Amelie CameronWhen the weather is gloomy outside, the snow is falling, and the sun is hiding behind the clouds, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a good cup of hot chocolate, don’t you think?
I say yes, of course! Every time the temperature outside drops to the negative, I just curl up on my favorite chair, bundled up in the thickest blanket, and nurse a cup of hot chocolate while reading a good book.
If you’d like to do the same, I recommend you get a cup or a chocolate mix from these shops in Toronto!
SOMA Chocolatemaker
– From: oscarthemenace
Address: 443 King St W
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14165997662
SOMA Chocolatemaker is one of the most popular chocolate shops in town, so it’s not a surprise it offers high-quality hot chocolate as well.
There are many options here, and I like to try each one whenever I can. That said, I do have a favorite, and it’s Camp Enzo. This one combines the slight smokiness from dark roast coffee and the rich sweetness of dark chocolate.
On its own, it’s sweet with bitter notes, which is delicious, but I do like to add a splash of milk to mellow out the richness.
| Pro Tip: You can make a custom basket gift full of the shop’s most popular items. This makes it a perfect corporate gift! |
ChocoSol Traders
– From: chocosoltraders
Address: 1131 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 8 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169236675
While many shops have hot chocolate dry mixes, ChocoSol Traders makes use of chocolate bars that you can heat up with a cup of milk or water. The result is an intense chocolatey drink, and I can’t refuse that!
My go-to flavor is the Five Chili Bomba, which marries the sweetness of chocolate and the spiciness of chili. I know it doesn’t sound like a great combo, but you’ll be surprised. It actually works very well.
There are also some earthy notes in this drink, thanks to the forest garden allspice from Central and South America.
| Pro Tip: This shop offers cool experiences, like chocolate tastings and even workshops! |
FIKA Cafe
– From: fikakensington
Address: 28 Kensington Ave
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—10:30 am to 5 pm
- Friday—10 am to 5 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
Named after the Swedish term for “coffee break,” FIKA Cafe is a cozy nook where you can press pause on life for a while and enjoy a homemade treat and a hot beverage to keep you warm.
I love coming here on a work day, but most of the time, I buy their hot chocolate mix to bring home. The mix is made with ground Tanzania 70% dark chocolate, so the flavor is rich and intense. It also has a touch of cane sugar, which provides the right amount of sweetness for me.
| Pro Tip: You can give a fellow hot chocolate lover a gift card from this shop. |
Maman
Address: 100 King St W, First Canadian Place
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Friday—8 am to 2:30 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—8 am to 3 pm
Contact Number: +14162166767
Maman is a very popular cafe in North America, with countless locations in the US and Canada. Fortunately, there’s an outlet in Toronto, so I can treat myself to their delicious desserts and drinks.
I like to order a cup of hot chocolate on-site. My preference is adding regular milk to it and lavender syrup so that it smells aromatic as well. The drink is light, but it still has a bit of rich sweetness that always hits the spot.
| Pro Tip: This shop offers catering services for any special event. |
Dineen Outpost
– From: dineencoffeeco
Address: 1042 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—7:30 am to 4 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—8 am to 4 pm
Dineen Outpost has a rustic feel that I like. It makes me feel like I’m back in the countryside, instead of in the middle of a bustling city.
The hot chocolate served here is thick, rich, and creamy, and sipping it feels like a warm hug. Usually, I like coming here around brunch hours, so I pair my drink with a sandwich. The salty and savory flavors from the ham and Swiss cheese complement the hot chocolate’s sweetness.
| Pro Tip: You can host events at this shop, or if you already have a venue, you can book their catering services instead. If you’re interested in either option, send an email to [email protected]. |
Stubbe Chocolates
– From: stubbechocolates
Address: 653 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14169230956
I love getting my hot chocolate mixes from Stubbe Chocolates simply because their take is fun. Instead of powdered mixes or chocolate bars that we can melt, this shop has hot cocoa bombs. Yep, it works like bath bombs, but this time, it’s chocolate!
The best part is that there are marshmallows inside the cocoa ball, so the drink becomes even more decadent. If I’m feeling extra fancy, I add a generous dollop of whipping cream on top of the drink and sprinkle in chocolate shavings. Yum!
| Pro Tip: Don’t know what to give to a loved one during their birthday? This shop has a few gift ideas that you can try. |
The Grand Order of Divine Sweets
– From: thegoodsweetsto
Address: 1162 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday—10 am to 5 pm
- Friday and Saturday—10 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14165885959
Are you a hot chocolate lover who’s also a proud geek? Check out The Grand Order of Divine Sweets. This dessert cafe is catered toward fandoms (usually, in the fantasy and sci-fi genres), so you’ll feel right at home!
Just like Stubbe Chocolates, this shop uses the hot cocoa bomb concept. My favorite flavor is the mocha hot chocolate bomb because it has hints of coffee that I like. The peppermint one is also great. It’s refreshing in a way, and it reminds me of Christmas, which is my favorite holiday.
| Pro Tips: The website has a few gift ideas you can use if you’re stumped on what to get a friend or family member on their birthday. You can also just give them a gift card from this shop. |
Sweet Jesus
– From: sweetjesus
Address: 106 John St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16473482266
Sweet Jesus is the perfect name for this shop because every time you order and taste a treat, you’ll probably exclaim, “Oh, my sweet Jesus,” due to how decadent it is!
Their hot chocolate is no different. Every option is topped with a mountain of whipped cream, sprinkles, and sauces!
