10 premium hot chocolates in London to try this festive season

As the temperature drops and Christmas lights start to twinkle, there’s nothing more comforting than wrapping your hands around a cup of thick, silky hot chocolate. London is home to a bundle of independent cafés stirring up luxurious versions of this classic winter warmer – read on to discover where to find the most indulgent hot chocolates this festive season.

Recreate a rich and creamy hot chocolate in the comfort of your kitchen with our hot chocolate recipes, including a chocolate orange twist and boozy alternative. Or seek more ways to make the most of the season with our four festive UK city getaways perfect for shopping, eating and exploring and these magical winter travel experiences for food lovers.

Barnabys, Covent Garden (and Tottenham Court Road and City of London)

This handmade chocolate shop may be known for its thick, gooey chocolate bars, but its newer range of hot chocolates, using real chocolate, are just as noteworthy. Available in three flavours – classic, malt and peanut butter and caramel – all offerings are equally drool-worthy. Dip a bar of the weekend special into your cup and you'll notice that the chocolate pools in the bottom – just heavenly. barnabybars.com

Dark Sugars, Greenwich

A visit to Dark Sugars is a sensory experience, with their viral hot chocolate poured thick and topped with generous shavings of their own dark, milk or white chocolate. Each cup is a spectacle, crowned with curls of chocolate that melt into the drink, creating a multi-layered, ultra-rich treat. For hot chocolate aficionados, this one’s a no-brainer.⁠ darksugars.co.uk

Chin Chin Desserts, Soho

Chin Chin's team of dessert alchemists ensures everything is handmade in their Soho development kitchen, from theatrical cookie dough pie sundaes to boundary-pushing potato soft serve. Its unashamedly decadent hot chocolates are finished with gooey, flame-torched marshmallows, and festive specials from previous years include the snowball cookie hot chocolate, where a raspberry-filled coconut marshmallow sensually melts into the steaming chocolate. instagram.com/chinchinicecream

The Nook, Hampstead

There's possibly no nicer way to spend a London afternoon than mooching around leafy Hampstead with a hot chocolate in hand. Secure the goods at The Nook, a charming drinks and bites bar on a cosy little corner of Hampstead Heath. The team craft luxury chocolate milks by melting Belgium chocolate with steamed milk, resulting in a sweetly silky drink. Choose from six chocolate strengths, from 28% all the way up to 80%. Milk and cream is from The Estate Dairy and fresh roasted marshmallows from Kensal Sugar Kitchen. The list of specials is up there with some of the best, such as the Pistachio, which sees pistachio paste mixed into the chocolate. thenookhampstead.co.uk

Mello by Chin Chin Ice cream, Covent Garden

London's first marshmallow bar, complete with a viral-worthy marshmallow drawer, is fast becoming one of the city's hottest spots for a well earned 'sweet treat'. From the team at @chinchinicecream, you can expect smooth, nutty handcrafted sips capped with blowtorched marshmallows, with options including a hazelnut s’mores and even a frozen hot chocolate. instagram.com/mellodeluxe

Qima Cafe, Fitzrovia

Claiming to be the UK’s first tree-to-cup café, this smart coffee shop pays just as much attention to its hot chocolate as it does to coffee. Expect rich yet well-rounded cups, starring a creamy combination of single-origin 72% dark chocolate from the Solomon Islands and Valrhona's 70% Guanaja. It's then accented by a sweet dose of brown sugar, depth of cocoa powder and a final sprinkle of sea salt to keep the sweetness in check. Pair your cocoa with one of the flaky pastries on the counter. qimacafe.com

Venchi, Covent Garden (and Richmond, King's Road and more)

Find this Italian chocolate boutique and cafeteria right in the middle of Covent Garden. The signature hazelnut hot chocolate, poured from a tap and finished with a scattering of chopped nuts, is unabashedly rich, and may just be the thickest cup of cocoa going (and incomparable to shop-bought powder). There's even the option to drink its hot chocolate poured over ice cream, served in an elegant cocktail glass with lashings of whipped cream and a shot of Venchi's hazelnut chocolate. venchi.com

Melt, Notting Hill (and Holland Park)

This boutique chocolatier in West London stirs up hot chocolate with luxury front of mind, melting its signature house-made chocolate into thick, glossy, sippable heaven. Customers can choose their preferred chocolate, mix up flavours and top up with a flamed marshmallow for extra indulgence. meltchocolates.com

William Curley, Soho

This orange-painted boutique by Scottish chocolatier William Curley is a charming spot which promises cosy, comforting vibes. Order the rich, velvety classic or experiment with an Aztec chilli, Mayan spiced or gianduja variety. Whichever you choose, you can be certain that your beverage will be crafted with care and precision. williamcurley.co.uk

Knoops, Richmond

Despite the fact that multiple locations are sprouting across London, Knoops still takes hot chocolate incredibly seriously. Offering a menu of different cocoa percentages, origins and milk, you are free to choose your strength — from a creamy 34% milk to a punchy 85% dark — and add custom extras like orange zest, chilli or sea salt. Though the stores tend to fill up at peak times, each cup is still expertly blended for a bespoke, luxury experience. knoops.com