-Courtesy of Punch Media
Whether you prefer a non-boozy, family-friendly hot chocolate or something stronger, Philadelphians can find a cup at plenty of places. Here are a few ideas from hotspots like Cake Life Bake Shop, El Merkury, Assembly Rooftop Lounge, and Oloroso.
Cake Life Bake Shop is Philadelphia’s award-winning small-batch artisanal bakery and all-day café, where locals can indulge in a cup of hot chocolate year-round! The Fishtown bakery’s Hot Chocolate (12oz/$4.75) uses a house made mix that can be brought to the next level with optional house syrups (+$1) like salted caramel, orange, raspberry, amaretto, banana, and vanilla, as well as big and fluffy (not to mention highly Instagrammable) homemade marshmallows (+$1.50), which come in two flavors – raspberry and vanilla (with more to come soon!). Cake Life’s steaming cups of hot chocolate are available to take to-go or enjoy in a ceramic mug while warming up in cozy interior.
El Merkury, Philadelphia’s home for scratch-made Central American street food, invites chilly Center City shoppers, tourists, and residents inside for a steaming cup of rich, freshly made Guatemalan Hot Chocolate, available at both the Reading Terminal Market location ($6) and the flagship Chestnut Street location ($5)! Plus, happy hour just got a little sweeter with Churro Happy Hour, available Monday through Friday from 3 — 6 pm (available exclusively at the Chestnut Street location), fans of the restaurant’s signature churros are invited to swing by for a sweet BOGO deal: buy one churro ($7), get one free. Alternatively, for cold weather days, guests can warm up by substituting the second, free churro for a hot drink, including Guatemalan Hot Chocolate, hot drip coffee, espresso, cappuccinos and lattes.
Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Center City’s swanky year-round rooftop lounge, warms up those cold winter nights with a luscious hot chocolate dubbed Liquid Love ($18), crafted with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, ganache hot chocolate, and Chantilly cream, for a delightful fusion of bold flavors and comforting textures. With its winter pop-up Alpine Heights in full swing through February, there’s no better time to enjoy this modern, grown-up take on the quintessential cold weather beverage while basking in the glow and warmth of Assembly’s blazing outdoor fire pits.
Oloroso, Philadelphia’s premier Spanish tapas restaurant and sherry bar in the heart of Center City, beckons winter revelers with their delightful Sherry-Spiked Hot Cocoa, a timeless seasonal warmer adorned with velvety homemade whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon sugar (served table-side), generously fashioned with Pedro Ximénez Sherry, an ode to its robust in-house Sherry selection.
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