The Langham, Boston’s Sweet Seduction. Credit: Sonya Highfield Photography
With winter weather starting to set in, luxury hotels around the globe are taking extravagance to the next level with delicious cocoa-inspired offerings. From gourmet sips to chocolate fountains and Ecuadorean-inspired afternoon tea, these sweet treats are bound to delight guests of all ages at this festive time of year.
The Langham, Boston
Pack your bags for this historic Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Boston hotel for a sweet bite of nostalgia. This winter, The Langham hosts the 29th season of its Saturday Chocolate Bar, a fun, annual tradition celebrated by adults and children alike.
With this year’s theme of “Forever Young,” the all-you-can-enjoy chocolate buffet features more than 100 dessert combinations of classic goodies and modern twists on childhood favorites by executive chef Mark Sapienza and executive pastry chef Ryan Pike.
All types of chocolate (from white to dark, and everything in between), vegan options, a chocolate fountain with plenty of treats for dipping and a doughnut wall are just a few things to get excited about.
Beau-Rivage, Geneva. Credit: Beau-Rivage, Geneva
Beau-Rivage, Geneva
For centuries, Switzerland has been known for its luxurious, high-quality chocolate, so it’s no surprise that Geneva would be home to one of our favorite properties for cocoa lovers.
The iconic waterfront Four-Star Beau-Rivage offers elegant accommodations in the heart of the scenic city. The hotel’s 90 uniquely decorated rooms inspired by Louis II, classical composer Richard Wagner and multiple Hollywood stars come complete with stunning views of the Swiss mountains, Leman Lake and the Jet d’Eau fountain.
This winter, the historic hotel couples those famed vistas with the reopening of its beloved Chocolate Bar. This magical experience appeals to all ages with delights like cocoa fountains, French pastries, chocolate-inspired cocktails and more. All the deliciousness comes accompanied by festive live music.
Café 103. Credit: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
This November, sweet treats reach a new level of luxury with this Five-Star property’s chocolate-inspired afternoon tea. The Hong Kong hotel’s Café 103 has partnered with Spanish pastry chef Javier Guillén to bring you a one-of-a-kind culinary experience consisting of confections made from sustainable Ecuadorian chocolate.
In addition to traditional savory snacks like salmon caviar, mini croque-monsieurs and truffle cream chicken pinwheel sandwiches, the Ecuador Chocolate Afternoon Tea also highlights Latin American flavors, such as coconut, passion fruit and coffee — all savored with a vista of Victoria Harbour from the 103rd floor.
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Jade Mountain Resort
Chocolate is a mainstay at this stunning mountainside St. Lucia resort all year long, since it has an onsite Chocolate Lab where it makes its own confections. But those with a sweet tooth should book a trip here or at neighboring sister property Anse Chastanet Resort in December, when Jade Mountain hosts its annual Discover Chocolate Festival.
This year’s interactive festival, which runs December 5 to 10, kicks off with a cocktail party featuring chocolaty canapés and cocktails. Your entire stay will revolve around the treat, from chocolate croissants and chocolate French toast at breakfast to a chocolate-themed dinner.
In between, you’ll embark on a bean-to-bar tour of the hotel’s Emerald Estate Organic farm, do wine-and-chocolate pairings, join a truffle-making workshop and visit the Chocolate Lab to see how the hotel’s artisan bars are made.
The Peninsula Chicago. Credit: The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Chicago
Eastern charm meets Midwestern hospitality at this elegant Windy City escape. The luxury hotel celebrates traditional Asian aesthetics just steps from Michigan Avenue with specialized sessions like dim sum cooking classes, private architectural boat cruises and exotic car adventures.
This season, settle into a warm and cozy corner of this Five-Star stunner and escape Chicago’s winter chill with Chocolate at the Pen. Every Friday and Saturday evening, The Lobby restaurant of the Mag Mile hotel hosts this cocoa-filled indulgence with mini desserts, specialty coffees, rich hot chocolate and, for a little extra kick in the evenings, chocolate martinis.
