Christmas season is fast approaching and with it comes the opportunity to go all out on festive decorations, listen to holiday classics by Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé and indulge in a sweet treat (or two, it’s the holidays after all). Not to be forgotten from a must-do list this holiday season is treating yourself to a comforting cup of hot chocolate, one of the best parts about the colder months.
Whether you need a pick-me-up after a long study session for upcoming finals or want a drink to try with friends before you go your separate ways for winter break, there are plenty of places just off the University of Arizona campus to get hot chocolate, but the best spots can sometimes be trickier to find so keep reading for the ultimate guide.
After all, what is the holiday season without a treat?
Woops! Bakeshop
Located at 845 E. University Blvd. in Main Gate Square, this cheerful, French inspired bakery invites you to taste their indulgent hot chocolate. Either consumed by itself or paired with one of their many flavors of macarons, the bakeshop’s hot chocolate is comparable to a melted Hershey’s bar, with the rich flavor complimented by a layer of creamy milk froth on top.
The bakeshop is known for its hot chocolate because of the extra effort they put in to create a memorable drink.
“We use Belgian chocolate chips and melt them into the hot chocolate,” said Ava Girton, a barista at Woops! Bakeshop.
Girton is a UA student herself and recommends the bakeshop as a place for students to come visit. Woops! offers a happy, comfortable environment to study in, an array of charming desserts and an unforgettable hot chocolate that will without a doubt bring students back again for more.
Snakes & Lattes
You could spend hours in this board game bar and restaurant and equally as much time enjoying their special hot chocolate. Just a short walk from Old Main, Snakes & Lattes at 988 E. University Blvd. has over 600 board games lining the walls and is the perfect place to play a few rounds of Candy Land or Monopoly and chat up a storm while enjoying a hot drink on a cold day.
Snakes & Lattes barista Beck Neighbors knows that the restaurant values the quality of their food and drinks, especially when it comes to a beverage like hot chocolate.
“Our hot chocolate is just super creamy and we use a good quality chocolate syrup, so it makes the whole drink,” Neighbors said.
The friendly staff at Snakes & Lattes are more than happy to make their hot chocolate for you, best enjoyed in the restaurant’s family-friendly atmosphere that has a comforting feel as soon as you walk in.
“We bring in some pretty great people,” Neighbors said.
The hot chocolate itself is topped with whipped cream and served with straws to share if you bring friends, family or even a date along to try it with you.
Caffe Luce
Looking for somewhere quiet to sip on a frothy hot chocolate while you take a quiz or finish up those last few essay paragraphs? Caffe Luce provides the perfect peaceful atmosphere for students to study, paired with delicious hot chocolate made by friendly baristas that go the extra mile by adding a unique latte art touch to their milk foam.
Kieran Douglas, a Caffe Luce barista, knows the cafe’s hot chocolate is the ideal drink for the holidays.
“It’s a classic drink, it makes people happy so it’s a solid choice for this time of year,” Douglas said.
Caffe Luce’s hot chocolate is sweet with a smooth and creamy texture that melts in your mouth and with locations in both Main Gate Square at 943 E. University Blvd. and Downtown Tucson, the cafe is easily accessible to students who want a hot drink regardless if they are on or off campus.
According to Douglas, the cafe is not only a place to get a great cup of hot cocoa or a coffee but also a place that stands out for students and Tucson locals alike.
“I love all the interesting people that I get to meet, lots of characters and people who do really cool stuff for work or school,” Douglas said. “[Caffe Luce is] conveniently located, great hot chocolate, awesome baristas.”
Screwbean Brewing
One experience in this coffee shop and brewery will leave you wishing you could stay longer and their hot chocolate is no exception to this. Velvety and rich, the drink tastes like authentic chocolate without any overpowering artificial flavors. Screwbean Brewing is dedicated to producing a hot chocolate that will please customers and barista Kayla Polk knows her manager puts a lot of effort into this.
“Our chocolate is really good, our syrup is really good,” said Polk. “We get a specific kind and my manager, she’s crazy when it comes to our recipe, so she went through every single hot chocolate sauce she could go through and this was her favorite one.”
Screwbean is located at 103 N. Park Ave and is a short walk from campus. The coffee shop has both indoor and outdoor seating, providing great study space as well as a restaurant feel that adds to its charming atmosphere. Students enjoying a cup of hot chocolate here can expect an ideal setting for catching up on homework or talking with friends, plus a view of Screwbean’s outdoor string lights that add to the holiday feel.
