Guide to the best hot chocolate in London

Dark Sugars was established to tell the story of cocoa from tree to tummy. Nyanga, the founder, started the company in a small market stall at Spitalfields Market before spending a few years researching cocoa on her family’s farm in West Africa. She eventually expanded to Greenwich and Brick Lane, where she serves her handcrafted artisan chocolates, vegan sweet treats and decadent hot chocolate.

Chin Chin Labs has made a name for itself as Europe’s first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour, alongside apparently selling the best hot chocolate in London. It’s topped with decadent whipped cream and thick drinking chocolate, with the option to purchase at-home hot chocolate drinking kits. Try one of their liquid nitrogen ice creams while you’re at it.

Ruby Violet, named after the founder’s maternal grandmother, who loved ice cream, is the place to go for luxurious British ice cream and sorbets made with free-range eggs and fresh fruit, in various inventive flavours, like lavender and mint and cucumber. They also serve various cakes and drinks, including an excellent hot chocolate. There’s an indoor seating area and a sun-drenched terrace outside, perfect for al fresco sipping.

This chocolate spot is the perfect place to get your sweet tooth fix; you can enjoy handmade chocolates made fresh in front of your eyes. If you’re feeling extra sweet, opt for their gourmet hot chocolate, made with milk or dark chocolate, organic cocoa solids, sugar and cocoa butter. They also host chocolate-making experiences where you can choose from various fun and educational courses, from brownie making and bonbons to workshops where you just learn about all the different kinds of chocolates available (plus you get to try them all).

Create your own perfect hot chocolate at Knoops, where they use their luxury hot chocolate flakes combined with an assortment of other ingredients to craft the perfect hot cup of choccy goodness. They encourage you to experiment with different % chocolates and flavours, using a process they call ‘Knoopology’. Choose your ideal % of chocolate from the 100% single-origin with a marshmallow or make it a milkshake with the zingy ginger Szechuan pepper 28% white chocolate milkshake.

If you love chocolate so much you want it oozing all over your cup, visit Italian Bear Chocolate. These modern industrial venues will make your hot chocolate with dark, milk, or white bars, and you can go for the triple chocolate option with layers of chocolate covering the sides of the cup for sheer decadence.