A Hot Chocolate Crawl in Salem, MA

Does the winter weather have you down? Why not warm up with a cup of hot chocolate? Thankfully Salem, Massachusetts is home to plenty of restaurants and shops that serve up traditional and unique varieties of this sweet yet soothing treat.

Classic Hot Chocolate

If you’re just looking to warm up with some chocolate on a cold winter day, and you don’t care for any extra toppings or flavors, there are plenty of restaurants around Salem that serve a plain and simple yet classic hot chocolate. Coming from the Bridge Street Area, stop in at Coffee Time Bake Shop for a warm cup of Hot Chocolate Milk, a smooth, rich, and creamy treat made fresh with Dunajski Dairy chocolate milk, and optional whipped cream.

Moving onto Essex Street, Gulu-Gulu Café offers hot chocolate to-go as well as table-side if you’d rather stay in and warm up. On Washington Street, Rockafellas  offers another comfortable, indoor setting for kicking back with hot chocolate and Odd Meter Coffee offers delicious hot chocolate to go. As does Red’s Sandwich Shop and Maria’s Sweet Somethings both located just around the corner, off of the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall.

While visiting Pickering Wharf, make your way to the Salem Waterfront Hotel and Suites, where hot chocolate is served out of the Regatta Pub and occasionally in the lobby. Also, make sure to stop by Wolf Next Door Coffee on Derby Street to try their hot chocolate made with their own Dutch-processed cocoa blend.

Cap off your meal at Turner’s Seafood with a classic hot chocolate- Perfect for a cold winter’s day or to accompany their new weekend brunch offerings with something sweet.

Drinking Chocolate Elixirs

A new addition to the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, Kakawa Chocolate House offers multiple varieties of their specialty drinking chocolate elixirs. With flavors like Chocolate Chai and Mayan Full Spice, there is an elixir for any taste at Kakawa. Not sure about trying a drinking chocolate elixir as opposed to classic hot chocolate? Kakawa’s drinking chocolates are richer than standard hot chocolates, and their flavor profiles are crafted from historical sources and their own modern creativity.

Hot Chocolate with a Twist

For a twist on traditional hot chocolate, head back up Bridge Street to Coffee Time Bake Shop. Add some spice with Coffee Time’s Mexican Hot Chocolate, which combines traditional hot chocolate with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. While there, try the Peppermint Patty (hot chocolate with a swirl of mint syrup) or the Chocolate Covered Cherries (hot chocolate with a splash of cherry syrup). Over on Debry Street, pick up a steamer from Wolf Next Door Coffee which is hot chocolate with the addition of Hazelnut, Vanilla, Salted Carmel, or Almond.

Hot Chocolate with Coffee

For an extra dose of caffeine with your hot chocolate add some coffee to the mix at either Gulu-Gulu Café or Coffee Time Bake Shop. Gulu-Gulu Café’s extensive drink menu includes a number of chocolatey coffee treats like the Russell Stover Mocha Latte with chocolate and coconut, and the White Raspberry Latte with raspberry and white chocolate.

Back at Coffee Time, enjoy the Hot Mocha Delight, made with half House Blend Coffee and half hot chocolate with cream, sugar, whipped cream, and raspberry syrup added upon request. If a cappuccino is what you’re craving, try the Mocha Chino instead, where chocolate syrup is mixed right in with the espresso which is then topped with cocoa powder.

Hot Chocolate for Tea Lovers

If you prefer tea to coffee but are still in the mood for some hot chocolate, look no further than Jolie Tea Company on Derby Street. For a minty tea excursion try the Chocolate Mint tea: Sri Lankan black tea, mint chocolate essence. A take on classic citrus scented tea, the Nina’s Hepburn Blend mixes Sri Lankan black tea, orange peels, chocolate, cream and orange flavors. While in the shop be sure to try the Chocolate Raspberry tea, a decadent blend of black tea, dark chocolate curls, and raspberry pieces.

Hot Chocolate Mix

One can never have too much hot chocolate on hand at home. To purchase hot chocolate mix to enjoy during your next staycation be sure to visit Pamplemousse on Essex Street, which also sells a variety of gourmet kitchen products and fine wines. Kakawa Chocolate House also sells their incredible elixir mixes. If you’re shopping for even more chocolatey treats, head over to Front Street to Maria’s Sweet Somethings, where you can purchase hot chocolate mix along with other delicious treats like candies and cupcakes. Or stop at Harbor Sweets to take a factory tour and take home some Cocoa Sante. Can’t make it to Salem? You can order your favorites online from Kakawa Chocolate House and Harbor Sweets.

Remember while masks are no longer mandated by the City of Salem, private businesses may require them. For more information on Salem’s mask order, see salem.com/masks and click here for more on COVID-19 preparedness in Salem. 

The City of Salem has an indoor mask mandate and requires proof of vaccination to enter several types of businesses, including restaurant, museums, and indoor entertainment. Go to Salem.org/covid19 for more information. 

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