Why You Need to Drink Hot Cocoa in Elizabeth City, NC

Located just inland from the Outer Banks on North Carolina’s Pasquotank River is Elizabeth City, the Hot Cocoa Capital of the World! Dating back to 1793, the tranquil waterfront town has six historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places, and downtown boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, and jewelry shops center on creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration. Along with a diverse array of dining options, a two-month-long celebration of one of the most decadent and cozy winter traditions — hot cocoa — makes this port city a charming spot for a “sweet escape.”

From November 25 through January 15, a lineup of 30 local businesses will participate in the second annual Hot Cocoa Crawl, offering up selections sweet, spiked, or a little of both. Craft breweries, wine bars, and cocktail lounges have all put their own spin on cocoa-inspired drinks and treats. Plus, there will be endless holiday gift opportunities, thanks to hot cocoa everything — from soaps to sweets. Corrina Ruffieux, Executive Director of Visit Elizabeth City, says, “Our local businesses owners’ imaginations ran wild to create a trail of the yummiest hot cocoa treats and cocoa-inspired experiences you’ll find anywhere.”

Okay, we’re convinced. Let’s look at where to stay, sip, and shop in Elizabeth City, NC!

WHERE TO STAY

The Culpepper Inn is a three-story brick Georgian Revival that dates to 1935, and It’s within walking distance of downtown Elizabeth City and the Pasquotank River Harbor. It’s also just an hour from Virginia Beach’s Norfolk International Airport. The inn celebrates the season with a cocoa giveaway: a pretty Irish coffee glass and historic postcards.

Philemon House Bed & Breakfast, a charming Airbnb in a quaint 1950s-era home, will add a chocolate tea service to its farmhouse breakfast. The oldest house in Elizabeth City, the property was built in 1798 and is five blocks from the Elizabeth City waterfront. The Grice-Fearing House, part of the Shepard Street-South Road Street Historic District, will offer hot chocolate sundaes on Sundays — complete with hot fudge or caramel sauce — as well as hot chocolate brownie sundaes, shakes, and other festive treats. And be sure to visit Hampton Inn Elizabeth City’s Hot Cocoa Social to build-your-own hot cocoa on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.

WHERE TO SIP

Muddy Waters Coffeehouse on West Main Street has created two enticing signature beverages for the crawl, each with a distinct flavor profile. The Bourbon Caramel Hot Chocolate features steamed milk infused with dark chocolate sauce and caramel and bourbon-inspired (so no alcohol!) syrup. It’s also reviving a popular item from last year’s crawl, the “Liquid Brownie.” This blends steamed milk, dark chocolate sauce, caramel, and hazelnut syrups. A treasured local gathering place for the last two decades, Owners John and Audra have a rich local family history (rooted in the Coast Guard) that inspired them to settle in Elizabeth City.

The SweetEasy is a gourmet bake shop with an elevated menu of macarons, cookies, and cakes. For the winter season, you can find an entire hot chocolate menu with various flavored syrups and a specialty crispy hot cocoa macaron topped with chewy marshmallow bits. The Market on Water Street is an excellent spot for gourmet sandwiches, coffee, cheese, charcuterie, wine, snacks, and other essential provisions. At the hot cocoa bar, customize your beverage with sprinkles, candies, and other toppings. Ghost Harbor Brewing Company is the city’s first microbrewery and offers an impressive menu, from stouts to sours. For the holiday season, don’t miss “House of the Maker,” a mocha and vanilla latte stout, and “Dawn of Beginning,” a vanilla latte stout made with locally-roasted beans from Muddy Waters.

Big Boss Burritos got its start in October 2017 as a food truck, and now it’s a brick-and-mortar! Specializing in massive burritos and taco salads, the Big Boss burrito features steak, crispy French fries, cheesy white rice, black beans, sour cream, lettuce, pico de Gallo, and tomatillo sauce. The Burrito Loco adds shredded chicken and chorizo to the mix, and a Burrito Fresco is chock full of veggies. Be sure to try a traditional Mexican hot cocoa while it’s on the menu. It’s infused with cinnamon and served with a cinnamon-sugar churro. Yum! Hoppin’ Johnz is a downtown restaurant with menu items like Carolina caviar, shrimp cocktail, Low Country Barbecue Chicken salad, and Carolina Cheesesteak. For the Crawl, it’s also featuring the “Hot Cha Cha Cha,” a mix of white chocolate hot cocoa, chocolate vodka, RumChata cream liqueur, and Godiva white chocolate liqueur.

There are plenty of opportunities to combine cocoa with holiday “spirits.” Enjoy a unique and delicious red wine hot chocolate from 2 Souls Wine Bar, which combines warm cocoa and a red wine blend. A veteran-owned nanobrewery, AVDET Brewing Company is at The Shoppes at Kenyon Bailey, just outside the downtown area. You can find at least nine craft beers on tap at any time, including a Marzen, Czech Pilsner with Azacca hops, Hazy IPA, two West Coast IPAs, and more. Montero’s Restaurant, helmed by Andy and Karin Montero, is right across the street. It offers a robust and compelling menu of New American cuisine, with numerous vegetarian and vegan options. You can also look forward to Montero’s hot cocoa rendition, with nostalgic chocolate bars like Twix and Hershey’s Kisses.

