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Dupont Circle Hotel [official]

Warm Up With Creative Hot Chocolate in D.C.

Cold weather is no match for these winter treats.

by Lani Furbank and Adele Chapin Updated
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by Lani Furbank and Adele Chapin Updated
Dupont Circle Hotel [official]

Whether hot chocolate comes from a packet of instant mix or gets made with rich cream and real cocoa, it’s the go-to drink for snow days, cold nights, and lazy afternoons by the fire. Several D.C. coffee shops, bakeries, bars, and restaurants pull out all the stops to create special versions of the ultimate winter drink.

In addition to classic takes, you can find boozy twists and cups of hot cocoa made with flavors from Switzerland (Stable) to Cuba (Colada Shop). Hunker down with a creative cocoa at one of these spots.

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The Conche

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Venture away from the city to Leesburg’s chocolate-themed boutique restaurant for a wide array of hot chocolates. Choose from dark, milk, white chocolate, peanut butter, or salted caramel (starting at $7). Add a shot to any of the options.

1605 Village Market Boulevard Southeast, Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 779-1800
(703) 779-1800

Tryst

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The popular and eclectic coffeehouse in Adams Morgan serves a hot cocoa with house-made lavender syrup along with a classic version. Both are $4. There’s also a boozy version with creme de menthe for $11.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

Pitango Gelato & Cafe

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This gelato shop draws hot chocolate inspiration from towns of the Italian Alps. The sipping chocolate is thick and intense — like the cocoa version of espresso — thanks to single-origin Vidama chocolate from the Ivory Coast. If the sipping variety is too strong, baristas can add steamed milk or espresso. 

1841 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 615-2419
(202) 615-2419

Colada Shop

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Colada Shop gives hot cocoa a Cuban flair with its Chocolate de la Abuela (starting at $3.95). The drink involves dark chocolate, whole and evaporated milks, a Colada spice blend, and sweet Cuban crema, which is whipped espresso and cane sugar.

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 332-8800
(202) 332-8800

Also featured in:

Peregrine Espresso (Multiple locations)

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Taking a page from third wave coffee culture, the hot chocolate at Peregrine is made from Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company beans grown in Ghana ($4).

1718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 525-5127
(202) 525-5127
Peregrine Espresso Official

Doyle

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The swanky, mod cocktail bar at the Dupont Circle Hotel serves a $16 Flaming Hot Chocolate cocktail, mixed up with with hot chocolate, cayenne pepper, coffee liqueur, and nutmeg.

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 448-4301
(202) 448-4301
Photo credit: Dupont Circle Hotel

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Buttercream Bakeshop

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One of the most Instagrammed bakeries in D.C., Buttercream serves mint hot chocolate with milk and dark chocolates. Add a shot of espresso to make it a minty mocha. 

1250 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 735-0102
(202) 735-0102

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Fare Well

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For hot chocolate without the dairy, head to vegan diner Fare Well ($12) and order a Santa’s Little Helper. It has Hershey’s hot chocolate, Silk soy creamer, peppermint schnapps, and Kahlúa, all topped with marshmallow fluff and crumbled candy cane.

406 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 367-9600
(202) 367-9600
Courtesy of Fare Well

Also featured in:

Stable DC

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The city’s resident Swiss restaurant makes a Schoggi Twist with (Swiss brand) Caotina hot chocolate, Godiva chocolate liqueur, and mint whipped cream. 

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 733-4604
(202) 733-4604
The Schoggi Twist from Stable
The Schoggi Twist from Stable
Courtesy of Stable

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Cafe Chocolat

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At a shop entirely dedicated to chocolate, a strong hot cocoa is a must. Café Chocolat offers three choices: dark, milk, or white chocolate (starting at $4.95).

1423 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 827-3057
(202) 827-3057
Courtesy of Cafe Chocolat

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

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Staying true to its Mexican roots, Oyamel’s “Chocolate Caliente” is a Oaxacan hot chocolate with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, cloves and steamed milk. Order it for $4 a glass.

401 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-1005
(202) 628-1005

Also featured in:

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

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This New Orleans bakery offers the classic Bayou Cocoa, made with 64 percent Valrhona chocolate, milk, Madagascar vanilla, and sea salt, all topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410
Courtesy of Bayou Bakery

Also featured in:

Nicecream

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This liquid nitrogen-dispensing ice cream shop now has four local locations. It offers hot chocolate choices like spicy Mexican, caramel, lavender, or nutella. Hot chocolate here is made with homemade chocolate sauce and grass-fed milk with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

2831 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 908-0225
(703) 908-0225

The Pretzel Bakery

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While obviously known for its pretzels, this bakery also draws eaters with “hotella,” a rich Nutella hot chocolate ($3).

