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Top Hot Chocolate In Philadelphia

Forget those powdery cocoa mixes with petrified clumps of mini marshmallows and anemic chocolaty flavoring. Boiling water, chunks of undissolved mix and crunchy white floaters does not a great mug of hot chocolate make. Leave the insipid sips of Swiss Miss at home and spring for some of America's best hot libation. From melted chocolate bars mixed with creamy milk to Mexican hot chocolate infused with espresso, here are the top spots for hot chocolate in Philadelphia.

Anthony's Italian Coffee House & Chocolate House
903 S. 9th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 627-2586
www.italiancoffeehouse.com

Escape the madness of Philly's bustling Italian Market by stopping for a spell at Anthony's. Fingers and toes can get pretty frigid at the outdoor market in the winter months, but sitting down with a steaming mug of Anthony's hot chocolate will warm you up in no time. The small cafe provides an intimate, cozy atmosphere in which you can enjoy a variety of hot chocolate flavors, including milk chocolate, white chocolate, vanilla mocha, heath mocha and peanut butter.

Cafe Con Chocolate
2100 S. Norwood St.
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(267) 639-4506
www.cafeconchocolate.com

Cafe Con Chocolate's yellow and blue exterior is a bold invitation to enjoy the restaurant's relaxing interior atmosphere. Brick walls, turquoise accent pieces and small round tables impart an intimate and cozy feel. Boot up your laptop in this bohemian eatery while enjoying a cup of pure chocolate heaven. The Cafe's namesake drink is a sweet and spicy marriage of Mexican hot chocolate, a shot of espresso and dash of cinnamon. Couple it with a slice of the cafe's cheesecake and you may never want to leave.

The Franklin Fountain
116 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 627-1899
www.franklinfountain.com

Step back in time at this old-fashioned soda fountain. Ragtime jazz music and nostalgic decor greets you at the door. Friendly soda jerks with bow ties, white caps and aprons serve up delicious treats all year, but in the winter, the gloves come off. A special cold weather menu unveils with Wilbur's hot cocoa, European drinking chocolate and the eatery's very own line of hot sodas. For a real twist on traditional hot chocolate, try the Fountain's amazing hot milkshakes.

Related: Top Waffles In Philadelphia

Global Crepes And Local Shakes
1309 S. 9th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(610) 986-2000
www.globalcrepes.com

Global Crepes and Local Shakes may be a tiny corner cafe, but its crepes and beverages have made a big splash since the restaurant's opening just one year ago. Owners Liza and Kashif Hussain have decorated their eatery in a way that reflects Kashif's Indian and Pakistan heritage. A copy of "The Arabian Nights" sits on a windowsill as paper lanterns shine overhead and relaxing music plays in the background. A cup of hot chocolate won't break the bank here. Delicious flavors, including house-made nutella, house-made classic, salted caramel and white chocolate, are served in cute mugs and cost about the same as a cash SEPTA fare.

The Lounge At The Four Seasons
1 Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 963-1500
www.fourseasons.com

Wrap both hands around an elegant mug near the large fireplace and baby grand piano and sip your hot chocolate in style at The Lounge. Views of the Swann Memorial Fountain await you as Head Pastry Chef Eddie Hales serves up his exquisite liquid refreshment in two teapots. One is filled with thick syrup melted down from the finest bars of chocolate and the other with steamed milk. Guests blend the two together to suit individual tastes. Down it with a slice of Philadelphia cheesecake for an out-of-this-world experience.

Related: Warm Drinks For Winter: Top Toddies

Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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