Nothing warms the heart and soul come winter’s cold quite like a creamy, steamy cup of hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate or cocoa, if you prefer, usually consists of shaved or melted chocolate or cocoa powder mixed with heated milk or water and sugar. Some like to sprinkle their chocolate with cinnamon. Others prefer a dollop of whipped cream on top, a handful of marshmallows or a drop of vanilla for added flavour. For a peppermint taste, add two mint candies. If you like your chocolate spiced up a bit add a pinch of cayenne pepper or ground chili pepper.

As you hustle and bustle throughout the city at this hectic time of year, don’t forget to take time out for yourself by sitting down to a comforting warm beverage of chocolate. While just about any restaurant can offer hot chocolate, some really know how to do it up right. Here’s a look:

ChocoSol, at 1131 St. Clair West, is a social enterprise that focuses on making the food of the gods – otherwise known as cocoa – right here in Toronto. The chocolate is made without dairy, gluten, soy and nuts, and are also vegan. ChocoSol specializes in both eating chocolate and drinking chocolate (xocolatl).

At 361 Roncesvalles, The Chocolateria makes its in-store hot chocolate using German cocoa and Callebaut chocolate, a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon for a frothy warm dark chocolate bevy. On weekends the store offers a milk chocolate flavoured hot drink and another variation such as peppermint hot chocolate. Yum.

Nestled within Yorkville, MoRoCo Chocolat is a chocolate lover’s nirvana located at 99 Yorkville Ave. Its sipping chocolates come in three flavours: 66 % dark chocolate, milk chocolate with chai, or blond chocolate with espresso beans. They’re presented in little pots with shot glasses from which to sip and enjoy.

The Junction’s Delight Chocolate at 3040 Dundas West offers customers a sip of heaven with its mouth-watering choice of hot chocolate. Regular is on tap alongside a hot chocolate that is spiced with ginger, cayenne, cinnamon and coriander, then there is a peanut-butter flavoured drink and finally bittersweet orange.

Nadege Patisserie at 780 Queen West offers two different hot chocolates in house: its signature 70 % hot chocolate and a Peruvian chocolate known as Illanka. Either choice comes with a house-made Guimauve (French for marshmallow). Hot chocolate flavours in the store’s gift-box sampler include bourbon vanilla, spice (including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg) and dark chocolate. Made-from-scratch marshmallows include raspberry, strawberry, cotton candy, gin and tonic and rose and litchi fruit, among others.