Caffe Vittoria

The Hanover Street coffee house pours cioccolato caldo, the Italian version, and Time Out gives away the method: corn starch thickens the mixture into a creamy cup of melted chocolate, finished with whipped cream. Whether it counts as a drink or a dessert is left to you. Order it plain, or take one of the two spiked versions, the Sleigh Ride with Godiva liqueur and Baileys or the Italia with hazelnut liqueur, kahlua and brandy.

Picks from Boston Magazine

A North End coffee room that Time Out Boston includes for its cannoli rather than for the espresso alone. The shells are crisp and filled with sweet ricotta cream, and there is a dark chocolate dipped version finished with either chocolate chips or pistachio. The plate is sized to sit beside a drink rather than to travel, which is the difference between this and the takeaway counters up the street. Order the chocolate dipped shell with pistachio alongside a cappuccino.

Picks from The Boston Globe and Boston Magazine