Where To Find Auckland’s Best Hot Chocolates in 2026
Vicki Young
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List NZ
It’s that time of the year—the days are shorter and the weather is cooler (and yes, even in Tāmaki Makaurau I find myself reaching for the winter coat). Some days a cuppa just isn’t going to cut it. Cue a steaming hot chocolate instead: comforting, indulgent and something to warm your hands (and your belly) with every sip.
Whether you’re a fan of a classic hot choc, or an indulgent one with melted chocolate, floating with marshmallows (toasted, please)—or a thick Italian-style custard situation, there’s a hot choc for every occasion here in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Here are our picks for the best hot chocolates in Auckland.
Cocoa Wilds
12 O'Connell Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Cocoa Wilds | Supplied
Three words: Fluff Hot Chocolate. This central Tāmaki Makaurau store not only champions local craft chocolate makers from Aotearoa as a dedicated retail shop, but Cocoa Wilds also make their own carefully crafted bonbons and the viral fluff hot chocolate. With a toasted marshmallow ring around the cup (for the ultimate marshmallow to hot choccy ratio with every sip), using their house chocolate base, or if you’re more of a purist, just ask for their signature mix which just won gold at the Outstanding Food Producer Awards for hot chocolates this year. Check out their specialty fluff hot chocolates like their latest customer-fave, a Tiramisu Fluff Hot Chocolate featuring cold brew Kokako Coffee, whipped mascarpone cream and a generous dusting of cocoa.
Insider Intel:
- You can also have a hot chocolate made with single-origin chocolate made in Aotearoa, ranging from a 70% (with mostly Pacific Island and Peruvian chocolates) to a (surprisingly mellow) 100% Vanuatu cacao.
- They have a house-made malted Milo-inspired hot chocolate coming very soon (at the time of writing, they were working on the final touches before it’s out in the wild—or should I say, Cocoa Wilds), plus a series of collabs coming soon this winter (watch this space).
Miann
136 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby &Arthur Nathan Lobby 37 Galway Street, Britomart
Image credit: Miann | Supplied
We’re currently obsessing over Miann’s S’Mores Hot Chocolate. Featuring their classic Miann Chocolate, topped with a housemade Graham cracker “lid,” a dollop of piped meringue torched to order, followed by a disc of their craft chocolate. It’s giving campfire s’mores, elevated into a steaming hot cuppa.
They also have a range of other craft hot chocolates on the menu—from gingerbread and dulce de leche hot chocolate to caramellow 40% milk, or a spicy 60% chilli dark chocolate to name a few.
Insider Intel:
- Their most popular pick is the Miann House Chocolate, made with 70% Dark Chocolate from Papua New Guinea.
- Alternative milks are also available, or for something lighter (but still with that incredible chocolate flavour), check out their cacao husk tea range (the mint and cacao is like an afterdinner mint).
Bear Gelato
327 Dominion Road, Mount Eden
Image credit: Bear Gelato | Supplied
From the markets to their popular brick-and-mortar shop on Dominion Road, Bear Gelato also whip up some pretty decadent hot chocolates (as well as gelato offerings). Made with Whittaker’s 72% Dark Ghana which is heated in the steamer wand, then poured into a housemade pistachio or hazelnut spread-dipped cup. Plus it comes with a matching biscotti on top—this is a decadent hot chocolate that’s perfect as is (or even post-gelato).
Insider Intel:
- Their hot chocolates are made fresh with limited quantities each day, so it pays to go early.
- They’re also bringing back their mochi-wrapped gelato, so make it a combo with a little treat to go with your hot choc (it's back every Wednesday for the month of June).
Lindt Chocolate Shop
45/4 Jimmy Ward Crescent, Auckland Airport & 63/268 Mount Wellington Highway, Mount Wellington
Image credit: Lindt New Zealand | Supplied
It’s the fancy wrapped chocolates in hot chocolate form with not one but two locations in Tāmaki Makaurau. Both located in shopping centres, consider this a conveniently placed hot chocolate treat after running errands (or the treat after shopping). Choose from milk, dark, salted caramel or hazelnut Lindt Chocolate with freshly frothed milk, plus extra shavings of Lindt dark chocolate to top (just to really amp up the chocolate factor).
Insider Intel:
- Complete your visit with their pick and mix Lindor truffle section.
