London’s 14 Best Hot Chocolate Spots, Italian to Triple Hot Choc’

As soon as it starts being all grey out and raining in London, hot chocolate is a must to feel at least a little bit perky and be able to carry on with everyday life.

Or is it just me?

Triple hot chocolate, Italian, French, fancy hot choc’…

With all the pretty cafes London boasts, finding the very best hot chocolate in London can be tricky, but I have my favorite spots – and here they are all!

London’s 14 Best Hot Chocolate Spots, Italian to Triple Hot Choc’

You and I both know there are lots of instagrammable cafes in London, and well, while a lot of them offer pretty cups of colorful lattes, it doesn’t mean they’ll also prep delicious hot chocolate.

Actually, I have found my own favorite hot chocolate in London Bridge, in a secret cafe called Coffee Academy – a coffee shop with two tables that no one really talks about.

Some other places, like Dark Sugars in Brick Lane, have been famous for their cups of thick hot chocolate (very instagrammable cups, too) for ages.

In any case, I’ll share with you here many beautiful places, from Italian cafes to French chocolate shops where you can warm up with tasty, thick, incredible hot chocolate in the dead of winter!

Best Italian Hot Chocolate in London

Best Italian Hot Chocolate in Soho London: Bar Italia

Bar Italia is one of the only very tasty Italian cafes in Central London, and their cups of coffee, their Italian breakfast bites, their Italian decor…

Everything screams ‘take me to Rome!’.

I’ve been visiting Bar Italia for quite a few years, and one thing they do well is their, well, Italian hot chocolate.

Bar Italia is not that fancy spot at all.

It’s a true reminder of coffee shops in Rome, Milan or Bologna – lively, vibrant, almost impatient in service, too – that’s how you know that the product is outstanding in taste.

You have lots of cute cafes in Soho nearby, as well as plenty of shops, hidden gems, and whatnot – but if there’s one proper Italian coffee shop where you can get thick Italian hot chocolate, it’s that one.

Read: The Cutest Pink Cafes in London

Best Italian Hot Chocolate in Soho London: Said Dal 1923, Broadwick St

Located on Broadwick Street, close to one of London’s most secret street food markets, Said dal 1923 is another spot to get proper Italian hot chocolate in town.

Very thick, the hot chocolate cups at Said dal 1923 are famous for their triple hot chocolate decor – diabetes hello is what I always say.

The spot has changed its name to Italian Bear Chocolate, a branch of which you can find in Fitzrovia, and about which we’ll talk further down this guide.

In any case, if one is looking for instagrammable desserts in London, you’d do well to order a good ol’ slice of chocolate cake.

It will come covered in white, milk and dark chocolate and I promise you’ll have trouble finishing it!

Read: The Best Cafes in Brixton

Best Italian Hot Chocolate in London: Caffè Napoli, Goodge St

Bit of a long shot with Caffè Napoli, but if there’s one really secret cafe in Central London you have to know, it’s this one.

At Caffè Napoli, you barely have two seats to sit down and enjoy your coffee – the decor, the seating space and the way of enjoying Italian coffee mixed with cocoa powder really comes Neapolitan style.

I love everything Neapolitan and Italian in general, and have told you here about some of my favorite spots for excellent Neapolitan pizza in Central London, but this love doesn’t come close to the one I bear to Italian coffee.

It’s not proper hot chocolate you’ll find at Caffè Napoli on Goodge Street, but rather all sorts of coffee blended with Nutella, hazelnut, and cocoa powder.

That makes this tiny coffee shop one of the most interesting in Central London, and in the whole town, really – one of the best hidden gems in Fitzrovia, if I may!

Read: The Best Shops on Oxford Street

Best Italian Hot Chocolate in Central London: Italian Bear Chocolate, Fitzrovia

Another cute coffee shop in Fitzrovia, Italian Bear Chocolate is, as I said, the same brand as Said dal 1923, which has changed names some time ago.

Located close to James Street, one of the most colorful places in London (and filled with instagrammable cafes), Italian Bear Chocolate offers the same thick cups of Italian hot chocolate.

Do pay attention to ask for whipped cream on top – that of Italian Bear Chocolate is ultra thick, and really heartwarming on an autumn afternoon.

