelnut thick Italian hot chocolate with a spiced biscuit marshmallow for the ultimate wintery hit. </p></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chin-chin-labs-soho-camden"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chinchinicecream/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chin Chin Labs</a>, Soho / Camden </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1200" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/CHIN-CHIN-HOT-CHOC.jpg" alt="CHIN CHIN HOT CHOCOLATE" class="wp-image-15991" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/CHIN-CHIN-HOT-CHOC.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/CHIN-CHIN-HOT-CHOC-250x300.jpg 250w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/CHIN-CHIN-HOT-CHOC-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/CHIN-CHIN-HOT-CHOC-768x922.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>They created Europe&#8217;s first nitrogen ice cream parlour (scoop of ice cream literally freeze before your eyes, which is pretty cool&#8230;), so it&#8217;s no surprise that they&#8217;re also on the money when it comes to innovative hot chocolate too. The vibe is still clinical in winter, think glass beakers, pippettes and measuring cylinders and the flavours as wild &#8211; we&#8217;ll be trying the burnt butter caramel with marshmallow fluff topping. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carpo-knightsbridge"><a href="https://carpoworld.com/our-story/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carpo</a>, Knightsbridge </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Carpo41484-1024x683.jpg" alt="Carpo London " class="wp-image-15961" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Carpo41484-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Carpo41484-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Carpo41484-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Carpo41484.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Come for the decadent hot chocolate, leave with gift boxes of pistachios, dried stuffed figs and handmade chocs &#8211; that&#8217;s what tends to play out during a visit to Carpo on Glasshouse Street off Regent Street. Order a hot chocolate made from the finest cacao and snack on caramelised pecans or rose-infused truffles as you browse the rest of the two-storey store for gourmet Xmas gifts. </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-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1200" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/THE-PARLOUR-HOT-CHOC.jpg" alt="Fortnum &amp; Mason hot chocolate " class="wp-image-15994" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/THE-PARLOUR-HOT-CHOC.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/THE-PARLOUR-HOT-CHOC-250x300.jpg 250w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/THE-PARLOUR-HOT-CHOC-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/THE-PARLOUR-HOT-CHOC-768x922.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re out shopping or sightseeing on Regent Street/Oxford Street/New Bond Street/Piccadilly 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>



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<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-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE.jpg" alt="Italian Bear Chocolate " class="wp-image-15996" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/ITALIAN-BEAR-CHOCOLATE-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><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). Buy some edible Valentine&#8217;s Day 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/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Peggy Porschen " class="wp-image-16083" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Christmas-2025-Parlour_1200x1200.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 white chocolate matcha with whipped cream and rose petals, the Classic (topped with mini marshmallows) or the 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-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1200" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Badianis-pistachio-hot-chocolate.jpg" alt="Badiani’s pistachio hot chocolate" class="wp-image-15998" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Badianis-pistachio-hot-chocolate.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Badianis-pistachio-hot-chocolate-250x300.jpg 250w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Badianis-pistachio-hot-chocolate-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/11/Badianis-pistachio-hot-chocolate-768x922.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s famous for its ice creams, but we&#8217;re now entering the season when its pistachio hot chocolate goes viral &#8211; 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 the ultimate sugar rush. </p>


Sip, sip, hooray! The best hot chocolates in London

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