Hellgate High School students are getting closer to winter break, and the holidays are approaching. On December 2, 2025 Missoula reported one inch of snow in the last twenty four hours, proving winter is officially here. According to YouGov the 2020 census was that America’s favorite holiday drink was hot chocolate.
Throughout Missoula, there are multiple coffee shops to hit up as the weather gets colder, but by far the most popular is Copper Mountain Coffee. They are the most popular because of their lotus drinks, and their friendly customer service.
If you’re looking for the best hot chocolate though, the first place I would recommend is Florence Coffee Company. Each spot is a convenient drive through which takes less than five minutes to get your drink, and the flavor from milk to chocolate is perfect.
A lot of people would suggest going to Loose Caboose Coffee, but hot chocolate wise that would be my last recommendation. I always like to get double the chocolate flavor so it’s a more rich drink, but even with double the flavor from Loose Caboose there is too much milk and not enough flavor.
For the cold weather, the best warm pastry to follow up with a Florence hot chocolate would be from Le Petit Bakehouse on South Higgins Avenue. The bakery has loads of different European Style bread and pastries options.
If you’re not looking for a drive through coffee spot and more of a breakfast restaurant that has good hot chocolate, I would strongly suggest Liquid Planet Grille on Brooks Street. The restaurant is cozy, allergy sensitive and serves breakfast all day with cartoons playing on the TVs.
If Florene Coffee doesn’t sound appealing, or isn’t on your side of town the second best place for hot chocolate would be Mazevo Coffee on Brooks Street. The coffee shop is both drive through and sit down with a variety of sweet and also savory breakfast items.
With many coffee shops all over Missoula, the best place to get a hot chocolate this winter is at Florence Coffee. They have multiple locations, and seasonal pastries that can pair up great with whatever drink of preference you have.
