The first sip of hot chocolate is often a profound experience, even if the details slip through memory’s grasp. My earliest recollections revolve around a green Stanley thermos. It was filled with an instant cocoa mix that, despite the most vigorous stirring, would clump like stubborn clouds. This thermos accompanied us on family camping trips and made appearances on snowy Texas days, following hours of sledding on makeshift sleds like trash can lids and metal cookie trays. My older sister meticulously counted out the mini marshmallows to ensure fairness, her impatience tempered by the indulgence of melting marshmallows stirred with a candy cane. Meanwhile, I typically dove in headfirst, blissfully disregarding the heat, welcoming the familiar burn of a too-hot drink as an essential part of the joy.
What my sister grasped, and what I would realize many years later when my son first asked for a chocolat chaud during our time in Paris, is that hot chocolate is a ritual of sorts. It creates memories. It invites you to pause, sip, and engage with it on a deeper level. A seemingly simple drink, yet it possesses the power to comfort and transport us across time and space.
Hot chocolate in America has evolved significantly since those thermos days, with trendy takes emerging on menus everywhere. Upscale drinking establishments now feature indulgent variations of this beloved beverage. At places like the boozy hot cocoa bar at Tinsel & Tonic inside the Grand Geneva Hotel & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and the Omni Hotel’s festive Blitzen’s Bar, enthusiasts can relish flavors like the Gilded Grinch hot chocolate, crafted from luxury ingredients and served in beautifully adorned mugs.
Across the nation, the trend has expanded to include elegant French and Italian variations, often referred to as “sipping chocolate.” These are often complemented by warm and spicy recipes from Mexico and Ecuador, pairing beautifully with dishes like savory tamales and cheesy empanadas. In Portland, Oregon, chef Gregory Gourdet incorporates his Haitian roots into his seasonal offerings at Kann, creating a chokola that fuses cinnamon, star anise, and a toasted super-cream ginger marshmallow.
The warm and inviting ambiance of southern living rooms inspired the hour-long hot chocolate experience at Saints + Council in Atlanta. Here, private fireplaces create an intimate setting for customers to indulge in trays of tabletop s’mores and extravagant concoctions like the Peanut Buttercup hot chocolate—a delightful mix of peanut butter sweet cream, homemade peanut butter-infused whipped cream, and a crumbled Reese’s topping.
New York City is buzzing with excitement as people line up for viral creations, including toasty marshmallow embellishments and limited edition Frrrozen blends. The Après Skate Chalets at Rockefeller Center are also heating up the festivities, creating memories linked to one of the country’s iconic skating experiences, where customizable cocoas are offered directly inside charming candy cane tubes. Over at the weekend pop-up chalet at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, guests can bond over cozy firepits and DIY s’mores stations while pairing European-style drinking chocolate with a decadent chocolate-dipped spoon crowned with caviar from STL Caviar Cart.
The thrill of personalizing flavors and toppings makes hot chocolate so much fun, which explains the popularity of hot chocolate flights. At The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles, Illinois, they offer a flight featuring four 4-ounce servings of unique European-style drinking chocolates—peppermint, Mexican-style, hazelnut, and bourbon caramel—each served complete with corresponding candies and cookies to enhance the tasting experience.
The Hot Chocolate Ritual at CUT Above in the Rosewood hotel in Washington, D.C., pairs its rich hot chocolates—The Classic, Gingerbread Bliss, and S’more the Merrier—with housemade cookies designed to enhance each drink’s flavor. At the Hilton Orlando, guests engage in the festive spirit with a hot chocolate bomb bar, selecting their “bomb” of choice—milk chocolate, peppermint, or salted caramel—while garnishing it as they wish, culminating in a steaming pour of hot milk that brings their cocoa to life.
Gourmet variations certainly have a special place in the season. The Haute Chocolate at The Remedy bar in Colorado’s Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail features stunning presentations, including a delicate chocolate tuile adorned with a homemade marshmallow and Chantilly crème. In Park City, Utah, the famed pour at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley’s High Chocolate requires 24-hour reservations, offering a mesmerizing sight as a fluffy cotton candy cloud melts into rich French-style hot chocolate, topped with a drizzle of melted chocolate.
The world of hot chocolate in America is more thrilling than ever—every cup is a celebration of excellence with no powder clumps in sight. These talented chefs and intriguing venues invite patrons to slow down, savor their creations, and revel in the sweet pleasures of the winter season.
