Hot chocolate heaven

There’s nothing as heavenly as a good hot chocolate after a session of ice-skating. It’s becoming more popular with more flavour choices than ever and dollops of cream and marshmallows. Here are some of the best spots to get one .

Dublin

Butlers Chocolate Cafes

There are 19 Butlers Chocolate Cafes around Dublin and they have an extensive hot chocolate menu. You can choose from an original, dark hot, white hot, kiddie hot, chococcino, marshmallow, cookie, caramel, praline, chili and mint (€3.50-€3.80).

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Cork

Ó Conaill, 16 French Church Street, and 32 Princes Street, Cork

They make their own chocolate, and have the most extensive menu of hot chocolate – 130 possibilities. Using real milk, white, dark and cocoa mass 99 per cent chocolate, drinks can be customised. They do not use syrups but oils and spices for flavouring and have a large variety. They also sell packets of hot chocolate to make at home. Regular hot chocolate is €3 and large flavoured hot chocolate costs €4.

Waterford

Carters, 8 Barronstrand Street, Waterford

In Carters of Waterford, they use Lily O’Brien chocolate to make a huge variety of hot chocolates. If you like yours with cream and marshmallows, this is the place, but also the place for salt and caramel, nutella, cinnamon, crème brûlée, toffee nut, popcorn. For Christmas, there will be a peppermint hot chocolate with a candy cane. Hot chocolates cost from €2.75 for the standard to €3.50 for the Christmas special.

Galway

Cupán Tae, opposite the Spanish Arch

In Galway, Cupán Tae is a well-known cafe with excellent cakes and pastries. They make a traditional Cadbury’s Hot Chocolate with thick foam, cream and marshmallows. For the Christmas season, there will a special hot chocolate for two for €10. They also make a healthier option – the spicy chocolate kiss tea, with rooibos tea, spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cocoa kernels with the merest dash of cream, €4.25.

Killarney

Lir Cafe, Kenmare Place

After you have worked up a thirst skating around Killarney on Ice, it is time to take a break in the Lir Cafe. It is a chocolate cafe selling the range of Lir Chocolates as well as coffees, teas, hot chocolate and lovely pastries. They have four hot chocolates: milk, white, mocha and with marshmallows. Prices are from €2.60 to €3.25, chocolates are 80c each or six for 4.