The 2023 Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is upon us again. This year the festival will feature 140 hot chocolate designs from 95 different locations. This is the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival’s 13th season to feature the best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice cream makers in Vancouver. The festival is a great opportunity for participating vendors to flex their creative juices to create their own unique hot chocolates. The festival will run from January 14 – February 14, 2023. With so many spots to choose from, I’ve narrowed down the list of my top 5 spots that I think you need to check out during the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival!
1. Honolulu Coffee
Honolulu Coffee is like a breath of tropical air in the dreary Vancouver weather. For the Festival they will have two offerings:
- THE DONUT (Available January 14 – February 14, 2023)
- A donut-shaped hot chocolate drink using 70% dark chocolate mixed with a single shot of espresso (can be decaffeinated) and topped with sea salt cheese frosty cream top. (Cannot substitute with non-dairy milk option.) Paired with a donut-shaped, fudge chocolate cake glazed with refreshing raspberry icing.
- RAINCOUVER (Available January 20 – February 14, 2022)
- You’ll know you’re in Vancouver when you see this fun, 70% dark hot chocolate (with pink Himalayan salt ) melting a cloud-shaped mass of cotton candy suspended over the cup. It’s raining!
LOCATION 1: 888 Nelson St.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily
Telephone: 778-379-6607
LOCATION 2: 2098 West 41st Ave.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily
Telephone: 604-620-2168
LOCATION 3: 97 West 2nd Ave. (False Creek)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Telephone: 604-620-1616
Website: https://www.honolulucoffeeyvr.com
2. Beaucoup Bakery & Cafe
Beaucoup Bakery always knocks it out of the park with their creations and this year is no exception. They will have two offerings:
- AFTERNOON TEA SET 1 (Available: Jan 14 – 31, 2023)
- Inspired by Hong Kong-style afternooon tea sets. Salted Milo and Horlick Blond Hot Chocolate infused with Madagascarian vanilla. Topped with whipped cream and pineapple bun topping cookie crumbs. We will be using Valrhona’s Dulcey 35% which has a subtle, mellow biscuit flavour with a subtly salty, caramelized milky undertone. Served with a pineapple bun brioche with salted honey whipped butter.
- AFTERNOON TEA SET 2 (Available: February 1 – 14, 2023)
- This spiced milk tea and coffee milk hot chocolate uses Valrhona Caramélia 36% milk chocolate which is known for its soft, rich and. voluptuous undertones of rich, milky flavour and salted butter caramel. Served with a crunchy egg tart.
LOCATION: 2150 Fir St.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon. – Fri. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. – Sun.
Telephone: 604-732-4200
Website: https://www.beaucoupbakery.com
3. Kafka’s Coffee
Bring out your inner child with these adorable and colorful creations from Kafka’s coffee! They will have two offerings:
- BOBA BOOM CHOCO-LATTA (Available: January 14 – February 14, 2023)
- 40% milk chocolate with hojicha milk tea and tapioca pearls. Served with a black sesame chocolate truffle.
- THE ULTIMATE “KIDS” HOT CHOCOLATE (Available: January 14 – February 14, 2023) Creamy milk chocolate topped with all the fixings: whipped cream, sprinkles, and mini marshmallows. Served with a “pizza” slice topped with candy classics.
LOCATION 1: 151 West Hastings, St.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon – Friday/ Closed Sat-Sun
Telephone: 604-829-2220
LOCATION 2: 860 Richards St.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily
Telephone: 604-569-2967
LOCATION 3: 120 – 577 Great Northern Way
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Telephone: 604-829-2220
Website: https://www.kafkascoffee.ca
4. Aiyaohno Cafe
Starting off strong we have Aiyaohno Cafe. Aiyaohno Cafe is a small but quality cafe on Carrall Street in Vancouver. They are a vegan/vegetarian cafe and for the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival they have two offerings:
- OBAACHAN’S PLUM WINE STASH (Available January 14 – February 14, 2023)
- Chocolate combined with non-alcohol umeshu plum wine made with Nanko ume plums from Kishu, Japan. Served with a non-alcohol Umeshu Chocolate Truffle.
- THOMAS GLOVER, THE SCOTTISH SAMURAI (Available January 14 – February 14, 2023)
- Chocolate combined with flavours of smokey peated Japanese whisky from the Yoichi distillery. Served with a Yoichi Peated Whiskey Chocolate Truffle.
LOCATION: 030 – 425 Carrall St
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mon – Fri and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sat, closed Sun
Telephone: 604-652-7555
Website: https://www.aiyaohno.com
5. Little Café on Robson
Known for bringing the famous Supreme circle croissants from New York to Vancouver, Little Cafe will be participating in the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival for the first time with two offerings:
- BLACK FOREST HOT CHOCOLATE (Available January 14 – February 14, 2023)
- Served with a Rose Lychee Suprême croissant.
- MONT BLANC HOT CHOCOLATE (Available January 14- February 14, 2023)
- Served with a Black Sesame Suprême croissant.
LOCATION: 1258 Robson St., Vancouver
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Daily
Telephone: 604-258-2658
Check out the full list of all vendors and flavours for the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival here!