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Hot chocolate has quietly become more than just a winter staple – it's the in-between drink, ordered on slow afternoons, rainy evenings, post-dinner cafe stops, and days when coffee simply won’t do. Thick or light, dark or creamy, nostalgic or indulgent, everyone has a version they swear by.
For this edition, we did #ReadersRecommend, where ELLE Gourmet turned to its readers to answer a simple but essential question: Where do you go for the best hot chocolate in your city? The responses poured in, from neighbourhood cafes and old favourites to bar chocolate makers and patisserie-led spaces doing it exceptionally well.
We matched with our readers' suggestions of hot chocolate spots across cities, and rounded off with pan-India favourites.
Mumbai
1. Bandra Born
Bandra Born has the kind of easy familiarity that makes it a regular for many. Their hot chocolate reflects that spirit – thoughtfully made, gently indulgent, and comforting without trying too hard. It’s a cup that feels suited to long conversations, slow afternoons, and repeat visits rather than one-off indulgence.
Where: Bandra Born, Bandra West, Mumbai
2. Poetry by Love & Cheesecake
Poetry’s hot chocolate is rooted in comfort and accessibility. It’s familiar in flavour, easy to enjoy, and designed to complement the cafe’s crowd-loved desserts. Nothing experimental here; just a safe, satisfying cup that works every time.
Where: Poetry's By Love and Cheesecake, Lower Parel, Mumbai
3. The Chantilly Cafe
Chantilly’s hot chocolate sits firmly in dessert territory. Glossy, indulgent, and clearly designed to be enjoyed alongside pastries, it feels like an extension of the cafe’s patisserie-led identity. This is the kind of place where hot chocolate becomes part of a sweet spread rather than a standalone drink.
Where: The Chantilly Cafe, Bandra West, Mumbai
4. Mahabi Patisserie
At Mahabi patisserie, perfection and finesse guide everything, including the hot chocolate. Expect a cup that’s polished and layered, with a focus on flavour clarity and texture. It feels calm and elegant, much like the rest of the menu.
Where: Mahabi Patisserie, Bandra West, Mumbai
5. The Bread Bar
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The Bread Bar keeps things understated, and its hot chocolate follows the same philosophy. Straightforward and clean-tasting, it avoids excess sweetness and lets good chocolate take the lead. A solid choice for those who prefer simplicity over indulgence.
Where: The Bread Bar, Chembur, Mumbai
6. Grandmama’s Cafe
Everything at Grandmama’s Cafe leans into nostalgia, and the hot chocolate is no exception. Full-bodied and comforting, it feels like a drink meant for slow meals and familiar flavours, something you order for reassurance as much as taste.
Where: Grandmama’s Cafe, Dadar, Mumbai
7. Nostalgia Bombay
True to its name, Nostalgia Bombay offers a hot chocolate that feels rooted in memory. Rich and warming, it’s less about trend-driven flavours and more about recreating that old cafe comfort people keep coming back for.
Where: Nostalgia Bombay, Hill Rd, Bandra West, Mumbai
8. Steps
Steps is casual and approachable, qualities that carry into its hot chocolate. It’s well-made, pleasant, and dependable, fitting naturally into everyday cafe visits without demanding attention.
Where: Steps, Bandra West, Mumbai
9. Suzette Cafe & Bakery
Suzette’s hot chocolate reflects its French-inspired menu, limited, balanced, and quietly indulgent. The sweetness is controlled, the texture smooth, making it ideal for those who prefer elegance over heaviness.
Where: Suzette Cafe & Bakery, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai,
10. Boojee Cafe
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At Boojee Cafe, indulgence is the point. Their hot chocolate is thick, rich, and meant to remain over, fitting seamlessly into the cafe’s cosy, indulgent atmosphere.
Where: Boojee Cafe, off Perry Cross Road, Bandra West, Mumbai
Ahmedabad
11. Moi Dessert Studio
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Moi’s hot chocolate mirrors its dessert studio approach, refined, carefully put together, and visually polished. The flavour is balanced and smooth, designed to sit comfortably alongside plated desserts and artisanal bakes.
