Winter has arrived, which means it’s hot chocolate season. But don’t waste your time sipping an inferior cup: head to a place that serves some of NYC’s best hot chocolate. (There are many!) From classic with oversized marshmallows, to thick and rich or flavored, NYC has a hot chocolate for every kind of kid (and adult). Get cozy this winter at one of our many favorite hot cocoa spots in NYC!

La Maison du Chocolat

Karen R. via Yelp

La Maison du Chocolat isn’t cheap, but if you’re up for a slight splurge this French chocolatier is one of the best. The hot chocolate is everything you hope a cup would be: silky, rich and perfectly sweet. The luxurious taste may not be one to get every day, but for a special occasion with your little ones this is sure to satisfy your wildest hot chocolate dreams.

30 Rockefeller Plaza
Midtown West
212-265-9404
Online: lamaisonduchocolat.us

Serendipity3

serendipity
Serendipity3

Yes, it's a bit of an oxymoron, but people have been making a pilgrimage to the Upper East Side for Serendipity3's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate for a few decades now. Recently reopened, everything about Serendipity3 is a little extra: the decor (stained-glass lamps, disco balls, puppet of Andy Warhol—a fan—suspended from the ceiling), the menu, giant both literally and figuratively, and the food. Make a reservation before heading over. 

225 E. 60th St. 
Upper East Side
212-838-3531
Online: serendipity3.com

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates

Amanda H. via Yelp

Stellar hot chocolate is just one of the reasons to visit this Soho chocolate shop. It's also famous for its handmade chocolate mice and penguins; see how they make them here. Come back in the summer for a rich and refreshing chocolate frappé.

156 Prince St. 
Soho
212-796-0143
Online: burdickchocolate.com

Max Brenner

Gabriel N. via Yelp

One of our picks for the best theme restaurants in NYC, Max Brenner is dedicated to all things chocolate, including hot chocolate. (They have a full food menu as well.) Pick from dark, milk, or white hot chocolate, or one of the many flavored options, such as Mexican spicy hot chocolate, Oreo, peanut butter, or the "Italian Thick", melted blocks of chocolate with fresh vanilla cream. You can get all of these to go, but sipping there means you get to experience the signature Max Brenner "hug mug", shown here. Reservations are recommended. 

841 Broadway
Union Square
646-467-8803
Online: maxbrenner.us

720 Seventh Ave.
Times Square 

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain

Amber W. via Yelp

A longtime favorite spot for locals, tourists and film scouts (this place looks like an old school soda fountain and ice cream parlor) Brooklyn Farmacy serves a classic cup of cocoa several ways. Options include oat milk hot chocolate, hot chocolate topped with whipped cream or house-made toasted marshmallow fluff, or the delectable salty caramel hot chocolate. Love it? You can buy a tin of it to bring home and make it yourself. Brooklyn Farmacy is closed Tuesdays. 

513 Henry St. 
Carroll Gardens 
718-522-6260
Online: brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com

MarieBelle

Mariebelle Facebook page

It's not cheap and it’s not basic, but for a fancy outing with a child with discriminating tastes, SoHo shop MarieBelle is worth a trip. Antique furnishings and sparkling chandeliers complement fine chocolates of all kinds and a hot chocolate the store describes as "thick and decadent." Choose from a menu with variations such as Aztec (an "Oprah's Favorite Thing"), spicy, Tahitian Vanilla, white chocolate and even hot chocolate with natural banana pulp. A refined menu of cafe bites such as quiche, soup and crepes offers light eating options.

MarieBelle
484 Broome St.
SoHo
212-925-6999
Online: mariebelle.com

Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres Facebook

Before he became a television star alongside Nicole Byer on Nailed It! Jacques Torres was (and still is) “Mr. Chocolate." Unhappy with the quality of chocolate that was available to him while working as a pastry chef, Jacques Torres constructed his own factory so he could make chocolate exactly the way he wanted from scratch. Try a cup of Classic, made from real chocolate, not powder. Or if you're more daring, go for the Wicked, with its extra kick of allspice, cinnamon and ground chili peppers. Both varieties are so thick they might be mistaken for milkshakes. Tip: They’ll let you try a little sample before you choose your cup. And FYI, JT also sells a Hot Chocolate Gift Set.