All the cafes in Fitzrovia really have nothing on Italian Bear Chocolate, and the many profiteroles, chocolate cakes and waffles are all more delicious than the previous one!

Read: The Best Cafes in London Bridge

The Best Hot Chocolate in Central London

Best Hot Chocolate in Central London: Gail’s Bakery, Soho

I’ve mentioned Gail’s Bakery a number of times on The Working Line; if you’re looking for the best hot chocolate in Soho and don’t want to queue for Said dal 1923, Gail’s makes a mean cup of hot choc’.

Gail’s Bakery in Soho is one of my favorite places to write in London, or have a small breakfast or brunch moment when everyone’s at work and the cafe is quieter.

While Gail’s is a chain, it still manages to offer some of the tastiest cinnamon buns in London, along with fresh burgers, croissants, pains au chocolat and cookies.

It’s actually one of my favorite cafes to work in London, especially the Notting Hill cafe, which is spacious enough that you can type away on your laptop without feeling like you’re disturbing.

After breakfast, walk around Soho to find cool streetwear shops, or make your way to Chinatown to get beautiful pictures of the vibrant area!

Read: The Best Things to Do in Soho

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Elan Cafe, Wardour St Soho

Elan Cafe on Wardour Street is one of the most neon places in London, and one of my favorite places to feel like I’m not in the bustling center anymore.

The first room is posh, elegant, pastel pink and surrounds you with sophistication as you can admire the displays of pink cookies, layer cakes and other treats.

The second room, the neon room pictured above, is my favorite, and really feels like you’re dining in the future.

While the Elan Cafe prices are not the lowest in town, Elan can be one of Central London’s best cheap eats if you download the app to get £5 off on your first order.

If you order their beautiful pink hot chocolate, make sure you order something to eat that is not too sweet – you won’t be able to finish otherwise.

However, if you’re looking for famous cafes to get hot chocolate in Central London, Elan Cafe is one brand name you should pop by at least once.

Read: The Cutest Pink Places in London

Best Hot Chocolate in Central London: Hotel Chocolat, Covent Garden

I’ve only ever visited the Hotel Chocolat shop in Covent Garden a couple of times, and for those who love thick hot chocolate, that’s the place for you.

When you visit, you’re not only going to visit one of the best chocolate shops in town, but one of the most interesting shops in London overall.

From pastries to cups of steaming hot chocolate and beautiful bites, Hotel Chocolat is a famous place to visit – and their chocolates are one of the best things to buy in London.

The cafe on Monmouth Street is located really close to Seven Dials Market as well as some of London’s best makeup stores, including Kryolan, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary and MAC Cosmetics.

So, I’d say a French hot chocolate before shopping or visiting Covent Garden’s hidden gems sounds good on a beautiful autumn day, doesn’t it?

Read: The Best Harry Potter Locations in London

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Chin Chin, Soho

Chin Chin, also called Chin Chin Labs or Chin Chin Dessert Club, is one of the top spots to get instagrammable pastries as well as delicious cups of hot chocolate in Central London.

You’ll find a few branches around town, from their Old Spitalfields branch to their cafe in Soho – all with a different vibe, all with the same indulgent desserts.

It’s hard to find really new ways to eat in London.

Still, when you see that Chin Chin Labs is one of the only places to get a Nitro Ice Cream, sundaes, proper soft serves and incredible hot chocolate, is when you decide it’s your new favorite spot to treat yourself.

I would definitely recommend either the Soho cafe or the Old Spitalfields Market stand, and here’s the reason why – because from the East London market, you can easily walk to Eataly.

Eataly being one of London’s best Italian food shops, and so beautiful you’d think you’re walking around an immersive museum!

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in East London

The Best Hot Chocolate in London Bridge

Best Hot Chocolate in London Bridge: Coffee Academy, Southbank

Now, now – Coffee Academy.

The Southbank coffee shop is one of the most secret cafes in Central London, and only requires a few minutes to access from London Bridge and Blackfriars stations.

Located inside Brand Academy, one of the coolest concept stores slash gift shops in London, Coffee Academy offers that smooth cup of thick hot chocolate, and perfect whipped cream you absolutely need to try.

