Jinju’s hot chocolate skips the deeply rich, ultra dark style and instead offers a velvety, triple-chocolate version, using a blend of Valrhona white, milk, and dark chocolates with a rounder flavor and texture. Served in a jewelry box of a patisserie on North Williams, it’s best enjoyed with one of the cafe’s shattering croissants. Jinju is open for to-go orders Wednesday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While Beaumont’s Prince may be known mostly for its stroopwafels, the hot chocolate here is an excellent companion for them. Chocolate drinks here use single-origin chocolate from local chocolatier Cloudforest, which used to have their own cafe in Southeast Portland (R.I.P.). The flavor, then, is rich and dark, with exceptional nuance that comes from meticulous sourcing. Cloudforest is famous for its colorful variety of square chocolate bars, which can be purchased at Prince as well. Prince is open for to-go orders every day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This small batch bean-to-bar chocolate factory unsurprisingly makes a seriously intense hot chocolate. Using a ganache that’s made in-house from Ecuadorian cacao beans, its dark hot chocolate profile will be an eye-opener for those who typically trend toward sweeter options. The factory also normally offers tours of the facility, but is unable to do so during the pandemic. The shop is open for takeout.

The Pearl District’s newly opened Roste Chocolate House is changing the Portland hot chocolate game. The shop processes its own chocolate right in the cafe, serving a variety of different drinking chocolates on the spot; the cafe’s chocolates often use beans from places like Vietnam, India, Tanzania or Ecuador. In other words, customers can try multiple single-origin chocolates side-by-side before choosing a base for hot chocolate. Plus, Roste also serves a selection of house-baked chocolate-based pastries that pair well with the hot chocolates. Roste is open for takeout.

This industrial chocolate-coffee tasting room normally serves its drinking chocolate flight-style, but the shop is currently only doing serving hot chocolates and mochas. Still, the chocolate drinks are still exceptional, all made with a special chocolate syrup that’s made in-house using Ranger Chocolate. Cup and Bar also currently has a special vegan white chocolate that’s being used in the candy cane white chocolate mocha. Cup and Bar is open for takeout every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Located near the heart of downtown, 1927’s cafe is only open on weekends and certain holidays. Many will recognize 1927 for its s’mores and marshmallows, which are also served alongside a highly customizable hot chocolate. Customers can choose either the classic or the peanut butter cocoa for the base, then upgrade the drink with your choice of artisan marshmallow. Those who want to customize even further can add sauces and toppings from the s’mores, which include things like salted caramel, heath bar toffee, or even rainbow sprinkles. 1927 is open for to-go orders every weekend.

Located inside the Hyatt Centric downtown, 180 serves up thick Spanish-style drinking chocolate and xurros to pair with them. The chocolate here is a house recipe with a nice touch of saltiness compared to other chocolates. While the hot chocolate is still quite delicious on its own here, the thickness would suggest getting an order of the crispy xurros for dipping. 180 is open for takeout and delivery. 

Nestled in the corner of the Heathman Hotel, Azar is a local chocolate shop selling handcrafted chocolate and chocolate beverages. The hot chocolate here utilizes an ethically sourced chocolate from the Ivory Coast, and is kept in a chocolate dispenser for vegan drinking chocolate. This drinking chocolate can be ordered as is, or be turned into a hot chocolate with the patron’s choice of milk. The shop is open for to-go drinks or retail chocolate every day of the week.

A coffee staple in Westmoreland, Fairlane offers an array of brunch toasts and craft beverages. Chocolate drinks here are made with chocolate syrup from local chocolate maker Portland Chocolate Laboratory. The syrup is on the non-traditional side and consists of bean-to-bar cacao, vanilla bean, water, Himalayan salt, and coconut sugar. Those looking for a more flavored hot chocolate may also find seasonal chocolate syrups like the current Fall special, Persian Rose. Fairlane is open for to-go orders from morning till 4:30pm every day.