Best Hot Chocolates In NYC, Ranked
There's so much to do and see around New York City, especially during the holiday season and into the winter. With loads of food markets to visit, endless shopping, and the famous monuments covered in a dusting of snow — it truly is a magical time. One thing that will keep you nice and warm as you traipse around is a delicious cup of hot chocolate. Whether you like an extremely thick and rich cup or a light and airy one, you'll definitely be able to find a hot chocolate in the city that's just right for you.
I spent the day tasting some of New York City's best hot chocolates before ranking them from worst to best. Though I will say, right off the bat, that every hot chocolate I tasted was truly enjoyable; there were just some that I preferred more. In order to rank these beverages, I focused on the drink's sweetness, thickness, creaminess, uniqueness, and the actual experience of getting the drink at the location.
8. The Boiis Co
The Boiis Co is a Filipino mochi bakery based in New York City. It actually doesn't have a permanent storefront in the city; instead, it offers catering and local delivery for its mochi-based products. From cheesecakes and mochi squares to mochi bread, there are many delicious and unique treats to taste from this company. From the end of October until the beginning of January, The Boiis Co has a stand at the famous Bryant Park Winter Village, where it sells its viral Filipino hot chocolate.
This beverage, called the Milo hot chocolate, comes with an ube marshmallow and whipped cream. This was definitely the most unique hot chocolate that I tasted all day. The drink itself was nice and warm, however, the whipped cream was almost as cold as the air outside. I enjoyed the difference in temperature, especially when the cream cooled my tongue as I sipped the hot drink underneath. The whipped cream was also very lighter than the other spots I sampled.
This hot chocolate was the thinnest that I had all day, which made the overall beverage feel very light and airy. It had a unique sweetness to it that I couldn't exactly place my finger on, and I think it's because the ube marshmallow melted into the hot chocolate and offered an interesting earthy flavor. I thought this was an enjoyable hot chocolate, but I prefer mine to be a bit thicker with a stronger chocolate taste.
(929) 352-5658
42nd St and 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018
7. Eat Pretty
Eat Pretty is an adorable coffee shop in the Upper East Side. It's covered with chic pink decor and is filled with delicious eats. The small spot is famous for its Pretty hot chocolate — and I have to agree, this is truly the prettiest hot chocolate I've ever seen. It comes with a bright pink whipped cream, colored sprinkles, and an adorable little gingerbread man on top of the whip. It's so aesthetically pleasing — and it matches the vibe of the shop perfectly.
The whipped cream on top is cool, light, and tasty. The whipped cream itself isn't especially sweet, either. While the hot chocolate does have a thin consistency, it's not at all watery. The drink itself is very sweet and has a taste similar to the powdered hot chocolate mix that you can get at the grocery store. However, it's like the company put three packets of mix into a cup instead of one, because the flavor is really amped up. This hot chocolate is better suited for someone who wants a cute, sweet, tasty drink as opposed to a more refined, high-quality hot chocolate. I will say that this was the most expensive hot chocolate that I bought, and I don't think the price was justified. That said, I did enjoy this drink.
(646) 590-8190
501 1/2 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028
6. Kouklí NYC
Kouklí NYC has one of the most intriguing hot chocolates that I tried: a baklava hot chocolate, topped with actual pieces of baklava, whipped cream, and a chocolate wafer. The Greek pop-up is located in the Bryant Park Winter Village, where it sells classic Greek dishes, like souvlaki and feta french fries, in addition to this truly whimsical beverage.
The best part about this hot chocolate was the toppings. The baklava was satisfyingly crunchy and sweet and had lots of honey that I could feel with each bite. The whipped cream wasn't a marshmallow-based cream. Instead, it was a classic light whipped cream. The chocolate wafer was a nice addition as well; it tasted especially good when I dipped it into the drink.
I thought the hot chocolate itself was good, but it was nothing amazing. It almost reminded me of the classic Swiss Miss – which is a brand I personally love. I liked the nostalgia aspect of this chocolate because it reminded me of the beverage that I grew up drinking. It had a solid level of sweetness, though it was more milky than chocolatey in taste. I found it had a thicker consistency than The Boiis Co, but I would still consider it a thin hot chocolate. I would definitely get this one again for the toppings, and having the drink to sip on while shopping in the Bryant Park Winter Village is a plus.
42nd St and 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018
5. L.A. Burdick
L.A. Burdick is a store that sells hand-made chocolate. The shop, located right between SoHo and the West Village, is absolutely beautiful. On the outside, it looks like an old-fashioned shop that you'd find somewhere in Europe. You can visit the location on a break from shopping on Broadway — where all of the best SoHo stores are. Once inside, you're greeted by quaint wooden shelves filled with every type of chocolate that you can imagine. At the back of the store is a counter where you can order hot chocolate.
L.A. Burdick offers three types of hot chocolate: white, dark, and milk. I decided to go with the dark hot chocolate because the woman at the counter said that it was a best-seller — and is the brand's most "European" hot chocolate. L.A. Burdick calls these "drinking chocolates," and when I tasted it, I knew why. The drink was incredibly frothy, but still quite thick. It felt like I was literally drinking straight chocolate. I enjoyed how the froth offset the level of thickness a bit, so it didn't feel quite as heavy. I really enjoyed how decadent this drink was.