In addition, the cute, tiny coffee shop with only three tables (two at times) also sells the latest creations of Crosstown Doughnuts – even their vegan options!

Vegan doughnuts are not easy to come by in London, and whether you choose the classic version or the vegan version, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

Coffee Academy, in my opinion, offers the very, very, very best hot chocolate in London.

It’s true that if you’re looking for pretty floral cafes, that’s not the place – but its quality calls for your attention anyway.

I can’t rave about it enough, and can’t even remember just how many friends I’ve brought here to try their huge cups of hot choc.

Read: The Prettiest Medieval Sites in London

Best Hot Chocolate in London Bridge: Konditor Bakery, SE1

One of the cutest bakeries in London, Konditor is known for far more than just their absolutely incredible hot chocolate.

Established in 1993, the London bakery chain is famous for their birthday cakes in the first place.

That’s where you can get delicious cookies, croissants, brownies, Danish pastries, and so much more – and since they have several bakeries in London, you really can access Konditor from anywhere.

My favorite branch is the one in Southwark, perfect to pop by before walking around London Bridge’s hidden gems.

However, on Watling Street near St Paul’s Cathedral, Konditor has another hidden bakery – honestly, you won’t know what to order in addition to your thick hot chocolate cup.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in South London

Other Incredible Hot Chocolate Spots in London

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Dark Sugars, Brick Lane

Dark Sugars in Brick Lane was one of the very first spots I tried when I looked up the best hot chocolate in London, a bit like what you’re doing now.

Well, even if coffee shops like Italian Bear Chocolate or Elan Cafe offer really instagrammable cups of hot chocolate, that’s nothing compared to Dark Sugars.

I might be biased – I love East London, and having lived in Bethnal Green, I used to walk around Brick Lane quite often when I lived there.

I especially love Beigel Shop there, which offers some of London’s best bagels – and a must-try if you love cheap eats.

One of the only places to get lunch under £5 in London still, too, and perfect coupled with a steaming cup of hot chocolate with shaved chocolate bits on top at Dark Sugars.

Don’t believe me, just try it – but just be aware that if you’ve been on the lookout for the best chocolate shops in London, Dark Sugars will have you taking out your credit card for their chocolates too.

Read: The Best Hidden Gems in North London

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Grounded Coffee Company, Whitechapel

How many times have we mentioned Grounded Coffee Company on The Working Line?

I’ve lost track.

It’s one of the best restaurants in Whitechapel, one of the best places to get a halal Full English breakfast in town, a perfect place to work, write, read or relax…

The list goes on.

While their colorful lattes are far more advertised than their beautiful hot chocolate, Grounded ticks all the boxes.

If there’s one thing I can promise you, it’s that you will be coming back for their vegan breakfast bites and other halal brunch plates – again, again… and again.

Read: The Best Free Rooftops in London

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Dulce Coffee, Whitechapel

Dulce Coffee on Whitechapel Road is located just a few doors down from Grounded, and is yet another one of my favorite halal cafes in London.

The place feels authentic, with simple decor and the highlight of the cafe is definitely, truly, wholly their breakfast options.

Whether you’re looking for perfect hot chocolate in East London or fluffy pancakes, beef sausages and turkey rashers in a filling Full English Breakfast, this place promises and delivers.

Those looking for cafes to work in East London might want to visit Dulce Coffee for this matter.

Yet, since the coffee shop fills up pretty early on, you might want to avoid bringing your laptop and notebooks there.

However, for that steaming cup of hot chocolate, even if Dulce Coffee is not one of the most famous cafes in London to get hot choc’, place your order and wait for the magic to happen.

Read: The Best Halal Restaurants in East London

Best Hot Chocolate in London: Knoops, West London

Now, now – if you’re looking for the best hot chocolate in London in terms of science and chocolate percentage, one of the only coffee shops to visit is Knoops.

With their locations in Notting Hill, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Richmond… Knoops definitely places itself on the posh side of chocolate.

Knoopology, the Knoops concept, revolves around experimentation with flavors to be enjoyed in various versions, from iced chocolate to hot chocolate and milkshakes.

