SF Bay Area, CAHot Chocolate

A walk down Valencia Street with a tiny cup of European drinking chocolate from this Mission cafe in hand is a quintessentially San Francisco treat. The chocolate is rich, creamy and pleasantly dark. Drop in an optional marshmallow from the self-serve jar, or savor the cup unadorned. Order the European drinking chocolate.

Hot chocolate is the lesser-known crowd-pleaser at this Mission bakery and restaurant, which is known for its Oaxacan tlayudas. The kitchen melts chocolate discs sourced from Oaxaca into steamed milk for a cup on the milkier side, generously infused with cinnamon and other warm spices, with little or no chili. It is best enjoyed for here in a giant ceramic mug. Order the hot chocolate with an alfajor or two.

This North Beach truffle shop makes its hot chocolate at several levels of sweetness, down to a sugarless cup whipped to order from 100 percent cacao that drinks surprisingly smooth, almost like a latte. Every drink comes with a complimentary truffle, so two people ordering together get to taste two. Order the sugarless 100 percent cacao hot chocolate, or a sweeter cup if you prefer.

Each hot chocolate at this Cole Valley soda fountain is made to order and topped with a whipped marshmallow that a server torches in view. The drink has the consistency of drinking chocolate and arrives thick and creamy in a heated mug, with a little spoon for scraping the sides. The room reads more sophisticated than kitschy, with desserts and drinks made to please families with kids and adults alike. Order the hot chocolate with the torched marshmallow.

The hot chocolate at this Cole Valley brunch institution arrives in a large bowl with a dash of cinnamon on top, as generous as the rest of its portions. It is a treat to sip while working through one of the kitchen’s many French toast options or a pancake flight. Order the hot chocolate alongside French toast or the pancake flight.