Image Credits: Rozelle’s (left), Red Cacao (middle), Bracegirdle’s House of of Fine Chocolate (right)
With the school holidays well and truly upon us, the current forecast doesn’t exactly lend itself to beach days and long afternoons at the park. However, if you’re looking for ways to keep the little ones entertained this winter, a café stop and a steaming hot chocolate might just be the perfect recipe for a cosy day out.
But with so many cafés across Adelaide, it can be tricky to know which ones are actually worth your time. So whether you’re chasing a drink that will wow the kids, or simply indulging your own inner child, we’ve rounded up some of the best hot chocolates in and around Adelaide, each one offering its own delicious twist on the classic winter treat.
Italian Hot Chocolate at Rozelle’s
Thick, rich and made for winter, Rozelle’s best-selling Italian hot chocolate is back. This decadent creation is the very opposite of a watery disappointment – velvety, intensely chocolatey and so thick it’s almost deserving of a spoon. Finished with a generous swirl of finely crafted whipped cream, it’s best enjoyed rugged up while overlooking the picturesque Carrick Hill estate at the foot of the Adelaide Hills.
Where: 46 Carrick Hill Drive, Springfield Drive, 5062
For more information, click here.
Aztec Hot Chocolate at Red Cacao
If you’re wanting something to spice up your hot chocolate game (quite literally), then we recommend trying Red Cacao’s Aztec Hot Chocolate. This Adelaide Hills artisan chocolatier is bringing the heat, infusing its luxurious dark chocolate with chilli (yes, you heard that right, chilli) and cinnamon for a rich, warming twist on a winter favourite. It’s sure to fire you up during Adelaide’s chilly period.
Where: Shop 3, 41 Mt Barker Road Stirling, Adelaide Hills
For more information, click here.
Chocolate Sphere at Commissary
This one’s just as much about the experience as the flavour. At Rose Park’s Commissary, you’ll pour warm steamed milk over a hot chocolate sphere packed with marshmallows, watching it burst open before melting into a rich, velvety cup of hot chocolate.
Where: Commissary
For more information, click here.
DIY Hot Chocolate Flight at Koko Black
If we had to sum up a visit to Koko Black’s specialty lounge in one word, it would be indulgent. Since opening its first Melbourne store in the early 2000s, Koko Black has become one of Australia’s best-known premium chocolatiers, with a handcrafted hot chocolate range made using real cocoa flakes for a rich, authentic flavour.
While the classics like Original, Mocha and Salted Caramel are always a safe bet, we’d recommend branching out with one of their standout flavours like Chilli or Orange for a true Willy Wonka-esque adventure. Better yet, make it a chocolate flight. For just $15, you can pair your hot chocolate of choice with three pralines, turning a simple cup into a decadent tasting experience.
Where: Adelaide Arcade, Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information, click here.
Honeycomb Hot Chocolate at Barossa Valley Chocolate Company
If you’re after an excuse for a winter road trip, the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company is well worth the drive. Beyond the café, you’ll find a chocolate shop, a viewable chocolate kitchen and hands-on workshops, all set against picturesque lakeside and vineyard views. Their signature hot chocolates showcase sustainably sourced chocolate from all corners of the globe – think Tanzania, Ecuador, Ghana, Mexico, Venezuela and even Australia’s own Daintree Rainforest. But our favourite? Their Honeycomb Hot Chocolate, sweetened with locally sourced honey.
Where: 64 Burings Rd, Tanunda SA 5352
For more information, click here.
San Churro Thick Spanish Hot Chocolate
Wickedly thick and dangerously indulgent, these Spanish hot chocolates are made for churro dipping. They transform a simple dessert into an interactive ritual best shared with family, friends and loved ones. Safe to say, you won’t hear Mum saying, “Don’t play with your food!” here.
Where: Multiple Locations – Rundle St, Westfield Marion, The Parade Norwood, Westfield West Lakes
For more information, click here.
Boozy Hot Chocolate at Melba’s Historical Chocolate Factory
Parents, this one’s for you. Melba’s signature Boozy Hot Chocolate is the perfect excuse to sneak in a grown-up treat, but a visit to Melba’s is about much more than just the hot chocolate. At both the Woodside and Angaston locations, you can step inside one of South Australia’s most iconic confectionery destinations, complete with heritage chocolate-making equipment and chocolate on tap. With indoor and outdoor seating, and grassy areas for the kids to let out some of their energy, parents can sit back, relax and enjoy their Boozy Hot Chocolate while the little ones burn off some energy.
Where: 22 Henry Street Woodside South Australia 5244, and 29 Valley Road Angaston South Australia 5353
For more information, click here.
Artisan Belgian Hot Chocolate at Bracegirdle’s
With the bragging rights of being ‘Australia’s Most Awarded Chocolates’, Bracegirdle’s knows a thing or two about crafting exceptional chocolate. Their hot chocolates are made with premium Belgian chocolate that’s melted down for a rich, silky drink. Better yet, if you want to recreate the experience at home, you can pick up one of their signature hot chocolate sticks – 70g of Belgian chocolate ready to melt into your favourite warm milk.
Where: Multiple Locations – Blackwood, Cross Road, Hanhdorf, McLaren Vale
For more information, click here.
Novelty Hot Chocolate Menu at St Louis
No, this wasn’t a kitchen accident – that brownie is meant to be there. Launching this Saturday, St Louis is serving up a brand-new novelty hot chocolate menu that’s all about combining the best of both worlds: drink and dessert. Made with pure melted couverture chocolate and topped with a range of signature cookies and limited-edition brownies, this exclusive menu is definitely worth getting out of bed, grabbing an umbrella, and braving Adelaide’s winter weather for.
Where: At all St Louis Stores across Adelaide (except the Brighton Gelateria). Begins Saturday the 18th.
For more information, click here.
White Chocolate Ball with Caramel Sauce at The Middle Store
Just when we thought this list couldn’t get much more indulgent, The Middle Store said, “Hold our marshmallows.” Their new hot chocolate balls let you choose from matcha or chai, then take things one step further with a drizzle of Ro Ro’s famous salted caramel sauce. If you ask us, these drinks couldn’t get much sweeter (or more novel) even if they tried.
Where: 118 Winston Avenue, Melrose Park 5039
For more information, click here.
Raspberry and White Choc Hot Chocolate at Patisserie and Farm Shop
If the cakes and pastries at Patisserie Farm & Shop by Cheryse Zagler are anything to go by, you can bet their hot chocolate looks like something straight out of a royal high tea. Topped with vanilla Chantilly, this raspberry and white chocolate creation is the perfect companion to one of the pâtisserie’s renowned sweet treats. Nestled in the Barossa Valley, it’s a hot chocolate that’s well worth making the trip for.
Where: Patisserie Farm & Shop by Cheryse Zagler
For more information, click here.
