The Best Hot Chocolate in Stratford-upon-Avon
Why Hotel Chocolat at Maybird Is the Top Spot
If you’re searching for the best hot chocolate in Stratford-upon-Avon, there’s one place that stands out: Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser Café at Maybird Shopping Park. It’s dedicated to seriously good drinking chocolate, and it’s one of the only places in Stratford-upon-Avon where hot chocolate is treated as the star of the show.
A Hot Chocolate Experience You Won’t Find in Town Centre Cafés
Most Stratford-upon-Avon cafés serve hot chocolate as a backup option next to the cappuccinos and flat whites. Hotel Chocolat, on the other hand, gives it the focus it deserves. Every drink is made with real grated chocolate flakes, not powder or syrups, and whisked with milk in their signature Velvetiser. The result is exactly what it sounds like: a smooth, silky, melt-in-the-mouth cup of chocolate that tastes more like a dessert than a drink.
Hotel Chocolat also leans into their “more cacao, less sugar” philosophy, meaning even the sweeter flavours taste rich and chocolatey, not overly sugary. It’s a completely different level to most things you’ll get elsewhere in Stratford-upon-Avon (there are others, but I’ll get into that another time).
Where to Find Hotel Chocolat in Stratford-upon-Avon
Hotel Chocolat — Velvetiser Café
Unit J2, The Maybird Centre, Birmingham Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0HZ
The café is located in Maybird Shopping Park, just north of Stratford’s main town centre. It’s an easy option if you’re driving, thanks to plenty of free parking, and it’s around a 15–20 minute walk from Bridge Street or Henley Street.
While it’s not in the historic Tudor centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, that actually works in its favour: the café is spacious, modern and almost always has room to sit in its dark and moody cafe area, even during busier weekends and holidays.
What Makes the Hot Chocolate So Good?
Real Chocolate, Velvetised to Perfection
Every cup is made from real chocolate flakes in your chosen flavour. They’re whisked with milk (dairy or plant-based) in the Velvetiser to create a thick, indulgent texture that you simply don’t get from mainstream chains.
Huge Range of Flavours
One of the main reasons Hotel Chocolat is such a standout hot chocolate spot in Stratford-upon-Avon is the choice. On any given day, you’ll usually find around 18 flavours, including:
- 50% Milky – creamy and comforting
- 70% Dark – rich, bold and not too sweet
- White Hot Chocolate – sweet, smooth and dessert-like
- Salted Caramel and seasonal specials
- Plant-based and vegan options
- Options served hot, iced, or as a Choc Shake
It’s the kind of menu that makes you want to visit more than once just to work your way through it – if you can work off the calories, that is.
A Proper Stratford Treat
The drinks here are thick, velvety and indulgent. If you’re visiting Stratford-upon-Avon as a tourist, it’s a cosy warm-up stop after sightseeing. If you’re a local, it’s the perfect treat after a lap around the Maybird shops or a weekend walk.
What the Café Is Like Inside
The Stratford-upon-Avon Maybird store is one of Hotel Chocolat’s newer Velvetiser Café layouts. It mixes a boutique chocolate shop with a proper sit-in café. There’s plenty of seating, a calm atmosphere and a counter loaded with chocolate treats to take home.
You can browse their entire collection — from hot chocolate sachets to luxury chocolate boxes — and even buy the exact flavour you’ve just tried to make at home.
Prices and What to Expect
Hotel Chocolat is pricier than the typical hot chocolate in Stratford-upon-Avon, so think of it as an affordable luxury. You’re paying for premium chocolate, a specialist café setup and a drink that genuinely tastes different from anything else locally.
The takeaway sachets have recently been part of shrinkflation discussion, but the café drinks remain generous and indulgent.
Who This Café Is Best For?
Hotel Chocolat in Stratford-upon-Avon is ideal if:
- You want the best-quality hot chocolate in town
- You prefer rich, cacao-heavy drinks
- You love having lots of flavours to choose from
- You don’t mind venturing a little outside the historic centre
- You want to pick up chocolate gifts or treat boxes at the same time
For locals, it’s a go-to place for cold-weather comfort. For visitors, it’s one of the best indoor treats Stratford-upon-Avon has to offer.
The Verdict: Stratford-upon-Avon’s Best Hot Chocolate Lives at Maybird
If your goal is to find the best hot chocolate in Stratford-upon-Avon, Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser Café is the clear winner. Between the real chocolate, the Velvetiser’s silky texture and the huge range of flavours, it delivers a level of quality you won’t find elsewhere in town.