The flavor was pleasant and I could definitely taste the bitterness that comes with a dark chocolate. There was still a dash of sweetness, but I'd say that the overall purely chocolate flavor overrode that. If you enjoy hot chocolate that is rich and not-so-sweet, then this is the shop for you.
(212) 796-0143
156 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
4. Angelina Paris
Angelina Paris has two locations in New York City: one at Bryant Park in Midtown and the other in the Upper East Side on Lexington Avenue. I decided to try out the Upper East Side location, which opened in 2023. Angelina Paris sells coffee, tea, full French-inspired meals, and of course — hot chocolate. This shop feels like you're stepping foot right onto the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Light pink accents complete the shop, along with a beautiful tray of treats in the display case and quaint bistro tables where you can sit to enjoy your order.
The hot chocolate at Angelina Paris is described as an "old-fashioned hot chocolate." It's made from a blend of African cocoa beans. This hot chocolate is extremely velvety and just bursts with flavor. It's not incredibly thick, but it isn't thin by any means — it's the perfect in-between. It has a strong cocoa flavor as opposed to a syrupy chocolate one. The consistency and taste actually reminded me of a chocolate lava cake. It had that extremely rich, chocolate taste that coats every taste bud in your mouth. This is a location that would be great for a break in between visiting New York's iconic museums, like the Met or the Guggenheim, both of which are close by. Its upscale style and high-quality beverage matches the vibe of the Upper East Side.
Multiple locations
3. Max Brenner
Max Brenner is a place that many NYC tourists have on their list to visit, especially during the winter. It's a restaurant that has a full menu, including pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. However, Max Brenner's real specialty is the chocolate. The most popular item on the menu is the variety of chocolate fondues, which are made with Max Brenner's rich house-made chocolate.
Max Brenner's main location is in Union Square. However, there is a smaller chocolate shop right in the heart of Times Square. I chose to visit the Times Square location because you can get a hot chocolate to-go without a line. The Times Square location only sells the famous "Italian thick hot chocolate" — however, if you want more hot chocolate flavor options, you'll want to head to the Union Square location.
The Max Brenner hot chocolate is the perfect example of an extremely well-done cup of hot chocolate. It's nice and creamy, thick but not syrupy, and delectably sweet. This was definitely the sweetest cup of hot chocolate that I had all day — which, depending on your preferences, could be a good thing or a bad thing. If you have a sweet tooth, Max Brenner's hot chocolate would be a great cup for you.
Multiple locations
2. Rigor Hill Market
You may see some celebrities out for their morning stroll in Tribeca on your way to Rigor Hill Market. It's a small hole-in-the wall that draws in a big crowd — one that's far too big to fit into its small space. Luckily, there is ample seating outside for you to enjoy your hot chocolate. Rigor Hill Market sells soups, salads, and sandwiches, but it's the hot chocolate that has gained a huge reputation on social media as being the best in Manhattan.
The hot chocolate is served in more of a bowl than a cup — for a few reasons. For one thing, the drink is incredibly thick; it's almost better off enjoyed with as spoon. The other reason is that the drink is covered with strategically-placed roasted marshmallows. This hot chocolate was probably the thickest one I had all day, but the marshmallows helped to thin it out as they melted. It was incredibly decadent, even though there wasn't a ton of sweetness or overt bitterness. I actually tasted a hint of salt — which is what I think made this hot chocolate stand out amongst the rest. There were many subdued flavor profiles to notice, which made the cup of hot chocolate feel well-rounded and interesting.
227 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013
1. Bar Pisellino
Bar Pisellino is hands-down one of the most beautiful bars that I've ever visited in New York City. Stepping into this Italian bar, located in the heart of the West Village, is almost like traveling back to the 1920s. The old, worn-in tables matched with the illumination of the pendant lights on the bar, brass fixtures, and vintage flooring to create an incredibly cozy yet upscale ambiance. You can't just get your hot chocolate to-go here. Instead, you'll be seated and served the drink in a beautiful tea cup.
The experience of sitting at Bar Pisellino is something special, so I was even happier to know that the hot chocolate was equally as delicious. As I took my first sip of the drink, I audibly gasped. The drink is incredibly thick, however, there is a generous lump of marshmallow cream placed on top that melts into the chocolate to create a lighter and creamier texture. The taste of the chocolate was incredibly rich, though it wasn't necessarily sweet by itself. However, the cream added the perfect amount of sweetness and blended seamlessly into the thick chocolate drink. Although the drink itself isn't incredibly unique, the experience of drinking it was. Having this delicious drink while seated in the beautiful bar, situated in one of the most stunning neighborhoods in all of New York City, is an experience worth having.
52 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Methodology
The spots I selected for this review were ones that I heard about time and time again. Personal recommendations, as well as recurring appearances on social media, helped me create a list of places that I needed to go to.
I focused on a few key factors when sampling and tasting New York City's best hot chocolates. The sweetness and bitterness associated with its flavor, as well as the drink's thickness, played a huge part in my opinion of the drink. I also noted the uniqueness of each beverage, as well as how memorable the location serving it was. Stopping for a hot chocolate in New York City isn't just about the drink in your hand; it's about the entire experience.