The Best Hot Chocolate in Melbourne

A cup of hot chocolate will always hold a special place in our hearts. Perhaps it's the nostalgia evoked by the childlike joy of that first chocolatey sip. Or, being able to pretend that you are at a French chalet warming up after a day of skiing with some Chocolat Chaud. Or sitting on a Paris sidewalk, stirring whipped cream into your thick, creamy drink over an Eiffel Tower view.   

We may not be able to actually transport you to Europe, but we can help you find a decadently delicious cup of the good stuff right here in Melbourne. Follow our guide to the best hot chocolates in Melbourne and find everything from hot chocolates spiked with schnapps, cups loaded with gelato for a hot-meets-cold moment, and even hot chocolates served in a croissant wheel.

Recommended reads:
The Best Cafes in Melbourne
The Best Coffee in Melbourne
The Best Restaurants in Melbourne
The Best Bakeries in Melbourne

Beautiful Jim Key, Brunswick

Beautiful Jim Key, situated in Jewell Station Village, calls itself a neighbourhood cafe and luncheonette inspired by the "fantastic and the curious." The menu plays into the venue's ethos of whimsy and joy, and the drinks are no afterthought. 

There is a healthy selection of cocktails, beers, and wines, as well as a creative menu of coffees, teas, juices, matchas, and hot chocolates. While they offer Mörk Drinking Chocolate, the menu also boasts a Peruvian Dark Cacao, with the option to add butterscotch or peppermint schnapps. Now that's one sure-fire way to warm yourself up this winter.

Find Beautiful Jim Key at 7 Wilson Avenue, Brunswick.

Piccolina, Various Locations

One of Melbourne's best gelato purveyors, Piccolina Gelateria, is turning up the heat this winter with a newly launched range of gourmet hot chocolates. The Cioccolata Calda, or Italian hot chocolate, is made using the finest ingredients, including 72 per cent Belgian dark couverture chocolate. 

The Il Classico is topped with whipped cream; the Hot Chocolate Affogato includes a scoop of signature gelato for a hot-meets-cold moment; and the S'Mores Affogato is a nostalgic creation of hot chocolate with fior di latte gelato, toasted pink marshmallows, and graham cracker crumble.

Find Piccolina Gelateria at 296 Smith Street, Collingwood, 731 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, Chadstone, The Social Quarter, 137c Acland Street, St Kilda, 43 Hardware Lane, 32 Degraves Street, 85 Swan Street and 274 Swanston Street, Melbourne.

The Glass Den, Coburg

At this Coburg cafe, the food is bold, bright, and decadent. And so is the hot chocolate. The aesthetic breakfasts hark back to a time of Instagram flat lays, with the food and drinks designed for the camera. There are avocado roses and upside-down ice cream cones, edible flowers, and colourful bubble waffles. 

While there are plenty of two-toned, cold-foam creations, such as a strawberry matcha with cloud cream, a tiramisu coffee with sponge biscuits, and even a taro-cloud variety, at The Glass Den, hot chocolate holds its own. The cafe is famous for its Euro-inspired, thick, creamy hot chocolate served with whipped cream, which is arguably more of a dessert than a drink. They have also introduced a pistachio version, which includes layers of rich chocolate, pistachio cream and whipped cream. 

Find The Glass Den at 15 Urquhart St, Coburg.

Mörk, Various Locations

The team at Mörk is as serious about their hot chocolate as Melbourne's best coffee roasters are about their coffee. In 2012, Mörk created its first signature hot chocolate blend with respect for the traceability, quality, and unique origin of the ingredients. The brand has grown, and you can now enjoy its hot chocolate alongside treats and goodies. 

If you visit the various Mörk stores, sample the house hot chocolate varieties (add toasted vanilla marshmallow, of course), as well as the hot or cold signatures. Go for the Breakfast Hot Chocolate, which includes spiced dark chocolate with coconut and oat milk, and warming spices, or indulge with a Frozen Campfire Mörkshake with chocolate biscuit and toasted marshmallows.

Find Mörk at 150 Errol Street, North Melbourne, Market Pavilion Kiosk 142/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone, Queen Victoria Market Shop 51-54, Dairy Produce Hall, 13 Centre Place and 20 Equitable Place, Melbourne.

Calle Bakery, Carlton North

Calle Bakery in Carlton North doesn't do things by halves. They have had many viral moments with creations such as a cookie-croissant mash-up and a Dubai chocolate pastry. One of its most popular menu items is the croissant wheel, which comes filled and topped with various seasonal toppings ranging from chocolate lava cake to strawberry and pistachio, lemon meringue pie to sticky date pudding, pandan kaya coconut to chocolate and banana. 

However, one of the bakery's most viral and popular specials is its hot chocolate wheels. Be warned that these are usually only available as specials and almost always sell out (we'd recommend checking out their Instagram for up-to-date details), but they are undoubtedly a delicious and playful way to enjoy your hot chocolate. Decadent, thick hot chocolate is poured into the croissant wheel, which may come classic with whipped cream or in a special flavour such as pistachio with kataifi pastry.

Find Calle Bakery at 649 Rathdowne St, Carlton North.

Pidapipo, Various Locations

Becoming something of a winter tradition in recent years, Pidapipo Gelateria's hot chocolate is back again for its third season. For first-timers, expect a cup of pure indulgence, with rich, silky hot chocolate crafted from 70% dark chocolate, offering soothing warmth in every sip. Topped with a generous scoop of Pidapipo's signature house-churned fior di latte gelato folded with marshmallows, the hot chocolate is crowned with caramelised hazelnut croccante — ensuring an ideal sweet-crunchy finish.

This season, Pidapipo is hopping on the matcha craze, introducing its first-ever matcha hot chocolate. The creamy hot chocolate base is adorned with a scoop of matcha gelato, topped with matcha whipped cream, and finished with milk matcha crumble.

Find Pidapipo Gelateria at 299 Lygon Street, Carlton, 85 Chapel Street, Windsor, 8 Degraves St, Melbourne and 429-431 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.

My Oh My, Richmond

This Richmond cafe serves up brekkie classics alongside a very popular, very tasty hot chocolate. The menu is well-suited to those with hungry bellies seeking big, bold, and satisfying meals. There's a breakfast burger with fried eggs, bacon, hash browns, and chipotle mayo; a Philly cheesesteak with Swiss and American cheese, caramelised onions, and fries; and even a Hangover Cure plate loaded with the works. 

The cafe became well known for its Cocoa Jackson Hot Chocolate, which sees the thick, smooth, and super chocolatey beverage poured over a giant marshmallow. It's fun, nostalgic, and as the marshmallow melts, it adds even more sweetness and richness to the decadent creation.

Find My Oh My at 232 Swan Street, Cremorne.

Brunetti, Various Locations

At iconic Brunetti, not only are the cakes, desserts, and pastries outrageously good, but so is the Italian hot chocolate, or Cioccolato Caldo. The hot chocolate here is made the traditional Italian way, and has been for the last 30 years. It's thick, creamy, and intensely chocolately. 

If you frequent the Carlton Brunetti, visit the gelato bar and add a scoop of your favourite Brunetti Classico gelato to your hot beverage. Go for the signature pistachio, hazelnut, or vanilla bean flavours for a classic combo, or get creative with whatever scoop you fancy.

Find Brunetti at 366 and 380 Lygon Street, Melbourne, 250 Flinders Lane and Shop D/333 Drummond Street.

Images: Supplied. 

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