CITTA

Popular Italian café and bistro comes up trumps with a super-thick, tasty hot chocolate for ¥30. Best drunk on an empty stomach. Prepare for a sugar rush.

835 Huaihai Lu, near Maoming Lu, 5466 1765
淮海路835号, 近茂名路

KAKAW

Kakaw’s gorgeous offering is a mix of three Belgian chocolates. At ¥21, it’s one of the city’s best deals. Closed on Sundays.

1/F, Ciro’s Plaza, 388 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Huangpi Lu, 2635 1681
南京西路388号，近黄陂路

CANTINA AGAVE

Cantina isn’t all about tacos and tequila. Give your tastebuds a surprise with their signature chilli hot chocolate (¥25).

A Mansion, 291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu, 6170 1310
富民路291号, 近长乐路

CHARMANT

Charmant’s ¥35 hot chocolate is not the kind you drink – it’s the kind you eat. With the consistency of cake batter, it’s a meal in itself. Homemade marshmallows add to the sugar-fest.

1414 Huaihai Lu, near Fuxing Lu, 6431 8107
淮海路1414号，近复兴路

KOMMUNE

The ho-cho at this popular Taikang Lu café comes in a giant bowl. It’s pricier than most at ¥40, but it’s also one of the biggest.

Tianzifang, Lane 210 Taikang Lu, near Sinan Lu, 6466 2416
田子坊泰康路210弄, 近思南路

WHISK

The egg-shaped mugs in which Whisk serve their ¥30 hot chocolate don’t have handles, meaning that you have to wrap your hands around them. For ¥5, they add a skewer of marshmallows. Closed on Mondays.

1250 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huating Lu, 5404 7770
淮海中路1250号，近华亭路

JADE on 36

With this one, you’re paying for the view more than the hot chocolate. ¥60 gets you a tasty dose of cocoa and a city panorama from 36 floors up.

36/F, Pudong Shangri-La, 33 Fucheng Lu, near Lujiazui Xi Lu, 6882 3636 富城路33号浦东香格里拉大酒店2座36楼, 近陆家嘴西路

BOONNA

There’s only one Boonna left, and their ¥30 hot chocolate is still a winner. Served in a sturdy glass cup with a squirt of whipped cream, it’s deliciously thick and grainy.

1690 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Hunan Lu, 6433 0835
淮海中路1690号, 近湖南路