Splurge: Hot Chocolate Edition

The Bitches are nothing if not notorious sugar addicts. Yes, we’ve been known to forgo dinner for candy, subway fare for cupcakes, and our electric bill payment for gourmet organic free-range hard ice cream (even in February). However, one of our all-time favorite treats of the season is hot chocolate. Creamy, chocolately, velvety, super-filling, sweet… we could go on for days touting the merits of this delicious drink. Although we hold in our possession the super-secret recipe for the best hot chocolate in all creation, we wanted to share our favorite places to indulge in a little cup of hot cocoa if you happen to have some dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

If you want new best friends for life, let us tag along and treat us to one of our favs.

Here are the best places in New York to get a face-meltingly yummy hot chocolate.

1. Max Brenner

841 Broadway/13^th St
We recommend: Italian Thick Hot Chocolate

The damage? $4.90

2. Vosges Chocolate

132 Spring St, Soho
We recommend: Azteca (spicy hot chocolate)

The damage? $4

3. Jacques Torres Chocolate Heaven

350 Hudson St/King St
We recommend: Wicked hot chocolate, for a treat that’s both spicy and smoky

The damage? $3

4. La Maison du Chocolat

30 Rockefellar Plaza/Sixth Ave
We recommend: Deep, bittersweet Caracas hot chocolate

The damage? $8

5. MarieBelle’s Cacao Bar

484 Broome St/Wooster St
We recommend: European style hot chocolate, which is thick, chocolately smooth and not too sweet.

The damage? $5.50

6. Bar Jamon

125 E. 17^th St/Irving Pl
We recommend: Dark hot chocolate- plus it comes with free cinnamon-sugar-dusted churros. YES.

The damage? $3.50

7. Tisserie

857 Broadway/17^th St

We recommend: Venezuelan hot chocolate

The damage? $2.95

8. Dessert Truck

8^th St/ University Pl
We recommend: Cup of hot chocolate

The damage? $5

9. The Chocolate Room

86 Fifth Ave, Park Slope
We recommend: Hot Chocolate

The damage? $5

10. Grom

233 Bleeker St
We recommend: Cioccolata Calda “Al Bacio” (hot gianduja chocolate with hazelnut chips)

The damage? $6

If you fear hot chocolate might break the bank, you can always drink your way through City Bakery’s Hot Chocolate Festival, Jan 31- Mar 15^th. A different flavor will be offered every day, including beer hot chocolate, and happy hot chocolate. Enjoy with a huge cookie to counteract the heavy liquid. City Bakery, 3 W 18^th St and 5^th Ave.

Save those dollars and yet a big cup of chocolately stuff! It’s the guaranteed only way to beat the bitter January chill.

Got a favorite that’s not on our list? We’d love to hear it! Email us at bbonabudget@gmail.com, or Tweet us @bbonabudget.

Love,

B