Koko Black, Carlton

It would be sacrilegious for a 'Hot Chocolate & Latte' blog to not mention the wonderful and fabulous Koko Black! In our opinion, we really believe Koko Black did wonders for Melbourne and it does everything beautifully - from their hot drinks, smooth chocolates, desserts, salon decor and more recently even their tea selection (separate blog entry to be posted in November). Out of the total 6 salons in Melbourne, why did we choose Lygon St do you ask? Our answer is simple and sweet - two delicious words .... 'Chocolate Moelleux'. 167 Lygon St Carlton. http://www.kokoblack.com/


"There are quite a few Koko Black stores around but only the Carlton one serves up special desserts and one of my all time favourite is the Chocolate Moelleux, it is to die for :) Tasting that dessert again, it was still as good as I remembered. I love seeing the delicious runny chocolate oozing out of the centre when I dug my spoon into it. That lovely raspberry sauce that accompanied the dessert matched very well, it reduced the overly rich taste of the chocolate. Usually I would order my all time favourite hot chocolate but since we were already having a chocolate dessert, I decided to go with the hot chocolate mocha. It has to be one of the best mocha's around :) Most place's mocha tend to have a stronger coffee taste but I much prefer a stronger chocolate taste with a hint of coffee and this place created the right balance that I like." MICHELLE

"The only reason we venture to the Lygon Street Salon is for their Chocolate Moelleux with Raspberry Espuma' dessert dish. We've been to most of the salons, and so far Carlton is the only place that serves this heavenly concoction on a plate. I still remember the first time I sampled it with my good two good friends - I was blown away. When you gently dig your spoon into the soft chocolate sponge, dark smooth gold oozes out and when combined with the sweet sour taste of the raspberry cloud-like froth, bits of pistachio and crunchy biscuit - it is absolute heaven. This is definitely the star of all desserts here. It is so good that it actually silences Michelle and I for a few minutes whilst we enjoy every spoonful. It is quite rich so it's nice to share this dish. The lattes at Koko Black are consistently great - so good that I am always tempted to get a second one. I have never had a bad latte here so that is very re-assuring! Enjoy!" TAM

Cafe Vue at 401 St Kilda Road

Shannon Bennett seems to have wowed Melbourne with his successful Vue De Monde restaurant so we were very glad to hear that his second Cafe Vue was situated just outside the CBD, a much more accessible location. As usual, we were both over-excited at the thought of sampling what the genius Mr. Bennett had to offer on a more affordable scale and this is how our first visit went. 401 St Kilda Rd (near the corner of Toorak Rd). http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/cafe-vue.aspx

"Cafe Vue had a nice ambience - it was spacious and modern with nice french touches here and there and I have to say the service was fantastic, extremely friendly and thoughtful waiters/resses. My typical breakfast out is always a coffee and a pastry whereas Michelle on the other hand has to start her day off with something savoury, traditionally eggs on toast. So to keep her company, I decided to try the duck cassoulet jaffle which I have never seen on a breakfast menu before and for $6.50, it was extremely affordable. I was expecting tiny portions but it was quite big with generous filling. The duck was fatty and teamed with the beans it was very good. However it is best to eat this straight away when hot. The croissant was very average and not something to rave about (the jam was heavenly) and unfortunately neither was the coffee. The coffee was cute but small and a bit too strong for my liking. Of course, we HAD to get some baguettes takeaway for our lunches which were SO good. I tried the cocktail prawn and it was beautiful - the baguette was chewy just like in Paris and the prawns were big and full of flavour. I loved every bite and know I would be returning for their baguettes. And maybe an eclair or a macaroon next time as well. Overall I would say 401 is great for lunches and meals." TAM



"Knowing that this cafe was related to the famous Vue De Monde, it got me very excited. I do like to start off the day with something savoury so I chose the eggs on toast. The eggs were cooked at 62 degrees which meant that it was still runny inside. Never had eggs done this way and it was quite nice. Only problem was that they added abit of pepper on top and I'm not a pepper fan. The croissant was only so so and the hot chocolate was nothing to rave about. It was actually quite milky, and I'm a big chocolate fan so like it to have a stronger chocolate taste. The take away wagyu pastrami baguette was so delicious :) The bread was really nice and the filling was so good and thanks to Tam who took out the cheese for me :) Will surely return to sample their baguettes again and their nice showcase of sweets." MICHELLE

Simply Life, IFC Mall in Central Hong Kong

Hong Kong really knows how to dish out beautiful buttery pastries and they have the knack of providing an elegant and comfortable ambience cafe atmosphere to enjoy these delicacies as well. This is a nice relaxing place for some morning pastries and drinks with a gorgeous harbour view to match. Located in IFC Mall, Podium Level Central Hong Kong.


