Don't you deserve a cup of Vancouver's best hot chocolate?

Vancouver's Sixth Annual Hot Chocolate Festival runs from January 16 to February 14 with the city's best chocolatiers, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice-cream makers fighting to outshine each other with their decadent creations.

Indulge in a cup of hot chocolate at the festival's participating locations and help support job training programs provided by PHS Community Services Society and East Van Roasters for women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. There are over 59 flavours of hot chocolate being showcased including vegan friendly options. Visit the website for all the wonderful creations and locations participating and find our must drinks below.

Thomas Haas: “Caribbean Dream”

Thomas Haas hot chocolate is made with real chocolate not cocoa powder and is already noted as one of the best in the city. If you can't afford a trip to the Caribbean this winter, settle for a decadent cup of "Caribbean Dream"-coconut milk scented hot chocolate, served with in-house made 'Bounty Bar'. $6.95

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Ernest Ice-Cream: “Ambrosio Affogato”

Ernest Ice-Cream, Vancouver's best handmade ice-cream, is excitedly participating for the first time in the festival at their recently opened Quebec Street location only. Their decadent "Ambrosio Affogato" is a must for ice-cream and chocolate lovers.

"Ambrosio Affogato"-Molton dark drinking chocolate poured over Tahitian vanilla ice-cream. Served with a housemade salted chocolate rye cookie. $6.25

Butter Baked Goods Bakery and Cafe: The Fluffernutter

Rosie Daykin, the owner of Butter Baked Goods Bakery and Cafe and author of two best selling cookbooks, Butter Baked Goods and Butter Celebrates, started the marshmallow craze that swept North America with her gourmet handcrafted marshmallows sold under the Butter name. For the ultimate pairing of hot chocolate and marshmallows, Butter's hot chocolate creation "The Fluffernutter" is sure to please both young and old.

The Fluffernutter-White hot chocolate with peanut butter and butterscotch topped with their world famous handmade gourmet vanilla marshmallows. Served with a peanut butter marshmallow slice. $5.00

East Van Roasters: The Buzzzz

East Van Roasters is a bean to bar chocolate roaster that includes a charming small cafè located in Gastown. A non-profit organization, East Van Roasters provides training and employment for women living in the Downtown Eastside. "The Buzzz" is a divine hot chocolate creation showcasing the magical combination of honey and chocolate.

"The Buzzzz" made with local honey stirred into Madagascar single-origin drinking chocolate. Served with a house-made honey financier. (A financier is a French tea cake) $5.50

Bella Gelateria: “Smokin’ Sweet”

James Coleridge, owner of Vancouver's Bella Gelateria, is regarded as one of the best gelato makers in the world. In 2014, Bella Gelateria won the most creative gelato flavour for their Salted Caramel with Moroccan Lemon Sea Salt at Italy's World Gelato Tour and excitedly have transformed it into a hot chocolate for this year's festival.

SMOKIN’ SWEET”- Salted Caramel with Moroccan Lemon Sea Salt hot chocolate served with lime and lemon marshmallows on top. $7.50 *This flavour is only available at the Yaletown location.

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Koko Monk: “Wild Saje”

Koko Monk is known for their handmade artisan chocolates with unusual flavour combinations and beautiful designs. Their award-winning chocolates, a must eat, include the Blue Moon (chocolate & blue cheese), Brunette Bangle (curry and coconut), and the Smoking Heart (apple wood smoked chocolate). Koko Monk also carries a wide selection of vegan-friendly chocolate bars. All of Koko Monk's divine hot chocolate creations can be made with vegan friendly options. Enjoy the "Wild Saje", a vegan dark hot chocolate with almond milk, Turkish coffee and salted rose caramel served with your choice of a macaron. Small $5.95

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