Now in its 14th year, the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival will feature over 160 hot chocolate designs featured at 105 locations across Metro Vancouver. Try out some of these exciting, limited-time flavours from January 13 to February 14, 2024.
Vancouver Aquarium Hot Shark’olate
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2024
When it launched in 2011, the Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival was the first city-wide initiative of its kind in the world. This January, it return for the 14th season to feature the region’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice cream makers – all coming together to make the humble hot chocolate hotter than it has ever been before.
Flavours & Chocolate Creations
Sort your search by gluten free, dairy-free, vegan options, and by which places are open late or have takeout/dine-in. View the full list of 160+ flavours and the Location Map.
Here’s just a small sampling:
The Vancouver Aquarium (845 Avison Way, Vancouver) is offering 2 drinks including the Hot Shark’olate (pictured aboved) featuring house made velvety chocolate syrup with steamed milk, whipped cream, and sprinkles served in an adorable shark mug with a handcrafted aquatic sugar cookie. The second option is Otterly Decadent with hand made dark chocolate mixed with a rich dark chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles served with a paw’dorable handcrafted otter sugar cookie.
Bjornbar Bakery (102-3053 Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver & 111-581 Clarke Rd, Coquitlam) will feature two drink offerings. A Bear Necessityis a spicy cayenne and caramel infused hot cocolate topped with whipped cream and caramel served with a bear-shaped sprinkle shortbread cookie. The second offering is “Bjorn” The Bear, a dark chocolate orange hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate decor served with a dark chocolate biscotti filled with orange zest and toasted hazelnuts,
To Live For Bakery + Everbean Cafe(1508 Nanaimo St, Vancouver & 106-15331 16 Ave, Surrey) have collaborated to create two delicous dairy-free and vegan drink options. Candied Yam & Toasted Marshmallow is made with milk chocolate, candied sweet potato puree, coconut cream, coconut sweet condensed milk, brown sugar, spices, steamed oat milk, and torched marshmallows. Served with an almond financier, an extra buttery vegan version of the traditional French almond cake. Cereal Milk features milk chocolate and toasted cornflakes cereal milk served with cornflakes and peanut butter crispy cookie (similar to a rice crispie but with cornflakes).
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – Honolulu Coffee
Honolulu Coffee (888 Nelson St, 2098 W 41st Ave, 97 W 2nd) is offering the Snow-Coco with the finest 70% dark chocolate blended with steamed oat milk, creating a creamy canvas. A drizzle of Macadamia nut and coconut syrup adds an exotic twist, while two marshmallow snowmen create a winter wonderland in your cup. Every sip is a sweet escape to a snowy, cocoa-filled dream.
Enjoy these and many more!
Enter The Festival’s Contest
Enter the festival’s Instagram contest for sweet prizes. Post your photo of one of the participating cafes or shops hot chocolates with the @hotchocolatefast tag and include #HCFphotocontset on Instagram and you could enjoy chocolate treats all year long. Winners will be drawn and announced on Valentine’s Day.
Step into the world of innovation and creative thinking with Science World’s immersive exhibition Dream Tomorrow Today. Open January 26, 2024, this interactive adventure invites kids to step into the role of tomorrow’s change makers. Enter to win tickets below!
Visitors to Dream Tomorrow Today embark on a dynamic adventure where they are at the helm of shaping the future. Through interactive and hands-on activities, participants create profiles and utilize their STEAM skills to tackle complex future challenges. This gamified approach to learning ensures that children are engaged and equipped with the tools needed to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and innovation.
Central to the exhibition’s vision is “Planet Power” – a comprehensive metric encompassing health, happiness, nature, and equality. By actively participating in the exhibition’s activities, young learners discover practical ways to improve their Planet Power scores and, in turn, contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world
Dream Tomorrow Today is a transformative journey that empowers children to positively impact the future through the lens of STEAM. Designed to foster STEAM identities, this immersive experience harnesses the power of play to cultivate the skills and mindset necessary to shape a better world for future generations.
Enter to Win
We have a family pack of tickets to give away (2 adult, 2 child admissions) valued at $173. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Take your taste buds around the would at Dine Out Vancouver Festival‘s most anticipated culinary events. The 8th annual Vancouver World Chef Exchange will bring award-winning chefs from around the world to a selection of Michelin recognized restaurants in Vancouver for a series of 4 collaborative dinners.
Dine Out Vancouver Festival’s World Chef Exchange
During each event, the pairings will feature two Michelin recognized teams, from Bibs through to Stars, who will join forces to produce an incredible multi-course dinner at the Vancouver-based chef’s restaurant, taking inspiration from their respective restaurants’ most popular dishes; their own cultural influences and favourite fare, and local, seasonal ingredients.
The spirit of the Vancouver World Chef Exchange is one of collaboration and community building: sharing ideas and experiences, as well as developing relationships between Vancouver and international chefs and the destinations that have influenced their cooking.
