The nip in the air calls for a comforting cup of hot chocolate and there’s little a frothy, chocolatey cuppa can’t fix. Kolkata’s cafes offer a bevy of hot chocolate options, laden with quenelles of whipped cream and spoonfuls of marshmallows — from Spanish blends and spiced picks to bespoke peppermint-infused options. Cosy up at a picturesque haunt this festive season or grab an over-the-counter hot chocolate for a late-night drive.
Sienna Cafe
‘It’s almost like a pudding. You can eat it with a spoon!’ says Sienna Cafe’s manager FoodieRaja/Zomato
The Hindustan Park cafe, which is instantly recognisable by its baby-blue-tiled tables, serves an extra-thick hot chocolate. This rich, creamy blend heroes Sienna’s in-house chocolate ganache and features a sprinkling of sea salt. “It’s almost like a pudding. You can eat it with a spoon!” says Raina Talukder, manager of Sienna Cafe. Pair this scrumptious drinkable dessert with Sienna’s homegrown Mahua cookies!
Location: Sienna Store & Cafe, 49/1, Hindustan Park
Marbella’s
One of the most Instagram-worthy cafes in town offers a Christmassy peppermint hot chocolate. The peppermint adds a burst of freshness to the rich hot chocolate, enhancing its flavour. The drink is infused with peppermint oil, then topped with whipped cream and a dusting of chocolate shavings. Marbella’s also offers a deviously delicious, deluxe hot chocolate and an oh-so-chocolatey Nutella pick.
Location: 1, Sreepally, Wood Burn Park Road
Roastery Coffee House
This hot chocolate fills every nook and cranny of the coffee house with a mouth-watering aroma Roastery Coffee House/Zomato
The infusion of piquant cinnamon into a traditional hot chocolate takes the winter drink to a whole new level at Southern Avenue’s Roastery Coffee House. Featuring a melting pot of cocoa, milk and cinnamon spice, this hot chocolate fills every nook and cranny of the coffee house with a mouth-watering aroma. So, if you like a good punch in your hot chocolate, order up!
“I’ve tried several hot chocolates in the city and this one is definitely my favourite. It stands out from the crowd!” said Soham Sinha, a food fanatic from the city who runs the popular food blog @kolkatadelites.
Location: 70B Hindustan Park, inside Calcutta South India Club
The Rouge
The Rouge’s DIY hot chocolate will warm the cockles of your heart! The patisserie’s hot chocolate requires some basic assembly as customers are served a bundle of choco chips and a jug of milk, so they themselves can put together this creamy delight.
“The Rouge’s hot chocolate has been my favourite for years now. I love the idea of chocolate chunks served separately with a jar of milk — so one can blend the drink as per their taste!” says Rajnee Khaittan, creator of the blog @theclicchic, who’s been visiting the cafe over the last decade.
Location: The Rouge, 222, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road
Macazzo
A thick gulp made using pure milk chocolate from Belgium SrijitaRoy/Zomato
Macazzo offers Spanish, British and Irish hot chocolates. The most popular potion at the Southern Avenue cafe is the Spanish hot chocolate — a thick gulp made using pure milk chocolate imported from Belgium. The chocolate is melted down to a thick consistency and served in a cup, following the traditional Spanish route (that ensures the drink is thick enough to be used as a dipping sauce for churros and buñuelos!).
Location: Macazzo, 64, Dr Meghnad Saha Sarani Road
Patisserie by Franziska
As the mercury dips, this artisanal bakery offers four versions of their signature hot chocolate, so customers can choose the percentage of cocoa. If you like your drink mild with a hint of cocoa, go for the 33%, but if you prefer it thick and creamy, grab the 70%. Franziska’s is one of the only bakeries in the city that offers customised hot chocolate and we’re mighty impressed because in Kolkata customisation is a must — be it phuchkas or hot chocolate!
Location: 13C, Russell Street (opposite Bengal Club)
Kookie Jar
The famous bakery, which just turned 36, offers an offbeat variant — hot chocolate on a stick. Moulded like a choco bar ice cream, the hot chocolate stick is a blissful block of milk chocolate topped with rosy marshmallows. ‘Dip, stir and enjoy’ is the mantra to experience this creamy concoction. Drown this chocolatey delight in a warm glass of milk, give it a good stir and your delicious cuppa is ready.
Location: All Kookie Jar outlets (Rawdon Street, Alipore, City Centre, Hindustan Park and the newest one at Kasba’s Rene Tower)
Mrs Magpie
The mini hot chocolate from Mrs Magpie is a shot straight out of heaven @kolkataepicurean/Instagram
Save the best for the last?
Mrs Magpie in Southern Avenue serves an authentic European hot chocolate that is all the rage in Kolkata. The quaint cafe nails the chocolate-to-cream-to-sugar ratio, every time. Available in two sizes — mini and regular — the drink can also be topped with marshmallows. My Kolkata recommends the mini size with a generous dollop of marshmallows — a shot straight out of heaven.
“The best part about the hot chocolate at Mrs Magpie is that every sip feels like melted chocolate. In fact, I don’t think they add milk to it! You don’t get it like this anywhere else in the city,” grins Lishika Chirawala, a Mrs Magpie loyalist who runs the blog @travel.food.love_.
Location: 475-570, Lake Terrace Road