There are few things better than a mug of hot cocoa to lift your spirits during the cold January weather, which is why we can’t wait for the return of the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.
Taking place from January 18 to February 14, 81 vendors in the Greater Vancouver area will be serving up tasty and unique hot chocolate creations. There will be a total of 180 different flavours to try.
Last year’s festival saw plenty of wacky and wonderful drinks like a hot chocolate with marinara sauce and Hot Cheetos, a Dragon Ball Z-themed drink, and even one hot chocolate that is illegal south of the border.
This year, 17 new spots are participating, including a brewery, a rabbit rescue sanctuary, and a late-night cafe and bar in Chinatown.
Which spot will you be checking out first? Be sure to let us know in the comments. Otherwise, here are some of the hot chocolates we’re excited to try, plus the list of participating vendors at the Great Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival.
Drinks we want to try
Dough My Gawd – Bak’d Cookies
Bak’d Cookies has been taking Metro Vancouver by storm with its delicious cookie offerings, and for the festival it will be offering one of its classic cookies in drink form.
Called the Dough My Gawd, this hot chocolate is inspired by its OG Cookie and features dark chocolate imported from Germany, toasted marshmallows, and topped with a walnut-free version of its OG Cookie.
When: January 18 to February 14
Where: Bak’d Cookies — 285 Nelson’s Court, New Westminster
Black Sesame Hot Chocolate with Taiyaki Mochi – Liittle Pisces
This rich hot chocolate is made better with the addition of nutty black sesame and a side of taiyaki-shaped mochi with injeolmi powder. Talk about delicious.
When: January 18 to February 14
Where: 4501 North Road #202b, Burnaby
Bunana Almond Dream – The Bunny Cafe
This drink is a dark hot chocolate with an oat milk base, banana and almond flavouring, and topped with coconut whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a slice of banana with almond sliver “bunny ears.” It’s also served with a mini bunana split with its house-made soft serve. While there, you might as well spend some time visiting the bunnies.
When: January 18 to 31
Where: The Bunny Cafe — 1696 Venables Street, Vancouver
The Unicorn’s Whinny – Killer Ice Cream
This drink is made with 16% dairy orange creamsicle ice cream steamed with Callebaut white or milk chocolate and your choice of milk or oat milk, topped with real whipped cream and a mini scoop of Killer’s creamsicle ice cream for a tasty float!
When: January 18 to February 14
Where: Killer Ice Cream — 3659 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Golden Phoenix – La Saison de Patisserie
This silky smooth hot chocolate is made with house-made chocolate ganache and is topped with a salted duck egg yolk custard cold foam. It’s served with a salted egg yolk palmier, a fusion pastry made with traditional French puff pastry and a creamy salted egg yolk sugar mixture.
When: January 18 to February 14
Where: La Saison de Patisserie — 3868 Rupert Street, Vancouver
Full list of vendors
- 49th Parallel Cafe & Lucky’s Doughnuts
- à La Mode Pie Café
- Aiyaohno Cafe
- Analog Coffee
- Artigiano
- Avik & Gelato by James – New
- Bak’d Cookies – New
- Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe
- Bel Cafe
- Bella Gelateria
- Bellagio Cafe
- Bjorn Bar Bakery
- Boba Run
- Boketto
- Broyé Café and Bakery
- (The) Bunny Cafe – New
- Butter Baked Goods
- C Market Coffee
- Cadeaux Bakery
- Caffe Super Veloce
- Cannoli King
- Casa Mia Cucina & Mercato
- Cassandra Cake Co.
- Charisma Social Club House – New
- Chez Christophe
- Doughgirls
- Doughnut Love
- Drunken Chocolatier
- Elysian Coffee Roasters – New
- Eternal Abundance
- Faubourg Paris
- The Federal Store
- Fife Bakery
- Fufú Cafė
- Gem Chocolates
- Giovane Caffè
- Glenburn Soda Fountain
- The Good Chocolatier
- Guffo Cafe – New
- Honolulu Coffee
- Kafka’s Coffee, Great Northern Way
- Kafka’s Coffee, Richards St.
- Kasama Chocolate
- Killer Ice Cream – New
- Koko Monk Hot Chocolate Lounge
- L’Atelier Patisserie
- La Saison de Patisserie – New
- Ladurée Paris
- Little Pisces – New
- Mah Milk Bar
- Melt Confectionary
- Mercato di Luigi
- Mink Chocolates
- The Modern Pantry
- Mon Paris Patisserie
- Motoretta Gelato
- Nelson the Seagull
- Nuttea
- Patina Brewing Co. – New
- Paul Bakery, Cafe and Restaurant
- Paul Le Café – New
- Peaked Pies
- The Pie Hole
- Purebread – New
- Roastery Modus – New
- Tartine Bread & Pies – New
- Temper Pastry
- Thierry Chocolates
- Thomas Haas
- To Live For Bakery & Cafe
- Trafiq Café & Bakery
- Union Market – New
- Uno Gelato
- Uprising Breads Bakery – New
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Viva Cafe and Bakery
- Welcome Parlour Ice Cream – New
- Whisk Matcha & Level V Bakery
When: January 18 to February 14, 2025 (specific vendor/drink dates may vary)
Where: Locations in and around Vancouver
Dished is a proud community partner of the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
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