"We were on our way to get pampered at the Four Seasons Spa that morning (hence we opted for the healthier option of freshly squeezed juices instead of our Hot Chocolates and Lattes that morning) and we couldn't resist the pastries that were on offer here. I chose the cappucino danish and it was delightful. The grapefruit juice was indeed healthy but I wish I did order a coffee as it would have been perfect .. oh well .. next time". TAM

"Being in Hong Kong, we were looking for some asian breakfast to start off our day but nothing was opened yet. It's funny how things in shopping center's don't open till about 11:00am. Luckily we came across a pastry place that was opened early and everything looked so yummy and delicous. I usually prefer a savoury breakie but the pastries were just so tempting so I chose myself an apple danish. It was a great choice :) The pastry was so buttery and flakey and you could hear the cruchiness when you bite on it. The apple filling inside was also very nice, not too sweet. My orange juice was not as sweet as I would have liked but it's definitely fresh juice. I would come back anytime to enjoy their lovely pastries :)" MICHELLE

Tai Cheong, Central Hong Kong

Okay so this place is not a cafe and nor is it related to Lattes or Hot Chocolates ... BUT .. the egg tarts here are so good that it is definitely worth a mention on our blog .. that's how much we love it. Tai Cheong are famous for their egg tarts - and most of the time they are fresh from the oven - delish!!! The original store is located on Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong (near the famous external escalators just off Queens Central) but there is a smaller one in one of the malls between IFC and Pacific Place Admiralty.


"I could never go to Hong Kong and not have an egg tart, that would be just wrong :P The egg tarts here were sooooooo good :) The pastry was nice and buttery and the egg custard was warm and eggy and full of taste. A definite must have when you visit cause you won't be able find egg tarts anywhere better back here in Melbourne. " MICHELLE


"I miss the fresh warm egg tarts from Tai Cheong so badly! Never will an egg tart back in Australia taste good again. The pastry is so buttery and crunchy and not soft or flakey - just so good and the egg custard was nice and wobbly and heavenly. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm.." TAM

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

It has been a dream of Michelle to have afternoon tea at The Peninsula - she has been raving about it for years and finally - her dream has come true!! When we arrived - I realised how famous afternoon tea at this five star hotel is. Queues in Hong Kong indicate how popular or how famous the place is and there was a LONG queue of tourists and locals waiting for afternoon tea here. The Peninsula offers the perfect afternoon tea setting - a grand lobby accompanied by a string quartet and smartly dressed waiters. Be warned, there is a queue and there is a smart dress code and it is best to arrive early. Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.



"Yes, it has always been a dream of mine to have afternoon tea at the Peninsula hotel and I have to thank Tam for helping me fulfill this dream. The length of the queue was quite shocking, this place was more popular than I thought. I didn't mind queuing up as I was so absorbed into the grand and beautiful surroundings, the lovely music that was played by the orchestra and the delicious looking food on everyone's table. Funny thing was that, the highlight for me wasn't the food but the raspberry tea. It's one of the best tasting tea I ever had and if I do return, it's probably due to that :P The scone and the sausage roll I had was pretty nice as well, the others were a bit average. Food may not be the best but the overall experience was worth it." MICHELLE


"To me the queue was worth it as it was certainly an adventure - and added to the whole afternoon tea experience. The venue was very grand and the orchestra music added to the elegant atmosphere. The food I have to say was so so - the highlights were the quiche and scones. My normal filtered coffee was just okay but I had some of Michelle's raspberry tea and oh my - BEAUTIFUL. It was perfect. I enjoyed my afternoon tea at the Peninsula very much but I don't think I would return. I definitely would recommend it to anyone who visits Hong Kong as it is a wonderful experience - do try the raspberry tea and take your time and savour the moment". TAM

Mandarin Oriental Cake Store, Hong Kong

WOW, the Honkies really know how to live the uber luxury life we've discovered - and to our pleasant surprise, decadent delicious treats in Hong Kong doesn't hurt financially at all. Hong Kong is not all about street food and markets - this vibrant city also offers some of the best culinary delights in the world including Michelin star restaurants and the best patisseries. The Mandarin Oriental cake store is one of those places and offers a wonderful relaxing ambience for the perfect tea break - whether it be afternoon tea, iced tea or coffees with their wide range of pastries and cakes - this is the ultimate place to escape from the humidity. 5 Connaught Road, Central Hong Kong.


