1657 Chocolate House, Kendal
 |
A café that is (a) the epitome of quaint and (b) very very old (see title). There are a whole 18 varieties of hot chocolate, that's 17 more than almost everywhere else. So forget about coffee for a moment. |
1657 Chocolate House is about to celebrate its 350th anniversary. The ancient history still lingers, with low wooden beams, Elizabethan nooks and crannies, smiley grannies and plenty of doilies.
This is one of those "must visit" places in Kendal, which is a "must visit" town in "must visit" Cumbria. So expect it to be busy at any time of day.
Nevertheless, it's all about the hot chocolate, so if that's your order you shouldn't feel guilty however long the queues for food.
Despite all that lovely chocolate, on my one and only visit I was greeted by a surly waitress, and was not blown away by my "Original Aztec" hot chocolate choice (compared to the authentic South American fare I've had before). This may simply be the fault of my under-developed palate.
On the plus side, this is the only place I've found which mixes hot chocolate with cinammon, such a mind-bogglingly simple and delicious idea -- why don't other places do this? There is also a fantastic chocolate shop downstairs.
This is one place to which I will definitely return; I feel I haven't seen the best of it.
54 Branthwaite Brow,
Kendal,
Cumbria,
LA8 4TX
Tel. 01539 740702
www.chocolatehouse1657.co.uk
Updated August 2008
Welcome to Cosy Coffee Shops, a blog dedicated to seeking out terrific independent coffee houses. Most places listed serve drinks that are ethically sourced (for example, Fairtrade). We've visited everywhere at least once. Read more about this blog...
71 entries so far.
Home
About
Contact / suggest
List of readers' suggestions
Links
|
|
Cosy Coffee Shops features in a BBC News Magazine article called "Giving it their best Shot". Click here to read it. |
Leave a comment