Across from a very large church and the courthouse is a pretty green park with a water fountain in the middle. Right next to the water fountain is this little chocolate shop. As I have mentioned before there are lots of chocolate shops around Pau most of which don’t serve hot chocolate. But this one had a few little tables and chairs outside. Promising…
I ask inside and not only do they serve hot chocolate but they serve a whole selection of them and in various sizes. There is the natural hot chocolate but you can also get it flavoured with ginger, cinnamon, local spices, anise and a few other ones I had never heard of before. When I asked them what they were he went to the back room and came back with a bunch of jars full of powders so I could smell the different spices. It was so difficult to choose but we ordered one with local spices and one with cinnamon.
You have a choice, you can enjoy your hot chocolate outside on the terrace with a view of the park or there are also a few comfy booths inside the store where you can sit and be tempted by all the chocolates lining the walls in the store. We sat inside. The hot chocolate comes in a nice bit white mug, with just the perfect amount. It tastes fantastic, rivalling some of the best hot chocolates I have ever had. The cinnamon hot chocolate especially was definitely something worth coming back for. I had two little disappointments though. First they are a just a little pricey, 4.40euros and second the hot chocolate was just not that hot…at all. The man working there was so busy tending to customers that I think he just forgot about it and left it out too long. Such a shame, as it would be near perfect if it were hotter.
Verdict: If you are looking for a truly luscious hot chocolate, and are in Pau, then definitely come here. Simple. deNeuville, 5 Place de la Liberation, Pau, France.
Ultimate Hot Chocolate 