<p>Discover all of the city's most popular spots making the rounds online as the holiday season kicks off.</p>

<p>This winter, everyone's looking for ways to stay warm, and what better way to do that than with a delicious mug of hot chocolate?</p>
<p>If you're looking for a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/best-matcha-nyc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caffeine</a>-free pick-me-up, a warm beverage to fight off the city's chilly winds, or a simple sweet treat, there's no better place to be than <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/new-york-city-fashion-beauty-lifestyle-store-openings-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York City.</a> In recent years, several cups of cocoa have made the rounds on TikTok and Instagram, but like many viral food trends, it's not easy to discern the difference between where the actual hype is and where the lines are forming down the block. Luckily, NYC is home to bakeries, coffee shops, and caf&eacute;s across the city that boast excellent hot chocolates, so any of our&nbsp;<em>L'OFFICIEL</em>-approved spots are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while avoiding lengthy lines and all-consuming wait times.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Just in time for the holiday season, <em>L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;</em>has rounded up the best spots in NYC to grab a warm cup of cocoa.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Glace by Noglu, Carnegie Hill</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@glacenewyork

<p>If you've got a bigger sweet tooth than most, Glace by Noglu is the spot for you. Located in Manhattan, Glace by Noglu's average cup of cocoa presents itself as a sugary concoction of fun with an ice cream scooped-sized serving of whipped cream and a ring of burnt marshmallow along the edge of the cup. A cynic might turn their nose up at this concept, but the fun can be found in the absurdity of the drink itself. Not to mention, they come in a wide variety, with iterations including Oreo, espresso, and Nutella, among other toppings and add-ons.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Ladur&eacute;e, Soho</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@ladureeus

<p>Already famous for their macaroons, Ladur&eacute;e's hot chocolate is light and subtly sweet. Using the same recipe as their Paris location, Ladur&eacute;e uses Valhorna dark chocolate and cocoa paste for that irresistibly rich flavor. And, this year, they are offering a spiked version for customers dining in.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Santa Chiara Cafe, Hunters Point</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@peachfroyo

<p>At this Long Island City dessert and coffee shop, the barista makes the hot chocolate from scratch, starting with your preference of chocolate, pulled from a selection of North Italian chocolate callets lined against the counter. The result is light, frothy, milky hot chocolate. Notably, they offer ruby chocolate hot chocolate, which is made from the pink chocolate variety, offering a hint of unique berry flavor underneath rich chocolate.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Lys&eacute;e, Flatiron District</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@lysee.nyc

<p>This French-Korean bakery in Flatiron makes dairy-free hot chocolate that is a nod to owner Eunji Lee's cultural and culinary heritage. This "maeimil" hot chocolate is made with a toasted buckwheat-infused oat milk and a torched, homemade vanilla marshmallow. The result is a nuttier but still sweet hot chocolate that has a malted profile and provides an interesting contrast to the conventional milk or cream-based cocoa.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Cocoa Store, Flatiron District</h2>

Photoa via Instagram/@cocoastorenyc

<p>A hidden gem in Union Square, this spot has one of the purest and most reasonably priced cups of hot chocolate in the whole city. Cocao Store is a high-end chocolate retailer and importer run by Pepi di Giacomo, who prepares a limited batch of her 70 percent dark chocolate drink on a daily basis. With one of the highest chocolate-to-milk ratios, this hot chocolate is by far the most flavorful you'll find in the city.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Provisions, Gramercy</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@dailyprov

<p>Daily Provision's hot chocolate is a hidden gem on their breakfast and lunch menu. It's a made-to-order cup of cocoa with your average ingredients plus a few secret additions that make this a warm, thick hot chocolate with a hint of caramel&mdash;plus, dairy is interchangeable for alternate milk options.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Venchi, Flatiron District</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@venchi_usa

<p>With their diminutive portions, this is probably the most intense yet measured cup of hot chocolate in the city. The gelateria and chocolate shop's thick hot chocolate uses cocoa, sugar, and whole milk, and is available in several variations, such as classic, milk chocolate hazelnut, or 75 percent dark hazelnut variations.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Hani's Bakery, East Village</h2>

Photo via Instagram/@hanisbakerynyc

<p>Hani's hot chocolate distinguishes itself with its demure, cloudlike dome of creme anglaise custard&mdash;referred to as "shlag" by the staff&mdash;which tops the cup. The recipe is a classic rich dark-and-milk recipe with a hint of maple for warmth, made cool and lush by the vanilla custard dome&mdash;though fear not, old-fashioned hot cocoa fans, whipped cream is always an option too.&nbsp;</p>

Cozy Up This Season With New York City's Best Hot Chocolate

Tags

Related Articles

Travel & Living

Inside New York City's Quest For The Best Matcha

Travel & Living

NYC Members-Only Clubs For The Chic New Yorker

Fashion Week

See All The Celebrities At New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026

Recommended posts for you

Film & TV

Taylor Swift Announces Six-Part Eras Tour Documentary

Beauty

Frost Bitten Blush Is The Internet's New Favorite Winter Beauty Trend

Travel & Living

Cozy Up This Season With New York City's Best Hot Chocolate

Music

Megan Moroney Announces 2026 Cloud 9 Tour: Dates, Cities, and How to Get Tickets

Fashion

See NYC's Most Exciting Store Openings in 2025

Pop culture

Bianca Censori Debuts New Art Project Featuring Naked “Furniture” and a Latex Bodysuit

Pop culture

Who Is Milly Alcock? Everything to Know About the 'Supergirl' Star

Film & TV

Meet the Cast of the Newest Hunger Games Film, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’