Nothing beats winding down during the winter months with a decadently delicious hot chocolate. When you think of Barcelona, you think of sun, sea and sangria (though whether or not we actually drink it here is a different story!) Yet during the winter months, the city is home to some of the best hot chocolate in Spain. The combo of churros (or xurros in Catalan) and hot chocolate with whipped cream is a winter delight often overlooked.
So if you need a sugar fix, don’t worry—we’ve compiled a list of where to find the best hot chocolate in Barcelona this winter.
SEE ALSO: Barcelona For the Chocolate Obsessed
1. Granja Dulcinea
Dulcinea, one of Barcelona’s most emblematic granjas, originally opened as a bodega in 1939. A few years later, in 1941, sevillano husband-and-wife team Juan Mach and Elvira Farràs transformed it into a chocolatier.
In keeping with its humble roots, the establishment still has its original woodwork and floor tiles in place, with photographs of the family and famous customers who have stopped by for a hot chocolate lining the walls. This granja offers a traditional Swiss hot chocolate with whipped cream, which can be accompanied by spongy ladyfingers, ensaïmada pastries or churros, of course!
Insider’s Tip: Dulcinea also prides itself on its desert crema catalana, very similar to the French crème brûlée (though we like to claim ours came first!). Definitely worth a try!
2. Caelum
Nestled away within the Barri Gòtic near Plaça del Pi, this cozy little tea room serves one of the best hot chocolates in Barcelona. The ivory and gold café houses a small seating area to sit and enjoy a warm hot chocolate and slice of freshly made cake on a cold winter’s day.
What’s more, guests can find a small shopping area selling boxes of marzipan, jars of tomato jam, scented candles, an impressive cookie selection and more, all of which are made by monks and nuns from monasteries across Spain’s various regions.
Insider’s Tip: Caelum is built above 14th-century baths in Barcelona’s historic Jewish Quarter. Sip your hot chocolate while soaking up some history!
3. Granja M. Viader
Opened by the Viader family in 1850, this granja in El Raval evokes the rustic, olde-world spirit of the traditional Catalan coffee shop. Its famous xocolata calenta (thick hot chocolate), the recipe for which has been passed down through five generations of Viaders who have been running the shop, is served with homemade whipped cream and Catalan melindros (ladyfingers).
Insider’s Tip: The Viader family invented Spain’s famous chocolate milk drink, Cacaolat, old advertisements for which line the walls of the establishment. This is a better option for cooling off during the hot summer months.
4. Granja La Pallaresa Xocolateria Xurreria
Founded in 1947, La Pallaresa (Carrer Petritxol, 11) serves up one of Barcelona’s best Swiss hot chocolates. This classy granja is decorated with large paintings, and the staff don white shirts, black pants and bow ties. It also offers a wide variety of traditional treats and homemade desserts like crema catalana, flan and rice pudding.
Insider’s Tip: La Pallaresa is located on Carrer Petritxol, best known for its art galleries. Stop for a hot chocolate after checking out the local art!
5. La Nena
This kid-friendly chocolatería hidden away within Gràcia offers a safe haven for families to sit down and enjoy a well-deserved sweet treat on their travels around the bustling neighborhood. La Nena, which means “the girl” in Catalan, has walls lined with shelves holding board games, family photos, toys and books for kids. Their hot chocolate is thick and decadent and can be accompanied with one of many homemade desserts like the creamy blueberry cheesecake or the chocolate-banana plum cake.
6. Xurreria Trebol
Located in Gràcia, Trebol (Carrer de Còrsega, 341) is first and foremost a xurro oasis. Fine or fat, natural or stuffed, dulce de leche or frankfurt, there is a xurro for everyone at this famed xurreria. What’s more, they offer one of Barcelona’s best hot chocolates. Their treacle-thick melted hot chocolate is the perfect accompaniment for dunking your xurro in and whiling away your time on the streets of Gràcia.
Insider’s Tip: Trebol is open 24 hours so partygoers can stop by on the way home after a Saturday night out for a warming hot chocolate!
7. Chök
A newer arrival to the city, Chök specializes in all things chocolate. The shop, which opened in 2013, offers a homemade creamy hot chocolate to go and an impressive choice of sweet goods. Creativity and experimentation are at the heart of this business, whose signature “Chök,” a gourmet donut, comes in more than 40 flavors. With five shops in Barcelona and food trucks at local events and festivals, Chök establishes itself as a force to be reckoned with on the city’s hot chocolate scene.
Want to connect with locals and try essential Catalan dishes in a traditional neighborhood? Join our Taste Barcelona Like a Local: Gracia Neighborhood Food Tour! For the true Catalan experience of hole-in-the-wall gems serving up beloved classics – like hot chocolate – Gracia is the place to be!