There’s nothing like a mug of hot chocolate to warm you up on a cold Pittsburgh day. Here at Good Food Pittsburgh, we love a good cup of cocoa – and these cafes and restaurants have the best ones around.
Coca Cafe
Lawrenceville
As much as we love their traditional hot chocolate, Coca Cafe’s Mexican Hot Chocolate, with a kick of spice added, is our pick at this Lawrenceville cafe. And if you don’t get your cocoa with an order of their fresh-made buttermilk doughnuts, you’re doing it wrong.
Coca Cafe (3811 Butler Street).
Le Petit Chocolat
South Side
You know that a cafe that has ‘Chocolat’ in its name is going to have a killer hot chocolate, and Le Petit Chocolat, on the South Side, delivers. Made with real chocolate, this cafe’s delicious cocoa is a must-try, especially when paired with one of their house-made chocolates.
Le Petit Chocolat (2004 E. Carson Street)
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
Market Square and Shadyside
You may not be in the mood for ice cream when the weather is cool, but you can still visit Millie’s Scoop Shops – just order their rich hot chocolate, made with Guittard chocolates and topped with their own homemade marshmallows. Yum and yum.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream (various locations)
Adda Coffee & Tea House
Shadyside
Not only can you get some amazing ‘Grown Up Hot Chocolate’ (definitely not your cloyingly sweet variety) at Adda Coffee & Tea House anytime you’d like, but every once in awhile, it’s also available with a scoop of Millie’s Homemade ice cream for a little added something special.
Adda Coffee & Tea House (200 South Highland Avenue)
Milk Shake Factory
Downtown
Not only can you get four varieties of hot chocolate at The Milk Shake Factory (Peppermint, Mocha Java, Salted Caramel, and Signature Hot Chocolate), but they also offer a Hot Chocolate Shake, made with chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, marshmallow cream, and hot fudge, plus a Hot Chocolate Float, with their Signature Hot Chocolate poured over vanilla ice cream.
The Milk Shake Factory (314 Fifth Avenue)
Caffe d’Amore
Rich, creamy and completely delicious. Caffe d’Amore serves an excellent (and Instagram-worthy) cup of fresh-made hot chocolate at their Lawrenceville cafe.
Caffe d’Amore (5400 Butler Street)
Espresso a Mano
Not too sweet, Espresso a Mano’s dark chocolate hot chocolate is perfect for someone who wants a taste of real, rich chocolate.
Espresso a Mano (various locations)
Mon Aimee Chocolat
Strip District
Head to the Strip District to try Mon Aimee’s amazing drinking chocolate, prepared on-site from 72% Madagascar chocolate bars.
Mon Aimee Chocolat (2010 Penn Avenue)
Cafe Moulin
Shadyside
Nutella. Hot. Chocolate. Need we say more? (We probably don’t, but when you add rich hot chocolate to creamy, hazelnut Nutella, you get something pretty great).
Cafe Moulin (732 Filbert Street)
Biddle’s Escape
Biddle’s Escape offers fun hot chocolate flavors like Gingersnap, S’mores and Peppermint for all of your cocoa needs.
Biddle’s Escape (401 Biddle Avenue)
Did we miss any amazing hot chocolate in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments – we want to try them!
Possibly these two spots are too new for you to have tried, but De Fer Coffee and Tea in the Strip, and Madeleine Bakery Bistro in Regent Square have some of the best in the city! De Fer uses Callebaut chocolate 😍
Forgot to mention that Artisan Café makes their own ginger syrup. If you ask nicely, Tyler will put it in hot chocolate.