After years of getting to know Vancouver’s coffee and café scene, winter is when we crave something richer: a proper hot chocolate that warms you from the inside out. We’ve put together a self-guided crawl of our favourite spots, from a beloved French patisserie downtown to a bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Gastown to neighbourhood roasters pulling double duty. Grab your scarf and let’s find the best hot chocolate Vancouver has to offer.
Thierry — Downtown
Start your crawl at Thierry on Alberni Street, just off Burrard. This French-inspired patisserie and café from pastry chef Thierry Busset is the spot Vancouverites point to first when hot chocolate comes up. Their signature drinking chocolate is thick, dark, and served with a perfectly piped Chantilly cream. It’s less of a beverage and more of an experience. The space is polished but unpretentious, with curved palmwood walls and marble floors that catch the low winter light. Weekday afternoons are ideal; weekends get busy with the brunch crowd. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to savour every sip. If downtown is out of the way, Thierry also has locations in Mount Pleasant and on Bellevue Avenue in West Vancouver.
Thomas Haas — Kitsilano
From downtown, head south and west to Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie at 2539 West Broadway in Kitsilano. Thomas Haas trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in Europe, was named Vancouver Magazine’s Pastry Chef of the Year, and his dark hot chocolate is regularly called the best in the city. The Kits location has a bright, almost gallery-like feel: glass cases of hand-painted bonbons, the aroma of double-baked almond croissants, and an open patisserie counter where pastries are plated to order. It’s the kind of spot where you settle in with a book and realize two hours have passed.
Nelson the Seagull — Gastown
Step next door, literally, to Nelson the Seagull, also on Carrall Street. This family-run bakery and café has been a Gastown fixture since 2011, set inside one of Vancouver’s oldest heritage buildings. Their hot chocolate is quietly excellent: not too sweet, made with the same care they apply to their famous sourdough. Pick up a slice of toast with whatever’s on the spread board, or one of their freshly baked pastries from the counter. The space has the kind of character that only comes with decades of neighbourhood life: high ceilings, exposed brick, and a long communal table that invites lingering.
East van roasters — gastown
Walk a few doors down on Carrall to finish at East Van Roasters, a bean-to-bar chocolate maker and social enterprise that roasts coffee and stone-grinds chocolate on site at 319 Carrall Street. It’s a neighbourhood favourite with the kind of quiet purpose that makes you want to stay: a front window where you can watch chocolate being made from the bean, a small seating area, and a single-origin drinking chocolate that earns its reputation. They make theirs with organic, directly sourced cocoa and can dial it up or down depending on how you like it. It’s the ideal final stop where you can find a corner seat, watch the neighbourhood go by, and call it a day
Stong’s Market — North Vancouver
If you have more ground to cover, detour to Stong’s Market in Northwoods Village, North Vancouver, at 2150 Dollarton Highway. BC-owned and operated since 1931, Stong’s opened this 20,000-square-foot Northwoods flagship in 2016 — its first new store in over two decades. The store has a coffee bar alongside an in-house artisan bakery, a woodstone pizza oven, and a dry-aged BC beef case — a hidden gem that locals in the area swear by. The hot chocolate pairs perfectly with something warm from the bakery counter, and the space feels more like a European market hall than a typical grocer. It’s a good excuse to cross the bridge and explore a part of Vancouver that a lot of visitors skip.
Questions Often Asked
What Are the Parking Options Near Vancouver’s Featured Cafés?
Thierry, downtown on Alberni, is best reached by transit or app (pay-by-plate street parking nearby). Nelson the Seagull and East Van Roasters share the same Carrall Street block in Gastown — paid street parking is tight; arrive early or use transit. Thomas Haas on West Broadway has generous side-street parking — arrive before noon on weekends for the best luck. Stong’s in North Van has a free underground parkade off Dollarton Highway.
Are There Vegetarian and Vegan Options?
All five spots on this crawl have vegetarian options, and most accommodate dairy-free — ask at the counter for oat, almond, or coconut milk. East Van Roasters makes their hot chocolate with house-made almond milk on request, and Nelson the Seagull is particularly strong on the bakery side for plant-based treats. We recommend checking the individual café’s social media or website before visiting for the most current menu details.
What Are the Operating Hours for these Cafés?
Hours vary by location. Thierry is open seven days a week (roughly 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Thomas Haas is Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday — plan your Kits stop accordingly. Nelson the Seagull in Gastown is open early and closes at 5 p.m. daily. East Van Roasters keeps similar daytime hours. Stong’s Market is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. As always, check online before heading out, especially on public holidays.
