London's Best Hot Chocolates

It's nearly Winter so forget mulled wine or spiced cider, the perfect and wonderfully indulgent drink for winter is a steaming mug of hot chocolate.....

Artisan du Chocolat

The name says it all – superb chocolate taken seriously. So seriously they produce their own chocolate from ground beans, rather than buying in couverture (high quality processed chocolate) from a larger concern. The standard range is excellent but it’s worth popping by the boutiques to see the seasonal treats and designs for occasions such as Halloween. Summer’s range includes chocolate pots topped with delicate flowers, and giant buttons flavoured with dried fruits. We love the bars for people on special diets too: they include chocolates made from buffalo and almond milks, as well as sugar-free dark and milk.

Address:
Artisan du Chocolat 81 Westbourne Grove
London
W2 4UL
Venue phone:

0845 270 6996

Venue website:
artisanduchocolat.com

Opening hours:
Open 10am-7pm Mon-Sat; noon-5pm Sun.

Transport:
Tube: Bayswater, Notting Hill or Royal Oak tube


Choccywoccydoodah

One can’t help but be distracted by the phantasmagorical cakes when visiting this store-cum-café, but there’s a wide range of chocolate here too. Tongue-in-cheek items include three types of chocolate popcorn bar, and the inevitable Choccywoccyrocky Road. For reasons I can’t quite fathom, Chunky Ladies’ Secrets is white chocolate studded with glacé cherries and walnuts. Want to truly freak out a loved one? Buy the 2.8kg life-size chocolate skull hand-painted with flowers – it’s £100.


Address:
Choccywoccydoodah 30-32 Fouberts Place
London
W1F 7PS
Venue phone:

020 7734 9713

Venue website:
www.choccywoccydoodah.com

Opening hours:
Open Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-7pm; 10am-8pm Thur; 11am-6pm Sun

Transport:
Tube: Oxford Circus tube
               

Rococo

Founder Chantal Coady is revered as a pioneer of fine chocolate in the UK and even today seems several steps ahead, with her involvement in the Grenada Chocolate Company – their organic bars on sale here are some of the best on the market. Rococo’s own flavoured bars are justly popular (the rose flavour is heavenly) and the novelties – among them hand-painted chocolate sardines, and jersey new potatoes with mint (made from hazelnut praline, white chocolate and mint leaves) – always raise a smile. Next Easter, treat your BFF to the gorgeous artisan hand-painted chocolate eggs.

Address:
Rococo 5 Motcomb Street
London
SW1X 8JU
Venue phone:

020 7245 0993

Venue website:
www.rococochocolates.com

Opening hours:
Open noon-5pm Mon; 10am-6.30pm Tue-Sat

Transport:
Tube: Knightsbridge tube