The 15th annual Hot Chocolate Festival returns to bring warmth to the winter from January 18 to February 14, 2025. From White Rock to Whistler, cups of cozy, comforting cocoa will be offered by 80+ vendors, at 100+ locations, creating 180 versions of hot chocolate.
Founded by CityFood Events in 2011 as the first city-wide festival of its kind in the world, the Hot Chocolate Festival has grown to cover the broader region in rich, chocolatey warmth. Everyone can enjoy the creations as vendors have crafted vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free options, sip from early morning to late night, grab-n-go or linger over a cup with friends.

Hit up your favourite local spot for their Hot Chocolate Festival Flavour or explore and find some of the quirky creations all around the region like; Honolulu Coffee‘s two vibrant creations available at three Vancouver locations, throughout the festival; Kim’s Berry (Vegan and Dairy-Free), an unexpected twist on the classic hot chocolate combining 70% dark chocolate and creamy oat milk with aromatic strawberry and the heat of fermented Korean gochujang, delivering a balance of sweetness and spice – served with a vegan strawberry cookie to complete the flavour experience. Flora’s Glow (Vegan and Dairy-Free) is inspired by tropical vibrancy, featuring 70% dark chocolate blended with creamy oat milk, tropical guava, and bright orange zest – served with a vegan orange almond cookie.
Analog Coffee brings the garden to the cup with their flavours; BC Foragers Hot Chocolate, offered January 18-31, is a white hot chocolate with sweet blueberry, a hint of citrus topped with whipped cream with notes of porcini mushrooms – served with vegan matcha cookie. From February 1-14, The Enchanted Rose is Turkish Delight inspires dark hot chocolate combined with rosewater and citrus, topped with whipped cream and rose petals – served with vegan pistachio cookie.

Head to any of the three Thierry locations in Vancouver & West Vancouver, to try their two offerings; Floating Island Hot Chocolate is a blend of 45% milk & 63% dark chocolate, topped with an island of Swiss merigue covered in caramel – served with a prunes gallette – available January 18-31. From February 1-13 Thierry offers Samana Special made with 70% dark chocolate from Dominican Republic -served with a chocolate dipped milk ice cream batonette and brandy snap.
In addition to the cafes, restaurants and eateries, the Hot Chocolate Festival offers a series of special events, many featuring its sponsor Vancouver Farmers Markets including;
Drunken Chocolatier; at Kitsilano Farmers Market January 19th, February 2nd & February 16th and at Riley Park Farmers Market January 25th & February 8th find the chocolatier on the road presenting one of its five different flavours each week
Koko Monk Hot Chocolate Lounge at 2883 West Broadway; each Saturday introduces a new Hot Chocolate Flight of the Week featuring a different surprise flavour each week
Lush Spa On Robson at 1020 Robson; February 15th, transforms into a quaint chocolate shop serving hot chocolate and making the iconic Posh Chocolate Shower Gel in person.
The 15th Annual Hot Chocolate Festival presented by CityFood Events runs January 18-February 14, 2025. Follow the map and find more fantastic flavours online at hotchocolatefest.com