🚖 Premium: Where to Find the Best Hot Cocoa

Good morning.

Winter’s here, and so is the need for hot chocolate that doesn’t taste like watered-down cow juice.

We know what you really want. Rich, creamy, dessert-in-a-cup goodness that warms your soul and your hands.

While NYC has some mediocre cocoa, we've found the top spots where the hot chocolate flows thick and rich.

In today’s issue:

• We’re serving up three hot chocolate havens that will have you metaphorically licking the cup (okay, maybe literally, too)

• Some juicy NYC food news — featuring a story about new legislation being passed around employers being allowed to pay tipped employees a lower minimum wage 👀

• And a peek at upcoming food events that’ll have you circling your calendar.

Let’s dive in!

3. La Maison du Chocolat

In third place, we have La Maison du Chocolat. If you're after an upscale experience, La Maison du Chocolat delivers with its sophisticated vibes and top-notch artisan chocolates.

Located on Madison Avenue, this place is all about luxury. Sure, they’ve got a fancy range of chocolates, pastries, and desserts that are crafted by expert chocolatiers, but the hot chocolate options?

It's not their main gig.

You’ll find a crazy-good Venezuelan dark chocolate and some yummy macarons, but be ready to shell out a little more cash since the prices trend higher (think $3-4 for a small piece).

Overall, if you’re looking to indulge in some decadent chocolate creations, it’s worth a visit, just don’t expect to have your hot chocolate cravings completely satisfied here.

Quick Bites 

• Must-try items: Venezuelan dark chocolate, caramel macarons, éclairs

• Region: France

• Social handles: Google Maps: 4.5 | Yelp: 4.2 | Instagram 📷

2. MarieBelle Cacao

Nestled in SoHo, MarieBelle Cacao Bar and Tea Salon is a total delight for chocolate lovers.

The star here is definitely the Honduran Cacao Hot Chocolate — so intense and rich it might as well be a meal.

Besides that, you’ve gotta try their desserts, like the Passion Fruit Chocolate Terrine and the molten chocolate cake (Le Moelleux au Chocolat).

Prices are pretty friendly too, with goodies ranging from $1.25 for cookies to $66 for gourmet chocolate boxes.

The only downside?

This place gets BUSY. So expect to be in line for a while.

But, honestly, who wouldn’t want to hunker down in a chocolate haven?

The vibe and quality are pretty hard to beat here, which is why it lands in the runner-up spot.

Quick Bites 

• Must-try items: Honduran Cacao Hot Chocolate

• Region: USA

• Social handles: Google Maps: 4.7 | Yelp: 4.3 | Instagram 📷

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