Hot chocolate is a great way to stay warm this season while indulging in a childhood favorite. Here are some of the best and most conveniently-located places around campus to get classic hot chocolate as well as more unique variations of the cold-weather beverage.

The Bean (824 Broadway)

The Bean offers a number of creative coffee beverages, such as the Nutella Fitzgerald, but it sticks to a traditional milk chocolate recipe for hot chocolate. As it is creamy without being too rich, The Bean’s version is reminiscent of the Swiss Miss hot chocolate we all enjoyed as children. Although it is slightly thinner and less rich than offerings at other places, this drink is still delightfully chocolaty and light enough to enjoy on the go. Top off this drink with whipped cream and sip it on the way to class.

Max Brenner (841 Broadway)

Max Brenner offers customers the opportunity to concoct their own hot chocolate. First, choose your chocolate — milk, dark, and white are offered — and pair it with a unique preparation style. Max Brenner makes classic, Italian thick, Mexican spicy and marshmallow-topped versions. The Mexican Spicy Milk Hot Chocolate has a mild red chili flavor, and is not too powerful. The Italian Thick White Hot Chocolate is, as the name suggests, incredibly thick. This version is so buttery and creamy that it resembles a melted bar of white chocolate.

Starbucks (45 W. Fourth St.)

Starbucks’ regular hot chocolate is respectable on its own, but to take it up a notch, try throwing in a pinch of cinnamon before running out the door. If cinnamon is not your thing, there are still many other ways to spice up your hot chocolate at Starbucks. The peak of Pumpkin Spice Latte season has passed, so it is time to enjoy winter flavors such as peppermint. Try the Peppermint Hot Chocolate as a coffee-free alternative to the seasonal Peppermint Mocha. It is perfect for days when you want peppermint flavor but not the caffeine in a latte. 

The City Bakery (3 W. 18th St.)

The real hot chocolate season at City Bakery kicks off in February, during their Hot Chocolate Festival, which features a different hot chocolate flavor every day. While you should not miss this month-long event the classic hot chocolate offered year-round should not be ignored. City Bakery’s delectable hot chocolate is for serious chocoholics. The hot chocolate is so thick and rich that many only make it through half of the delicious, creamy milk chocolate drink. Order yours with a marshmallow, which at City Bakery, means a giant, old-fashioned sugary square that barely fits in the cup.

Bourbon Coffee (43 W. 14th St.)

While Bourbon Coffee offers regular hot chocolate, the Mexican Hot Chocolate has a tasty, spicier twist. The cocoa flavor is evident, giving the drink a dark chocolate flavor. Though it has a pleasantly creamy consistency, this hot chocolate is not as sweet or as decadent as other hot chocolates that can be found in the city, though it is still worth a visit.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 2 print edition. Email Alexis Rotnicki at [email protected].