Vancouver World Chef Exchange Pairings
London’s Chef Jan Ostie and Vancouver’s Chef Matt Gostelow January 23, 2024 at 5:30pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm, & 8:30pm The Acorn (3995 Main St, Vancouver) Join The Acorn’s Executive Chef Matt Gostelow and owner Shira Blustein in welcoming Chef & Owner of MICHELIN Green Starred Wilson’s Restaurant in London, UK, Jan Ostle, for a unique fusion of culinary talents and a celebration of sustainable gastronomy. This special event features a multi-course family-style tasting menu collaboratively crafted by Chef Matt Gostelow, the Acorn Kitchen team, and Chef Jan Ostle. There will also be thoughtful beverage pairings provided by Acorn Sommelier Shea Cunningham. Reserve your spot online.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Chef Curtis Demyon and Vancouver’s Chef Warren Chow February 1, 2024 at 6:00pm Wildlight Kitchen + Bar (107 – 5380 University Boulevard, Vancouver) MICHELIN Guide Young Chef Award recipient, Executive Chef Warren Chow of MICHELIN Guide-Recommended Wildlight Kitchen + Bar, looks forward to welcoming Chef Curtis Demyon of MICHELIN Guide-Recommended Elgin Saigon, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A veteran of the Vancouver food scene, Curtis returns home to join Warren for this one-of-a-kind culinary experience which will combine their passions for utilizing local ingredients and fusing global flavours, all rooted in the training and experience that each has drawn from French and Western cooking. Reserve your spot online.
Oakland’s Chef Andres Giraldo Florez and Vancouver’s Chef Chanthy Yen February 2, 2024 at 5:30pm & 8:30pm Bacaro (1029 West Cordova, Vancouver) Join ‘MICHELIN Guide-Recommended Bacaro’s Executive Chef Chanthy Yen in welcoming Chef Andres Giraldo Florez of ‘MICHELIN Guide-Bib Gourmand’ Snail Bar in Oakland, California for this exclusive collaboration. Savour a one night only culinary affair with an exclusively curated 8-course dinner showcasing a fusion of locally sourced ingredients, uniquely bold flavours and a pairing of dynamic wines. Reserve your spot online.
London’s Chef Angela Hartnett and Vancouver’s Chef Andrea Carlson February 4, 2024 seating starting at 5:30pm until late Burdock & Co (2702 Main Street, Vancouver) MICHELIN Guide One Star Burdock & Co. Executive Chef and Owner Andrea Carlson looks forward to welcoming Chef and Owner of MICHELIN Guide One Star Murano Restaurant in London, UK, Angela Hartnett, for a memorable night of dining as part of this year’s Vancouver World Chef Exchange. Reserve your spot online.
We have curated a list of our current January culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for this month’s Vancouver Foodie Friday feature. Here are the first of our 2024 finds and updates for all foodies alike in the New Year:
Vancouver Foodie Friday January Finds Hot Chocolate, Dine Out, Lunar New Year and More
Vancouver Hot Chocolate Fest
Where: Vancouver Metro Area
When: January 13th to February 14th, 2024
Details: The lineup was just launched today on the Hot Chocolate Fest’s website! Worth marking in your calendar and checking back on their instagram for hot chocolate creations, locations, and the charities the festival will be partnering with. Be sure to use the hashtag #hotchocolatefest if you choose to participate.
Pictured above is the Snow-Coco ($12). 70% dark chocolate blended with steamed oat milk, creating a creamy canvas for the artistry to come. A drizzle of Macadamia nut and coconut syrup adds an exotic twist, while two marshmallow snowmen create a winter wonderland in your cup.
Over the last few weeks there has been a tree removal program happening in Stanley Park to clear out those compromised by the ongoing hemlock looper moth infestation. There’s a plan to remove approximately 160,000 trees in an effort to support public safety and mitigate risks to key infrastructure in and around Stanley Park.
Miss604 photo
Tree Removal in Stanley Park
This is a multi-year project with essential work timed to support bird nesting season and in cohesion with annual winter storm and wildfire preparations.
Around 25% of trees in Stanley Park have been damaged by the looper moth outbreak, which has also affected parts of North and West Vancouver. While individual trees continue to be managed and removed by the Urban Forestry team as needed, the scale of the damage now exceeds internal-staff capacity and external personnel are required to mitigate risks.
As this work is underway, some dead trees will be left in place as nurse logs to support regeneration of the surrounding ecosystem. Impacted areas will be replanted with tens of thousands of native species, including Douglas fir, western red cedar, grand fir, big leaf maple and red alder.
Coupled with extensive invasive plant species management, the long-term goal is to reset the ecology of Stanley Park and create a more diverse, resilient forest environment.
Upcoming Road Closures
When the single Causeway lanes are closed, traffic will flow in both directions via the remaining open lanes leading to and from Lions Gate Bridge. Pedestrians and cyclists will have the option to detour through Stanley Park or to the opposing side of the Causeway to continue their journeys.
Date
Time
Impacts
Jan 14 Jan 21 Jan 27
8am to 2pm
One lane closure on the Causeway One lane in each direction will be retainedSouthbound pedestrians and bikes will be detoured through Stanley Park and to east side of the Causeway/bridge
Jan 28 – morning
8am to 11am
Full closure of Causeway and Lions Gate Bridge to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians Traffic detoured over Ironworkers Memorial/Second Narrows Bridge
Jan 28 – early afternoon
11am to 2pm
One lane closure on the Causeway One lane in each direction will be retainedSouthbound pedestrians and bikes will be detoured through Stanley Park and to east side of the Causeway/bridge
Updated (February, 2024)
Saturday, February 3: 7:30am to 2pm: Single lane closure on Lions Gate – southbound pedestrians and bikes will be detoured through Stanley Park to eastside of the Stanley Park Causeway/Lions Gate Bridge.
Sunday, February 4: 7:30am to 11am: Full closure of the Bridge/Causeway to all vehicles, bikes and pedestrians. During this full closure, traffic should use the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing.
Sunday, February 4: 11am to 2pm: Single lane closure – southbound pedestrians and bikes will be detoured through Stanley Park to eastside of the Causeway/Bridge.
Park visitors will also experience intermittent closures for trails that lead to the Causeway during these times. It is crucial that everyone obeys all signage and directives, and avoids active worksites within Stanley Park for their own safety and that of staff working within the park.
