Best hot chocolate in PDX

Many of my favorite winter memories center around hot cocoa. My family’s traditional outing to the Eugene Christmas parade always meant a steaming mug of hot chocolate for my brother and me. Childhood sentiment aside, where can you get a good cup of cocoa in coffee-loving Portland?

Sure, there’s the usual Starbucks and Peet’s, where you can get an all-right cup of hot chocolate, but it’s nothing special, y’know? If you’re looking for some quality cocoa, treat yourself to something a little bit off the beaten path.

Moonstruck Cafe
608 SW Alder St.
and 526 NW 23rd Ave.

First, there’s Moonstruck Cafe. There are locations in both Northwest and Southwest Portland, so it’s a pretty accessible spot. This cafe specializes in all things chocolate, so it’s no surprise that its hot cocoa is known to be great. Go for the Milk Mayan Cocoa, a tasty blend of milk chocolate, cinnamon, almond and vanilla. While you can substitute soy for the milk, that doesn’t go for truffles and other treats, so vegans and those with lactose allergies should keep that in mind.

Most drinks are priced under $5, but truffles, etc. might break the bank a little bit.

Cacao
414 SW 13th Ave.
and 712 SW Salmon St.

For something a bit more adventurous, try the cayenne pepper hot chocolate at Cacao. Located in Southwest Portland, Cacao carries various cocoas from around the world, available in both candy and beverage form.
The great thing about this locally owned cafe/chocolate shop is that nearly everything can be sampled prior to purchase. It even offers a “hot chocolate shot” sampler that lets you try three different flavors. The cocoas don’t come with whipped cream, but once you taste the drinks you’ll see why—whipped cream is completely unnecessary. If you’re on a budget, however, you might want to make this place an “every-so-often” destination. It’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth it if you want to treat yourself.

Sip
3029 SE 21st Ave.
and 2210 NE Alberta St.

For those vegans out there: fear not! You can still get your holiday drink fix. There is this great little place called Sip that specializes in strictly vegan drinks. Rather than using dairy milk, or even soy, Sip uses almond milk, which generally gives beverages a creamier texture, as well as a nutty flavor. The cocoa is even made with melted dark chocolate chips…be still my vegan heart. Also served is what’s called Fire Cocoa, which is the same as the house cocoa but with cayenne mixed in.

Plus, both locations are food-cart-style, and based out of cute little old-fashioned campers. Prices are $2.75 for 12 ounces, $3.50 for 16 ounces. Keep in mind that the Alberta location is right across the street from the all-vegan Back to Eden Bakery, which serves vegan soft-serve along with many other goodies.

Chit Chat Cafe
1907 SW 6th Ave.

Last but certainly not least, we have to remember the places that are close to home, and by home I mean campus. There’s Chit-Chat, a cozy little cafe nestled right next to Hot Lips Pizza. The cafe serves a variety of drinks, including hot cocoa. It might not be the rarest form of cocoa, but it’s a quick fix when those wintertime cravings kick in.

Park Avenue Cafe
1535 SW Park Ave.

Another nice spot is Park Avenue Cafe. During school hours it can get pretty noisy and crowded, but your drink will always be fresh. The baristas are friendly, plus the menu is up-to-date with holiday offerings. You can get hot cocoa there, but like Chit-Chat, it isn’t the number one speciality. However, it does the job just fine.

There you have it. No matter where you are in Portland, quality hot cocoa is within your reach! Now go get some and enjoy the holiday goodness.