Hot and cold weather has made it hard to decide on what to crave on Mondays and Fridays, so I went with something that I want no matter what the thermostat says: hot chocolate. Thus, here are five chocolatey concoctions that taste great at any Celsius (or Fahrenheit) reading.

1) Surfas Cafe

Known for its fancily-named "Haute Chocolate," I decided to go with the crowds for my first hot chocolate sampling. One sip and it was settled; the Haute Chocolate is a creamy, sweet and slightly foamy step above even my best childhood memory of hot chocolate during the holiday season. For year-round cravings quenching, I'll be back. A pairing recommendation: the house made valrhona brownie.

Cost of sinfully sweet hot chocolate: $2-3 varying by size.

Quick Side Note: the House Made Valrhona Brownie is $3.25.

Surfas Cafe, 8777 W Washington Blvd.; 310-558-1458

2) Conservatory For Coffee, Tea & Cocoa

Add shots of espresso to the mix and what do you have? A Mexican Mocha by name, but a hot chocolate with a boost of caffeine by taste. I sneak this one on to the list because it is just that good. From the over-the-top leaf design to the frothy sweet sips, I savored every last sip of--it was a hot chocolate that surpassed my expectations.

Cost of sinfully sweet hot chocolate: $3.45 for my 12 oz.

Conservatory For Coffee, Tea & Cocoa, 10117 Washington Blvd.; 310-558-0436

3) Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe

What's better than hot  chocolate? A simple semi-sweet mix soared to blissfully yummy hot chocolate thanks to fluffy whipped cream. It just goes to show that tiny details can make all of the difference. Cheers to that.

Cost of sinfully sweet hot chocolate: $2-3 varying by size.

Dolce Vita Bakery Cafe, 4410 Sepulveda Blvd.; 310-390-5733

4) Cafe Laurent

Charge me for whipped cream and I'll usually take it as an excuse to forego it. That is exactly what happened when I found out that I'd be charged a quarter for whipped cream that I didn't really want anyway; at least that is what I am sticking with. This time it payed off to be cheap; the silky, warm and cocoa-filled drink was plainly delicious--no whipped cream add-ons required.

Cost of sinfully sweet hot chocolate: $2.95 without whipped cream.

Cafe Laurent, 4243 Overland Ave.; 310-558-8622

5) Grand Casino Bakery & Cafe

Sometimes the plainest of drinks presents a decadent taste that knock its more dressed-up counterparts out of the park. This rich and creamy chocolate cake in liquid form made for a luxurious-tasting hot chocolate on-the-go on the cheap. What a find.

Cost of sinfully sweet hot chocolate: $2-3 varying by size.

Grand Casino Bakery & Cafe, 3826 Main St.; 310-202-6969

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