If you’re like me and you can’t drink caffeine, but still want to head down to a cafe, hit the books, or grab a little pick-me-up before your next class, this is the list for you!
I would consider myself something of a hot chocolate connoisseur. The past couple of years I’ve been avoiding caffeine for health reasons. However, I still firmly believe that cafes are a great place to study for their amazing atmosphere, so my go-to non-caffeinated drink of choice is hot chocolate. It’s classic, sweet, and warm for the winter season.
If you’re hankering for a good hot chocolate before the weather starts really warming up again, check out this list for my thoughts on what some surrounding cafes and restaurants have to offer. Please keep in mind these are my own personal opinions and I genuinely love all the cafes mentioned!
Sodoi – 6/10
This cult classic cafe and hidden gem (quite literally hidden underneath the Channing-Telegraph parking structure next to Unit 3), has a decently ranked hot cocoa. It has a strong chocolate flavor which is not too overwhelmed by the creaminess of the milk, but it has an interesting aftertaste. It’s a little hard to put my finger on it, but it was just slightly off-putting. My cup was also way too hot. I know it’s “hot” chocolate, but this was scalding.
Caffe Strada – 7/10
Caffe Strada — the backbone of this campus and home to countless office hours, this fan favorite has one of my favorite hot chocolates. It’s not too sweet (in fact it’s slightly bitter) so it’s great to sip for a long time without being overwhelmed. The chocolate flavor is solid and not too heavy. This will surely keep you warm and toasty on a cold day.
Musical Offering – 4/10
The Musical Offering Cafe is hands down the prettiest and most aesthetically pleasing cafe in Southside. It’s definitely underrated with its great selection of food, and you get to be surrounded by all kinds of musical media. However, their hot chocolate isn’t their strongest asset. While it’s by no means a bad drink, I found it to have too much foam with not enough of the actual liquid, hardly had any flavor, and was barely warm. It does get extra points, though, for the cute glass and latte foam art!
La Note – 7/10
Though La Note isn’t a cafe in the sense the other ones previously mentioned are, I think their hot chocolate is good enough to put on this list. La Note is known for its high-quality food, and the hot chocolate is no exception. You get a huge mug topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder, but it’s not too sweet. All the elements balance out each other well, making it a strong contender.