I was in two minds whether to write this post because I feel like Chocolate Utopia is a true Nottingham secret and I want to keep it all to myself. I still don’t know how this place doesn’t have mile-long queues outside every day. However, I feel that if you’ve never had a hot chocolate from Chocolate Utopia, you’re not living your life quite right. You just HAVE to taste this.

Chocolate Utopia are a family-run, independent business who create handmade artisan chocolates with love, passion and wickedly addictive recipes. We go specifically for the hot chocolate, but I have bought many chocolate creations from them before, especially as they make a fantastic, unique gift. They have a few cafe tables above their chocolate room and sell handmade chocolates by the weight or box size.You can also order hot drinks that you can drink in or take away. Each comes with a free chocolate of your choice!

Now, imagine the best hot chocolate you’ve ever had. I bet it was hot, sweet, rich and satisfying. I bet you went “Aaahhh” after your first sip. I bet it warmed your cockles and hit the spot. I bet you tell people “for a great hot chocolate, it’s got to be X brand.” Now, forget all about that and have one from Chocolate Utopia. I guarantee it’s better than what you think is your favourite hot chocolate by 1000%.

I actually don’t like hot chocolate. At all. Never been my thing. EXCEPT from Chocolate Utopia, because this is how hot chocolate is supposed to be. The master craftsmen mix their real melted chocolate with hot milk, add whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top (if you like) and voilá. No powder, no added sugar, just gorgeous, silky melted chocolate and hot milk in the perfect ratio. That gritty texture you get at the bottom of regular hot chocolates? Not here. They have big vats of melted chocolate behind the counter so you can pick from dark, milk or white. I always go for the smooth 60% dark melted chocolate (it’s the best one!) and Stu always has milk chocolate as he’s not a fan of that cacao bitterness. A white chocolate hot chocolate is incredibly sweet but certainly interesting so give it a go if you’ve got a particularly sweet tooth.

Each hot drink comes with your choice of free chocolate from their extensive chocolate cabinet of dreams. They have so many flavours and each is foodgasm-worthy. Our personal favourites include the tonka, chocolate truffle, pineapple and pecan, salted caramel, Bailey’s truffle and walnut cream.

If we go out for lunch in Nottingham city centre, we often forgo a dessert at the restaurant and walk round to here instead – I’m so glad this independent business is still going, their chocolate is simply the best, no bones about it. Just know that if you ever walk into a Thornton’s again after reading this, I will hunt you down!

Overall score: 9/10

Experience: 9/10

Service: 10/10

Value: 10/10

Food (drink): 10/10

Atmosphere and surroundings: 9/10

Emily & Stuart