Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!

All of the epic hot chocolates at Fireside in the Distillery

Because sometimes you just need cookies, churros or candy floss in your cocoa

By Leah Rumack| Photography by Jelena Subotic

| February 5, 2025

Copy link

A person holds up two hot chocolates, each topped with whipped cream and mini churros

The Distillery District’s Winter Village has become something of an annual holiday obsession—especially this past season, when a certain over-the-top hot chocolate from Cluny Bistro went viral, leading to hilariously long lineups of people eager to feed the Instagram beast. Inspired by this appetite for haute beverages, the Distillery has launched Fireside in the Distillery, a celebration of hot chocolate to help get us through the bleakest months of the year. Running every weekend (plus Family Day and Valentine’s Day) from now until March 16, the event lights up the firepits on the picturesque neighbourhood’s heated patios. Participating restaurants will be hawking signature hot cocoa and s’mores kits for roasting on-site. Here are some of the hot chocolates to try, each one extra in its own way.

A hot chocolate from Cluny Bistro is topped with meringue, whipped cream and a graham cracker — The one that started it all: Cluny Bistro’s S’mores Marshmallow Hot Chocolate. It’s made with melted Belgian chocolate, cocoa powder, cream and sugar and topped with a thick swirl of torched marshmallow meringue, whipped cream and a graham cracker. ($10—or you can add an espresso shot for an extra $2 or a shot of Kahlúa, Baileys or Cointreau for an extra $4 to any of Cluny’s hot chocolates, but alcohol-infused drinks must be consumed on the restaurant’s licensed patio)

A hot chocolate from Cluny Bistro is topped with pink meringue and cotton candy — Cluny is taking its dessert-in-a-cup game to the next level with this Strawberry Marshmallow Hot Chocolate, which features torched strawberry marshmallow meringue, whipped cream and a cloud of house-made cotton candy—for anyone concerned about not meeting their sugar quota for the day ($10)

A hot chocolate from Cluny Bistro is topped with meringue, Nutella and crushed hazelnuts — Cluny’s third offering is this Nutella Marshmallow Hot Chocolate, complete with torched marshmallow meringue, whipped cream, a big scoop of Nutella and toasted hazelnuts ($10)

Hot chocolates in paper cups are topped with whipped cream, caramel, cacao nibs and mini churros — El Catrin is going off book with its Atole de Cajeta (right), a sweet and creamy Mexican drink made with hot caramel, cornstarch and milk. Here, they top it with whipped cream, cinnamon and a mini churro ($8—add a shot of Kahlúa or Licor 43 for an extra $4). Anyone looking for a more classic option may enjoy the Mayan Hot Chocolate (left), starring Mexican chocolate, whipped cream, cacao nibs, guajillo chili and a mini churro ($8)

A person holds a cup of Maya hot chocolate from Soma Chocolatemaker in Toronto — Soma’s iconic sipper isn’t technically part of the limited-edition festival offerings, but you can’t go on a hot-chocolate binge at the Distillery without trying the Maya. It’s made with spicy dark chocolate brewed with chili peppers, ginger and spices, and guests can throw it back as a straight shot ($4) or with the addition of hot milk ($5.75), hot water ($5.25), or hot soy or oat milk ($6.60)

A hot chocolate in a paper cup is topped with whipped cream, cocoa powder and a brownie — Jardin Café will be pumping out this Brownie Hot Chocolate, featuring melted Belgian chocolate blended with cream and topped with whipped cream and a chonky brownie ($10)

A bananas fosters hot chocolate from Balzac's Coffee Roasters is topped with whipped cream and banana chips — Balzac’s Coffee Roasters has created several limited-edition drinks for Fireside, including Apple Crumble and Winterberry Citrus hot ciders and three hot chocolates. While their Praline Chocolatier (praline syrup, whipped cream, candied pecans and caramel drizzle) certainly intrigues, their most epic option is this Bananas Foster Hot Chocolate, made with banana syrup, whipped cream, candied bananas and cinnamon sugar ($7.95 for 12 ounces or $9.95 for 16 ounces)

Three flavoured hot chocolates in tall glasses — Mill Street Brewpub is going big with three non-beer beverages. First up, the Toasty Skor S’Mores Hot Chocolate (left) aims to replicate the classic Canadian camping treat with a topping of toasted marshmallow caramel drizzle, Skor pieces, graham crackers and whipped cream. The Vanilla Dream Hot Chocolate (centre) is a mix of white hot chocolate and vanilla extract garnished with whipped cream and a toasted marshmallow. And the Mint Madness Hot Chocolate (right) is made with white chocolate, mint extract and whipped cream and crowned with a mini peppermint patty ($7 each—or add a shot of Kahlúa or Baileys to any of Mill Street’s hot chocolates for an extra $5)

A hot chocolate in a glass is topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows — Finally, enjoy a Cabot Trail Maple Hot Chocolate inside Boku. This boozy baby features Cabot Trail crème liqueur, cocoa powder, whipped cream and marshmallows ($13)

A fire pit, pink Muskoka chairs and a sign made of skis decorate Distillery District Fireside in Toronto

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Leah Rumack

Leah Rumack has worked as the deputy editor of Today’s Parent and the features director of Fashion and has contributed as a writer to a long list of Canadian brands including Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Chatelaine, Elle Canada, Zoomer, the National Post, EnRoute and Re:porter. Her work focuses on travel, food, pop culture, beauty and fashion.

Big Stories

Deep Dives

Edward the Conqueror: The unlikely ascent of Canada’s telecom king

Deep Dives

Lady Parts: Inside Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen’s new show, Small Achievable Goals

Deep Dives

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Deep Dives

Dividing Line: How the Bloor Street bike lane turned the city into a battlefield

Deep Dives

The Chosen One: At just 23, Scottie Barnes is the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation

Deep Dives

Almost Famous: Inside the Beaches’ rise to rock stardom

Inside the Latest Issue

The April issue of Toronto Life features the anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.