Jacques Torres Chocolate
66 Water St.
DUMBO
718-875-1269
Online: mrchocolate.com

285 Amsterdam
Upper West Side 
212-787-3256
Online: mrchocolate.com

Grand Central Terminal
Lexington Passageway
107 East 42nd St.
Midtown
929-427-0988
Online: mrchocolate.com

Bibble & Sip

Bibble & Sip Facebook

The house-made hot chocolate at Bibble & Sip tastes like something just lifted from your grandmother’s stove. Even the marshmallow floating on top is homemade. This family-run business specializes in gourmet coffee, espresso and pastries, made in the French Confectionery tradition and inspired by Asian flavors. Good to know: the word “bibble” means “to eat indulgently”—so order up some sweet treats with your cocoa and coffee.  

Bibble & Sip
253 West 51st St.
Midtown West
646-649-5116
Online: bibbleandsip.com

The Chocolate Room

Pat L. via Yelp

The Chocolate Room is known for all of its outstanding chocolate products, but the Dark Hot Cocoa is our favorite. Made with 61% Belgian chocolate, it is one of the cafe's most popular drinks. Obviously, this is a good choice for chocolate-lovers; pair a cup with the brownie sundae or the chocolate pudding. 

The Chocolate Room
269 Court St.
Cobble Hill
718-246-2600
Online: thechocolateroombrooklyn.com

feature photo: Mehkt via Unsplash

—Danielle Krupa & Ilyssa Smith

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Where did you get married? Was it in a magical, fantasy spot? Maybe it was on a sandy beach. Or maybe it was in some sort of other tropical paradise. While those are dream wedding picks for plenty of brides-to-be, one couple chose a less vacation-y venue. Where? They picked Costco!

When Sue Berkley and Eli Bob, from Sydney, Australia, got married they decided that their favorite retailer was the perfect wedding pick.

This wasn’t just a quickie wedding in the aisles, in between the bulk diapers and jogs of mustard. The couple’s wedding included a full set-up. There were tables (with linens and flowers, of course), chairs and plenty of “scenic” décor. Oh, and the whole thing came at a low, low cost of just under $10 a person. You can’t beat that! Instead of the typical wedding fare, guests were treated to Costco pizza, hot dogs and meat pies. Along with that, guests could get unlimited soft drinks from the store’s soda fountain for only $1.49.

So, why pick Costco? The bride told Australia’s A Current Affair, “Where else can I get married to the one I love, in the place that I love, surrounded by the people I love?”

Would you get married at a retail location? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

A visit to the historic El Capitan Theatre means you’re not merely going to the movies, you’re taking a magical trip back in time to Tinseltown’s golden age. Starting this fall, families are invited to take an exclusive look behind the curtain of one of the most breathtaking film venues in the world with Disney’s Movie Palace and Backstage Tour. Perfect for visiting relatives and movie loving tots, this tour arrives just in time for the holidays.

photo credit: El Capitan Theatre via facebook

Film buffs of all ages will find the 30-minute guided tour of the El Capitan fascinating as they get a rare all-access pass to the innerworkings of this legendary landmark. Learn the secrets of the theatre’s glamourous history since making its Hollywood debut in 1926, including its transition from a playhouse to movie theatre. You also get to visit the Wall of Fame, which documents countless movie premieres over the years, Walk of Fame ceremonies, and the theatre’s meticulous restorations under various ownerships. Kiddos will especially love hearing that almost every Disney film world premiere has been held at the El Capitan since reopening under Walt Disney Ownership in 1991, starting with The Rocketeer.

photo credit: Jennifer O’Brien

Lovingly restored to its original grandeur, the 1,000 seat theatre’s ornate architecture is truly a feast for the eyes. On the tour, you are welcome to shoot as many photos as you like throughout the entire tour and believe us, once you’re inside the actual theatre, you’ll be snap, snap, snapping away. They’ll even dim the lights and treat you to a full viewing of the dazzling curtain show that’s performed before every movie.

photo credit: Disney’s El Capitan Theatre

After the curtain show, kids and parents can hop on stage and take a picture with the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ that has helped make this theatre extremely special over the years. With four keyboards and 37 ranks of pipes, the organ is unparalleled when it comes to playing live music for movie palaces. On the weekends, an organist rises up (as if by magic) from under the stage and performs right before the movie, so there’s no better time to bring your little ones.

