Food & Drink

Where To Sip On The Best Hot Chocolates In Auckland This Winter

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– Contributor | Urban List NZ
A cute pink mug of hot cacao decorated with chocolate sprinkles in the shape of a heart.

Nothing cheers me up more on a cold Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland day (any day, to be fair) than wrapping my mitts around a mug of hot chocolate. Whether it’s a classic number done right, or a more adventurous drop laced with peanut butter or peppermint, served in an edible cup or even topped with bright pink fairy floss, sippin’ on a hot choccy is always a good time.

Here are my picks for the best hot chocolates in Auckland.

Lindt Chocolate Shop

Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre, Shop #T045/4 Jimmy Ward Crescent, Auckland Airport, Auckland

As one of the world's leading chocolatiers, it'd be kinda wrong if Lindt DIDN'T dabble in the realm of hot chocolate. That said, you can get your mitts on mugs of Lindt-brand liquid bronze at their dedicated retail store here in Auckland. Available standard or infused with flavours like hazelnut and caramel (and with an obligatory bonbon or 10 on the side), you won't find a more decadent drop.

Cocoa Wilds

12 O'Connell Street, Auckland CBD

The marshmallow-rimmed hot chocolate from Cocoa Wilds, one of the best hot chocolates in Auckland. Image credit: Cocoa Wilds | Kathryn Steane

If you've been anywhere near TikTok (or Instagram, or Facebook) in the past year, you'll know all about the deliciousness that is marshmallow-rimmed hot chocolate. That's because this drink has been blowing up in New York and London, and has now made its way to Auckland courtesy of Cocoa Wilds.

This rebrand of the former Bohemein Chocolate spot (which, btw, has consistently featured on Urban List's best hot chocolates list in the past) is pouring cups of the viral treat from its cosy spot on O'Connell Street, made with your choice of melted 33%, 53% or 70% chocolate. Word on the street is that they've recently added a matcha white hot chocolate to the menu, too. 

Served with housemade toasted marshmallow piped generously around the edge—and a handy spoon for bringing it all together—this decadent drink is definitely worth braving the inevitable queue for. Keep an eye out for their decadent limited-edition flavours like black forest and tiramisu. 

Bear Gelato

327 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland

A rich dark chocolate drink with a pistachio-choc rim and biscotti decorated in the same fashion.
Image credit: Bear Gelato | supplied. 

Bear Gelato's hot chocolate is one of the best in Auckland (kinda ironic, given their specialty is treats of the frozen kind). These guys are pouring one of the most decadent cups around, complete with your choice of pistachio, hazelnut, or chocolate rim. However the fun doesn't stop there—they'll also chuck in a matching piece of housemade biscotti, for your dunking pleasure. And while it ain't hot chocolate, it'd be remiss not to also mention their insane affogato made with coffee, gelato, and again, your choice of rim. 

Honest Chocolat

Shop 21 Commercial Bay, 7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

The Volcano Hot Chocolate at Honest Chocolat in Commercial Bay, one of the best hot chocolates in Auckland.Image credit: Honest Chocolat | Facebook

A boutique that specialises in handcrafted chocolates is surely a good place to pick up a hot choccy, right? Honest Chocolat, which began life in Matakana and now has a store in Commercial Bay, serves up a top-notch version of the treat made from your choice of plain or spicy chocolate and homemade marshmallows, which you can even sip from an edible biscuit cup.

As an aside, you can also get your hands on some pretty epic Choc-Tails (that's a chocolate mocktail, to the uninitiated) exclusively at their Chocolate Bar in Commercial Bay. See their showstopping The Volcano (pictured above) and The Macaduka coming together right here.

Amano

66-68 Tyler Street, Britomart Place, Britomart, Auckland

When it comes to food, Amano knows no wrong and the same can be said of their drinks, in particular their hot choccy. This downtown spot is slinging an extremely moreish Valrhona and macadamia number that I'm pretty certain is the cure for any and every winter ailment, especially when accompanied by one of their famous pastries.

Elisabeth's Chef

467 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland

The legendary Hot Choc Mess hot chocolate at Elisabeth's Chef, one of the best hot chocolates in Auckland.Image credit: Elisabeth's Chef | Facebook

Tucked away along the main strip in Kingsland is Elisabeth's Chef. This cosy dessert parlour may look small but don’t let that fool you as they serve a whole bunch of banging treats and their hot chocolates are no exception.

