When the weather turns cold in the Cape, it can be hard to muster the enthusiasm to leave the house. However, one upside to the chill is that it’s the perfect excuse for hot chocolate. Luckily for us, there’s no shortage of truly decadent hot chocolate across the city. There are no pre-mixes, powders or weird additions here – just high-quality chocolate and piping hot milk. Here’s where to find great hot chocolate in Cape Town.

El Burro (Green Point and Newlands)

If anyone is doing a Mexican hot chocolate justice, it’s the El Burro team. Served thick and gently spiced with cinnamon (R25), this is a real treat for after dinner if you’re in the mood for an alternative to churros. Having said that, you should always order the churros.

The Mexican hot chocolate at El Burro. Photo by Katharine Jacobs.

Honest Chocolate (City Bowl)

Honest Chocolate is the undisputed royalty of cocoa-related affairs in Cape Town, and its hot chocolate is one of the best. Made from their chocolate, which is free of refined sugar and dairy, the hot chocolate comes either tall and milky (with almond milk added) or short and dark (recommended). Though the flavour doesn’t need much doctoring, you can choose between Mexican-inspired spice and Christmas orange. If they have their house-made marshmallows available, make sure you order them.

Still waking up? We have some coffee that can help with that ☕️ Or start your Monday with our Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate like @tazzyasmith ?? • • • • #honestchocolate #mexicanhotchocolate #mondaymotivation

A post shared by honestchocolate (@honestchocolate) on Apr 16, 2018 at 12:48am PDT

Loading Bay (De Waterkant)

As with everything that Loading Bay does, the hot chocolate (R48) here is as considered as it is delicious. Organic dark chocolate made with coconut oil is melted and topped with warming cinnamon, sea salt and a hint of chilli. This little concoction is served alongside a jug of steamed milk so you can add as much as you like.

Moro Gelato (City Bowl)

Moro Gelato has been known to stop traffic outside its Long Street store and though this is often for their ice cream, the hot chocolate (R30) deserves much of the same attention. Described as drinking pure liquid chocolate, it’s so thick you could eat it with a spoon, and is topped with a delicate cloud of whipped cream. You can also have it with a scoop of ice cream for that ultimate hot and cold treat (R40).

It’s hot and it’s thick, it’s made with loooots of chocolate and last winter was on everyone’s lips, what is it?? Our Thick Italian hot chocolate is back from tomorrow!!!! Not just a simple cocoa and milk , but a proper recipe requiring a spoon ,directly from the ski slopes of Italy. Perfectly paired with home made whipped cream. From tomorrow in our Long Street shop, and Saturday also at the @ozcfarm market. ⛷?☕️

A post shared by MORO GELATO (@morogelato) on Apr 26, 2018 at 11:39am PDT

My Sugar (Sea Point)

If there’s one thing we know about My Sugar, it’s that it doesn’t do anything in half measures and its hot chocolates (yes, plural) don’t disappoint. They offer two different hot chocolates made from real Belgian chocolate. The OTT is topped with whipped cream, brownies and homemade marshmallows (R50); while the super thick hot chocolate shot is served European style, short and thick (R35). Also available is the Choccie-chino (R35), which is a chocolate latte made with chocolate milk and served with an optional extra three mini dipping doughnuts (R20).

The indulgent OTT at My Sugar. Photo supplied.

Vovo Telo (Waterfront)

Vovo Telo offers a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ version of hot chocolate with its Belgian hot chocolate on a stick. For R38 you’re given a slab of good dark chocolate and a cup of steamed milk, meaning you can choose your chocolatey intensity. Also on offer are white chocolate (R29) and chocolate-orange (R33) versions.