I always go for the Bangin’ Brownie because it gives me such a sugar rush. The drink itself is thick, and the whipped cream has crushed cookie pieces, brownie chunks, and drizzles of caramel and chocolate sauces. I’m already drooling just at the thought!
| Pro Tip: If you want this shop to cater for your event, fill up this form. |
Bobbette and Belle Artisanal Pastries
– From: nikita.butalia
Address: 1121 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday—11 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday to Sunday—9 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14164668800
Bobbette and Belle is best known for its cakes and other pastries, which makes sense because they look like exquisite works of art. But this bakery also sells hot chocolate mixes that are so good that I have no choice but to recommend it!
This hot chocolate mix is made with extra brute cocoa and fine couverture chocolate, which has a higher percentage of cocoa butter than regular chocolate. Because of this, the drink’s flavor is strong and intense, so I like to mellow it out by adding more milk.
| Pro Tip: If you’re also a baker, you might want to get their cookbook, which has over 100 recipes of their bestselling pastries. |
Delight Chocolate
– From: delightchocolate
Address: 3040 Dundas St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday—12 pm to 6 pm
- Tuesday to Friday, Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14167609995
What I love about Delight Chocolate is that the team focuses on local and sustainable ingredients. I’m always impressed whenever establishments try to support local producers and take the environment into consideration.
There are no hot chocolate mixes you can bring home here, but if you have the time of day, you can stop by and order a mug. I usually get the peanut butter hot chocolate drink because it’s even more decadent than the regular version. It also has nutty notes that I like.
| Pro Tips: If you’re sensitive to dairy, you can request your drink to be dairy-free. This store has a recipe book available. If you’re interested in cooking and baking, you might want to try some of the recipes inside the book. |
Soul Chocolate
Address: 20 Wagstaff Dr Unit C
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166720113
Another shop that tries to produce its chocolate products as sustainably as possible is Soul Chocolate. This place also has hot chocolate options that are vegan and soy-free, so people with dietary restrictions can enjoy the delights of this delicious drink.
I really like the Mayan Hot Chocolate Mix, which is spicy and sweet at the same time. It has a touch of nutmeg and cinnamon as well, so there are subtle notes of nutty and earthy flavors at the end, almost like an aftertaste.
| Pro Tips: Learn how to make chocolates by enrolling in their chocolate-making and tasting workshop! Buy a chocolate basket from this shop and gift it to a loved one. |
The Chocolateria
– From: thechocolateria
Address: 361 Roncesvalles Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14165880567
At The Chocolateria, you can find two options for your hot chocolate: a hot chocolate mix or a cocoa bomb. You can’t go wrong with either because they’re both delicious and fun to make.
If you choose the hot chocolate mix, you can expect to taste strong, like you’re drinking a concentrated shot of cocoa. Meanwhile, the hot chocolate bomb—my personal favorite—is a mini-explosion of chocolate and marshmallow, so it’s on the sweeter side.
As if that’s not good enough, sometimes, there are themed bombs. One time, I bought a skull-shaped hot chocolate bomb for Halloween, and it looked so good I almost felt bad for having to consume it.
| Pro Tip: Every few months or so, this shop has chocolate-making workshops. Check this page to see when the next workshop is going to be held. |
Chocolat de Kat
– From: chocolatdekat
Address: 824 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 6 pm
Contact Number: +16476896136
The main highlights at Chocolat de Kat are the adorable and decadent bonbons, but the hot chocolate bombs also deserve a shoutout. After all, these bombs are just as pretty to look at, and once you have it dissolved in hot milk, you’ll find the drink to be rich and indulgent.
My favorite part about their hot chocolate bombs is that one makes two servings, making it a great choice when I have a friend around. Plus, it’s vegan, too, which I’m sure many vegan foodies will appreciate.
| Pro Tip: You can order custom chocolate favors for special events at this shop. |
Avoca
– From: avocachocolates
Address: 176 Hampton Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +16473524666
One thing I like about Avoca is that it has influences from all over the place. First, there’s the traditional Belgian style of making chocolates, but then the owner also uses North American techniques and adds East Indian-inspired flavors to everything they make.
The hot chocolate bomb has a thick layer of chocolate on the exterior, while the inside is a mix of chocolate powder and marshmallows. The result is a thick, creamy drink with a sweetness level that just hits the spot.
I usually get the dark chocolate flavor, but the white peppermint one is also delicious.
| Pro Tip: If you want to have custom truffles from Avoca, simply fill out this form to send your request. |
Lindt Chocolate Shop
– From: lindtcanada
Address: 220 Yonge St CRU #B210A, CF Toronto Eaton Center
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +14165966556
Lindt is one of the most beloved chocolate brands in the world—also one of my personal favorites—so of course, I was happy to hear that they sell hot chocolate mixes.
These mixes taste basically like a Lindt chocolate bar but in beverage form—intense and sweet with slightly bitter notes at the end. The drink is also pretty thick and smooth, so I love mixing it with a spoonful of whipped cream to think it out a bit.
The hot chocolate mix doesn’t use milk powder, so it’s perfect for vegans as well.
| Pro Tip: They have several recipes on their website. If you like to cook or bake, you can try them out. |
Mary’s Brigadeiro
– From: marysbrigadeiro
Address: 1912 Danforth Ave
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday—10 am to 3:30 pm
Contact Number: +16472507217
As you can gather from the name, Mary’s Brigadeiro specializes in brigadeiros, which are chocolate balls that are popular desserts in Brazil. But there are also hot chocolate mixes here, and I recommend that you try it.
The mix is made with only three ingredients: pieces of Belgian chocolate (54% cacao), 100% cocoa powder, and organic brown sugar. Despite its simplicity, this drink is bursting with flavor—sweet and dark, with hints of smokiness.
| Pro Tip: If you want to start learning how to make brigadeiros, you can purchase any of the DIY Brigadeiro Chocolate Kits available in-store! |
