Thinking Cup Expands to Back Bay; Hotel Chocolat Cafe

BACK BAY — Thinking Cup, a cafe with locations across from the Common and in the North End, is opening up a third location at 85 Newbury St. in mid-January, according to a press release and a Facebook post. Aside from coffee, the cafes offer pastries and light breakfasts and lunches. [FB]

BACK BAY — Speaking of cafes on Newbury St., the Hotel Chocolat retail store will expand next week to include a 16-seat cafe. Look for salads featuring "nib butter" and cocoa balsamic-dressed greens, drinking chocolates, "warm chocolate plates," and more. [Press Release]

HUB-WIDE — And speaking of chocolate, here's a BostInno round-up of 12 of the best hot chocolate purveyors around town. On the list: L.A. Burdick, Paris Creperie, Flour Bakery + Cafe, and more. Happy Friday; go drink some hot chocolate. [BostInno]
[Photo: Flour Back Bay/Rachel Leah Blumenthal]