Where: Moi Dessert Studio, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Delhi
12. It’s Common Time
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It’s Common Time serves a hot chocolate that feels uncomplicated and comforting. Designed for relaxed evenings and unhurried conversations, it’s a cup that prioritises warmth and familiarity over flair.
Where: It’s Common Time, Lodi Colony, New Delhi, Delhi
13. The Big Chill Cafe
Few places in Delhi carry the cult status of The Big Chill. There’s hot chocolate is unapologetically indulgent, thick, sweet, and nostalgic, the kind many grew up ordering and still return to for comfort.
Where: The Big Chill Cafe, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi
Haryana
14. Petite Pie Shop
Petite Pie Shop’s hot chocolate feels thoughtfully made for Paris vibes. It complements their pies rather than overpowering them, offering a balanced cup that works well as part of a fuller cafe experience.
Where: Petite Pie Shop, Sector 65, Gurugram, Haryana
Bengaluru
15. Lazy Suzy
Lazy Suzy’s hot chocolate leans fully into indulgence. Rich, dessert-forward, and designed to be enjoyed alongside baked goods, it suits those who prefer their chocolate drinks sweet and comforting.
Where: Lazy Suzy, Indiranagar, Bengaluru
Chennai
16. Coffee Since 1999
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A long-standing name in Chennai’s cafe scene, Coffee Since 1999 keeps its hot chocolate classic and straightforward. There’s no decoration, just a familiar cup that regulars trust.
Where: Coffee Since 1999, Thousand Lights, Chennai
Pan-India Favourites
17. Subko Coffee
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Subko’s hot chocolate is built on craft rather than convenience. Cocoa-forward and intense, it reflects the brand’s larger focus on sourcing and technique. This is a cup designed for people who enjoy strong chocolate.
Where: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad
18. Manam Chocolate
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As a bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Manam treats hot chocolate as a showcase of cacao itself. The drink is layered and full-bodied, highlighting evolution rather than sweetness, and offering a more specific chocolate experience.
Where: Subko, Hyderabad & Delhi
19. Cafe de Piccolo
Cafe de Piccolo combines cosy interiors with a dessert-focused menu, and its hot chocolate fits neatly into that space. Smooth and warming, it’s especially suited to slower cafe moments in cooler cities.
Where: Cafe de Piccolo, Dehradun & Chandigarh
20. Ladurée India
Ladurée’s hot chocolate stays true to French tradition, elegant, silky, and composed. It’s often enjoyed as part of a larger patisserie experience rather than as a casual drink.
Where: Ladurees India, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, & Haryana
21. Paashh
Paashh’s hot chocolate aligns with its calm, mindful approach to food. Balanced and thoughtfully prepared, it avoids heaviness while still delivering comfort, making it ideal for those who prefer understated indulgence.
Where: Paashh, Mumbai & Pune
22. SMOOR Chocolates
SMOOR’s hot chocolate is firmly dessert-led. Rich, thick, and chocolate-intensive, it reflects the brand’s premium confectionery focus and is best suited for those who enjoy bold, indulgent flavours.
Where:SMOOR's Chocolate, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, & Chennai
23. Beanly
Beanly approaches hot chocolate with the same limitation it applies to coffee. Clean flavours, controlled sweetness, and a smooth finish make it appealing to those who enjoy subtlety over richness.
Where: Beanly, Haryana & Delhi
24. Sidewalk Cafe
Sidewalk in offers consistency across cities, and its hot chocolate reflects that reliability. Familiar in flavour and easy to enjoy, it fits naturally into everyday cafe culture rather than feeling like a special-occasion drink.
Where: Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra
Bonus Tip: Can't visit the places? Here's where you can order hot chocolate ingredients:
Pirouette Baking
Pirouette Baking is an online brand offering rich, cafe-style hot chocolate mixes made with quality cocoa. Perfect for cosy evenings, and the products let you recreate a comforting hot chocolate experience at home, no outlet needed.
To buy: Here