Short answer: Few Fowey reviewers name their hot chocolate, so choose by setting. Readymoney Beach Shop serves it in return mugs by the cove, Willow in Polruan was praised for it after the Hall Walk, and Cornish Bakery on Fore Street has space on two floors. Brown Sugar has upstairs seating for rainy days.
A hot chocolate in Fowey usually comes with a view of boats or a lot of wet dog, so it helps to know which doors are worth opening. One thing to say upfront: very few Google reviewers write about hot chocolate by name in Fowey, so this is not a ranked taste test. It is a guide to where it is on offer, what else those places do well, and which ones suit a cold, wet or windy day.
The Readymoney Beach Shop (4.6 from 107 Google reviews) sits at the cove at the far end of town. One reviewer's daughter had a hot chocolate and they liked that it came in a proper mug that goes into a yellow bin to be reused rather than a disposable cup. Another reviewer was less happy with a takeaway cup charge of 25p and a delayed coffee grinder, so expect small extras. The fowey.co.uk directory says it sells hot and cold drinks, ice cream, pasties and snacks, rents deckchairs, has public toilets and is open all year round. Walk down the Esplanade and Readymoney Road to reach it, about 10 to 15 minutes from the centre according to reviewers.
Cornish Bakery (4.4 from 398 Google reviews) is at the harbour end of Fore Street with seating over two floors. One regular says their son's hot chocolate is always made how he likes it. Others praise apple crumble scones, pastries and a decent toilet. One reviewer reported poor service from a staff member, so it is not flawless. Good if you want space and speed.
Willow on Fore Street in Polruan (4.8 from 21 Google reviews) is a tiny cafe across the water. One reviewer loved the hot chocolate and the tea. Others mention Potterbeans coffee, cream teas with warm scones, sausage rolls, board games and dogs being welcome. It is sheltered from the weather, which is the point. Take the passenger ferry across from Fowey.
A reviewer of the cafe at Polkerris (4.7 from 350 Google reviews) ordered a sausage and egg bap and a hot chocolate. The cafe and the beach sit on St Austell Bay, on the other side of the headland from Fowey. Its opening days are shorter outside summer, so check before you set out.
Brown Sugar on South Street (4.6 from 598 Google reviews) has extra seating upstairs, so look inside even if the ground floor appears full. Reviewers name the pancakes with berries, vegan breakfast, and cheesy beans on toast, and say it is dog friendly with gluten-free options. They also warn tables can be hard to find at peak times. If breakfast is the plan, read our Fowey breakfast guide.
The The Old Bank Gallery on Trafalgar Square (5.0 from 14 Google reviews) is a gallery and cafe. Reviewers mention coffee, salted chocolate chip cookies, a children's craft corner and free paint supplies if you want to try a picture while you sit. A reviewer says dogs get a treat. The The Teapot Fowey on Lostwithiel Street (5.0 from 49 Google reviews) is quieter than Fore Street and has space for a pushchair, according to a reviewer, though another notes there are no toilets. It is known for cream teas. See Fowey cream tea for that.
Fowey Sweet Shop at 15 Fore Street (4.9 from 45 Google reviews) sells chocolates and fudge by weight, with reviewers praising raspberry chilli fudge and friendly service. Roly's Fudge Pantry at number 21 (4.5 from 25 Google reviews) sells about eight to ten fudge flavours; one reviewer liked the Christmas pudding fudge. Neither is a cafe, so take a bar of fudge to your drink.
Reviewers describe dogs as welcome at Brown Sugar, Olive Branch, Willow, The Teapot, and the Old Bank Gallery. Our baby-friendly cafes in Fowey guide covers pushchair access, which is the other thing that decides where you can sit.
Hours shrink after October, and several of the smaller cafes open only a few days a week. Our winter guide to Fowey lists what stays open, and the rainy day guide pairs well with this one. For colder-weather planning, the Fowey town guide is the starting point.
Reviewers mention hot chocolate at Readymoney Beach Shop, Willow in Polruan and the Cornish Bakery on Fore Street. Brown Sugar and the Old Bank Gallery are good wet-day cafes.
Reviewers describe Brown Sugar, Olive Branch, Willow, The Teapot and the Old Bank Gallery as dog friendly. Ask when you go in.
Reviewers say it is a tiny, sheltered cafe with tea, cakes, cream teas and a hot chocolate, handy after the Hall Walk. It has only a handful of Google reviews, so check it is open before you cross.
Fowey Sweet Shop and Roly's Fudge Pantry are both on Fore Street. Reviewers praise raspberry chilli fudge and Christmas pudding fudge.
Many small cafes cut their days after October. The fowey.co.uk directory says Readymoney Beach Shop is open all year, but check the smaller cafes before you go.
Times, prices and dates are the businesses' and organisers' to change, so check before you travel. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.
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