Mörk has been kicking around since 2012, showing Melburnians just how good a hot chocolate can taste. Taking their cues from Melbourne's coffee culture, owners Josefin Zernell and Kiril Shaginov have grown this drinking chocolate brand to include three stores and a chocolate foundry in North Melbourne. You'll also see its drinking chocolate powders and pastries stocked at some of Melbourne's best cafes. But the owners aren't stopping there. They spent two years creating the two-storey Mörk Looking Glass concept store on Centre Place — one of the graffiti-clad laneways near Degraves Street. Here, you'll find Mörk's classic drinking chocolate blends, cinnamon and cardamom buns, chocolate spreads and morsels, pre-mixed cocktails, and its famous Campfire Hot Chocolate — served with smoke, charcoal salt and a freshly toasted marshmallow that's also made in-house. Coffee from Patricia is also available for those needing a caffeine fix instead of chocolate. Zernell and Shaginov are using this site to showcase just how fun and experimental the humble hot chocolate can be, and have even dreamt up a new drink for Mörk Looking Glass: The Layered Chocolate. For this, a dark hot chocolate base is topped with caramelised banana, saffron custard and freshly grated lime zest. And while some of these experimental creations will make their way into the main storefront, most of them will only be available upstairs in the tasting room. Experimental chocolate bars, elaborate drinking chocolates that never made it onto the menu, chocolate cocktail pairings and creative desserts will all be on show during themed tastings in this space. If you consider yourself a chocoholic, this spot best be on your hit list. Images: Kristoffer Paulsen
