8 Phenomenal Spots for Hot Chocolate in Paris

Parisian hot chocolate just hits different. Maybe it’s the *adorable* table setups. Maybe it’s the creamy cocoa. Maybe it’s because in a country obsessed with coffee and wine, hot chocolate still manages to hold its own.

As someone who will happily drink hot chocolate any day, it’s been an absolute pleasure to hone my expertise on this subject.

Here are 8 excellent spots to get chocolat chaud around the city – plus one to skip.

1. Angelina

Angelina Café is the OG of hot chocolate in Paris. Well, to me, at least. It was the first spot I ever went to for chocolat chaud, and I’ve been back at least half a dozen times since.

Their flagship location is on Rue de Rivoli, right across from the Jardin des Tuileries and near the Louvre in the 1st arrondissement. The dining room is all elegant glamour and Old World details.

Angelina’s signature drink is chocolat chaud à l’ancienne (Old Fashioned Hot Chocolate), served in a ceramic pitcher with a matching teacup and a pot of whipped cream on the side. It’s very thick and rich – basically melted chocolate in the best way.

Besides hot chocolate, Angelina is most well-known for their housemade Mont-Blanc pastry, a baked meringue topped with chestnut cream.

If you need more than just a mid-afternoon treat, the savory plates at Angelina are exceptionally delicious as well.

It’s popular, so plan on waiting 20 to 30 minutes unless you come early in the day.

2. Carette

Carette is one of those cafés that feels like a little Parisian fantasy – a cute patio, and the most aesthetic hot chocolate service. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most viral spots in the city.

Their Chocolat Carette is served in a metal teapot, with your own teacup and a mountain of whipped cream on the side. The server pours the first round, then leaves the pot so you can help yourself. It’s dark and smooth, and the cream adds the perfect amount of balance.

Sit outside if you can—the patio vibe and those iconic wicker chairs are hard to beat. If you’re hungry, grab a croissant too. Dipping it into the hot chocolate is half the fun.

There are a few Carette locations in Paris. The one by the Eiffel Tower gets the most attention, but the Montmartre and Place des Vosges (in the Marais) spots are just as pretty and way more relaxed.

3. Ladurée

Ladurée is a famous patisserie chain in Paris that is most well-known for their macarons (and indeed, after doing extensive macaron taste-testing, Ladurée was a winner).

So, while we came for the macarons, we stayed for the hot chocolate, a surprising standout in our hunt for delicious Parisian chocolat chaud.

Now, this was a little bit different than your typical Ladurée location. We visited the Ladurée on the Champs Elysées, which is a full-service café. The location was gorgeous; everything from floor to ceiling oozed luxury – easily one of the prettiest cafés in Paris.

But on to the hot chocolate! Like Angelina and Carette, the chocolat chaud is served in a little kettle, along with a generous amount of whipped cream. It’s smooth and creamy and full-bodied, a perfectly satisfying drink on a cold winter day. Overall, a delicious hot chocolate in a stunning location.

4. Bo & Mie

Bo & Mie is a self-described “creative boulangerie” producing delicious classic pastries and mouthwatering new takes.

We were drawn in by the beautiful croissants framboises (raspberry croissants), as well as the kouign amann pastry, a specialty from Bretagne with caramelized pastry layers.

And of course, we couldn’t help but order a hot chocolate to go with the pastries. It was fantastic! While not quite as thick and rich as the first three spots on this list, it was so satisfying – a great to-go option.

There are multiple locations around Paris, but we stopped at the location right behind the Louvre, next to the Louvre-Rivoli Metro station.

5. Plaq

Plaq is a working chocolatier tucked into a quiet street in the 2nd arrondissement near Rue Montorgeuil, and walking in smells like stepping into a chocolate workshop. It’s not fancy – just a counter, some minimalist shelves, and a couple of benches outside – but that’s part of the charm.

Their hot chocolate is made with house-milled, bean-to-bar chocolate and it shows. It’s dark, rich, and not overly sweet, just pure chocolate flavor with zero distractions. They offer a large and small – get the small, it’s more than enough.

If you want something stripped down and real, this is the place. No frills, just a high-quality, deeply flavorful drink.

6. La Jacobine

La Jacobine serves up one of the most drinkable hot chocolates I had in Paris. It’s creamy and flavorful, but a little smoother and less thick than spots like Angelina or Carette. It’s served in a cup and saucer sprinkled with little speculoos crumbles – a delicious addition.

It’s tucked into Cour du Commerce Saint-André, one of the most charming hidden passageways in the 6th arrondissement. The dining room is cozy and low-key, with warm service and solid food across the board. My coq au vin was excellent.

This one’s a great option if you want a full sit-down meal with your chocolat chaud in an adorable setting.

7. Café de Flore & Les Deux Magots

Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are two of the most iconic literary cafés in Paris, made famous by clientele like Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir.

They’re right across the street from each other in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and between their façades and history, both are major social media favorites.

Both serve classic French café fare and are known for their hot chocolate. I’ve tried the chocolat chaud and a few dishes at each, and for me, there’s a clear winner.

Café de Flore tends to be the bigger social media darling – the facade is just a little bit more picture-perfect, and the tablescape is very charming. However, their hot chocolate was a huge miss for me. It was thin, watery, and didn’t have much flavor, and easily the worst option on this list.

Les Deux Magots, on the other hand, was much better. The hot chocolate was thick and velvety, although I will say, the tablescape wasn’t quite as darling.

If you want the historic café experience and you’re in the neighborhood, I’d snap your photo at Café de Flore, but actually visit Les Deux Magots.

8. Jean-Paul Hevin

Jean-Paul Hévin is a high-end, boutique-style chocolatier with a few locations around Paris. It’s a small, calm space with no crowds or rush, and the staff mixes up each cup of hot chocolate fresh right at the counter.

There’s no seating, so it’s a takeaway-only experience, but the drink is fantastic. Rich and dark, it leans into pure chocolate flavor in the best way.

If you’re near one of their boutiques and want a quick but high-quality cocoa (and maybe a box of elegant chocolates while you’re at it), this is a great pick.

So, What’s My Favorite Hot Chocolate?

Okay, to be honest, I really enjoyed (almost) all of them (looking at you, Café de Flore). I know, that’s not super helpful!

But if I had to pick, the first three spots, Angelina, Carette, and Ladurée, still feel like the most decadent, classic Parisian hot chocolate experiences. The presentation differs slightly, but the vibe and richness are very similar, and I’d recommend any of them without hesitation.

The takeaway cups from Bo & Mie, Plaq, and Jean-Paul Hévin were also excellent, but you don’t get the same picturesque setting and luxurious experience.

If you’re only choosing one or two spots for hot chocolate while you’re in Paris, start with one of those top three. But if you have time, trying a mix of café and counter-service options gives you a broader taste of what Paris has to offer.

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