It’s truly the place where chocolate lovers gather to try new flavors and percentages to suit their mood and the day.

Maybe during a rainy day, you’ll love to order a hot chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage.

The Kensington High Street cafe, in particular, is a favorite of mine as it allows me to be close to some of West London’s best hidden gems as well as famous museums.

An utter must during winter days!

Read: The Best Charity Shops in London

London’s 14 Best Hot Chocolate Spots – Italian to Triple Hot Choc’

There you have them, all the lowkey and fancy cafes in London to get a mean cup of hot chocolate on a rainy day!

Once you’re done enjoying your hot chocolate, and depending on where you are, why not walk around in search of hidden gems in Oxford Street?

If you’re an architecture and history lover, walk around some of London’s prettiest churches, like the ruins of St Dunstan in the East, or keep going in Soho to find unique shops – the day is yours to enjoy!

Until next time!

Other London Travel

• How to Spend 24 Hours in London
• How to Save Money on Groceries in London
• How to Live in London on a Budget
• How to Eat in London on a Budget
• The Most Secret Beaches in London
• The Best Free Views in London
• The Best Hidden Gems in Soho
• The Best Things to Do in Canary Wharf
• The Best Things to Do in London Bridge
• The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
• The Most Colorful Streets in Camden
• The Most Colorful Streets in Notting Hill
• Why Are There Colorful Streets in London
• Camden Passage, London’s Best Hidden Gems
• Chalcot Square, Primrose Hill’s Colorful Houses

Other London Shopping

• The Best British Drugstore Makeup Brands
• The Best Cheap Makeup Shops in London
• The Best Cheap Clothes Shops in London
• The Best Shopping Centers in London
• The Best Budget Shops in London
• The Best Candle Shops in London
• The Best British Shops in London
• The Best TK Maxx in London
• The Best Secondhand Bookshops in London
• The Most Beautiful Bookshops in London
• The Best Stationery Shops in London
• Poundland Makeup Gallery Cosmetics Review

Other London Food Reviews

• Chinese Tapas House Chinatown Review
• Whitcomb’s at the Londoner Leicester Square Review
• Heritage Soho – Modern European Restaurant Review
• Aqua Kyoto Soho Review
• Cafe Piazza Hay’s Galleria Review
• Bim’s Edmonton – Halal Burgers Review
• Host Cafe – St Paul’s Hidden Church Cafe Review
• Lisboa Patisserie Notting Hill Review
• Ole & Steen Charing Cross Road Review
• Bread Ahead Bakery Borough Market Review
• Bread Ahead Bakery Wembley Review
• Ore Cafe Brompton Review
• Oodles Chinese Holborn Review
• Elan Cafe Knightsbridge Review

Other London Food

• The Best Doughnuts in London
• The Best Bagels in London
• The Best Macarons in London
• The Best Ice Cream in London
• The Best French Patisseries in London
• The Most Aesthetic Restaurants in London With Statues
• The Most Maximalist Restaurants in London
• The Most Instagrammable Restaurants in London
• The Best Cheap Pizza in London
• The Best Neapolitan Pizza in London
• The Best Restaurants in Knightsbridge
• The Best Restaurants in Walthamstow
• The Best Restaurants in Balham
• The Best Breakfast in Notting Hill
• The Best Vegan Breakfast in London
• The Best Halal Steaks in London
• The Best Halal Burgers in London
• The Best Cafes in Shoreditch
• The Best Brunch in London Bridge
• The Best Brunch in King’s Cross

Other London Coworking

• The Best Chain Cafes in London To Work
• The Best Cafes in Camden To Study and Work
• The Best 24 Hour Places to Study in London
• The Best Cafes to Work in Canary Wharf
• The Best Cafes to Work in Bethnal Green
• The Best Cafes to Work near Tottenham Court Road
• The best Cafes to Work in Soho
• The Best Cafes to Work in London Bridge
• The Best Cafes to Work in Central London
• The Best Cafes to Work in South London
• The Best Cafes to Work in North London
• The Best Cafes to Work in West London
• The best cafes to work in Covent Garden
• The best free libraries in London to study
• the best free study spaces in London
• the best cafes in Notting Hill to work