Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2023

The Annual Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival returns for its 13th year even bigger than ever with over 140 types of hot chocolate. Unique concoctions incorporating such ingredients as bubble tea, candy floss, caramel apples, chai tea, coffee, cookies and much, much more!

The festival runs from January 14th to February 14th at 95 different locations. The best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes and even ice cream makers, will be participating across Greater Vancouver from Whistler to White Rock and everywhere in between. This is an excellent opportunity to explore neighbourhoods and support local business to find your favorites.

The website has a listing of all participating venues and an interactive map so you can try a new hot chocolate creation every day.

Following are a few examples of locations and creations:

HONOLULU COFFEE
Located: 888 Nelson St, Vancouver, 2098 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, and 97 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver.

Raincouver
70% dark hot chocolate with pink Himalayan salt melting a cloud of suspended cotton candy. It's raining! (this will be available starting January 20th).

The Donut
A donut-shaped hot chocolate using 70% dark chocolate mixed with a single shot of espresso and finished with a sea salt cream cheese frosty topping. (Can be made decaf but cannot be non-dairy). The drink is paired with a donut-shaped fudge chocolate cake glazed with refreshing raspberry icing. (Available for the entirety of the festival.)

UNO GELATO
Located: 2579 West Broadway, Vancouver and #36 - 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver

The Drink of Kings
A vegan hot chocolate made with oat milk, decadent Callebaut dairy-free chocolate, and Medjool dates. It also comes with a delicious vegan and gluten-free vanilla cookie.

Vancouver Sunny Rush
Is an adult boozy beverage which includes dark chocolate, Jim Bean Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Cointreau, and maple syrup. It comes with a caramel macaron.

CAFFE ARTIGIANO
Located: Twelve locations across the North Shore, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Whistler.

Passionfruit Hot Chocolate
This delicious beverage includes passionfruit syrup and is topped with passionfruit cheesecake whipped cream.

Cookies and Creme
Incorporates for the undecided both dark and white chocolate sauces.

and both of these beverages include a signature cookie.

INSTAGRAM ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST
As hot chocolate creations are delightfully photographic you are encouraged to take photos and post to Instagram with the hashtag #HCFphotocontest in your photo caption. You will be entered to win one of four grand prizes. First Prize: $500, Second Prize: $300, Third Prize $200, Fourth to Eighth Prizes $100.

The festival supports three local charity organizations with the newest being the "Marshmallow Dreams" project to make the festival more accessible to low-income families. All this sweetness is for a good cause!