Where to drink chocolate in Philly

Whether you’re craving classic hot cocoaor a “hot milkshake,” here are six places to get chocolate —hot and in a cup.

Franklin Fountain

116 Market Street

This old-fashioned ice cream parlor in Old City wanted to find a way to recreate the line of customers that stretches around the corner in the summer, and thus the hot milkshake was born. Go for the campfire-readyToasted Marshmallow Malted, made with marshmallow-swirled vanilla ice cream with malted milk powder and melted chocolate, served over a graham cracker with toasted homemade marshmallows. Or keep it classic the European Drinking Chocolate, which is what you’re probably picturing — melted chocolate served in a teacup. Pro tip: Franklin Fountain is also pouring the drinking chocolate, plus hot cocoa and other sweet treats, from a pop-up stand at Winterfest on the Delaware River waterfront.

Shake Shack

2000 Sansom St.; 3200 Chestnut St.; King of Prussia mall

The Shack had us at “salted caramel hot cocoa.” Get this creamy blend of bittersweet dark chocolates, caramel sauce, sea salt and milk at any Shake Shack location.

Sazon

941 Spring Garden St.

Inside this inviting Venezuelan BYOB, Judith Suzarra-Campbell cooks up the authentic savory dishes, while her husband, Robert Campbell, runs the Chocolate Alchemist, focusing on a wide variety of drinking chocolates (including vegan options). Stop in for the original Clasico — a traditional hot chocolate — or perk up with El Monstruo, a blend of crushed cacao beans and espresso beans, infused with amaretto and almonds and toppedwith chocolate cream.

Mugshots

1925 Fairmount Ave.

Laid-back Fairmount coffee shop Mugshots works for grabbing a quick cup on your way to work, or settling in with an Aztec Hot Cocoa, made with cinnamon and cayenne for a little kick.

The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

10 Avenue of the Arts

A suite at the Ritz-Carlton might be a bit out of our price range, but a cup of cocoa we can swing. From now through the end of the month, 10 Arts in the hotel’s elegant lobby sets up a hot chocolate station, with a choice of “nice” or “naughty” — traditional or with a shot of liquor. A dollar from each one sold goes to Philabundance.

Café y Chocolate

2100 Norwood St.

This cozy Mexican spot offers a lot more than chocolate — but who needs more? The Mexican-style Chocolate Oaxaca is oversized and topped with cinnamon. And we won’t judge if you complement it with an order of caramel-filled churros.