Where to sip the best hot chocolates in London

Best marshmallow: Chin Chin Labs marshmallow hot chocolate

Your kids may never get the chance to toast marshmallows over an open fire (alas, London life isn't an early-90s coming-of-age movie), but they won't need to: take them to Chin Chin Labs to experience all the glory of a perfectly fluffed, torched marshmallow atop tasty hot chocolate. A vegan version, with notes of raspberry and apricot, is also available.

Best melted chocolate hot chocolate: Harry's Chocolate Emporium

Balham and Tooting residents can't get enough of Harry's Chocolate Emporium, which sells a wide variety of bars and loose chocolates, from independent brands and those who love to be a bit experimental with flavours. Harry's just happens to have the most delectable hot chocolate in south London, topped off with marshmallow fluff. The white chocolate version is our personal fave, but you can also get 54% dark and 70% dark versions, too.

Photo: Eiliv-Sonas Aceron

Best unicorn hot chocolate: The Fairy House by Fairytale Friends

One of our favourite destinations for kids in London, The Fairy House in Battersea transports you to a delightful world of magic, fairies and pixie dust. Plus, the drinks are amazing, especially the unicorn hot chocolate, served in a unicorn mug, complete with giant marshmallows.

Best variety: Knoops

With two London locations and over 20 hot chocolate flavours (including 13 vegan-friendly varieties), Knoops is truly a hot chocolate lover's paradise. Choose from white, milk, ruby or dark, and enjoy knowing the exact percentage and origin of the chocolate you're sipping.

Best hot chocolate surprise: Prezzybox hot chocolate bombes

Part of the excitement of hot chocolate is the process of making it, or in the case of these fun bombes from Prezzybox, watching the magic happen. Look out for hidden marshmallows in this fun stocking filler made from Belgian chocolate (£9.99).

Best for kids and their parents: Ruby Violet's two choices of hot choc

Because parents might want a little kick, found in Ruby's Relaxingly Rummy hot chocolate: melted chocolate served with a hot tot of rum and accompanied with almond or hazelnut brittle or mini meringues. On the other hand, the kids might prefer to have hot chocolate and a pudding. They'll be getting the moreish hot chocolate sauce (a combo of melted chocolate and cream) to pour over scoops of ice cream or sorbet. These not only taste delicious, they come served in glorious gold teacups. Or, get the take-home version, which comes packaged in a glass jar.

Best on the high street: Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate

While you're buying the obligatory chocolate slab for your child because you survived a day with no childcare (what, just us?), be sure to check out Hotel Chocolat's hot chocolate offerings: creamy, dreamy and not offensively sweet. You can also sample it at Hotel Chocolat's restaurant, Rabot 1745 in Borough Market, where you'll find an extensive range of hot chocolate flavours, including white chocolate and nutmeg, salted caramel, rum chocolate with a shot of St Lucian rum, chili and even iced hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Best on-the-go: Cutter & Squidge hot chocolate spoon

Sometimes you need some gooey, gorgeous hot chocolate…just to make it through that walk. Or get the kids motivated to memorise their lines in their nativity assembly. Stock up on Cutter & Squidge's hot chocolate spoons (£3.50), which swirl into heated milk beautifully. Choose from dark chocolate and veggie-friendly marshmallow, white and milk chocolate, pink strawberry, vegan orange chocolate and white chocolate and raspberry. Or, do what we're doing and get all of the above – these also make great, unexpected stocking stuffers.