The nippy Brisbane days call for something hot and sweet to warm you up. And what’s a better idea than a cup of hot chocolate? This is why many of Brisbane’s top cafes and chocolatiers are bringing on their A-game. From creamy, white chocolate to spicy hot chocolate with chillies, don’t be surprised if you keep coming back for more. To get you started on your sweet tooth fix, here are our favourite spots in town that offer the best cups of hot chocolate.

Bitter Suite

75 Welsby St, New Farm, QLD 4005

(07) 3254 4426

Don’t worry; you won’t get a bittersweet ending here. As a matter of fact, you’ll be able to satisfy your sweet tooth and more. Just take a look at their Winter Warmers menu and order the Peanut Butter Hot Choc. Topped with lots of cream and melted-down Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, this is authentic comfort food (or drink). Be sure to order extra cream, so you have something fluffy and light to complement the peanut butter chunks at the bottom of the cup. Don’t feel guilty as you scoop up those peanut butter bits. You know you deserve every spoon of that chocolate-peanut butter goodness.

Noosa Chocolate Factory

144 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000

1300 720 668

Being a chocolate factory, you’d expect only the best regarding their chocolate products. And the Noosa Chocolate Factory doesn’t disappoint. Aside from their irresistible balls and slabs of chocolate treats, they have eight hot chocolate variations to choose from. Your options include a basic but mouth-watering rocky road hot chocolate and a sugar-high-inducing white hot chocolate. If you love dark chocolate, go for the skinny hot chocolate that’s made of half-strength dark chocolate and skim milk from Maleny Dairies. The chocolates they use are locally produced and handcrafted into delicious treats, making each product a labour of love.

John Mills Himself

40 Charlotte St, Brisbane QLD 4000

For a cup of hot choco that’s unlike any hot chocolate out there, drop by John Mills Himself. Their flavours may seem like out of this world, but once you taste a cup, you’ll probably order another one. Some of the unique ingredients they use to put a new twist to their concoctions include sesame, lavender, and lime sea salt. For the flavours, your choices range from earthy 70% dark to taste bud-tickling sweet rose, which is basically a melted-down Turkish Delight swimming in hot chocolate. Don’t forget to top it off with just the right amount of milk and double servings of chocolate shavings.

Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar

2/179 Grey Street, South Bank, QLD 4101

(07) 3844 1559

A place that caters to every kind of sweet craving you can think of, the Cowch Dessert Cocktail bar offers four types of Belgian hot chocolate that’s sure to stir up those childhood memories. Whether you order salted caramel, dark, white, or milk hot chocolate, the hot treat comes with a generous dose of whipped cream and marshmallows. If you want to heat things up a notch, order the “sinners” version, which is a cup of hot choco with liqueur shots. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself ordering another cup. Keeping yourself warm this winter has never tasted this good.

Two Trees Espresso Bar

29 Merivale Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101

+61 (0) 413 913 243

Don’t be fooled by the bar’s name. Aside from their amazing espressos, sandwiches, and breakfast meals, Two Trees also offers Mork hot chocolates. A brand known for its artisan hot chocolate, Mork Chocolate only uses pure, dark chocolate for its insanely delicious treats. Two Trees adds its own touch with a dash of coconut blossom sugar. The hot chocolate’s bittersweet taste perfectly complements the sugar’s airy sweetness, resulting in an amazingly tasty cup. For a hearty breakfast, pair that cup of hot choco with the bar’s grilled cheese sandwich.

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With so many tasty hot chocolates to choose from, we’ll understand if you temporarily give up your coffee-drinking habits. All of these shops are also conveniently located in or near the Brisbane CBD, so finding them is easy. For a hassle-free way of finding these spots, book a cheap car hire at Brisbane that comes with a GPS navigation device for a minimum fee.