Shanghai's top hot chocolates

Hot chocolate makes winter worth it - here are our five favourites in town.

Angelina

For a thick and rich indulgence in classic French surrounds

Iconic tea house Angelina has been pleasing Parisians with its fancy French pastries and cakes since 1903, and are especially renowned for their hot chocolate. Le chocolat chaud l’Africain (68RMB) at its Shanghai outposts does not disappoint. So thick it struggles to be poured from the little white jug into the little white mug, the drink is served with a spoon meaning that sippability thankfully isn’t an issue. Order some macarons on the side and feel whisked away to the boulevards of Paris à la Coco Chanel.

Angelina is at Room 204, 99 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu.

Ch2 by Whisk

For a satisfyingly intense sip

Multiple hot chocolate options at cocoa specialist, Ch2 by Whisk, make finding your ideal cup easy. The classic 64 percent cocoa Cocotology (46RMB) is solid, but it’s the Cocoa-phobia (46RMB) that really wins our heart. At 74 percent cocoa, the drink has a lavalike consistency and arrives served with a bowl of whipped cream. It’s undeniably decadent, but in contrast to most other options around town, it manages to avoid being sickly sweet.

Ch2 by Whisk is at 1250 Huahai Zhong Lu, near Huating Lu.

Farine

For those who like a little spice with their chocolate

Farine’s signature hot chocolate is silky, very rich and quite spicy. Arriving in a small bowl, the drink immediately hits you with a waft of steaming wintery aromas that will transport you to the pistes in the French Alps. Made fresh daily using French vanilla bean, cinnamon and cardamom, this next-level cup will warm and sooth, and although we encourage ordering a croissant to dip into this glorious chocolate decadence, we’d advise not planning any vigorous exercise for a few hours after.

Farine is at 378 Wukang Lu, near Taian Lu.

HoF Lounge

For fussy hot chocolate drinkers who like plenty of options

HoF aren’t just famous for their desserts - their chocolate drinks menu offers perhaps the best variety in the city, with five hot and three cold options available. For traditionalists, the creamy hot chocolate (38RMB) with 60 percent cocoa will appeal, but for us, it’s all about the Michel Cluizel hot chocolate (40RMB). This special drink is not overly thick, nor sweet, but slightly bitter with the deep flavour of 85 percent cocoa dancing about on the taste buds. If you’re after something denser and sweeter, the Italian thick hot chocolate (40RMB) will do the trick – served very warm, it’s one you can linger over all afternoon.

HoF Lounge is at 30 Sinan Lu, near Huahai Zhong Lu.

Kommune

For those who like to play with their food

Definitely one of the biggest hot chocolates about town, and certainly the most playful, is this giant mug from Kommune (45RMB), which comes complete with a chocolate marshmallow ball. This long-time Tianzifang bar and restaurant does a fairly peaceful trade during the week but is invariably packed on the weekends when punters flock to the terrace, even in winter.

We prefer heading indoors, where you can forget about the outside chill as you dip a large chocolate ball into a piping hot mug of milk to make this superb drink. It’s perhaps not the most refined of options, but it’s by far the most entertaining; and in terms of volume, the most filling.

Kommune is at No 7, Lane 210, Taikang Lu, near Sinan Lu.