Best Hot Cocoa in Portland

Since moving to Portland I have discovered that the City of Bridges is also at the city of breweries and coffee houses. Those who know me well will see how this is ironic, considering I drink neither alcohol nor coffee! This isn't to say, however, that I have not found ways to enjoy the cozy atmosphere of these types of places. In fact I have taken my own twist on going to coffee shops by focusing more on the hot chocolate offerings at each shop!

During my time in Portland, I've become quite the hot chocolate connoisseur. Not to say that I wasn't one before, but I believe it has been taken to a whole new level, with hot chocolate becoming a daily staple. Most everyone knows that hot chocolate a day likely won't keep the doctor away, but when your apartment doesn't have Wi-Fi, going to nearby coffee shops becomes somewhat of a necessity. Paying for hot chocolate at a coffee shop serves as a sort of rent for the space in the shop you are occupying. Come to think of it now, the "deposits" I have made for my breathing and working space in a coffee house probably would've equaled the amount to pay for a monthly Wi-Fi subscription. So there you have it, an aha moment in the midst of writing this blog, exposing the fact that I have been absolutely duped in the matter!

That aside, I certainly would consider myself a hot cocoa expert and a reliable source to come to for hot chocolate inquiries when looking for a chocolatey treat to satisfy your sweet tooth while visiting, staying, or living in Portland-- at least in the North West part of the city.

So here is my review for six of NW Portland's best hot chocolates:

In 6th Place: Mother's Bistro

Mother's hot chocolate was chocolatey and yummy, yet I'd venture to say that without the quaint atmosphere of the restaurant, the hot chocolate isn't anything too special. However, the adorable setting resembling your great grandmothers dining room (without the mothballs and scent of formaldehyde), is a wonderful place to enjoy your hot cocoa as a side to your breakfast or lunch.

5th Place goes to: Ken's Artisan Bakery

Ken's Bakery has some pretty good hot cocoa: creamy and good quality chocolate. The whip cream is homemade and dolloped on top. This may have been higher on the list if I hadn't gotten the hot chocolate twice in one week and noticed that a different barista made a less chocolatey hot cocoa. So if you happen to go there and don't agree with the 6th place ranking, recognize that you may have gotten a stingy barista working on your chocolate drink.

In 4th Place is: Prasad

This place is unique for a couple of reasons. (A) The hot chocolate is VEGAN! They have a few options for types of hot chocolate you can get, including red velvet hot chocolate flavored (and colored) with beet juice. (B) The restaurant is attached to a yoga studio, so you get extra healthy zen vibes when sipping your hot cocoa. And (C) the design on the mugs has got me totally head over heels for whoever created it! So if you're feeling like you want to avoid the dairy for whatever reason, this is a great place to go for a yummy, non-dairy hot chocolate.

3rd Prize will go to: St. Honoré Bakery

This hot chocolate was rich without being completely overtaking! It was a good balance of milk and chocolate. I took my first sip and my eyes widened! I practically chugged the rest!

The 2nd Silver Medal goes to: Sunny Day Coffee

It's a pretty chilly place to sit and sip your hot chocolate, at least in the winter since the shop is just a little stand on NW Everett and 23rd, but there's something charming about getting a hot drink while standing in the cold. It's immediate satisfaction as soon as you take the first sip to fill your insides with warm chocolatey elixir of life! Its really neat because you can choose what kind syrup base you want for your hot chocolate, and 6 of them are homemade! My personal favorite so far has been the cinnamon based hot chocolate with cinnamon and cardamom sprinkled on top!

Annnnnndddd! The First Place Award goes to: Coffeehouse Northwest

I am a huge fan of the richest of rich hot chocolates! If I could buy melted chocolate in a cup at a coffee shop I would. This place on 1951 W Burnside St. is about as close as it gets! The creamy hot chocolate feels like velvet in your mouth and is wonderful rich chocolate. With the keywords of "rich" chocolate and "velvet" feeling, the obvious next word is "expensive." This hot chocolate is almost double the price of the other hot chocolates I have had at a whopping $5.25! But I feel like I'm getting my money's worth because they probably use 3x the amount of chocolate! If you love rich and delicious hot chocolates, Coffeehouse Northwest is the place to go. I've found my own personal chocolate sanctuary here!