As the weather begins to get colder and we wake to frost layering the ground and cars, we’re officially entering hot chocolate season! A tasty, chocolatey cup of sweet goodness is key to keeping warm during cold D.C. winters and even boosting one’s intelligence! So to help you cozy up a decadent cup, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite D.C. spots to grab a cup of hot chocolate:
1. Ice Cream Jubilee
Known for its original and scrumptious ice cream flavors, this ice cream parlor also serves some incredibly tasty hot chocolates. Ice Cream Jubilee offers three kinds of hot chocolates: a chocolatey, Nutella Hot Chocolate; a rich Earl Grey White Hot Chocolate; and a Peppermint Hot Chocolate for a holiday twist!
Where: 1407 T St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009; 301 Water St SE #105, Washington, D.C., 20003
2. Café Georgetown
Leave it to Café Georgetown to create whimsical, seasonal drinks! This winter, the Georgetown coffee shop is serving regular and peppermint hot chocolates with whimsical candy cane decorations and cute gingerbread men cookies! Win-win!
Where: 3141 N St NW, Washington, D.C., 20007
3. L.A. Burdick
Hot chocolate comes in small doses at this popular DC spot. But don’t be fooled by its small appearance, Burdick’s “drinking chocolate” is made with either their dark, milk, or white, or spicy dark chocolate blends, all mixed in a rich and creamy cup of chocolatey goodness!
Where: 1319 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20007.
4.Tryst
This trendy coffee house in Adams Morgan serves its hot chocolate with a fresh, floral twist — lavender syrup! At Tryst, you can enjoy your hot chocolate the traditional way, choose to add their house-made lavender syrup, or kick things up a boozy notch by adding creme de menthe!
Where:2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
5. Pytango Gelato & Café
This Baltimore-based café is known for its rich, thick and decadent cups of hot cocoa made with traditional sipping chocolate from Torino, Italy. Buonissimo!
Where: 1841 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
6. Colada Shop
This Cuban eatery serves their hot chocolates with homemade churros! Dip Colada’s mouth-watering, cinnamon sugar-coated churros in a cup of their traditional Cuban hot chocolate, Chocolate De La Abuela, and enjoy!
Where: 1405 T St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009; 10 Pearl St SW Washington, D.C., 20024
7. Bayou Bakery
This New Orleans-style bakery in Arlington makes its hot cocoa with traditional Valrhona chocolate, Madagascar vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt, all topped off with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Yum!
Where: 1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, Va., 22201
8. Nicecream
This popular nitrogen ice cream spot creates its chocolatey concoctions using their homemade chocolate syrup and grass-fed cow’s milk. Options include a spicy Mexican, caramel, lavender, or Nutella hot chocolate, all topped off with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup!
Where:2831 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, Va., 22201
9. Sticky Fingers Diner
For a dairy-free option head on over to Sticky Fingers Diner, a vegan diner on H Street. This plant-based spot offers all of the chocolatey goodness of traditional hot chocolate with none of the dairy and gives you the option of choosing coconut, soy, oat milk, or even no milk for your drink! It also sells plant-based hot chocolate blocks in three flavors (dark chocolate with marshmallows, and dark or white chocolate with peppermint): just drop into your favorite plant milk and enjoy!
Where:406 H St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
10. Stable D.C.
If there’s something Switzerland is known for is for its incredible chocolate. So it should come as no surprise that Stable, a D.C.-based Swiss restaurant, serves some of the best hot cocoa in town! Try their Schoggi Twist, made with caotina chocolate, Godiva chocolate liqueur, and mint liqueur, and, of course, whipped cream, for a cup of tasty, boozy cocoa!
Where: 1324 H St NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
Article written by Ma Del Rosario Castro Diaz and Jenna Romaine