Brad Chambers, an Elizabeth City native and graduate of the Culinary Institute of Virginia, is the Executive Chef at Cypress Creek Grill. There, you can feast on signature menu items like Asparagus on Penne (with chopped tomato and shredded Parmesan cheese), Lobster Ravioli, Lemon and Thyme Crusted Rockfish, Bourbon Ribeye, or a vegetarian black bean burger. Oh, and don’t forget the side of spiked hot chocolate.

Pine & Porch offers uniquely designed items for outdoor life — like Adirondack chairs and picnic tables — but you can also enjoy wine and craft beer in the rustic cabin-like space. Along with a few out-of-state selections, you’ll find several North Carolina-based offerings on the menu, such as Ghost Harbor’s Pilsner, Blackberry Cider from Flat Rock Cider Co., and Wicked Weed’s Freak of Nature IPA. Look for cocoa-brewed stouts and porters during the winter, and plan to sip your libation in the backyard if weather permits!

The Mills Downtown Bistro will transport you to the days of flapper dresses and jazz. The menu focuses on tapas, crepes, and flatbreads, but one specialty dessert offered year-round is … get ready … a personal chocolate fondue pot! You can also order The Dirty Snowman, a hot chocolate à la mode with vanilla ice cream, Godiva Chocolate, and Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur.

Paradiso Roma Ristorante’s menu offers cleverly named pizzas with a nod to local history and lore, such as The Pasquotank, featuring crab, roasted garlic, and crushed pepper, or the Buried Treasure, which spotlights a housemade red sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil, basil oil, and ricotta. You can also anticipate a clever take on American fare, like The Pumpkin (pie pumpkins, roasted and stuffed with ground pork and cornbread stuffing) or the local flounder filet, dipped in Ghost Harbor’s Oktoberfest beer and a housemade batter. For the holidays, enjoy the Sleigh No More, a bourbon-spiked cocktail with a hot cocoa bomb topped with a toasted marshmallow. Elizabeth City Pizza Company also offers a special dessert — a Cocoa Bombe with vanilla and chocolate gelato, cherry, slivered almonds, and a dash of cinnamon in a chocolate shell.

SAGOS on the River is a chic downtown waterfront restaurant where you can order a Naughty Hot Cocoa Martini that combines Godiva dark chocolate liquor, vanilla vodka, and dark Crème de Cocoa blended with housemade hot cocoa. Not to be missed, Coasters Downtown Draught House is a comfortable local pub with live music on the weekends, where you can partake in seasonal hot cocoa shooters, including a rum-infused variation called the Upside Down.

As the new year gets underway, Fitness Warehouse will even offer cocoa-flavored protein shakes!

WHERE TO SHOP + PLAY

Coastal Purl, a local yarn shop owned by knitter Katherine Rogers, will sell sweet kits to create a wool “Mug Hug.” Pick up a thermal travel mug, in stock especially for the cocoa crawl, at Latitude 36, a woman-owned, size-inclusive clothing boutique.

Sultry Scent Company’s hand-made candles combine the cozy fragrance of cake-batter cream and chocolate in a glass mug. Keep an eye out for hot cocoa-themed T-shirts and comfy crewneck sweatshirts at Bijoux Vibes, along with marshmallows infused with Fireball, sugar cookie, and salted caramel flavors. Downtown boutique Copper Canyon Soap Company offers small-batch hot cocoa and marshmallow-shaped plant-based soaps and peppermint candy bath bombs.

Small Town Trendz, a curated gift shop, is carrying a Peppermint Cocoa Spirit-Infusion Kit with a glass bottle, peppermint cocoa pouch, and instructions. Shop for ornaments and other fine accessories at Eclectic Jewelry Design, and while shopping, customize your hot chocolate with foil-wrapped chocolates, marshmallows, cinnamon, and vanilla!

For a bit more self-care, Elizabeth City Med Spa is a skincare practice that merges art and science. It will feature a Hot Cocoa Jelly Masque to complement any spa facial, featuring hyaluronic acid and cocoa beans.

Elizabeth City’s holiday events are far-reaching! A nostalgic celebration and Grand Illumination are scheduled for November 25. The First Friday ArtWalk on December 2 offers a chance to meet and greet local artists, restaurants, and purveyors while exploring downtown. The Lighted Boat Parade, an annual tradition, follows that same evening!

May your holidays be filled with joy, happiness, and hot cocoa!

All images provided by Visit Elizabeth City unless otherwise noted. 

**********

Give your inbox the Southern makeover it deserves. Subscribe to our daily emails HERE.