The holidays are coming and with this celebration comes a renewed interest in chocolate. While most of us traditionally think of sweets when we want to give something special to that special someone, Discover Paris! suggests that it can be just as romantic to huddle and cuddle over an exceptional pot of hot chocolate. We present some of our favorite places for chocolate chaud below.

La Charlotte en L’Isle on the Ile Saint-Louis is a curious combination of children’s theater, chocolate shop and tea salon. Proprietor Sylvie Langlet has provided puppet shows, molded chocolates and a wide variety of teas in this tiny shop for 30 years. The salon’s two small rooms are pleasantly and whimsically cluttered; the disorder and an upright piano in the front room give the impression that you are visiting the home of an eccentric aunt. The establishment is entirely non-smoking.

As for the hot chocolate, it is a connoisseur’s dream! If you can imagine drinking a melted chocolate bar, you will have a good idea of what your experience at La Charlotte en L’Isle will be. Mme Langlet’s hot chocolate is made with milk, but only enough to allow the mixture to liquefy. Dark, smooth and unctuous, the chocolate coats the petite ceramic cups in which it is served. A pitcher of chocolate, cups and a serving of water (presented in a chiseled carafe) are brought to the table on a tray from which you serve yourself. There is no additional milk provided with which to dilute the chocolate – so if you prefer a thin version of this brew, La Charlotte may not be the place for you.

After this treat, if you would really like to indulge yourself and your sweetheart further, peruse Mme Langlet’s selection of homemade chocolates and purchase some to take home. Candied orange peel coated in dark chocolate, solid dark chocolate mice, piglets, swans and other fanciful creatures, and truffles are displayed in the storefront window.

Le Rostand, on place Edmond Rostand in the 6th arrondissement, takes a different approach to its hot chocolate. You receive a traditional cup with a dose of chocolate syrup in the bottom. The walls of the cup have been "painted" with the chocolate so that the cup resembles a chocolate tulip. A pitcher of steamed milk is presented alongside, and you pour as much or as little of it as you like into your chocolate. Stir and you have a rich, smooth hot chocolate, made to order. The chocolate is flavored with a small amount of vanilla, as witnessed by the grains of vanilla bean that you will find in your cup after you have finished savoring your beverage.

The only potential disadvantage with this method of serving hot chocolate is that you are served a greater volume of milk than chocolate. If you like potent hot chocolate, you end up with lots of milk left over. If you are a steamed milk aficionado however, you will likely be quite happy.

Le Rostand’s sidewalk terrace offers a splendid view of the Luxembourg Garden, the comings and goings of people from all walks of life, and the photographic exhibits sponsored by the Sénat that are displayed on the garden’s wrought iron gates. In the winter, the heated terrace is enclosed and divided by thick, clear plastic sheets. Half of it is designated as non-smoking.

If you are interested in purchasing chocolate bonbons after your hot chocolate experience at Le Rostand, just pop over to Dalloyau, two doors away on place Edmond Rostand. This boutique is part of the Dalloyau chain of gourmet shops founded in 1802. Dalloyau sells roughly 55 tons of chocolate at its various outlets each year.

Over on the Right Bank, two establishments are "absolute musts" for chocoholics. Angelina, facing the Tuileries Garden on rue de Rivoli, is a venerable institution. Its famous "Chocolat Africain" is perhaps the thickest and richest in the city. The service is traditional – a pitcher of chocolate and cups inscribed with "Angelina"; stemmed glasses, each with a single ice cube; a pitcher of water and a small mountain of crème chantilly are brought to your table. The chocolate is dark, but surprisingly sweet. Because of the sweetness, we found the water to be a welcome part of the service. With a generous dollop of whipped cream mixed into your cup, you can easily imagine that you are drinking warmed chocolate ice cream!

Non-smokers can enjoy their chocolate in a dedicated area at the rear of the dining room. A small but eye-catching display of chocolates (including giant truffles) is located at the entry to the dining room, so it is possible to purchase a bit of chocolate heaven when you are ready to leave.

Less than a five minute walk from Angelina is Jean-Paul Hévin, located on rue Saint-Honoré. Hévin has made a name for himself as one of the city’s premier chocolatiers. On the ground floor, you find the boutique, which is slick and minimalist and looks more like a jewelry store than a chocolate shop. Upstairs is the salon de thé, divided into two areas of roughly equal size for smokers and non-smokers. The décor is similar to that of the boutique – dark, wood-grained walls are hung with beautiful photos of the confections that you can purchase downstairs. Brown tables and sturdy wicker chairs complete the interior design scheme that evokes chocolate and nuts. Classical music plays softly in the background as you contemplate the menu that is replete with chocolate pastries.

Steaming hot chocolate is served in individual classic white porcelain pitchers and cups. A bowl of brown and white lumps of sugar is presented alongside, but water is not part of the service. The chocolat chaud is everything one would expect from a master chocolate maker – full bodied, rich, and very slightly sweet.