London Chocolate

Take one step into this shop and cafe near Paddington and get slapped with the smell of rich cocoa before you’ve even had a chance to look at the drinks menu. This is a place for chocolate lovers, and chocolate lovers only. The walls are covered with explanations of the origins of their house chocolate, some of which are on display at the counter. Seating is scattered around the black and brown room and it’s a quiet place where regulars swing by after work for a hot chocolate for the journey home, or people bring friends from out of town who get excited by a sprinkle of sea salt on their truffles. The hot chocolate is incredibly rich—we picked up on notes of berry and hazelnuts in a single sip and finally understood what a grown-up hot chocolate tastes like.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch