The best hot chocolate spots in NYC

This French-Korean pastry shop offers desserts as breathtaking to look at as they are to eat. Their corn mousse cake—in the shape of an adorable, miniature ear of corn—has probably passed through your feed. Alongside their signature treats, a dairy-free hot chocolate made with Valrhona chocolate is a standout. Notes of nutty buckwheat and a flower-shaped, homemade bruleed marshmallow take it over the top. 

Venchi, at almost 150 years old, is an Italian institution with locations all over NYC. In the summer, you can’t miss its gelato; when the weather gets chilly, you shouldn’t take a stroll around the park without their hot chocolate in hand. It’s unbelievably rich on its own, and you can choose to add hazelnut spread or spike it with a taste of rum. 

Cocoa overflows in the hot chocolate at Bar Pisellino, a local take on the Italian caffè. Its offering, which is rich enough to evoke a chocolate fountain, is topped with a dollop of slow-melting whipped panna. A lot of hot chocolates split the difference between sweet sippable treat and dedicated dessert, and this one is proudly the latter. 

Daily Provisions’ hot chocolate marries foamed milk and rich ganache. It's already airy, but becomes especially buoyant when topped with a single large marshmallow.

Pastry chef's Umber Ahmad's take on hot chocolate is straightforward and rich: Valrhona chocolate, steamed milk and a toasted housemade vanilla bean marshmallow out of a child’s wildest dreams.

Enjoy three categories of “drinking chocolates” at this chocolatier chain: Blended (in dark, milk or white chocolate varieties), single source (Bolivia, Brazil) or a spicy dark brew punched up with chili powder. Each is a treat. 

The original Levain, whose goods are now sold far and wide, is still a hot spot for all manner of sweets. Its comforting hot cocoa is made with French Valrhona chocolate, which pairs perfectly with their signature chocolate chip walnut cookie. 

This old-timey soda fountain celebrates sweater weather with a hot cocoa that invites a spoon. It’s topped with a small mountain of toasted house-made marshmallow, making it feel even more like a winter sundae. 

MarieBelle’s Soho boutique serves up hot chocolate made with cacao shavings—not chocolate powder—from its Cacao Bar. Choose from Aztec dark, milk hazelnut, spiced or white chocolate for a totally decadent cup. It also offers each option as a mix to recreate the hot chocolate experience at home. 

Breads makes chocolate in so many ways—but we’re partial to drinking it straight. Their version of hot chocolate is totally classic, made with 35% Cacao Noel solid chocolate disks and a cap of steamed whole milk. 

Made with Omanhene cocoa and dried lavender, Maman’s fragrant, floral hot chocolate is a subtle but surprising take on the favorite. Add a dollop of whipped cream and order a pumpkin pie croissant for the perfect walk-around-the-city-on-an-autumn-day snack.