On a winter day in Chicago, those at-home Swiss Miss packets just won’t do when you’re craving a cup of hot chocolate to awaken your senses.
Whether the warm drink is simple or over-the-top, we’ve found the best places for hot chocolate that you can only get in Chicago and the suburbs.
Chicago
Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Café
- Address: 1114 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
This pastry shop offers hot chocolate with a recipe that is gently spiced with orange peel and black peppercorns. Also offers flavored lattes like vanilla bean, mocha, honey lavender, salted caramel and strawberry.
Bombo Bar
- Address: 832 W. Randolph St., Chicago
There’s no filter needed for these epic Instagrammable cups of Hotter Chocolate — brimming with color, a dark chocolate taste and lots of toppings! Try their traditional hot chocolate, made with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, or the s’more hot chocolate, made with marshmallow fluff, chocolate drizzle and graham cracker biscotti. You can also add extra toppings such as mini M&M’s, Snickers pieces, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, chocolate chips, caramel drizzle, chocolate drizzle, graham crackers, whipped cream and strawberry drizzle for $0.50 each.
Café Deko
- Address: 800 W. Diversey Pkwy., Chicago
This coffee shop features hot chocolate, lattes, cold brew, cappuccinos and more. Enjoy a pastry or sandwich with your drink.
Chiqueolatte Chicago
- Address: 2643 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
This coffee shop has a hot chocolate made with real dark chocolate and vanilla with the milk of your choice. You can also add a syrup of your choice to the beverage for an extra $0.75 and a double shot of espresso for an extra $1.50. The Van Gogh is a hot chocolate topped with a brownie or doughnut or other goodies and the Rembrandt is an iced white chocolate drink topped with a brownie or other goodies.
Chocolat Uzma
- Address: 1900 S. Halsted St., Chicago
This minority-woman-owned chocolate shop in Pilsen brings in South Asian-inspired treats, including sipping chocolate made from dark Belgian chocolates and bittersweet single-origin chocolates from Mexico. We also suggest trying one of their sipping chocolate spoons for winter fun.
Cocoa & Co.
- Address: 1651 N. Wells St., Chicago
The drinking chocolate from this prime chocolate shop in Old Town was featured on FoodNetwork.com as one of the best hot chocolates in the country. You can stop in for a cup of hot chocolate or purchase some to take and make at home.
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
- Addresses: 1330 W. Fulton Market, Chicago; 5500A S. University Ave., Chicago; 12 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago; 306 W. Erie St., Chicago
This spot offers craft coffee and tea among other beverages such as matcha, hot chocolate, lattes, smoothies and blended drinks. They also have beverage flights for you to try coffee, tea and Kombucha beverages. Other locations in Oak Park and Hoffman Estates.
Firecakes
- Addresses: 68 W. Hubbard St., Chicago; 2453 N. Clark St., Chicago; 1001 W. North Ave., Chicago; 916 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
This doughnut shop offers hot and cold beverages to go along with your doughnuts. These include drip coffee, espresso, matcha, cappuccino, lattes, Belgian hot chocolate, Nitro coffee and more. Other locations in Oak Park and Naperville.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
- Addresses: 23 W. Hubbard St., Chicago; 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago; 916 W. Fulton Market, Chicago; 5 Jackson Ave., Naperville
JoJo’s Shake Bar is known for their extreme milkshakes, but in the winter, they offer crazy hot chocolates, too. The Classic is a classic hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff. The Salted Caramel is a salted caramel flavored hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff, toffee pretzel, toffee doughnut hole and a gold star marshmallow. The Double Chocolate is a double chocolate hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff, chocolate-covered s’more and chocolate-covered marshmallow. The Baked Hot Chocolate is a baked fudge brownie served a la mode. They also have coffee, hot tea, lattes, shaken espressos, cappuccinos and more. Other location in Naperville.
Katherine Anne Confections 👑 (Our Readers’ Favorite!)
This café and chocolate shop serves their hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows or Kilgus Farms whipped cream. They offer 10 different flavors including salted caramel, chai tea, Mexican, hazelnut and more. They use real chocolate (no cocoa powder here) for their hot chocolate, high-quality milk and cream and a dash of sea salt.