257 15th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 450-6067
(202) 450-6067

Also featured in:

Officina

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The rooftop at multi-level Wharf hot spot Officina underwent a winter wonderland makeover, with flannel blankets and apres-ski drinks like La Befana, which includes bourbon, hot chocolate, and fernet whipped cream. 

1120 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 747-5222
(202) 747-5222

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The Conche

1605 Village Market Boulevard Southeast, Leesburg, VA 20175

Venture away from the city to Leesburg’s chocolate-themed boutique restaurant for a wide array of hot chocolates. Choose from dark, milk, white chocolate, peanut butter, or salted caramel (starting at $7). Add a shot to any of the options.

1605 Village Market Boulevard Southeast, Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 779-1800
(703) 779-1800

Tryst

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The popular and eclectic coffeehouse in Adams Morgan serves a hot cocoa with house-made lavender syrup along with a classic version. Both are $4. There’s also a boozy version with creme de menthe for $11.

2459 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-5500
(202) 232-5500

Pitango Gelato & Cafe

1841 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009

This gelato shop draws hot chocolate inspiration from towns of the Italian Alps. The sipping chocolate is thick and intense — like the cocoa version of espresso — thanks to single-origin Vidama chocolate from the Ivory Coast. If the sipping variety is too strong, baristas can add steamed milk or espresso. 

1841 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 615-2419
(202) 615-2419

Colada Shop

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Colada Shop gives hot cocoa a Cuban flair with its Chocolate de la Abuela (starting at $3.95). The drink involves dark chocolate, whole and evaporated milks, a Colada spice blend, and sweet Cuban crema, which is whipped espresso and cane sugar.

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 332-8800
(202) 332-8800

Peregrine Espresso (Multiple locations)

1718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Taking a page from third wave coffee culture, the hot chocolate at Peregrine is made from Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company beans grown in Ghana ($4).

1718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 525-5127
(202) 525-5127
Peregrine Espresso Official

Doyle

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

The swanky, mod cocktail bar at the Dupont Circle Hotel serves a $16 Flaming Hot Chocolate cocktail, mixed up with with hot chocolate, cayenne pepper, coffee liqueur, and nutmeg.

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 448-4301
(202) 448-4301
Photo credit: Dupont Circle Hotel

Buttercream Bakeshop

1250 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

One of the most Instagrammed bakeries in D.C., Buttercream serves mint hot chocolate with milk and dark chocolates. Add a shot of espresso to make it a minty mocha. 

1250 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 735-0102
(202) 735-0102

Fare Well

406 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

For hot chocolate without the dairy, head to vegan diner Fare Well ($12) and order a Santa’s Little Helper. It has Hershey’s hot chocolate, Silk soy creamer, peppermint schnapps, and Kahlúa, all topped with marshmallow fluff and crumbled candy cane.

406 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 367-9600
(202) 367-9600
Courtesy of Fare Well

Stable DC

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The city’s resident Swiss restaurant makes a Schoggi Twist with (Swiss brand) Caotina hot chocolate, Godiva chocolate liqueur, and mint whipped cream. 

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 733-4604
(202) 733-4604
The Schoggi Twist from Stable
The Schoggi Twist from Stable
Courtesy of Stable

Cafe Chocolat

1423 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005

At a shop entirely dedicated to chocolate, a strong hot cocoa is a must. Café Chocolat offers three choices: dark, milk, or white chocolate (starting at $4.95).

1423 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 827-3057
(202) 827-3057
Courtesy of Cafe Chocolat

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

401 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Staying true to its Mexican roots, Oyamel’s “Chocolate Caliente” is a Oaxacan hot chocolate with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, cloves and steamed milk. Order it for $4 a glass.

401 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 628-1005
(202) 628-1005

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

This New Orleans bakery offers the classic Bayou Cocoa, made with 64 percent Valrhona chocolate, milk, Madagascar vanilla, and sea salt, all topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-2410
(703) 243-2410
Courtesy of Bayou Bakery

Nicecream

2831 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

This liquid nitrogen-dispensing ice cream shop now has four local locations. It offers hot chocolate choices like spicy Mexican, caramel, lavender, or nutella. Hot chocolate here is made with homemade chocolate sauce and grass-fed milk with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

2831 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 908-0225
(703) 908-0225

The Pretzel Bakery

257 15th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

While obviously known for its pretzels, this bakery also draws eaters with “hotella,” a rich Nutella hot chocolate ($3).

257 15th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 450-6067
(202) 450-6067

Officina

1120 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

The rooftop at multi-level Wharf hot spot Officina underwent a winter wonderland makeover, with flannel blankets and apres-ski drinks like La Befana, which includes bourbon, hot chocolate, and fernet whipped cream. 

1120 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 747-5222
(202) 747-5222

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