photo credit: Jennifer O’Brien

Other tour highlights include an in-depth look backstage, including the “Mickey Lift” glass elevator which secretly transports cast members to the stage for the movie pre-show; the downstairs dressing rooms and green room; a visit to the Sherman Brothers Star Dressing Room – named for the composers of “It’s a Small World” and “A Spoonful of Sugar;” and the lower lounge area where premiere after parties are usually held. Kids feel the full VIP treatment! At the tour’s conclusion, every guest is treated to a box of freshly popped popcorn. Yes, it’s a good as it smells. And if you need a sweet treat to balance out the salty, exit through the adjacent Ghiradelli Soda Fountain (still Disney themed, as it was when it was the Disney Soda Fountain), where everyone who enters gets a sample square of tasty chocolate.

For families who might be short on time (or attention spans), Express Tours are also available throughout the day which include the history of the theatre, a visit to the Wall of Fame and tour of the lobby area.

Hours: Full tours are given daily at 8:30 a.m. Express Tours are given throughout the day.

Cost: Tickets are available on a walk-up basis through the El Capitan box office and cost $15 per person (including kiddos) for the full tour. Express tours run $5 per person. No advanced reservations are needed.

Parking: Parking is available across the street at the Hollywood & Highland Center parking garage for $2 for up to four hours. Please remember to bring your parking ticket with you to the El Capitan for validation.

6838 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca 90028
Phone: 818-315-4110
Online: elcapitantheatre.disney.com

photo credit: Jennifer O’Brien

What are your family’s favorite memories of the El Capitan Theatre? We’d love to know!

– Jennifer O’Brien

Flash back to being a kid at a restaurant in the ‘70s and 80’s and the only fancy faux drink you were probably served was a Shirley Temple with a paper umbrella sticking out (the best part: crunching on that ginger ale-soaked Maraschino cherry garnish). Times sure have changed. At some restaurants, the drinks are just as fun for kids as the food is. Head out to one of these five places and you might just want to sip your kid’s mocktail instead of your own cocktail.
#1: Neely’s Barbecue Parlor
This fixture of Southern hospitality on the Upper East Side gets our biggest props for originality when it comes to their kiddie drinks. These are as big of a feature on the kids’ menu as a pulled pork sandwich. Ready? The imaginative mocktails ($3.50 each)… We’re talking World’s Fair (cotton candy that melts into soda), Apple Soda (green apple soda served with green apple slices) and the best of the best: Fish Bowl (blue raspberry soda served with a gummy fish and a straw ‘hook.’) These over-the-top drinks will keep your kids so enthralled that they’ll likely let you savor a piece of just-crispy-enough fried chicken with a side order of creamy grits with zero interruptions.

1125 First Avenue (at 62nd Street)
212-832-1551
Online: neelysbbqparlor.com

#2: Lansky’s
Where else but at an ‘Old World Jewish Deli’ would you find a Milk Shake Happy Hour? Though the atmosphere might appeal more to a slightly older demo, the milk shakes are among some of the best we’ve tasted. For just $3 (Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm only), kids can indulge in the ultimate after-school snack. The list of creamy hand-blended options includes a Black & White (a 50/50 mix of chocolate and vanilla), Campfire Smores (marshmallow and chocolate with graham cracker on top) and the Oreo Supreme (a vanilla shake with chunks of Oreos and chocolate sauce blended in). As they sip, you can work your way through a mouth-watering corned beef on rye (it’s dinnertime somewhere, right?)

235 Columbus Avenue (between 70th and 71st Street)
212-787-0400
Online: lanskysnyc.com

#3: Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain
Skip right over to Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, if you want to introduce your kids to what soda should really taste like. At this exceedingly kid-friendly old-school soda fountain (housed in a former pharmacy), the Sparkling Sodas made on the spot would make your grandma proud. These sodas are a locavore’s delight—a blend of natural syrups from Brooklyn-based P&H Soda Company and sparkling seltzers in such house flavors as cherry, lemon and lime ($3.25) and seasonal flavors like pineapple, orange and grapefruit ($3.75). Pair these with an egg-cream chaser and your kids will thank you all night.

