Hot chocolate doesn’t always come out sweet. Not when the person drinking it is brimming with bitterness.
Cafes Featured
Dandelion Chocolate
Originating from San Francisco, Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar company. You can enjoy different sweets and pastries at the cafe as well as hot chocolate. If you sit by the counter, you can watch the staff prepare food and drinks.
Featured in the video: European Hot Chocolate (JPY 530 )
Business Hours: Open everyday, 10:00 – 20:00
Google Maps URL
Official Website (Japanese Only)
Queen’s Collection Chocolate Cafe
Offering quite a unique experience, Queen’s Collection allows you to make your own hot chocolate. You can choose the type of chocolate as well as the amount you want to use. You also get to choose which flavors to infuse your milk base with.
Featured in the video: Queen’s Hot Chocolate (starts at JPY 580)
Business Hours: Open everyday, 10:30 – 20:00
Google Maps URL
Official Website (Japanese Only)
THE CITY BAKERY
Both branches of THE CITY BAKERY that I’ve been to (Ginza and Shinagawa) are divided into two sections: a bakery/cafe and a restaurant. The cafe has a mouthwatering selection of bread and pastries in generous servings. As I mentioned in the video, their hot chocolate is heavenly, and they sometimes hold seasonal events where they add special flavors.
In the video: Hot Chocolate (JPY 550)
Business Hours: 07:30 – 20:00
Google Maps URL
Official Website (Japanese Only)
Mr. Tonto
Mr. Tonto specializes in hot cocoa. They have several flavors and some of them are from different parts of the world. They also make mean sandwiches and the vintage interior adds spice to one’s dining experience.
In the video: Hazelnut Cocoa (JPY 660)
Business Hours: Mon to Sat, 12:00 – 19:00 (They sometimes close irregularly so it’s best to check the schedule on their website before going)
Google Maps URL
Official Website (Japanese Only)
Pierre Marcolini
A world-famous Belgian chocolatier, Pierre Marcolini has a total of 9 shops in Japan. He is known to be particularly meticulous in the handling of cacao beans, which he personally sees to from procurement to production. The cafe is more expensive than average, but the sweets are worth the price tag.
In the video: Hot chocolate (JPY 1,188)
Business Hours: 11:00 – 20:00
Google Maps URL
Official Website (Japanese Only)
Some Notes:
There’s a difference between hot chocolate and hot cocoa, but for the (silly) purposes of this video, they have been lumped together.