"I really like this place. From the sophisticated decor, comfortable seats, beautiful china, delicate and affordable cakes, top notch service and a good menu - I wish I had time to return for a second visit (the truffled egg tea sandwiches were begging me to return for a taste!). The coffee here was delicious and my slice of carrot cake was very good. This place is nice and cool and is the perfect place to escape the heat without the stuffiness of a 5 star hotel establishment. This is definitely a favourite spot of mine and I will definitely return here on every visit to Hong Kong in future" TAM


"It's not a cafe, it's more like a cake heaven to me :) Everything was so pretty and delicate. It was indeed hard to pick out something to eat from there but I had to make a decision. The chocolate truffle mousse cake was delicious, smooth and melted in your melt. I had a bit of Tam's carrot cake and that was yummy too. I couldn't say the same thing about their hot chocolate, it was a bit too ordinary for such a fine cafe. I should have picked something else like an ice tea which looked great when it was brought out to my neighbours. I agree with Tam, it's a must visit place whenever I am in Hong Kong. The egg sandwiches sounded very tempting to me too." MICHELLE

Little Cupcakes, CBD

This is the cutest and most decadent and girly cafe ever!! It's a true Melbourne treasure selling possibly the best and most delicious Belgium cupcakes. Once you tried the cupcakes here, you'll set a whole new standard for what cupcakes are suppose to be like. Yap, that's how good they are. Shop 7 Degraves St, Melbourne Vic 3000 http://www.littlecupcakes.com.au (they have another shop in Goldsbrough Lane Melbourne)

"Yum Yum Yum, these has to be the best cupcakes that I've ever tasted. They practically melt in your mouth and the frostings are to die for. They have a pretty big range of flavours to satisfy all sorts of people but that varies depending on the day you visit. Some of the flavours that I remembered are Belgium chocolate, mint, strawberry, white chocolate raspberry, mocha, cream cheese, lemon and others. This small cafe has a lovely ambience and best suited to go with your girlfriends. I wouldn't recommend the hot chocolate here as it was a pretty ordinary drink, other than that, I love it." MICHELLE


"I truly believe little wonderful shops like Little Cupcakes is what makes Melbourne great and it is perfectly situated in a very Melbourne place - in a little alley just a few stores down from Degraves. The BEST cupcakes I have ever tasted and so gorgeous to look at - they have a great range of flavours. The coffee was decent - a bit strong at first but the few sips after were not bad at all. The only bad thing about this place is they have very little seats and not very comfortable either but the decor is very girly and it is really all about the cupcakes here. Whenever I'm in the city I ALWAYS try to drop by to get some of their mini cupcakes. JUST heavenly. All thanks to my lil sister who discovered this little treasure - thanks DH!" TAM

Lindt Chocolate Cafe, CBD

There is finally a Lindt cafe in Melbourne and it is situated appropriately next to the luxurious Tiffany & Co store - what more can a girl want?! Perfect. Good news for those living near Chadstone - the Lindt store is opening in the new wing on the 19th August!! 271 Collins St, Melbourne. www.lindt.com.au (the website has not been updated with the Melbourne store as yet).

"I was jumping up and down when Tam told me that the Lindt cafe in Melbourne was opened. It didn't take us long before we made our way there and the cafe looked good when we arrived. I saw chocolates everywhere and couldn't wait to start ordering. Being the first meal of the day, I didn't want to start off with something sweet and thankfully, they had a breakfast menu and the breakfast panini sounded very appealing. That was delicious, it had ham, egg, mustard and mayo in it and the bread was lovely toasted. My dark hot chocolate was pretty good too. I really liked how they presented it, it came with a small jug of hot milk, a mini jug of dark chocolate and an empty cup. By doing this, it allowed me to control the flavour of the drink and made it to suit my taste buds. Dessert time, I shared with Tam the profiteroles and had a macaroon. The profiteroles looked great but just didn't taste as nice as I thought it would so I only ate one of them. The macaroon on the other hand was the highlight of the meal. The hazelnut flavour was deliously yummy and I could easily pop another few into my mouth. They have a wonderful selection of macaroons there and I couldn't resist and bought myself a box to take home to share with my family. Service there was a bit slow but with any new cafe, that's normal I guess. The ambience was quite nice except that it was freezing cold that day and the door kept opening bringing in the wind. I didn't feel as relaxed there, maybe it's better in the summer time. I'm glad that they're opeing up at Chadstone :)" MICHELLE

