Cozy Up With These 15 Cincinnati Hot Chocolate Havens

By CityBeat Staff on Wed, Nov 21, 2018 at 7:42 pm

Cafés are mostly associated with a range of coffee-inspired beverages, but instead of caffeine, you can also turn to the cup-of-joe’s often overlooked, sweet cousin that will keep you just as warm this winter: hot chocolate. Disrobe yourself of pretension and take a sip of the best Cincy has to offer — trust us, these are a step up from hot water and Swiss Miss. Here’s a list of some of our favorites.

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Cozy Up With These 15 Cincinnati Hot Chocolate Havens

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Carabello Coffee

107 E. Ninth St., Newport
Cross the bridge into Newport and enter the tweest coffeehouse in Northern Kentucky: Carabello Coffee. Along with a menu of craft coffee drinks and their rare Analog Slow Bar, patrons claim that this philanthropic endeavor also has the best hot chocolate around. And honestly, it’s hard to beat. The smooth and familiar mug o’ cocoa is delicate and made like a latte (instagram-worthy art included). It’s blended with dark chocolate Monin and a touch of vanilla syrup — perfect for keeping your insides cozy. It’s served with a spoon to scoop up the sweet, sweet foam on top.
Photo by Hailey Bollinger

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The Whole Bowl

364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
The Whole Bowl offers a vegan hot cocoa made with molten chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

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Rohs Street Café

245 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights
Rohs Street kicks it up a notch with Xocolatl, cocoa (steamed milk and housemade chocolate sauce) dosed with cayenne pepper.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Maverick Chocolate Co.

129 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine
Maverick’s “drinking chocolate” makes cocoa with their in-house drinking chocolate mix (65 percent dark chocolate) and whole milk. In the French style, this drinking chocolate is topped with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings (add marshmallows for 50 cents). It’s more bitter than its counterparts and could only be rivaled by Willy Wonka’s chocolate river. Located in Findlay Market, it will make you feel like royalty. Or Augustus Gloop. Either way, it’s magical. You can even buy a bag of mix to make your own at home.
Photo via Facebook.com/MaverickChocolate

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Taste of Belgium

Multiple locations
If you’re looking for something slightly less rich than Maverick’s blend, look no further than Taste of Belgium. Made with dark chocolate and topped with soft whipped cream, it feels snug and at home among the eatery’s waffles and seasonal tortes.
Photo: Devin Luginbill

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Echo Restaurant

3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
This Hyde Park diner tops its hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream. It’s perfect paired with their Flying Pig Sandwich — ham, bacon and Swiss stuffed between two pieces of French toast.
Photo: Devin Luginbill

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Brown Bear Bakery

116 E. 16th St., Over-the-Rhine
This bakery offers an extra special hot cocoa made with Ohio dairy, Valrhona Chocolates and topped with fresh lavender whipped cream, maldon salt and shaved chocolate.
Photo via Instagram.com/BrownBearBakery

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Blind Lemon

936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Follow the neon sign down the stairs and find a cozy escape from the bitter cold. Blind Lemon’s Milky Way hot cocoa is made with Amaretto, Creme de Cacao, hot chocolate and whipped cream.
Photo: Catie Viox

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Quaintrelle Confections

1210 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Quaintrelle Confections offers guests stovetop Ghirardelli hot chocolate topped with their homemade marshmallows.
Photo via Instagram.com/QuaintConfections

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Dojo Gelato

137 W. Elder St., Findlay Market
Dojo’s take on the warm delicacy is crafted from melted chocolate, steamed milk and pulls from Italian tradition; it’s rich enough to taste like a whipped-cream-topped candy bar.
Photo via Facebook.com/DojoGelato

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Deeper Roots Coffee

1814 Race St., Over-the-Rhine / 3056 Madison Road, Oakley
A simple take on a classic, Deeper Roots steams up their Hartzler Farms’ chocolate milk for their hot cocoa offering.
Photo: Sami Stewart

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Sleepy Bee Café

8 E. Fourth St., Downtown; 3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
The Sleepy Bee blends Origin A2 Milk (or your choice of a non-dairy alternative) with housemade dark chocolate sauce. Get experimental by adding other syrups like vanilla, hazelnut, caramel or a dash of local honey.
Photo via Facebook.com/SleepyBeeCafe

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The Booksellers on Fountain Square

505 Vine St., Fountain Square, Downtown
Looking for something simple and to the point? Made with dark chocolate and nostalgia-inducing whipped cream, curl up with this delicacy and pick up that cozy cat mystery you’ve had your eye on (no shame). Located downtown, grabbing a no-frills cocoa at Booksellers is the perfect pick-me-up before ice skating on the Square or speed-walking back to your car muttering about the windchill.
Photo via Pexels.com/JuanPabloArenas

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Roebling Point Books & Coffee

306 Greenup St., Covington
This bookstore and fair-trade coffee shop offers a classic hot cocoa along with advanced options like a Redlegs with white chocolate and raspberry; Sidewalk Choc, aka chocolate and amaretto; or a caramel and chocolate blend dubbed The Muddy River.
Photo via Instagram.com/RoeblingPointBooksandCoffee

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