Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Chicago’s Best Drinking Chocolate Within Walking Distance

Word Count: ~630 words Read Time: 3 minutes

Autumn around here doesn’t need pumpkin-flavored syrup to feel official.

We talk a lot about our love for morning coffee rituals and how that daily routine anchors life in the city, but when the air turns crisp across our streets, a different ritual takes over. I’m talking about true drinking chocolate. Not the thin, overly sweetened cocoa from a powder packet, but the dense, dark, velvety liquid that forces you to sit down, slow your pace, and actually pay attention. It’s a completely different discipline. Over ten days in September, I made a point of visiting four of our finest local purveyors. Having these distinct spots steps away from one another is one of those understated privileges of living right here in the heart of the city.

If you appreciate a proper kick behind your cocoa, L.A. Burdick at 609 N. State Street in River North is the benchmark. Their spicy option carries a dark chili warmth that cuts right through the weight of the chocolate. I’ve had it dozens of times over the years, and the precision never wavers. Every single cup lands exactly as intended.

A short stroll over on Walton in the Gold Coast brings you to Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter at 100 E. Walton Street. Hendrickx takes an uncompromising, artisanal approach. Drinking chocolate here feels less like a beverage and more like a melted chocolate bar served at temperature, demanding you take a minute to pause while sitting on the sidewalk. 

Heading up into Old Town, Cocoa + Co. at 1651 N. Wells Street treats chocolate with the same focus a sommelier gives a fine vintage. Their menu lets you explore deep single-origin profiles that showcase just how nuanced cacao can be. They market their experience as the best drinking chocolate in Chicago. We love it. 

Back near the Magnificent Mile, Hotel Chocolat at 830 N. Michigan Avenue brings a distinctly British, cacao-forward restraint to the cup. It’s smooth, deeply rich without being cloying, and hits the sweet spot when you want pure cacao flavor without unnecessary noise.

My personal standard? I ask for it spicy when available, and I add a shot of espresso. The natural bitterness of the coffee against the weight of the melted cocoa balances the cup perfectly.

We talk a lot about square footage and architectural details, but day-to-day quality of life is often built on these small luxuries. It’s the ability to walk out your door on a cool autumn morning, take a short stroll down State or Walton, and hold a cup of something extraordinary while the neighborhood wakes up. Skip the seasonal trend drinks. Take the walk and grab a real cup of chocolate instead. You'll get it immediately.

— Craig Hogan & Rudy Zavala

Hogan Zavala Group | Engel & Völkers Chicago

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