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Delhi in winter is synonymous with sitting in a cafe and sipping on a cup of hot chocolate. Hot chocolate is not just a drink; in winter, it is equal to therapy. A mug of hot chocolate when sipped on cool winter days, as the fog sets in and chai starts feeling too familiar, is something many look forward to. But in a place like Delhi, you do not have to stick to just one style of hot chocolate. Some mornings you will want a thick, velvety Italian-style sip topped with whipped cream; other nights, a spicy orange-infused cup and sometimes you just need a classic hot chocolate paired with almond crumble after a long, tiring day.
This is the beauty of hot chocolate in winter, which is not only loved by kids but also by adults alike. Couples, friends, students, late-night workers, everyone will find their kind of perfect chocolate comfort somewhere under Delhi’s cold evening.
Hashery
Hashery not only serves hot chocolate, but they also design it. Think of a cocoa lab where you pick the base as you do for the pizza dough and finish with toppings of your choice. Eight cocoas, twenty spices, ten flavours, and nearly twenty toppings may sound all fun and exciting until you discover you are facing the most delectable dilemma of your day. Simply try “Gimme S’more” if you're in a panic about what to pick. The cup of that hot chocolate feels indulgent without being too sweet, and every visit here will feel like your first winter date with chocolate all over again.
Cost for two: INR 500
Where: Connaught Place, Delhi
(Image credit: Instagram)
Colocal Chocolate Factory & Café
At Colocal, the hot chocolate almost introduces itself like whispering 'Hi, I was roasted right here.” It tastes like serious art skill. The menu here mentions the right cacao percentages instead of simply the name of the flavours, such as 55%, 66%, 72%, 85%. The drinking chocolate feels like melted bars rather than simply cocoa powder mixed into milk. Smoky campfire and caramel versions also exist for when you are in a more experimental mood. When going here for hot chocolate, do ask for a spoon, as you will need it, because of its luxurious consistency.
Cost for two: INR 1200 to 2,000
Where: Chhattarpur, Khan Market, Delhi
Café Dori
Hot chocolate at café dori feels like it should come with an age limitation, as it’s that mature. Created with Callebaut Belgian dark chocolate, it is rich and elegant, but not sugary at all. The toasted marshmallow resting on the top gives all the Christmas-movie vibes. The minimalist décor warms up when that cocoa comes steaming to you. Come the winter season, and with small fairy lights, a serious chocolate affair, and suddenly Delhi feels like a European café city.
Cost for two: INR 1500 to 2000
Where: Dhan Mill Compound, Delhi
(Image credit: Instagram)
Ladurée
Ladurée is the place you visit when you want your hot chocolate to arrive dressed up a little. Served in pure European-style and optionally topped with Chantilly cream, it is something you sip and not gulp. It has less sugar and more smoothness, legacy, and Paris-level extravagance. The cafe has all the French vibes and energy to forget that you are in a busy Indian cafe for a moment.
Cost for two: INR 2000 to 2500
Where: Khan Market, Delhi
Chocolateria San Churro
Here, hot chocolate is not just a drink, but it is basically a pudding. Thick, Spanish-style and extremely rich, the kind you would want to eat as much as sip. The flavours are classic, mocha, and even one crowned with ice cream, but the real star is ordering churros here by the side and dipping them in the cup of hot chocolate. A gentle warning- it can ruin your taste for normal hot chocolate forever, and you will crave this texture every time you think of it.
Cost for two: INR 500 to 1000
Where: GK2 M Block, Delhi
(Image credit: Instagram)
