As winter approaches, many individuals find themselves staying indoors more and longing for the warm summer days. Gone are the Frappuccinos and we now find ourselves embracing rich and creamy hot chocolates to thaw our frozen hands. Over the past couple of years, new places have opened, catering to our winter cravings. Today, we talk about three different wintery cafes that will help you through this cold season in Northern Illinois.

The first place that will get you excited for cold weather is All Chocolate Kitchen in downtown Geneva. Their claim to fame is Chef Alain Roby, a three-time Guinness book world record holder, world- renowned pastry chef who decided to open up a chocolate kitchen right here in the heart of the Fox Valley. When you first walk in, you are greeted with a sign saying “The Food Network was here.”; reason being the chef was shown making one of his all chocolate sculptures that are placed all over the café, and to also welcome customers in. The overall atmosphere of All Chocolate Kitchen is something out of a dream. Think of the perfect chocolate café and that is what All Chocolate is: absolutely breathtaking. Everywhere around you is chocolate or some chocolate-related product. From caramels to truffles, to big chocolate bars, All Chocolate Kitchen has it all. However, one thing we want to make clear is that you might get overwhelmed with so many different choices. Don’t be nervous about them, anything you decide will be worth it in the end.

To start, we both ordered hot chocolates, costing $4.25, which we both thought was a little expensive for a small. After waiting a few minutes, our drinks were ready and we can both agree that it was great. If you have ever had hot chocolate from Starbucks or McDonald’s, this blows it away. On top of it having whipped cream, the chocolate itself was so rich and filling, we felt like we couldn’t have any more food. The chocolate truffles were calling our names though; the first truffle being a sugar cookie truffle with a cream center. Having decided to risk it and go for something so unique was well worth the reward as this was one of the best pieces of candy we have had. The next item that we tried was a normal piece of sea salt caramel, which was nothing special in particular. We would recommend opting for a truffle or beverage.

Our experience ended with two more truffles, Creme Brule and Red Velvet, which were both extremely rich and delicious, tasting like their full-sized counterparts. Overall, the experience at All Chocolate Kitchen was one out of a fairy tale, and we recommend you go there at all costs.

The next place that we decided to try out, being just a short walk away from All Chocolate Kitchen, was Graham’s also in downtown Geneva. Graham’s actually has two different locations to it; Graham’s Chocolate and Ice Cream and Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse. We were impressed at how different the two locations were. Graham’s Chocolate is more like a standard candy store, with shelves full of little candies or items dipped in any kind of chocolate you could ask for, while Graham’s 318 is more like a traditional coffee house that also serves gelato.

While visiting 318, we both decided to try out gelato instead of chocolates. When we first got in there, however. it was packed, and almost every seat in the place seemed to be filled. It was a lot smaller than All Chocolate Kitchen,  but the smaller feel made it feel much more quaint and personal. It’s also a nice place to go if you just want to work on a paper or homework. Think of it as an upscale Starbucks, serving much more than just beverages. With our stomachs still a bit full from our experience at the All Chocolate Kitchen, we opted for the small sized gelato. I decided to go with their seasonal flavor of peppermint, in honor of the holidays being near. The overall taste of it was incredible, and is much so recommended during this winter break. It is something so common with the holiday season but this was different, the taste alone will make you want to come back for more after your first visit.

For our second flavor of gelato, we decided upon the tried and true classic: cake batter. Creamy and flavorful is the only way to describe but if you have other options, definitely try them. Cake batter is great if you’re unsure but doesn’t do much to stand out from other places.

Graham’s Chocolate and Ice Cream is the classic old style candy shop, where you can watch them make their fresh fudge or just peek through the bay windows to see how busy it is. Normally known for their fudge and chocolates, we decided that was the best place to start. Graham’s Chocolate is a bit on the pricier side but you’re really getting every penny’s worth. The chocolate is smooth and decadent and leaves a wonderful taste in your mouth long after you’ve finished.

Each shop had its pros and cons, with most of the pros revolving around how tasty each place is and cons being the price point. Whether you’re looking to spend a lovely winter day out with your significant other or just enjoy the holiday spirit with friends and family, the wonderful dessert shops on Geneva’s 3rd Street are worth the visit this winter.