- They also have their famous Lindt chocolate crema gelata available.
Chocolaterie by House of Chocolate
1176 Great North Road, Point Chevalier
Image credit: House of Chocolate | Supplied
Having just opened their new chocolaterie in March this year, House of Chocolate has actually been a family-owned business over three generations for the last 27 years here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Their new Chocolaterie space has a stunning fitout—even the flooring tiles feel like white and milk chocolate squares. Complete with chocolate fountains (yes there is more than one), melted chocolate (55% couverture chocolate to be exact) is scooped into a cup and topped up with perfect square of torched marshmallow. Choose from the aforementioned House Hot Choc, or swap the torched marshmallow for torched meringue and crispy feuilletine to top.
Insider Intel:
- House of Chocolate’s story started in 1999 as a small family-run chocolate shop in Beach Haven Village. Decades later, they found their new chocolate factory space in Point Chev in 2022 and spent two years working on demolition, design and rebuilding the space to what it is today.
- Stay for the cabinet line-up of bonbons and baked treats (there’s even a soft serve machine—chocolate-flavoured of course).
Little ‘Lato Ponsonby
119 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby
Image credit: Little ‘Lato | Supplied
Last winter I remember seeing Little ‘Lato’s owner and self-confessed ‘Gelato Fanatic’ Hannah set up an Italian hot chocolate station up inside their Ponsonby store which got me so excited for those late night dessert-runs. I can confirm that they have just brought back an updated version of this decadent, custard-y hot chocolate on the menu (and the first of their winter series of desserts). Not only can you get an Italian hot chocolate, but it comes with a scoop of gelato of your choice (hint: get the sea salt chocolate chip cookie gelato) and chunks of honeycomb (made in-house of course), or a chocolate affogato—the same as previously mentioned but in reverse. Think Italian hot chocolate drizzled over gelato and honeycomb. We’re in hot chocolate heaven.
Insider Intel:
- We loved last winter’s skillet cookie (designed for one, and perfect with the hot choc)—keep an eye out on their upcoming winter dessert range.
- Little ‘Lato has a huge selection of dairy-free, vegan gelato flavours too (pretty much half the fridge is a dedicated section)—definitely worth a trip to try the flavours (yep, you can sample the range too).
Honest Chocolat
7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD & 1/2 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana
Image credit: Honest Chocolat | Supplied
Handcrafted in Aotearoa, Honest Chocolat artisan chocolates are a thing of beauty. Originally based in Matakana, they now have a store in Commercial Bay too, making it even easier to get your chocolate treats—and a hot chocolate in tow. Made with melted chocolate, choose from their 70% dark chocolate, 43% milk chocolate or white chocolate with your choice of dairy or alternative milk (oat, almond and coconut). You can make any of these a spiced hot chocolate, infused with coriander seeds, cinnamon, allspice, black peppercorn, cayenne pepper, and fennel seeds—for a fragrant and warming twist. All hot chocolates come with their house-made chocolate marhsmallow and chocolate shavings, for extra hot choc goodness.
Insider Intel:
- They also have a range of hot chocolate powders, sticks and cacao husk tea available from their online store and in-store, so you can recreate it at home.
- Check out their Hug in a Mug gift box (the perfect gift for a hot choc lover) which comes with chocolate powder, chocolate stirrers, housemade marshmallows (in blueberry, orange and chocolate), along with Warkworth local ceramic tumbler made by Leach Studio Ceramics. Shop here.
Chocolate Boutique Café
1/323 Parnell Road, Parnell
Image credit: Chocolate Boutique Café | Vicki Young
What began as a pop-up chocolate shop in 1996 is now part of the Parnell Road fabric—Chocolate Boutique Café is a Tāmaki Makaurau institution, offering handmade chocolates and a dedicated hot chocolate service. From a selection of melted chocolate in steamed milk (a.k.a. Submarino Range options with white, milk, dark, bittersweet, butterscotch and peppermint chocolate), to a chocolate pot for two (literally a jug of melted chocolate with a side of liquid cream) or a chocolate shot for one. They also have thick hot chocolates (a.k.a. Denso Range) in Italian, Chilli or Mexican-style hot chocolates—they’re dense with an old school whipped cream topping, as well as a chocolate fish on the side for good measure. Tip: Get the smaller size so you can indulge in freshly-baked waffles to share. Expect to be rolling out of this post-hot-choc.
