During the colder months Ahoy! is literally all about hot chocolates. Even their tagline reflects this being: “chocolate and lemonade bar.” We expected a huge selection here and Ahoy! doesn’t disappoint. There’s milk, dark and white chocolate varieties and all of these also come in a “light” version too. The chocolate is melted in hot milk and a generous dollop of cream added on top. Then there can also be marshmallows, candy-cane and other sweets added. If you’d like a more refreshing drink then just ask for an ice-chocolate instead. Ahoy’s hot chocolates are a real experience and a real splurge – you won’t leave hungry.
Price: 2dl 850 HUF, 3dl 990 HUF
Added extras: Flavoured hot chocolates 2dl 850 HUF, 3dl 1090 HUF. Add rum, whiskey or Baileys for an extra 350 HUF. Add cream for free.
Alternative milks: Lactose-free milk
We recommend: Salty-caramel, mint and chili-cinnamon are a must.

There have been some conception changes at Chocoroom on Szerb Street - but these changes have definitely been for the better. The goal of these changes has been a greater focus on gourmet chocolate and there's no doubt this aim has been met. While there might be fewer chocolate varieties now, the ones that remain are much more imaginative, and much more beautiful. We'd gladly try all of these new chocolates, so it's worth visiting more than once.
Price: 950 HUF
Added extras: Violet milk chocolate, tonka bean white chocolate
Alternative milks: Lactose-free is 150 HUF extra
We recommend: Mango white chocolate, strawberries covered in white chocolate and crackling sugar.
Chocoroom (closed)
Address: 1054 Budapest, 17 Szerb Street
4/10
Centrál Café
The hot chocolate at this legendary café is nothing short of amazing. The perfect consistency and taste – although those who like their chocolate super sweet will want to add sugar. The dark chocolate used in these delightful beverages is made in-house, as is the little macaron that comes on the side. At Central Café you can also add flavours or ask for cream. Of course being the grand venue that it is, it’s the perfect place to add some alcohol to your hot chocolate to add a bit of a pep in your step.
Price: 850 HUF
Added extras: Coconut, hazelnut, almond, gingerbread syrups can be added for free, cream is 150 HUF more, alcohol is priced on request.
Alternative milks: Lactose-free milk available for free
We recommend: Without a doubt hot chocolate lovers must come here! Add cream for an extra treat.
5/10
Vintage Garden
Vintage Garden’s hot chocolates are the sweetest of them all. You can get milk, white, dark and diabetic chocolate versions, but there's also a special tasting tray (pictured) where the flavours are: dark chocolate-chili, milk chocolate-cinnamon, and white chocolate-apple pie. The presentation of these tasting trays is really something else! Vintage Garden provides a beautiful setting and is a great place to enjoy a steamy cup of hot chocolate over a catch up with friends.
Price: 750 HUF for a cup or 790 HUF for the tasting tray
Added extras: 13 different flavours such as caramel, cinnamon, apple pie, strawberry and lavender
Alternative milk: Lactose-free and soy milk are free options
We recommend: The tasting tray!
6/10
Madal Café
Lovers of new-wave and unique coffees will love Madal because these two concepts meet here and here - naturally even the hot chocolates are not what you'd usually expect. We can thank Szántó Tibor for putting these delicious mixtures together - the result is a clean, natural taste that's hard to even describe. The taste is so natural that these hot drinks are probably even healthy. And the presentation is, as you'd expect, beautiful.
Price: 690 HUF
Added extras: Fair trade chocolate
Alternative milks: Lactose-free, soy milk, rice milk is an extra 100 HUF
We recommend: Caribean chocolate