As the temperature starts to dip, savoring a great cup of hot chocolate is guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. But forget cocoa powders, true hot chocolate is made with real melted chocolate and steamed milk or water.



Here are 10 places across the country that serve up hot chocolate with perfection:

City Bakery in New York, N.Y.
City Bakery has been home to New York's best-known hot chocolate since 1990.Not only is the hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows known throughout the Big Apple, but it's known across the country as well. Don't miss their annual Hot Chocolate Festival which features a different flavor of hot chocolate each day. Sip on unique concoctions such as cinnamon hot chocolate, banana peel hot chocolate and malted milk hot chocolate.

Mon Aimee Chocolat in Pittsburgh, Pa.
For true chocolate connoisseurs, Mon Aimee Chocolat serves the real deal when it comes to drinking chocolate. Made with your choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate or dark chocolate with spices, this special treat is totally delicious.

Intemperantia Chocolates in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
This gourmet chocolatier's hot chocolate is highly praised by SoCal locals. Made with imported Belgium chocolate and heavy cream, it's awesomely sinful. Don't live nearby? Order some to try.

Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, Ill.
Windy City residents love to warm up at James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef nominee Mindy Segal's namesake Wicker Park restaurant and dessert bar. Spice things up with Mindy's Mexican Hot Chocolate made fresh with dark chocolate, milk and cinnamon. And be sure to try the homemade marshmallows.

Brasserie Beck in Washington, D.C.
If you're one of those people who orders hot chocolate just for the whipped cream, the Brasserie Beck is the place for you. The slightly bitter Belgian hot chocolate is delightfully intense and comes with a mountain of whipped cream so big it almost outweighs the drink.

Jean-Philippe Patisserie in Las Vegas, Nev.
This European-style pastry shop nestled inside the Bellagio is known for having some of the city's best hot chocolate. Touted as a modern day Willy Wonka, renowned pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury even has his own 27-foot hot chocolate fountain.

Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston, Mass.
Literally everything is prepared in-house at this South End cafe. The hot chocolate is made to order using bittersweet chocolate ganache (house-made, of course) and your choice of steamed milks. Just thinking about it is making our mouths water.

Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, Calif.
Tartine Bakery takes advantage of local dark chocolate manufacturer Scharffen Berger to create a hot chocolate that is ultra rich and pleasingly complex. And if that's not enough to put you in a chocolate coma, dig into the flourless chocolate soufflé cake made with Valrhona chocolate.

The Little Nell in Aspen, Colo.
There's nothing better than curling up by the fire with a warm mug of hot chocolate after coming off the slopes. And The Little Nell's signature hot cocoa is exactly the one you want. It's mixed with Valrhona chocolate ganache and whole milk and finished with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate-dipped peppermint stick. Total perfection.

Serendipity 3 in New York, N.Y.
Ok, we know this is a list about hot chocolate, but we couldn't resist mentioning Serendipity's legendary frozen version. You can even order the mix and make it at home. It's simply divine.