Insider Intel:
- They also have soy or oat milks available, as well as extra cream.
- You can add flavourings to your Denso hot chocolate like Irish Creme, strawberry, hazelnut and even more chocolate.
Cream Ice Cream
58 Moire Road, Massey
Image credit: Cream Ice Cream | Supplied
Known for their real fruit soft serve ice creams, thickshakes and other sweet treats (like those Dubai chocolate-inspired strawberry cups over the summer), Cream Ice Cream also serves up a decadent Italian-style hot cocoa with Whittaker’s chocolate. This is one hot and decadent chocolate to get your hands on (and with one of their freshly-baked filled cookies to dunk in—you can thank me later).
Insider Intel:
- At the time of writing, they are currently about to begin renovations so while the shop is closed for that, they will have their truck out front serving said hot chocolates for your hot cocoa fix.
- They also have some exciting sweet treat collabs in the works—keep an eye on their socials for more to come.
Chocomelt
6/38 Nuffield Street, Newmarket
Image credit: Chocomelt | Supplied
Opened earlier in March this year, Chocomelt is Aotearoa’s first tiramisu and banana pudding bar—and now with hot chocolate on their menu too. Check out their Italian-style hot dark chocolate using Whittaker’s 50% Dark Chocolate—ladled (yes, you heard correctly) into your glass, with the addition of vanilla foam (like a marshmallow vibe) and then finished with chocolate shavings. Best with a side of banana pud (and mix some of the cream from that into your hot choc too—you can thank me later).
Insider Intel:
- They also have freshly-baked cinnamon dough "cones" to order—served warm with your choice of pistachio, Nutella, Biscoff or Bueno spread.
- Make it a chocolate-centred experience with their Matilda-style chocolate cake and warm melted chocolate “raclette-inspired” experience.
Everyday Coffee
163 Sandringham Road, Sandringham
Image credit: Everyday Coffee | Supplied
A firm fave for coffee (and breakfast special bagels) plus a great spot in the morning to catch the sunshine surrounded by plants and a great vinyl playing in the background. Enter Everyday Coffee, the spot that should be your local even if you aren’t in the neighbourhood, it’s a great place to stop by in the morning. As well as classic hot chocolates using Koko Deluxe, they will also be serving Koko Samoa (a Samoan hot chocolate made with cacao paste) very soon, with Aunty Tommy’s Koko Samoa. It’s earthy, slightly smoky and will take your hot chocolate experience to the next-level.
Insider Intel:
- Aunty Tommy’s makes koko products using organic Pacific cacao beans based at their roastery in Glen Eden.
- They also have alternative milks for hot chocolates too—you can get your hot chocolate fix with coconut, soy, almond or oat milk.
Cindy’s Cookies
2/8 Beach Front Lane, Browns Bay
Image credit: Cindy’s Cookies | Supplied
Chef turned cookie artist Cindy Anne has been making her sell-out gooey cookies for years and with a huge following since opening their flagship store in Browns Bay, they also have the ultimate hot chocolate (perfect as is or with one of her famous soft-baked gooey cookies—like one of the best-selling double chocolate cookies with chunks of Whittaker’s Creamy Milk). Choose from either milk or dark hot chocolate, which is then topped with a marshmallow—dipped in melted chocolate for good measure. Make your trip to their store, stat.
Insider Intel:
- They also offer warm cookie dough by the scoop with ice-cream (which we think go hand in hand with said hot chocolate).
- They also offer almond milk as a mlik alternative to their hot chocolates.
See More
Special Mention: Whittaker’s Decadent Hot Chocolate
Online
Image credit: Whittaker’s | Website
Eight years ago, I was lucky enough to work on a recipe with Whittaker’s and some creative humans, developing a decadent hot chocolate recipe with their Sante bars, along with some of my own creations (homemade giant fluffy marshmallows, Italian meringue, plus fancy chocolate swirls and shavings). If you know the scene where Flanders’ is making hot cocoa in the Simpsons, I was channeling my inner Ned for this creative brief. Check out the video on socials and recreate your hot choc with the recipe here.
Hungry for more?
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- The latest new food news across Aotearoa you need to read about
Main Image Credit: House of Chocolate NZ | Supplied