"We have been to the Sydney cafe and it was quite nice last time we went (except for the waffles which weren't that great) but we loved the Lindt Ice Chocolate drinks - ahhh memories. The new CBD store in Melbourne is very nice - high ceilings, glass walls but the ambience was a bit cold or was it the cold wintery breeze? Unfortunately for me, the experience at Lindt didnt reach my expectations but it was a pleasant enough visit. I LOVE the size of the standard latte glass here - LARGE!! But my coffee was very strong. Luckily Michelle had leftover frothed up milk in her jug which I used for my coffee which made it just right. Overall I think the CBD Lindt Chocolat Cafe is more of a summer/spring cafe for me. I can see myself escaping here with Michelle for a nice cold drink during a hot day. I would only return to Lindt Cafe for their macaroons or their cakes I think - their macaroons are just so delicious (I've had ones in Paris and these are just AS good!) - I could easily have one of every flavour. I am glad they are opening one in Chadstone as I don't think I would venture all the way out to the city but I will definitely be visiting the Chadstone store frequently for their macaroons and my coffee fix (hopefully it won't be as strong next time). Do try the macaroons and ice chocolate drinks ... SO GOOD!" TAM

Monsieur Truffe, Collingwood

Monsieur Truffe is a wonderful cosy cafe filled with rich dark treasures such as truffles, chocolates, beautiful french pastries and liquid gold. It is located towards the Gertrude St end of Smith St and there is meter parking out front. Monsieur Truffe should be listed on Melbournes top treasures to visit. 90 Smith St, Collingwood. http://monsieurtruffe.wordpress.com/


"J'adore Monsieur Truffe, I think I am in love. That is how much I love this cafe. It is a very simple cosy cafe with beautiful touches such as the Japanese design serving plates and cups. The service is TRES friendly (I have never encountered friendlier service) especially Monsieur Truffe himself (I think it was him) - a wonderful friendly gentleman. I ordered my large latte which looked so beautiful I couldn't help but smile and I loved sipping from the bowl. The pain au chocolat here is SUPERB but I have noticed that they are the first pastries to dissapear - so it is best to come early and try one before they are all gone. Michelle and I are definitely regulars here now - even though we aren't locals. Due to the location and parking and limited tables, I have a feeling it gets quite busy on the weekend so it might be best to go early. Do drop by and visit if you can! P.S Their passionfruit and raspberry truffles are heavenly" TAM




"I REALLY REALLY like this place :) It has a very warm and cosy interior with shelves full of delicious chocolates. This was our second visit and everything was just as good as I remembered. The hot chocolate that came out in a little cup was smooth, chocolatey and delicously yummy. I didn't mind the small size as it left room for me to enjoy other things like their scrumptious looking pastries. Tam and I shared the almond and chocolate croissants, they were flakey and buttery, I enjoyed every bite....yummmm. We couldn't resist and tried out some of their sample truffles and they were really nice with delicate flavours. Of course we couldn't leave empty handed, we bought some nice truffles and other chocolates to take home to enjoy. Looking forward to my next outing here :)" MICHELLE

Choclatte, Camberwell

Choclatte is a lovely small cafe hidden in one of the alley ways off the busy main shopping strip of Camberwell (right opposite a car park). Once you enter this place, you'll quickly get captured by the showcase of scrumptious looking sweets and baguettes. Rear 827 Burke Rd, Camberwell, 3124 http://www.choclatte.com.au/

"I enjoyed my outing to Choclatte this morning :) The cafe had a nice ambience and an attractive display of sweets and baguettes. I saw a big sign at the front advertising Lindt Hot Chocolate, I was excited. The excitment continued after we entered the shop, they had a big glass cabinet of Cacao chocolates!!!!! In my mind, I was thinking this was the perfect place for me, Lindt and Cacao chocolates happen to be my favourites. I'm a dark chocolate fan so I chose a dark hot chocolate drink and also shared a scone with Tam. The drink looked very good when it arrived and the froth was very tasty. When it came to the actual drink, I was a little disappointed. I had dark Lindt hot chocolate before and this tasted a bit different to that one. It was more towards the milky side and I much prefer my drink to be chocolatey. I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to coming back and trying the ice drinks. The scone was pretty nice, although a bit thick, it wasn't dry and tough. The jam and cream were delicious and went very well with the scone. Overall, a great little cafe and there's so many other things I want to try out here." MICHELLE

