When winter takes over the city, hot chocolate season begins. Locals and visitors alike go on a quest for the best hot chocolate in the city. The Upper West Side offers culture, history, and sophistication, making it the perfect place to find a café serving hot chocolate. Explore this list of the best cafés on the Upper West Side, where you can enjoy delicious cups of decedent hot chocolate. 

Nice Matin

Nice Matin is a French Mediterranean restaurant located inside The Lucerne Hotel. True to its name, the dining room will transport you to the charming Nice seaside. As an Upper West Side staple, the restaurant has received several prestigious awards for decades. The perfect sweet treat on the menu is Ghirardelli Hot Milk Chocolate. This rich and creamy hot chocolate perfectly balances sweetness and cocoa. 

Breads Bakery

Located a block from Central Park and one mile from The Lucerne Hotel, Breads Bakery is an institution in New York City. With a 20-minute walk, you can enjoy a thick and rich hot chocolate. It is a seasonal menu addition and can vary among the different locations throughout the city. However, they all have the consistency of a melted chocolate bar, with a flavor that isn’t overly sweet or bitter. 

Amorino

While Amorino is best known for its gelato, winter brings a new mouth-watering treat with its hot chocolate. Located next door to the Lucerne Hotel, you can get there within a minute. The hot chocolate is a standout, served Italian style. The consistency is extra thick, often described as warm chocolate pudding. You can order it plain, with whipped cream, or as an affogato. Try the Mocaccino, combining hot chocolate and espresso. Make your hot chocolate gourmet with whipped cream, coulis, and crunchy pieces. Order the Affogato al Cioccolato and choose from ten gelato flavors. 

Venchi

Take a sip of history when you visit this Chocogelateria, which has over 140 years of history. Venchi is about half a mile from The Lucerne Hotel. With roots in Italy dating back to 1878, the location in the Upper West Side is the fourth opened in the United States. The hot chocolate is extra decadent thanks to the specialty crafted chocolate recipes that use natural ingredients. Hot chocolate is served seasonally, and the flavors can change among the locations. The Upper West Side location offers two flavors, Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut. The hot chocolate base is the same. The spreads applied to the cup rim and melted into the drink make the two flavors different. 

Picky Barista

This cozy café is owned and operated by a Serbian family. It is located about half a mile from The Lucerne Hotel and takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach. The menu features a delicious cup of Ghirardelli hot chocolate, which is made with sweet ground cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. The top is then dusted with cocoa powder. 

Mille-Feuille Bakery Café

Taste one of the best hot chocolate creations in the city, less than a five-minute walk from The Lucerne Hotel. The Mille-Feuille Bakery Café is a French-inspired bakery that serves delightful pastries, tea, and coffee. The hot chocolate is handmade with 70% dark chocolate chips, which give it a rich and bold flavor that isn’t overly sweet. Its medium body gives it a pleasing mouthfeel that isn’t watery or overly thick. 

Levain

Levain is famous throughout New York City for its cookies, so it should be no surprise that it has concocted a mouth-watering cup of hot chocolate. It is less than half a mile from The Lucerne Hotel, a five-minute walk away. Order the Valrhona Hot Chocolate. Made with 61% cocoa dark chocolate chunks that are hand-chopped and melted into rich, velvety goodness, it perfectly complements your cookie order. 

Mast Market 

Don't be fooled by this local organic market; hidden inside is a café that serves a delicious cup of hot chocolate. It is less than a half mile from The Lucerne Hotel, and you can walk there in less than 10 minutes. There is indoor and outdoor seating, making it perfect for enjoying your hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is made with the Mast chocolate, featuring the finest ingredients. 

Sip Hot Chocolate at the Best Cafes on the Upper West Side

The Upper West Side offers a haven from the winter temperatures with decadent hot chocolate in charming cafés. Enjoy thick, artisanal hot chocolates made from the world's best chocolate and pair them with a delightful Parisian pastry. Staying at The Lucerne Hotel completes the experience with its refined ambiance and unparalleled comfort. The hotel offers the perfect blend of sophistication and warmth. 

Make your winter season in New York City unforgettable by booking your stay at The Lucerne Hotel.