"The interior of Soho’s Mariebelle personifies what comes to mind when the phrase chocolate boutique comes up: gilt edges, chandeliers, glass vitrines, and all. Head to the back of the shop for the equally decadent Cacao Bar with its brown and gold-striped wallpaper and, in pre-pandemic times, marble café tables with gold-backed chairs. Off to one side are four large glass jars filled with chocolate chunks of different shades, labeled Aztec (65 percent), Spicy (Aztec with chipotle, ancho chili, and cinnamon), Mayan (70 percent with no added sugar), Hazelnut, and White. There are options for premium add-ins like cardamom, espresso, nutmeg and cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla, or matcha (perfectly paired with the white). Finally, there’s a selection of milk (whole, half-and-half, skim, almond, or oat) and whipped cream if desired. It’s one of the thickest cups of hot chocolate in the city — this is what’s meant by “drinking chocolate” — so prepare accordingly and consider ordering a four-ounce shot size instead of an eight-ounce cup." - Devorah Lev-Tov