"I really like this cafe. The layout is good, nice clean decor, relaxing atmosphere and a great range of sweets and baguettes on offer. My coffee looked good and it tasted quite nice as well but when I saw Michelle's BIG hot chocolate cup - I realised I should have ordered a large as well (what was I thinking?). Michelle was surprised I didn't order a large - I must have been very sleepy. I didn't like my scone, as mine was undercooked but the cream and jam did go very well with the cooked part of my scone. What I really wanted was a slice of toasted banana bread or their custard donut but the diet side of my brain urged me to resist! I really want to come back and try the baguettes with my coffee next time - they just look so good! Overall great ambience inside, friendly staff and good coffee ... I felt so relaxed. I definitely want to come back" TAM

Sugardough Panificio & Patisserie, Brunswick East

Sugardough is indeed on Lygon Street but it is on the WAY far end of Lygon street - not the prettiest of locations but it sure stands out amongst all the other shops around it. It is very Italian with small tables at the front, extremely small (there are only 8 small tables inside) and decored very cosily. It has a nice ambience and is very popular with the locals. 163 Lygon St, Brunswick East, 3057


"This morning was just so funny. Michelle and I tend to get OVER-excited when it comes to trying out new cafes and after reading great reviews about Sugardough, our expectations were HIGH! The cafe was so pretty, intimately small and jam packed with patrons ... it must be good we thought.. of course we got even more excited. Michelle managed to get us a table and we sat down excited waiting for our order (cash only) of hot drinks and two bombolinis (one with custard and one with plum jam $2.60 each). But when we dug into the donut, it was dry, thick, plain, not sweet with very little custard filling. So we decided to give Sugardough another chance, maybe their other pastries are good so we tried a custard croissant - big mistake. One bite was all I could take. Michelle looked at me and said she just gained calories on something that didn't taste good. Whoops. But on the upside - I thought my coffee was REALLY nice. I think it would have been nicer to just have a coffee and their sourdough toast and avoid sweet pastries. I like the ambience and feel of this cafe but I would not venture all the way back to Sugardough. If I was a local I would be really happy to have Sugardough nearby for a good sit down Sunday coffee and the morning paper (just no sweets thanks)." TAM


"I was overly excited about our outing this morning, expecting some good pastries/sweets and a nice hot chocolate. Afterall, I did give up my sleep in time to try it out :P This place did have a nice ambience and the way they displayed their sweets were very appealing. Tam read about their famous bombolinis so we decided to try them out and they had a few selections there. I was eagar to try them all and suggested we get three, chocolate, jam and custard. The person serving me didn't catch the chocolate one and I thought we could just start on the two first. I thank myself for that decision. When the food arrived, it looked good. Tam picked up that I ordered the wrong hot chocolate and got it changed to an Italian one, what a good friend. But that didn't quite make up for the disappointment of the two bombolinis. I was expecting them to be fluffly and soft but they were thick and dry. The one with jam was slightly better, it had more filling than the custard one. Tam was too scared to make another choice so she got me to choose another sweet thing to try. I chose the custard croissant which was also a let down. It wasn't delicate, flaky and buttery as I imagined it to be - The hot chocolate, if you didn't tell me it was an Italian one, I wouldn't have guessed. I would have thought that was just an ordinary one but slightly more chocolatey. It's not a bad drink, just ordinary. Will I go back? If I'm ever in the area, I will, there's so many other choices there, something has to be good. Maybe we just chose the wrong sweets today :)" MICHELLE

Truffles Chocolatier, Richmond

This little gem of a cafe is situated further down busy Bridge Rd towards where the restaurants are gathered. As the name states, this place is fully dedicated to chocolate boasting this title with it's impressive cabinet filled with lovely chocolates - which is the first thing you see when you walk in the door. But that's not the only thing to satisfy chocoholics, once you pick up their menu, you will find a lot more lovely surprises. 376 Bridge Rd, Richmond 3121. http://www.trufflesmelbourne.com.au



