We are blessed with cool weather in Scotland, which makes finding the best hot chocolate in Edinburgh a year round activity. There are so many places to try and opinions vary on what makes for the best hot chocolate, but in this article, I’ll try and give you an up to date list of what I consider to be the best places. I’ll tell you where they are so you can find the ones closest to you, and I’ll let you know if it’s a sit-in place or an on-the-go place. In this way you’ll be armed to search this spectacular city for the best hot chocolate.
Here are our favourites!
The Best Hot Chocolate in Edinburgh to Sit Down With
Sometimes it’s good to have a few relaxing moments. These locations are exactly where you’re looking for.
West End Brasserie
Hope Street
Just off Princes Street, slightly beyond the Johnny Walker Experience, you can find this eatery. They specialise in quality Scottish food with a contemporary flair (I enjoy the steak sandwich), but their luxury hot chocolate is a particular treat. I had it on a cold December day, served in a silver pot and accompanied by a chalice of fresh whipped cream. It’s the type of rich chocolate that you’re likely to find in a Parisian cafe.
This one is well-suited to a relaxing sit after a stroll through Princes Street gardens.
The Marshmallow Lady
Rodney Street
Fairly close to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a must-see for lovers of plants local and exotic, you’ll find this quirky place. The Marshmallow Lady has become well-known throughout Edinburgh because she makes the biggest and most delicious marshmallows. As well as her own cafe, she provides marshmallows for several other cafes throughout town, plus for events and weddings, and also the Eden Mills Gin Tour in the West End. Who knows where she finds the time!
(She also wants me to let you know she has an online shop. Nationwide, free delivery over £30, code TopFan10 for 10% discount. During the pandemic she delivered to our house personally but now she uses couriers.)
This one is a sit-down establishment and its location makes it ideal on the way to the Botanics or before a walk along the Waters of Leith. Also good for the summer, when you can get your chocolate iced.
Love, Peace and Coffee
South Clerk Street, Newington
One of my favourite places for an easy chill out, LPC has cool art on the walls and the menu is full of pancakes named after staff. The vibe alone would make this a worthy addition to any list but the hot chocolate also makes it worth a spot on the best hot chocolate in Edinburgh list. I suggest a Nutella hot chocolate, and they usually have seasonal specials as well. They also have vegan and iced options.
This is a place for sitting down and having a pancake accompaniment.
Fortitude Coffee
Hamilton Place, Stockbridge
Newington Road, Newington
Abbey Mount, Abbeyhill
Edinburgh was partly made by multiple locations coming together. Fortitude Coffee has expanded into three locations and it makes sense. Their stuff tastes good and is presented beautifully, earning them their spot on this best hot chocolate in Edinburgh list and rounding off the sit-down locations. You’ll receive a little pot of chocolate to pour over your handmade marshmallow while you relax and enjoy a well-earned rest.
This is a place to sit down and relax after a walk to one of Edinburgh’s less central neighbourhoods.
The Best On the Go Hot Chocolate
Some places do delightful hot chocolate but seating is not provided. Some locations are also too intimate to ensure interior seating options so it’s best to plan to walk. These include:
Mary’s Milk Bar
Grassmarket, City Centre
Mary’s Milk Bar is distinctive for having not just one of the best hot chocolates in Edinburgh but also one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle. They’re known for their unique flavours of gelato, but you can get any one of those unique flavours in a hot chocolate float. Given its great location and products, there’s often not much room to hang around inside. Fortunately, the Grassmarket has some benches and affords the perfect opportunity for a selfie with your hot chocolate float and the castle in the background.
This one can be busy because it is on every best hot chocolate and gelato list about Edinburgh, and also some about the UK, but it’s worth the wait.
Moo Pie Gelato
Saint Mary’s Street, City Centre
Just off the Royal Mile on a quirky little street, there is Moo Pie Gelato. I first went to it just after they opened and before the Covid 19 pandemic closed everything. Many businesses struggled and especially those that were recently opened but Moo Pie adapted and made it through. They have a variety of different hot chocolates so that you can go dark or milky, and you can top your hot chocolate with either a scoop of their gelato (I like the 99 but flavours are seasonal and ever-changing) or a giant, toasted swirl of homemade marshmallow fluff.
This is a place for visiting after you’ve seen the sites of the Royal Mile.
Alandas Gelato
Forrest Road, City Centre
Originally starting outside the City Centre in nearby North Berwick, Alandas brings high quality ice cream with a dazzling array of flavours. Their highly central location is an asset. They are right next to Greyfriars Kirkyard. They’ve been a major recommendation on my Harry Potter tour for the last 2 years. Their hot chocolate is also peak (as the kids say) and comes topped with tons of whipped cream and marshmallows.
This one is the place to take your kids after visiting Greyfriars Kirkyard to find Lord Voldemort’s grave or, better yet, after taking them on my Harry Potter tour.
Uplands Roast
The Meadows
Uplands Roast is a coffee stand that is incredibly cool. They blast vinyl from a diverse set of artists. They cater to everyone, even my dog Augie, who loves their dog cake. They have the best shortbread and they have amazing hot chocolate. They deserve awards for it and have probably already won some. It’s heavy on marshmallow, comes with chocolate sticks, and you can tell real effort has gone into the entire process. They blowtorch it in front of you! It’s definitely a must for anyone keen to find the best hot chocolate in Edinburgh. They have a vegan option.
This one is where you go to get a hot chocolate and then take a leisurely walk around the Meadows.
Armed with this list you are now well-prepared to try them all and prove me right, or tell me your favourites. A good hot chocolate is one of the greatest joys in life. Tireless work has been put into sourcing these locations by my social media manager and wife. She deserves acclaim for the great content but all errors are my own.
The writer of his piece was inspired by the falling of late Winter snowflakes.
To keep up to date with all our food related advice, Instagram is the best place. That’s also where you can see the changing of the seasons in real time via our stories.
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