About Time: You Discovered London’s Best Vegan Hot ChocolatesBy Alicia Grimshaw

Hot chocolate is the perfect antidote to the chilly winter weather. Comforting and decadent, drinking a mug of hot chocolate is practically a given, especially around this time of year when the nights draw in and we all start craving anything that can warm up our internal heating. For your sipping pleasure, here’s ten of the best vegan hot chocolates in the capital.

1. For an Intense Hot Chocolate: Ruby Violet

Order: Small and Intense Hot Chocolate (£3.45)

The 411: Ruby Violet might specialise in ice cream, but they certainly know their stuff when it comes to hot chocolate too. Perhaps it’s because their Belgian Callebaut blend, that creates their exquisite chocolate ice cream, is also used for their ‘small and intense’ hot drink. It’s dark and delicious and you will definitely be craving another from the last sip.

Where: 118 Fortess Road, London NW5 2HL and Midland Goods Shed, 3 Wharf Road, London N1C 4BZ

2. For a Classic Hot Chocolate: Pamban

Order: Vegan Hot Chocolate (£3.75)

The 411: The sweet, spicy aromatic flavours of South-East Asia are found at Pamban, an all-day chai and coffee house located in the heart of Camden market. Although chai is the order of the day the hot chocolate menu features an array of warming drinks, including the vegan hot chocolate comprising dark Belgian chocolate stirred through warm dairy-free milk (soy, almond or coconut). The vegan hot chocolate is on the right side of rich – not too sweet – and just what the doctor ordered on a chilly winter’s day.

Where: Camden Market, North Yard, Chalk Farm Rd, Camden, London  NW1 8AH

3. For an Orange Hot Chocolate: Jaz and Jules 

Order: Orangeytang Hot Chocolate (£3.30)

The 411: Jaz and Jul’s Chocolate House located in Islington’s Chapel Market is where you’ll find some of the best chocolate in town. The team use high quality, ethically sourced single-origin chocolate from small producers and combine the dark chocolate nibs with fruit oils and spices. The mixture of refreshing orange, cardamon and cloves is truly special – get it with dairy-free almond milk for a nutty kick.

Where: 1 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ

4. For a Smooth Hot Chocolate: The Fields Beneath

Order: Hot Chocolate with Coconut Milk (£3)

The 411: As you walk in to this place, brace yourself. You will be bombarded by vibes. They will be everywhere. You’ll have to swathe through the vibes until you reach the high countertop and lustfully peer at a selection of vegan baked goods, which will make your heart ache with desire. This fully plant-based cafe uses single-origin chocolate from Koka Collection that has been designed especially for drinking. We say, order the hot chocolate with coconut milk for the full drinkable Bounty bar experience.

Where: 52a, Prince of Wales Rd, London NW5 3LN

Photo Credit: The Fields Beneath, Instagram 

5. For a Pretty Hot Chocolate: Palm Vaults

Order: Dark Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk (£3)

The 411: Palm Vaults is so achingly cool, it makes our Instagram game look sub-par. This east London hot spot is the real life version of a Valencia filter: plenty of greenery, vintage leather seating and a trendy 70s vibe. An oat milk dark hot chocolate is a drink you probably never knew you needed, until you order one: this delicious dairy-free alternative is better than the popular powdered stuff the supermarkets are peddling.

Where: 411 Mare St, London E8 1HY

Photo Credit: KKKreative_, Instagram 

6. For a Naturally Sweetened Hot Chocolate: Farm Girl

Order: Hot Chocolate (£3.60)

The 411: A holistic and healthy, yet comfortingly simple approach to Australian cafe culture, Farm Girl values fresh, nutritionally nurturing ingredients and delivers them in a warm and welcoming environment. The kitchen team make their hot chocolate blend from scratch using cacao and date syrup before adding to a mug of frothed almond milk. A subtle choccy taste with a hit of natural sweetness. Get 2 know.

Where: Locations here 

7. For a Decadent Hot Chocolate: Paul A Young

Order: Aztec Hot Chocolate (£3.50)

The 411: One of the best hot chocolates in London, Paul A Young’s hot chocolate is the sweet nectar of life. We challenge you to find a better dairy-free hot chocolate in the capital. This delight is created with Valhrona 100% cocoa powder, 70% chocolate and light muscovado sugar, sans the dairy. What’s more, you can customise your chocolate with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, chilli, ginger or cardamom. We love.

Where: Locations here 

8. For a Velvety Hot Chocolate: Chin Chin Labs 

Order: Chin Chin Vegan Hot Chocolate

The 411: The team behind the liquid nitrogen madness have created a beautiful vegan hot chocolate which is a plant-based spin on their signature hot chocolate – 70% Valrhona chocolate slowly simmered with dairy-free milk, giving a luxurious, thick and velvety consistency, before being pimped up with notes of raspberry and apricot. It’s the stuff winter beverage dreams are made of.

Where: Locations here 

Photo Credit: Alyssa F, Yelp 

9. For a Healthy Hot Chocolate: Wild Food Cafe

Order: Natural Mystic Hot Chocolate (£6)

The 411: Wild Food Cafe offers a fantastic menu of raw-centric meals that will convince any sceptic of the benefits and downright delightfulness of eating raw. Their natural mystic hot chocolate sounds on the medicinal side, and although it contains the lasted food trend to hit british shores, CBD oil, the warming spices of ginger and cinnamon along with cacao and apple helps to make this drink a mug of pure, chocolatey heaven.

Where: 1st Floor, 14 Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden WC2H 9DP