Kilwins
- Addresses: 5226 S. Harper St., Chicago; 310 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago; Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Space SA 17A, Chicago; 5224 N. Clark St., Chicago
This shop might be known best for its ice cream, but thanks to its history of chocolate, it also tops the list of some of the best hot chocolate in the city. When you buy it by the bag to make the hot chocolate at home, there’s no powder here. You’ll be adding piping hot milk to sweet shaved chocolate! River North location opening soon! Other locations in Arlington Heights, Evanston, Naperville, St. Charles, Elmhurst, Wheaton and Geneva.
Leonidas Chocolate Cafe
This Belgian hot chocolate is the kind that will have your kids – and your taste buds – begging to go back for more. Made with Belgian chocolate callets (better than a chocolate chip because it’s created for melting rather than baking), this decadent drink comes in seven flavors – Parisian, Noir de Noir, Mexican, Triple Chocolate, White Pumpkin, Floranger and Peppermint. Other location in Northbrook.
Mindy’s Bakery
- Address: 1623 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
This bakery offers their signature bakery blend of hot chocolate served with house-made marshmallows and Hot Chocolate Grand Au Lait (available hot or iced). If you would like to take some hot cocoa home to make, grab their hot chocolate blend, available in classic, dark and Mexican.
pretty cool ice cream
This handmade ice cream spot offers more than just the tasty dessert. They have a regular hot cocoa box and a vegan hot cocoa box
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
- Multiple locations in Chicago
This doughnut and coffee shop offers customers more than just those two items. They have other breakfast items – such as breakfast sandwiches and burritos and other beverages such as cappuccinos, hot cocoas and chai tea lattes. Other locations in Rosemont, Orland Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Schaumburg, Oak Brook, Oaklawn, Park Ridge, Evergreen Park and Harwood Heights.
XO Marshmallow 👑 (Our Readers’ Favorite!)
- Address: 2730 N. Clark St., Chicago
Elevate your hot chocolate game with XO Marshmallows. They have tons of different flavors, including holiday and seasonal flavors, for you to choose from. They even have actual hot chocolate marshmallows, that taste exactly like your favorite holiday beverage. The flagship location is the first marshmallow café and offers unique items like cold brew floats, s’mores and of course, hot chocolate. The menu offers gourmet hot chocolate, salted caramel hot chocolate, s’more hot chocolate, lavender white hot chocolate and birthday cake white hot chocolate.
North/Northwest Suburbs
The north/northwest suburbs have some really great hot chocolate spots.
Related: Best Hot Chocolate Spots Near Skokie to Keep You Warm and Cozy and Best Hot Chocolate Spots Near Schaumburg to Keep You Warm and Cozy
Coffee Lab Evanston – Study Spot
- Address: 910 Noyes St., Evanston
This coffee bar and study space is the perfect spot to bring your laptop and get some work done. They offer espressos, cappuccinos, cold brew coffee, hot tea, lattes and hot cocoa drinks for you to enjoy while you’re there.
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
- Addresses: 2000 AT&T Center Drive, Hoffman Estates
This spot offers craft coffee and tea among other beverages such as matcha, hot chocolate, lattes, smoothies and blended drinks. They also have beverage flights for you to try coffee, tea and Kombucha beverages. Other locations in Chicago and Oak Park.
Glenview Grind 👑 (Our Readers’ Favorite!)
- Address: 1837 Glenview Road, Glenview
Brewed fresh daily, this local coffee shop is known for its “Glen Cocoa” with a “Lil’ Glen Cocoa” perfect for kiddos. Choose from dark, milk or white chocolate and topped with a healthy dose of whipped cream, you’ll want to order four.
Hometown Coffee & Juice 👑 (Our Readers’ Favorite!)
- Address: 700 Vernon Ave., Glencoe
This all-day café is open daily from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and serves more than just coffee and juice. They have an amazing menu with smoothie bowls, bagel melts, toasts, pastries, smoothies, salads and more. Their hot chocolate is a must have in the winter months. They use Hollander Dutch chocolate sauce, steamy milk and top it with whipped cream. It also has notes of vanilla, too!
Kilwins
This shop might be known best for its ice cream, but thanks to its history of chocolate, it also tops the list of some of the best hot chocolate in the city. When you buy it by the bag to make the hot chocolate at home, there’s no powder here. You’ll be adding piping hot milk to sweet shaved chocolate! River North location opening soon! Other locations in Chicago, Naperville, St. Charles, Elmhurst, Wheaton and Geneva.
