Guide to the Best Hot Chocolate in Paris

Luxuriating over a hot chocolate is a quintessential Parisian activity. From classic chocolate chauds served with decadent crème Chantilly on the side to unexpected flavor infusions, here are our top spots.

By Go City Expert
Published: July 17, 2024
Chocolat chaud

Angelina

angelina-hot-chocolate

Once you’ve finished shopping for designer treasures on Rue de Rivoli, head over to Angelina for the best chocolate chaud in the city. Order a cup of l’Africain, their creamy hot chocolate you have to literally drink with a spoon - and if it’s not decadent enough, it comes with a pot of fresh cream on the side for you to step things up a notch.

Ladurée

piece-cake-laduree

Planning to visit the Champs-Élysées? Before you jump back onto the metro, make a little diversion to Laduree - a gorgeous French patisserie with a cosy parlour feel. Renowned for their rainbow macarons and some of the best patisseries in Paris, their chocolate chaud certainly gives the pastries at this place a good run for their money.

Jacques Genin

Hot chocolate in Paris

This famed chocolatier used to work behind the scenes at some of the best kitchens in Paris, but luckily for French hot chocolate lovers, he’s opened up his own shop. Crafted from real Araguani de Valrhona chocolate, it’s no surprise the chocolate chaud here is a real contender for the best chocolate in Paris. 

Jean-Paul Hevin

For something truly experimental, Jean-Paul Hevin is a great shout and luckily there are a number of branches in the city. You can tell they’re serious about the beverage as they literally have a dedicated hot chocolate bar in Saint Honoré, where you can try everything from a traditional French hot chocolate to something a little different: matcha, chili, ginger...

Les Deux Magots

The hot chocolate at Les Deux Magots attracted the likes of Picasso, Hemingway, Verlaine, and Rimbaud to this beloved establishment. This classic French cafe is a big favorite amongst both locals and tourists alike, with a smooth hot chocolate to die for. If it’s a crisp winter’s day, grab a table outside with your piping-hot drink to keep cosy.

Café de Flore

Cafe de Flore

There’s nothing more classic than Café de Flore's chocolate chaud. Thick, rich, and served in a silver teapot designed for second helpings, it’s no surprise that this establishment has been a Parisian favorite dating back to 1887. Be warned that it can get busy as it’s a big tourist spot - given that the likes of Apollinaire, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ernest Hemingway used to frequent the place and attract crowds.

Le Grand Colbert

Look familiar? That’s because this cafe was the filming location of the Diane Keaton classic Something’s Gotta Give. Since then, people have filed in over and over again for the famed roast chicken that Jack Nicholson tucks into, but you should definitely stop by for a French hot chocolate. Besides tasting delicious (don’t forget to top your chocolate chaud off with Chantilly cream), it’s the most atmospheric with its brass fixtures and scarlet lush interiors.

Hot chocolate in teacup

What’s in a name? Everything at this boutique, apparently. For a place with a name like the ‘house of chocolate’, you’re right to have high expectations and they absolutely live up to them. A few of their locations, like Jean-Paul Hevin, have a chocolate chaud bar. You’ll be able to sip on the traditional stuff or get a little boozy with it, as their creation Bacchus (literally named after the Roman god of wine) has a hit of rum in it.

Maison de Chocolat

What’s in a name? Everything at this boutique, apparently. For a place with a name like the ‘house of chocolate’, you’re right to have high expectations and they absolutely live up to them. A few of their locations like Jean-Paul Hevin have a chocolate chaud bar and you’ll be able to sip on the traditional stuff or get a little boozy with it, as their creation Bacchus (literally named after the Roman god of wine) has a hit of rum in it.

Carette

Carette macarons

Besides serving up their signature macarons, Carette has one of the best hot chocolates in Paris. Their gorgeous little Trocadero spot also boasts a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. While locals favour its charming Place des Vosges location more, one thing’s for certain - their hot chocolate really hits the spot. Not too sweet and not too decadent, it doesn’t fill up quite as quickly as some of the more popular spots on the list. Don't forget your box of macarons to take away!

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More top Paris Museums One of the most picturesque art galleries in Paris is the Orangerie Museum, situated in the stunning Tuileries Gardens. The Orangerie Museum houses some of the best works of art from Monet, Renoir and Picasso – among other impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces. Just outside Paris you’ll find the Musée Nissim de Camondo situated in the former private home of the rich Parisian Moïse de Camondo – so you’ll be admiring more than just the impressive collection of objets d’art and French furniture on show. Château d’Écouen, in rural Paris, is also home to the National Museum of the Renaissance - a must-visit to learn about one of the most important movements both socially and artistically to have come out of Europe in all of history.  See world-class exhibitions and visit top Paris art galleries for free! 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The Louvre Museum We continue our journey through Paris’s catalog of ‘biggest and best’ with the mighty Louvre – home, of course, to the enigmatic Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo and, perhaps as a direct result, the planet’s most popular museum. It’s also the largest: a vast multi-level labyrinth of hallways, staircases and galleries that cover 652,300 square feet and house some 616,000 pieces of art. Grab that coveted selfie in front of the distinctive courtyard pyramid before elbowing your way inside to the main event(s). Pro-tip: you’ll need a map and a plan of attack to make the best of your visit. Palace of Versailles As extravagant and flamboyant as the king for whom it was built, Louis XIV’s opulent confection is a fairytale wonderland of mirror-festooned hallways, art-crammed galleries, lavish state rooms, and manicured gardens that overflow with ornate fountains and priceless statues and sculptures (in fact the world’s largest outdoor sculpture collection, as if you hadn’t already guessed). Visit Marie Antoinette’s rustic model village, marvel at the colonnaded pink marble confection that is the Grand Trianon, and take time out for a moment of quiet reflection in the extraordinary Hall of Mirrors. Notre-Dame Cathedral Notre-Dame has been stealing the hearts of tourists for centuries, so it wasn’t about to let a little thing like a blazing inferno change all that. Even while closed, its soaring bell towers, picture-perfect spire and stunning medieval rose windows are essential on any serious Paris sightseeing itinerary. Heck, you could even take a sketchpad and notebook along with you to see if inspiration hits you. You never know, you could be the next Picasso, Hopper, Matisse or Victor Hugo: all were famously enchanted into creating great art by la Grande Dame de Paris. Montmartre Fans of Amelie will find much to enjoy in the Montmartre district, home to many of the locations used in the quirky 2000 movie. Take a stroll along atmospheric cobbled lanes and squares, pausing to pose for a snap by the neon-red Moulin Rouge windmill. Or get a selfie of a different kind in the Place du Tertre, where local artists will paint or sketch your caricature for a few euros. Art-lovers should hit up the Musée de Montmartre for its fine collection of pieces from Toulouse-Lautrec’s Moulin Rouge series, plus other French Impressionist masterpieces. 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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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