Start 2023 off Right with Hot Chocolates
For a smooth start to the new year, what’s better than a comforting hot chocolate? Let’s explore 10 venues, each with unique variations of this tastebud-pleasing beverage.
Maison Buet
The chocolate bar menu takes your taste buds from South America to Tanzania, via New Guinea. For those with a sweet tooth: the dozen or so hot chocolates concocted here can be accompanied by a trio of “gourmandises”: mini-marshmallows, roasted hazelnuts and chocolate chips are all available and ready to be plunged into your cup.
Maison Buet / rue Grand-Saint-Jean 6 / Monday-Friday 6 am-6:30 pm and Saturday 6 am-6 pm
Balzac Take Away
It’s impossible to stroll through the Sous-Gare district (located below the train station) without making a strategic detour to this colorful café: no fewer than 19 (!) different chocolates are on the menu, from a variety of origins (including Java, the Caribbean, Madagascar, Venezuela, and Peru). This café is supplied by artisan chocolatiers Anne and Cay Nielsen from the renowned Café Balzac in Morges. Although we haven’t tasted them all (yet), there are already several standouts: the Balzac 55% is a sure bet, the Mayas 64% has a sweet blend of pimento and Traveler Peppers, and palates with a taste for more tannic beverages will be drawn to the Brut Noir Ebène 88%.
Balzac Take Away / boulevard de Grancy 49 / Monday-Friday 9 am-6 pm and Saturday 10 am-5 pm
Sedef Patisserie
You will need to look slightly above street level to discover the entrance to this charming patisserie, but once you do, it’s easy to return. Renowned for its choux pastries, Sedef offers delicate hot chocolate “plain”, or – even better – with an original touch of tonka bean. This house blend is also available for purchase, allowing you to recreate it in the comfort of your own home.
Sedef / galerie Benjamin-Constant 1 / Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm
Dürig
No tea-room, no problem ! Hot chocolates are available to-go. This is a safe bet that stands out for blends that are not only delicious, but also organic. Aztec cocoa (sugar-free and spicy), classic (66% cocoa), Mexican (spicy), Autumn (with subtle chestnut flour and cinnamon, particularly delicious) or Advent (with seasonal Christmas spices): it’s not easy to choose!
Dürig / rue Mercerie 3 / Monday-Friday 9:30 am-6:30 pm and Saturday 8:30 am-6 pm. The workshop-boutique on avenue d’Ouchy 15 doesn’t offer chocolate to take away but sells bags of mixes to prepare at home.
El Gato
The founders of this gluten-free patisserie are originally from Ecuador: some of the cocoa used for their homemade hot chocolate comes directly from their family plantations. Light and very fragrant if you go for the spicy version (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves), it’s the perfect excuse to take a little break in the “café” area upstairs in the store.
El Gato / rue Marterey 38 / Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm
Confiserie Christian Boillat
Originally from St-Prex and based in Lausanne since 2011, this establishment offers a selection of hot chocolates between 56% and 80% cacao in its tea rooms in the Centre-Ville and Ouchy districts. The “Original”, a 65% Maracaibo grand cru, speaks for itself.
Confiserie Christian Boillat / rue Enning 4 / Monday-Friday 7 am-6.30 pm and Saturday 8 am-5 pm or place de la Navigation 18 in Ouchy / Monday-Friday 7:30 am-6:30 pm and Saturday-Sunday 7:30 am-6 pm
Le Nabi
For a comforting hot chocolate before or after an exhibition at the MCBA (or while waiting for your train, depending on your mood), Le Nabi is ideally located on the museum’s first floor. The spicy version of its chocolate is flavored with cinnamon and a tastebud energizing hint of chili pepper.
Le Nabi / MCBA, place de la Gare 16 / Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-6 pm and Thursday 10 am-8 pm
Le Barbare
Since its reopening at the end of 2021, those nostalgic for Marta’s famous hot chocolate (named after the former owner) have rediscovered the drink that has nourished their memories in this historic and welcoming café. Generous and thick, this chocolate is available “plain” or “Viennese”, with a nice rosette of homemade whipped cream. And to make matters worse, the terrace is particularly pleasant on sunny days.
Le Barbare / escaliers du Marché 27 / Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-midnight and Sunday 10 am-6 pm
La Chocolatière
Just a stone’s throw from the Place de la Palud, hot chocolate with hints of vanilla and cinnamon is available to take away. Convenient for a pick-me-up when in between market stalls on Saturday mornings.
La Chocolatière / escaliers du Marché 1 / Monday 1:30 pm-6 pm, Tuesday-Friday 9:30am-12:30 pm/13:15 pm-6:30 pm and Saturday 9:30 am-12:30 pm/13:00 pm-6 pm
Blondel
Lovers of rich, sweet hot chocolate can find a takeaway beverage here, in 1dl or 2dl cups, depending on the size of their craving. It’s just the thing for a recharge before continuing up Rue de Bourg.
Blondel / rue de Bourg 5 / Monday-Friday 9:30 am-6:30 pm and Saturday 9:30 am-6 pm
Hot Chocolates at Home
For those motivated to make their hot chocolate at home, we note that some additional Lausanne locations offer mixes for home preparation. These include: l’Atelier des Gourmands (rue de la Mercerie 14) which sells Marta du Barbare’s hot chocolate mix, Noz Chocolatier (rue Marterey 11) which offers bags of either classic or 6-spice chocolate, Espace Chocolat (avenue de la Harpe 27) with its 65% cocoa preparation from Venezuela, Chocolaterie du Bugnon (rue du Bugnon 10) with its 65% Maracaibo grated chocolate mix, and Confiserie Nessi (avenue du Temple 65), also with 65% Maracaibo to melt in hot milk. So let the fun begin!
*This blog post is not a ranking; the order is random.
