Hot chocolate in Paris isn't one-size-fits-all. Some chocolats chauds are so thick the spoon stands upright - rich, intense and almost a dessert - while others are lighter and more drinkable, depending on your taste.
After living here since 1992, I've learned it comes down to personal preference. I tend to prefer versions that aren't overly sweet, so you can actually taste the quality of the chocolate.
These are my personal favourites, updated regularly as I continue exploring Paris - from famous addresses to quieter local spots, including lighter options, vegan choices and even chilled versions in summer.
While hot chocolate can be found in most chocolate shops, not all boutiques offer it (even famous ones like À la Mère de Famille!). For this guide, I'm sticking with the cafés or tearooms. In the meantime, I would love to hear your top picks in the comments below.
What are The Famous Hot Chocolates in Paris?
There's more than one Parisian establishment. The following are the famous addresses you'll find in most Paris tourist guides and on social media. So what makes them so legendary, apart from their queues?
Angelina's 'Choc Africain'
A Parisian institution since 1903, c'est normal to find Angelina's queue snaking along the pavement to 226 rue de Rivoli. The line of patient phone scrollers finding this address on Tiktok is usually for their legendary 'Choc Africain', now known as old-fashioned chocolat chaud à l'ancienne.
Why is Angelina's hot chocolate so good? It's extra thick - named "African" as it blends cacao from Niger, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It's intense, slightly fruity and famously rich; they pride themselves on a secret recipe unchanged for 100 years. Served with a little pot of whipped cream - the norm in Paris for extra thick versions - you may find it doesn't need anything else. A cup is a dessert on its own.
Like the Parisians, if queuing isn't your thing, there's also a take-away hot chocolate stand in front of the boutique. Plus, at the same price of their large hot chocolate to go, you can buy a bottle (starting at €9.50) to take home. I also recommend a take-away goblet to enjoy in the park across the road from their quieter store. For more, see my article on rue du Bac - Paris Pastry street.
Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore - How Much?
Another Parisian café landmark that needs to be experienced is les Deux Magots. Who would think its humble beginnings in 1812 would have reached such artistic and literary heights?
The hot chocolate is so velvety and thick, be careful if sitting on the terrace outside (opposite the church). If you're busy taking photos for social, it may just cool and set! I love that it comes in a little 12.5cl pot (10 euros) but best value is 12 euros for double the size and in summer, try the iced chocolat frappé.
Café de Flore's chocolat spécial costs 10 euros - with whipped Chantilly cream, the Chocolat Viennois will cost you 12 euros. But this is all in the ambiance of tasting in such a mythic spot where the literary elite used to hang out on boulevard St Germain.
Carette and Ladurée
Except I'm not here to talk about the price - especially with the rising cacao prices in 2025! When in Paris, sipping chocolat chaud from a porcelain cup in a famous establishment is all about the experience. The rejuvenating pick-me-up brimming with endorphins is about watching the world go by.
Let time stand still or just be engrossed in that cup of melted chocolate. It's about le plaisir. So take pleasure - until the bill comes.
Carette and Ladurée are similar. Not as thick, both are sweeter with the Chantilly cream on the side - as well as a little chocolate to nibble on for later.
Café de la Paix
Another popular Parisian address on Place de l'Opéra is le Café de la Paix. I'd recommend sitting indoors as the decor is pretty next to the window. However, try to avoid the back of the café (it's dark and tables sad without the flowers for the same price).
Not as thick, but quite sweet. However, I like the touch of an added little pot of hot milk to keep your chocolat chaud actually hot.
Most Popular with the Locals
Many people still mention Un Dimanche à Paris as one of the best hot chocolates in Paris - but it sadly closed a few years ago.
It used to be one of my absolute favourite addresses, just steps from Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, where chocolat chaud was served in traditional ceramic pots with a molinillot whisk. I often ended my chocolate walks in Saint-Germain-des-Prés here, as it was always a highlight.
If you're looking for a similar old-fashioned chocolate pot experience today, I recommend the Crillon's Butterfly Room. It's a more luxurious setting, without the queues, and their blend of three chocolates creates something beautifully balanced -neither bitter nor too sweet.
Thankfully, there are now plenty of exciting addresses across Paris where you can still enjoy an excellent chocolat chaud.
Dengo - Pure Chocolate, Less Sugar
The exception to the classic Parisian tearooms is this Brazilian gem on rue Bonaparte - and one I return to often.
Dengo crafts its chocolate from cacao grown in Bahia, with a focus on sustainability and, importantly, more cacao and less sugar. The result? A hot chocolate that's rich and full of flavour without being overly sweet.
It's thick yet still drinkable, whisked fresh with a subtle hint of tonka bean, and served with their signature Quebra-Quebra chocolate on the side. Indulgent, but balanced.
They now have boutiques in Montmartre and the Marais too - but this Left Bank address remains my favourite, as it's where I used to give my guided chocolate walks.
My tip: If it's too rich, don't leave it. To ask for a doggy bag, just politely ask,
"à emporter, s'il vous plaît."
Café Pavane - Double Chocolate 'Hévin' (Heaven)
Run by Manon Hévin (famous chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin's daughter) since 2018, her hot chocolate with milk has just a little added spice. Light and not sweet.
It's just pure and simple luxury without the fancy setting, in front of the Palais de Luxembourg, on rue de Vaugirard. Add one of Paris's best macarons from Jean-Paul Hévin to nibble on the side.
Chapon's Tea Salon
From the legendary 100% chocolate mousse maker, if you wanted to try Patrice Chapon's chocolat chaud, it was only possible to carry out. Plus only from one boutique opposite Saint Sulpice church (St Germain-des-Prés).