They have an entire section of the menu dedicated to this glorious drink—choose from dark chocolate, salted caramel, ginger, peppermint, Aztec spice, s'mores, and more. However, their most famous offering has to be the fairy floss hot chocolate—a deconstructed number featuring clouds of pretty pink Pashmak.

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Miann

36-38 Galway Street, Britomart & 136 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 

A smoked hot chocolate at Miann, one of the best places to get a mean hot chocolate in Auckland.Image credit: Miann | Instagram

If you want to experience hot chocolate in an entirely new way, make a date with Miann. These guys take the beloved bevvy to incredible new levels, whether it be with novelty flavours like their dulce de leche (basically Caramilk in a cup), crème brûlée or s'mores, or Wonka-esque experiences like their deconstructed smoked hot chocolate (a sort of edible science experiment)—all made from their very own choccy. You can even grab one of their best-selling hot chocolate mixes to take home.

The Fed

86 Federal Street, Auckland CBD

Get fed on one of the city's best hot chocolates at The Fed. This darling of the Auckland dining scene is bringing us its own special take on the bevvy, which you'll find under the pseudonym 'Cup Of Stove-Top Cocoa' and yup, it's every bit as delicious as it sounds. Best enjoyed from the comfort of one of their cosy booths, it's a great way to warm your cockles (even the menu says so).

The Shelf

50 High Street, Auckland CBD

A snow white hot chocolate at The Shelf.Image credit: The Shelf | Facebook

Not only does The Shelf on High Street have adorable décor, but their hot chocolates also deserve special recognition. Make sure you order the Special Hot Chocolate, (emphasis on the 'special') as this beauty comes complete with frothy steamed milk, a shot of melted chocolate on the side, and a bar of Whittaker’s choccy that you use as a stirrer (pro tip: pair it with one of their treats from the cabinet for the ultimate sugar rush) or, dig into the stunning Snow White Hot Chocolate pictured above.

Little Bird Kitchen

1 Summer Street, Ponsonby, Auckland

Dairy-free peeps needn't miss out on the hot choccy fun, thanks to the legends at Little Bird. Keep it classic with their Raw Cacao Mug featuring warmed nut milk and a stick of raw chocolate (both made in-house), or if you're after an out-of-body experience, their Magic Mushroom Mug might be more your cup of tea. 

Chocolate Boutique

Shop 1/323 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland

Three hot chocs at the Chocolate boutique cafe.Image credit: Chocolate Boutique | Instagram @nzfoodlover

If you like your hot chocolate thick, look no further than the Chocolate Boutique's Denso. ‘Denso’ means ‘dense’ or ‘thick’ in Italian and there are no better words to describe this bad boy—it’s so thick, you can practically stand your spoon it in (that is, if you can get past the whipped cream and chocolate curls on top).

For a spicy kick, why not order the Chilli Denso—it’s a legit flavour hit. Alternatively, browse their catalogue-thick selection of hot chocolates in every flavour under the sun including Hot Jaffa, Spiced Maple, and my personal fave, Black Forest.

Rosie

82 Gladstone Road, Parnell, Auckland

Constructed hot chocolates are good and all, but have you tried a deconstructed hot choccie? If the answer's no, you best get your booty over to Rosie, stat to try either their classic or salted caramel hot chocolate offerings.

You’ll be served a glass of milk alongside a jug of thick hot chocolate to pour through your drink. It comes with brownie pieces that you can either munch on as is or add to your bevvy (I suggest doing the latter).

PieFee

349 Karangahape Road, Auckland

The one and only hot chocolate in a biscuit base at PieFee.Image credit: PieFee | Instagram

Wanna drink your hot choccy out of a pie-sized edible cookie cup, coated in chocolate and toffee? Who am I kidding, of course, you do. Enter PieFee—a jaw-dropping treat available exclusively from the popular Karangahape Road bakery of the same name. Choose from a range of incredible garnishes including Oreo, sprinkles, chocolate batons, gingerbread and coconut, then fill with your fave hot bevvy. Don't forget to snap a pre-sip 'gram.

Winona Forever

100 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland

Winona Forever doesn’t offer just one hot chocolate on their menu, but three. If you’re feeling like a rich hot choc that doesn’t fool around, dark chocolate is the way to go. Feeling like something a little sweeter? Then the white chocolate coconut is the one for you. But if you want the real deal at Winona, go for the peanut butter chocolate and challenge yourself to a new level of liquid indulgence.

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Main image credit: Little Bird Kitchen | Instagram. 

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