These spots serve the best Parisian hot chocolates you need to try to get the full French experience. You’ll never want to have your pastry without one.
The French know how to do many things well; architecture, art, pastries, wine and romance, so it is unsurprising that they have also mastered the art of hot chocolates, or chocolats chauds, as they say.
In Paris, a hot chocolate is more than just microwaved milk mixed with powdered hot chocolate.
Picture your hands hugging a warm cup filled with decadent molten hot chocolate that is so rich and silky, it travels effortlessly from your mouth straight to your stomach. The taste of it is complex yet simple – a fine balance between bitterness and sweetness.
Sounds like pure bliss, right? Well, that’s a classic Parisian hot chocolate for you.
If you find yourself in Paris during the wintertime looking to warm up, or your topmost weakness is chocolate, look no further, as these 5 charming cafes serve the best hot chocolate in the wonderful City of Love.
Cafe de Flore
Best for a classic Parisian hot chocolate
Located in one of the most lavish arrondissements in the city, Cafe de Flore is one of Paris’ oldest coffeehouses. Having first opened in 1887, there is no doubt that they have mastered the fine art of hot chocolate making.
The cafe’s illustrious history, alongside the beautiful flora (hence, the name ‘flore’) which sits just above the crisp, white marquees, amplifies the cafe’s reputation as a Parisian icon. But, what keeps locals and non-locals coming is more than just the setting – yes, it’s the hot chocolate.
Cafe de Flore serves top-of-the-line hot chocolate. When delivered to your table, expect silver teapots filled with steamy, rich and creamy hot chocolate. If you’re an avid chocolate lover, you’ll appreciate the thickness and sweetness of the chocolate – it’s as if you’re literally drinking a glass of melted chocolate. Don’t worry because it has got just the right amount of bitterness to counteract some of the sweetness. It is also served with a side pot of chantilly cream, so you can pour to your heart’s content to reach your preferred texture and taste.
Though on the pricier side, the hot chocolate is worth every penny if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the quintessential Parisian experience. Visiting Cafe de Flore is a no-brainer.
Carette
Best for those who like it simple
Just a 20-minute walk away from the Eiffel Tower and inside the stunning Places des Vosges, Carette is a gorgeous place to indulge in a hot chocolate and observe passersby.
Founded in 1927 by Jean Carette and his wife, Madelaine, the cafe is highly-renowned for its delectable and extensive range of pastries which, of course, is delightful when paired with a hot chocolate. Carette’s version of a hot chocolate is dark and lightly sweetened and is complimented by a silver bowl generously piled with whipped cream. It’s hard to resist taking updating your Instagram story once it’s presented – the metal teapot and porcelain crockery are clean and simple yet elegant and chic.
The price may look a little steep for a hot chocolate, but ordering one hot chocolate is just enough to fill two cups.
Angelina
Best for those who want to drink with elegance
If you’re looking to sip on some hot chocolate in style, head to the marvellous, worldwide-renowned, ‘Angelina’.
In 1903, Anton Rumpelmayer, with his son, Rene, founded Angelina – which he named after his daughter-in-law. He had the intention of making Angelina the ultimate symbol of the French way of life. Therefore, many writers, artists and politicians frequented Angelina, in search of inspiration or escape.
With Rumpelmayer’s skill and expertise with pastries, Angelina became a space for the elite, including cultural legends like Coco Chanel and Marcel Proust.
Today, tourists and Parisians alike continue to be allured by the glorious yet cozy tea room designed by the Belle Epoque architect, Edouard-Jean Niermans. The architecture blends sophistication, glamour and refinement to generate the archetypal Parisian experience; it’s enough to smooth-talk you into ordering a hot chocolate to match the atmosphere.
Angelina is most famous for its specialty hot chocolate, chocolat chaud l’Africain, based on three cocoas from Africa: Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The hot chocolate is irresistibly velvety, you may need a spoon to consume it. It has a super potent chocolate-y taste, but combined with the whipped cream, the ratios in the concoction are just right.
Take caution as you might find a long queue outside. To avoid this, reserve a table online. Otherwise, there’s a cart outside offering hot chocolate to go.
Maison Aleph
Best for those who love eccentric flavours
Maison Aleph was opened by Myriam Sabet, a female entrepreneur and pastry chef who previously worked in finance. Born in Syria to a French-speaking family, Sabet skilfully fuses Middle Eastern and French influences together, most evidently in her sublime pastries.
But, that’s not to say that hot chocolate isn’t any better.
Maison Aleph’s hot chocolate is uniquely flavoured. It gets its taste from dark and milk chocolate, combined with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and star anise which are meticulously proportioned to ensure that the sweet Middle Eastern undertones shine through the drink.
The patisserie’s facade is inviting and eccentric with blue tiles that lay in different directions. The store is fairly small, so grabbing a coffee on the run is ideal. It’s the perfect lip-licking pick-me-up after strolling around the fashionable Marais district.
Visiting Maison Aleph while you’re in Paris is a no-brainer, and you must try a pastry too.
Plaq Chocolat
Best for those who love it thick
Plaq is a recent addition to the chocolatier scene in Paris. Established by Sandra Mielenhausen and Nicolas Rozier-Chabert – who formerly worked in the fragrance industry and in graphic design respectively – discovered their love for chocolate when Nicolas shared his favourite chocolate bar with Sandra. It was then they also discovered their love for each other.
Plaq’s name originates from the French phrase, ‘de la feve a la plaque’ which translates to ‘from bean to bar’. This phrase is also their company motto, which signifies the process by which they source their chocolate. In other words, the chocolate they use is pure and untouched by artificial preservatives. ‘Plaque’ is also the old name for a chocolate bar in French.
Plaq’s hot chocolate is made thoughtfully. Served with light cream, which softens – but doesn’t take away from – the thick consistency and rich taste of the hot chocolate; it isn’t sickening to consume at all. Their interpretation of an excellent Parisian hot chocolate also incorporates sugarcane and sheep’s milk. How innovative?
Plaq is a quaint chocolate shop with a minimal and refined aesthetic. The seating and grey cobblestone floor really emphasise the Parisian experience.
Don’t forget to purchase a bar of chocolate before you leave to prolong the sweet sensation.
Did you know that Bobbi Brown swears by drinking hot chocolate too? Click here for her recipe.
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