513 Henry Street (at Sackett Street)
Brooklyn
718-522-6260
Online: brooklynfarmacy.blogspot.com

#4: Serendipity 3
Locals consider it a must-do to take their kids to this legendary Manhattan fave for a Frrrozen Hot Chocolate ($8.95). At this townhouse eatery, opened in 1954 and decorated with Tiffany lamps and a touch of Victorian décor, the recipe for this drink was kept a secret for 50 years before it was revealed that it contains chocolate, hot chocolate mix, sugar, milk, ice and whipped cream and chocolate shavings as a decadent garnish. If chocolate’s not in the tastebuds, there’s always the Frrrozen Pineapple Lime ($7.50), the Apricot Smush ($9.50) or the Pink Ice ($7.50).

225 East 60th Street (between Second and Third Avenue)
212-838-3531
Onlineserendipity3.com

#5: Peanut Butter & Co.
It’s not just nutty-inspired food and drinks that are offered up at this Greenwich Village sandwich shop. Since 1998, this restaurant has served as a headquarters of sorts for peanut butter lovers so why not pair The Elvis, a grilled peanut butter sandwich stuffed with bananas and honey ($7.50; add bacon for an extra $1), with a Purple Cow ($3.60), a blend of grape soda and vanilla ice cream or a Cherry Lime Rickey ($3.20), a combo of seltzer and cherry and lime-flavored syrup. Or, if you feel compelled to finish a peanut buttery meal with a peanut buttery dessert, by all means go for the Mary Jane Shake, a blend of peanut butter, honey and a dollop of ice cream ($5.25).

240 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker and West 3rd Street)
212-677-3995
Online: ilovepeanutbutter.com

Did we miss out on your hot spot for kiddie drinks? Share yours in the comments below! 

— Lambeth Hochwald

photo courtesy of  Ernst VikneRichardBH via flickr

Even though the Gold Rush of the 1850s is long over, you and the kids can travel back in time to do some gold panning of your own. Gold mining towns are generously sprinkled throughout California, where the Rush all began centuries ago. Rich with historical significance, each of these towns has its own brand of rural pleasures, from horseback riding and wine tasting to whitewater rafting and mountain climbing. Little ones who love to bang on pots can go all out swishing dirt and pebbles in their own gold rush pan, and who knows, one of your brood may even hit the mother lode.

Angels Camp
Angels Camp in Central California, just 2 ½ hours from the Bay Area, is a historic mountain town filled with antique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and small-town hospitality. Located in Calaveras County along Highway 49, it is in the region of the Stanislaus National Forest, where you can test your pans and shovels along the Stanislaus River. Adults can also brave touring the depths of Moaning Cavern, while kids delight in the image of leaping frogs, seen throughout the town. (The frogs pay homage to Mark Twain’s story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” based in Angels Camp and inspired by the time Twain spent there.)

Jamestown
Chances are you’ve heard of this famous small town before. Located in Toulumne County at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this town boasts Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, where the kids can see historic locomotives that’ve been filmed in movies like Back to the Future 3. Jamestown Gold Panning is one great spot to learn the art of panning and sluicing. Located on Woods Creek, it’s where school kids love to go on their field trips and where your family can go on yours. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Amador City
With a population of just over 200, Amador City is truly a small town, well worthy of a visit on the Highway 49 Gold Country strip. Located in Amador County, it’s a place where you can visit an old-fashioned soda fountain, tour underground gold mines with the fam, visit museums full of mining and Gold Rush memorabilia, and walk along the creek. Ride a buggy into Sutter Gold Mine, where you can pan for gold or gemstones and start the kids on a beautiful rock collection. Open everyday.

Sonora
This small Toulumne County town in the Sierra Nevada foothills bustles with a slightly bigger population at 4,280. Before your quest for pay dirt, travel up into the high Sierras to let the kids see waterfalls, rivers, and lakes. Or stay among the many museums, shops, and parks closer to the village, where the kids can take a ride on a horse and carriage. Try your hand at gold panning at nearby Columbia State Park or the Toulumne or Stanislaus Rivers, with plenty of local guidance available to cheer you on.

-Renee Rutledge