Leonidas Chocolate Cafe
- Address: 1348 Shermer Road, Northbrook
This Belgian hot chocolate is the kind that will have your kids – and your taste buds – begging to go back for more. Made with Belgian chocolate callets (better than a chocolate chip because it’s created for melting rather than baking), this decadent drink comes in seven flavors – Parisian, Noir de Noir, Mexican, Triple Chocolate, White Pumpkin, Floranger and Peppermint. Other locations in Chicago.
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
- Addresses: 9433 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont; 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg; 1900 S. Cumberland Ave., Park Ridge; 7401 W. Lawrence Ave., Harwood Heights
This doughnut and coffee shop offers customers more than just those two items. They have other breakfast items – such as breakfast sandwiches and burritos and other beverages such as cappuccinos, hot cocoas and chai tea lattes. Other locations in Chicago, Orland Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Oak Brook, Oaklawn and Evergreen Park.
South Suburbs
Check out these places to get hot chocolate in the south suburbs.
Related: Best Hot Chocolate Spots Near Tinley Park to Keep You Warm and Cozy
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
This doughnut and coffee shop offers customers more than just those two items. They have other breakfast items – such as breakfast sandwiches and burritos and other beverages such as cappuccinos, hot cocoas and chai tea lattes. Other locations in Chicago, Rosemont, Oakbrook Terrace, Schaumburg, Oak Brook, Oaklawn, Park Ridge and Harwood Heights.
The Scoop
- Address: 17326 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park
Keep warm with their coffee, tea, apple cider and hot chocolate beverages. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to find out about their family-friendly events.
Western Suburbs
There are plenty of places to get hot chocolate in the western suburbs.
Related: Best Hot Chocolate Spots Near Naperville to Keep You Warm and Cozy
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea
- Addresses: 702 Lake St., Oak Park
This spot offers craft coffee and tea among other beverages such as matcha, hot chocolate, lattes, smoothies and blended drinks. They also have beverage flights for you to try coffee, tea and Kombucha beverages. Other locations in Chicago and Hoffman Estates.
Firecakes
- Addresses: 104 N. Maple Ave., Oak Park; Main Street Promenade, 50 S. Main St., Suite 136, Naperville
This doughnut shop offers hot and cold beverages to go along with your doughnuts. These include drip coffee, espresso, matcha, cappuccino, lattes, Belgian hot chocolate, Nitro coffee and more. Other locations in Chicago.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
- Address: 5 Jackson Ave., Naperville
JoJo’s Shake Bar is known for their extreme milkshakes, but in the winter, they offer crazy hot chocolates, too. The Classic is a classic hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff. The Salted Caramel is a salted caramel flavored hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff, toffee pretzel, toffee doughnut hole and a gold star marshmallow. The Double Chocolate is a double chocolate hot chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow fluff, chocolate-covered s’more and chocolate-covered marshmallow. The Baked Hot Chocolate is a baked fudge brownie served a la mode. They also have coffee, hot tea, lattes, shaken espressos, cappuccinos and more. Other locations in Chicago.
Kilwins
- Address: 36 W. Jefferson St., Naperville; 132 S. First St., St. Charles; 148 N. York St., Elmhurst; 407 S. Third St., #186, Geneva; 100 N. Hale St., Wheaton
This shop might be known best for its ice cream, but thanks to its history of chocolate, it also tops the list of some of the best hot chocolate in the city. When you buy it by the bag to make the hot chocolate at home, there’s no powder here. You’ll be adding piping hot milk to sweet shaved chocolate! River North location opening soon! Other locations in Arlington Heights, Chicago and Evanston.
Le Chocolat du Bouchard
- Address: 127 S. Washington St., Naperville
This gourmet chocolatier serves up hot cups in eight flavors, making the trip to the Western Suburbs worth the calories. Included on the menu is Mexicocoa, mint chocolate, chocolate caramel, hot chocolate malt, toasted marshmallow, vanilla chai and a hot chocolate cherry. Even the “classic” is made from a blend of Belgian and Swiss cocoas, proving that classic doesn’t mean basic.
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
This doughnut and coffee shop offers customers more than just those two items. They have other breakfast items – such as breakfast sandwiches and burritos and other beverages such as cappuccinos, hot cocoas and chai tea lattes. Other locations in Chicago, Rosemont, Orland Park, Schaumburg, Oaklawn, Park Ridge, Evergreen Park and Harwood Heights.
The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor
- Address: 7347 Madison St., Forest Park
This ice cream shop sells milkshakes, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, cookies and more. Their hot chocolate and coffee drinks are steamed ice cream and come with whipped cream on top. Non-dairy options are available, as well.
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