"I accidentally discovered Truffles Chocolatier through reading a review website to satisfy my craving for a good chocolate place and it has been a GREAT discovery, I couldn't wait to try it out after visiting their website and reading their menu. This lovely cafe has a great ambience at night time with it's dim lighting and candles, great to catch up with friends or for couples (very romantic). The hot chocolates here are to die for, when I had my first drink, I went to Tam, 'This is sooooooo good'. Of course you guessed, we were frequents after that :) So far, I have tried out three different types of hot chocoates, hazlenut (whole grains of them in the drink), classic, and the mint one. None of these drinks let me down, they were all smooth, chocolatey and gives you a sense of warmth when you drink them. I haven't had a chance to try out their ice chocolate drinks yet but they look good when I saw my neighbour table order them. A bit of a let down were their desserts. We have tried their tiramisu and waffles and they weren't that great. Haven't tried the others but will give the other desserts one more go before proclamining this place to be strictly for drinks :)" MICHELLE

"We are indeed frequent customers now after our first visit. It is so cosy at night - with candlelights (I love candles at cafes), dark wood decor and beautiful drinks. Even myself who doesn't drink Hot Chocolate could tell at first glance of Michelle's rich drink that it was going to be good. My coffee is so good and it comes with a delicious biscuit - I could easily have seconds and I think I did one night. Yes we couldn't help but eye the sundaes and ice drinks at our neighbour's table the other night - definitely have to try that out (if I can resist not to order a coffee which is near impossible!!!). This is the perfect spot on a cold winters night for an intimate catch up over hot drinks. Thanks for taking me here Mich" TAM

Brunetti, Carlton

Are there any Melbournians who doesn't know of this Melbourne institution for pastries, coffees, paninis, gelato and all things Italian?! We didn't think it would be right if a blog dedicated to coffee and hot chocolate doesn't feature Brunettis, after all they do have a top notch Italian Hot Chocolate! So just in case there are people out there (where have you been) who don't know about this Melbourne landmark - we put in the effort to and made ourselves indulge in their delicious drinks and pastries - just for you! 194-204 Faraday St, Carlton 3053. http://www.brunetti.com.au/Default.aspx


"Italy is one of my favourite countries in the world - friendly, pizzas. amazing history at every street turn, delicious biscotti and great coffees - need I say more? Well Brunettis always reminds me of Italy - busy busy busy!! On a Saturday night, you have to rush and fight for a table and even a spot to order at the busy counters AND then you have to wait for your number to be called to pick up your order. They have an amazing array of biscuits, pastries and paninis here and I always like to come here for their Melbourne's best Tiramsu (thanks to my friends Lily and Ket who introduced me to this - and now I'm hooked) and coffees. The coffees are smooth and full of flavour - it is a tad strong for me but I really don't mind it at all. It is a bit too busy for my liking but I like the decor, the buzz, the coffees and people watching ... but one of the best parts is Michelle and her drink. I am always intrigued when I watch my best friend Michelle 'eat' her thick hot chocolate....How do you do it?!" TAM

"If it wasn't for Tam, I wouldn't have discovered this wonderful place and of course once I knew about it, it became one of my favourite sweet places to visit. Up till now, I still haven't tried everything, the selection is amazingly huge but not everything are as nice as it looks mind you. I do have my favourites though which are their mini selection of tarts, cannolis and cakes, they are so cute. Oh and I can't leave out the wonderful tiramisu, it's one of the best around. My mum and sister are always overjoyed when I bring them home one - This was the first place I tried out the Italian hot chocolate and it's pretty good. It's one of the richest drink I've tasted and the texture is so thick. Tam's not the only one that finds it facinating to watch me gulp down that hot chocolate, seriously this drink is not for every one. You have to be a real chocolate lover to find joy in drinking it. It may not be the best hot chocolate around but it's a lot better than the ordinary hot chocolate they have there. " MICHELLE

Cacao, St Kilda

This has been one of our favourite places for hot drinks and pastries for years, so of course we had to add it to our blog site. This cafe is so french and it's croissants are proof of that. Cacao specialises in chocolate but also has a great range of baguettes and pastries. It is nestled on the non-busy side of Fitzroy St (next to Mirka) with meter parking out front but there is free parking about a block away in the residential area. On the weekend, it can get quite busy in the mornings with families who frequent there for breakfast. 52 Fitzroy St, St Kilda 3182 Http://www.cacao.com.au