The good news? He now has a new tearoom to taste it in a mug-like cup with a few to try: old fashioned with milk (my preference) or a plain one made with hot water.
However, you'll need to jump on the RER A train to Saint-Germain-en-Laye! It's totally worth the 20 minute trip from Paris, as I have also created your own DIY chocolate pastry tour of Saint-Germain.
Le Procope - The Oldest Café in Paris
If you prefer yours in a historical setting, head to Le Procope's refurbished café bar. For Paris's oldest café, they have reasonable prices. It's chocolat chaud that's much thinner but I personally find it too sweet. Ideally there should be no added sugar but, if sweetness is your preference, then this is your address.
Foucher
A historic chocolate shop dating back to 1819, with a peaceful tea salon tucked away on one of Paris's busiest streets on rue du Bac (also known as Paris pastry street).
The hot chocolate is beautifully balanced and great value, with the added bonus of those irresistible chocolate aromas from the laboratory behind the counter. Did you know they were the first to create international delivery?
Café Verlet
Although Café Verlet is famous for its coffees since 1880, their hot chocolate is still worth the detour. Lighter, not too sweet and the ambience either downstairs or upstairs is a lovely haven on rue Saint-Honoré.
Paris Chocolate Museum - Drink Like the Aztecs
For total choco immersion, visit the chocolate museum to appreciate the history behind the drink: how it all started to it coming to Europe via Spain and the south of France via the courts. It was the wives who brought it with them to Versailles. Just saying.
A visit here ends with an optional historical tasting. Complete with spices and hot water rather than with milk, discover how the Aztecs and Mayans drank their spiced drink, known for centuries as an aphrodisiac - makes me reminisce of Denise Acabo's shop with her signs in the window!
Une Glace à Paris - Incredible Choices
When a Meilleur Ouvrier de France makes the most incredible ice creams at Une Glace à Paris, what does he do over the Winter? He continues my favourite macarons (on my top 20 Paris list) but also turns to creating some of the best hot chocolate around.
He has at least EIGHT, including Grand Cru chocolate. Quite honestly, it's difficult to choose from 75% Tanzania with a hint of Ceylon cinnamon to an intensely chocolatey Inaya at 65% with a smoky taste.
It's not all dark chocolate - for the sweet toothed, there's Bahibé 46% with hazelnut paste or Ivoire, a blend of white chocolate and Madagascan vanilla.
If you're more just good old-fashioned dark with milk and intense flavours (like me), then go for their Madagascan Grand Cru Manjari 64% with slightly acidic hints of red fruits. In le Marais or enjoy takeaway chocolate powders to make your own.
Cold Chocolate Drinks in Summer
It's not all about just drinking it chaud in winter. Many of the above also serve chocolat glacé, frappé or iced chocolate.
- Pierre Marcolini makes a warm or chilled version with his natural grated cocoa bean infusions. I first tasted this at le salon du chocolat, where Marcolini himself told us of its virtues: rich in minerals and polyphenols. Try the ginger cocoa drink for a stimulating, hydrating and antioxidant rich drink.
- As I mentioned above, at les deux magots.
- Dengo - their 'X'ocolatte' cold chocolate drink is sure to refreshen the senses during a French summer heatwave. Try the 100% Brazilian chocolate from the Cabruca forest.
Vegan Options
More Parisian establishments are providing vegan options with a variety of non-dairy milks. Over the last few weeks, I've seen oat milk, almond milk and soya options listed.
Particularly worth a mention here are La Bossue and Une Glace à Paris.
See more in your DIY Chocolate-Pastry Walk in Montmartre.
Green Hot Chocolate - 'Le Green Chaud'
Try le Green Chaud, a green hot chocolate, on the winter slopes for some adult après-ski. With its touch of herbal green Chartreuse at 55° alcohol, this is warming the cockles of high-flying skiers (couldn't resist that one).
Chartreuse, from the same town in the Isère region, is the old lady of liqueurs as it's centuries old based on 130 different plants. It's normally served as a digestive after a meal but this hot green cocktail with chocolate is an original way to serve it.
Hot Chocolate with a Parisian View
However, in my personal opinion, I'll stick with the classic version. For the best hot chocolate to watch a view of Paris at golden hour, head to the 5th floor of Printemps' Le Perché bar. Sip this treat either indoors or outside on the terrace.
This one falls into the lighter category yet still packs that punch of strong cocoa endorphins. Most of all, I loved that it's not sweet and great value for such an overall feel-good experience. It also stayed hot in the mug, another major bonus - even while sitting outside during a chilly January late afternoon. Frankly, this is tops when actually hot!
They use the Celaya drinking chocolate by Valrhona, also used in various addresses in Paris (e.g. La Comtesse Café in the 7th). If you see it being served, then you're in good hands.
Best Parisian Experience at Home
Can't make it to Paris? Then the good news is that you now make your own best French hot chocolate recipe, just like our favourite Parisian ones.
You'll discover that the most historically famous of love potions is not made just with heavy cream, but milk.
Looking for more cafés by famous landmark or arrondissement?
See my Guide to the Best Tearooms in Paris.
Kate W
I think my six month old daughter decided she could drink with a straw when we offered her a tiny taste of our to go Ladurée hot chocolate through a straw and she suddenly had a mouthful and looked VERY pleased with herself!
Thanks for this delicious list!
Jill Colonna
Now that is THE best way of introducing your daughter to great hot chocolate. You've set the bar high for her now, Kate! Thanks for popping in and hope you try the others! There are a lot to get around...