Insider Trading: The Best Hot Chocolate @ Çikolata & Kahve

sicak cikolataWhether living in New York City or Istanbul, we’re all looking for our own Central Perk. The quaint neighborhood place that beckons us in from the cold and hurried city streets and into the warmth and stability of a hot drink and supportive friends. And with Istanbul’s array of back alley cafes and coffee shops (not to mention the disheartening ubiquity of Starbucks) it’s easy to feel  lost when it comes to finding that hidden gem.

Çikolata & Kahve in  Çengelköy takes you back into a world that feels like the old Constantinople you always wanted to know. Now, as a chocolate connoisseur, I was cynical when I was first taken here by a Çengelköy native almost a year ago under the guise of drinking the ‘best hot chocolate ever.’ Always playing the devil’s advocate, I was sure there was no way that this small cramped space could provide the kind of emotional fulfillment I was looking for in an Istanbul cafe. But sure enough, with its array of ancient Arabic script littering its walls, warm and inviting atmosphere, and neatly arranged chocolates winking at me from their encased window display–not to mention the line waiting to get inside and have a seat—I knew I was smitten.

outside cikolata and kahveLocated between the first and second bridge on the Asian side, this singular location can seem rather disheartening to those fast-paced European-side expats making the long trek over. Though once you do arrive and hear about the owner’s refusal to franchise to preserve the quality of his product, the long trip is soon forgotten; moreover, it is then quickly forgiven when you take a sip of what may be the best hot chocolate you have ever put into your mouth. Taking homemade chocolate right off of their own shelves (which you can also buy separately for later indulgence) and melting it down for a taste of rich, thick, and delightful sweetness, topped with a decadent layer of whipped cream, may just have you calling your friends to join you for a second cup. Or even a third…

Çikolata & Kahve
Coffee Shop, Candy Store, and Cafe
Dere Sk. No: 1/A
Çengelköy, Istanbul

Insider Trading is our new column sharing expats’ secret finds in Istanbul. These recommendations are unsolicited and uncompensated. Have a place you want to share? Send us an email at emma@yabangee.com.

Sydney Odell is a contributor to Yabangee 

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