"I LOVE this cafe! This is because Cacao serves 'French Breakfast - a pastry of your choice and a BOWL of coffee' - that's right - a BOWL! Nothing can be better than sipping a lovely bowl of coffee with a delicious croissant to accompany it - perfect. Enjoying my breakfast slowly and catching up with loved ones at Cacao is a favourite thing to do over the weekend for me. My sister always likes to order the french baguette with butter and jam and my husband loves their baguettes which is lovely toasted. I used to just have my coffees here but after Michelle told me how good their croissants were - I always have a croissant now. I'm so glad Melbourne has Cacao ....". TAM


"No doubt this is one of my favourite places to go for drinks, pastries and cake. The interior and layout makes this place really warm and relaxing. When you walk in, the glass cabinets are filled with lots of yummy chocolates on one side and cakes on another. The pastries are placed in baskets on wall shelves. Just looking at them is enough to make you drool. Today I had the Cacao breakfast which consist of a bowl of hot chocolate and I chose the croissant to accompany it. The hot chocolate here is pretty nice, it's not milky which I like and the texture is smooth and thin but being a real chocolate lover, the drink is not chocolatey enough for me. I think a bowl is too much, next time, I'll stick with their normal size. The croissant is one of the best around, very buttery, I'm sure Tam agrees with me on this one. I highly recommend their ice chocolate, it's my favourite drink here and do try out their biscuits, it's soooo yummy. Actually, try out all their stuff, everything's so appealing :)" MICHELLE

Santiago, Middle Park

Santiago, this cosy little tapas bar can be easily missed when you're driving pass but once you enter this place, you will discover one of Melbourne's hidden gem for churros and hot chocolate. 14 Armstrong Street, Middle Park 3206. Http://www.santiagotapas.com.au

"This place has set the right ambience for a late night drink and dessert. The dark lighting and candles definitely made the experience a lot more pleasant. When I saw on the board 'Famous Hot chocolate', I Knew I came to the right place. The first sip I had, I went 'Oh My', it's good. The texture was thick and smooth but after a few more sips, it started to get a bit too sweet. I would have preferred it to be less sweeter but being a dessert person, this didn't bother me too much. Oh and the churros, they were simply gorgeous. They were nice and crunchy on the outside with a hint of cinnamon. The dark chocolate dipping sauce that came with it was just right. I love the mini size of them. So when is our next churros date Tam?" MICHELLE

"How about tonight Michelle?!? I remember as Michelle and I sat there taking small bites of our churros and sipping our hot drinks - we knew we had discovered a special place for hot drinks and sweet heavenly churros. We would be regulars (we were back three nights later). The churros were delicate and full of flavour with a crispy outside covered with yummy cinnamon sugar. The coffee is good here and I could have easily had a second cup as the latte glass is a tad smaller than the standard size. At the first sip, it seemed a bit strong but it was good coffee. Not the best but it was good. This is defintely the best place for churros in Melbourne! And the best thing about Santiagos is - they open until late!" TAM

Espresso Elements, Hampton

Espresso Elements is very popular amongst the locals. It is a small cafe, nestled on the corner right next to the train line - once you walk in you can tell this place is 100% dedicated to coffee (they even repair espresso machines!). 305 Hampton Street, Hampton 3188.

"I frequent here for my takeaway coffees as I don't like to sit down due to the very limited space - it is a bit cramped. But I do like the coffees here - smooth, right amount of milk and not at all watery. When I saw their European Hot Chocolate menu, I knew I had to bring Michelle to test it out. If you are wanting a quick coffee, this is the place to go if you are in the area. Oh and if you have time - do pop over to the raily way tracks to San Sebastien cafe and try their famous vanilla slice. They're pretty good aren't they Michelle?" TAM

"The hot chocolate menu was impressive, I got pretty excited when Tam took me here :) Most places only have the one choice but this cafe had about five or more. I decided to try the original Fraus Hot Chocolate. First sip, not too bad, it was thick, wasn't too sweet and oh very chocolatey. I have to say, this hot chocolate didn't give me the wow factor but it was a lot better than the average hot chocolates out there. If I am ever in the area, I wouldn't mind grabbing a take away from here and trying out the other flavours like hazelnut or mint. Yap, the vanilla slice was pretty good Tam, don't forget to get me one next time you're there :P" MICHELLE