There was a time, ask your parents, when “winter drink” basically meant sahlab. That was the category. If anyone wanted to feel adventurous, they upgraded to ḥommos el sham, halabessa on the corniche, maybe a paper cup that burned your fingers before it warmed your soul.

Now winter drinks have gone through full character development. We have pink lattes, pecan lattes, cinnamon things that taste like closure, and much more. Cafés are dropping limited winter menus like seasonal plot twists.

Both worlds still exist, and that is the beauty of it. If you want to stay loyal to your sahlab, please continue. But if you're feeling adventurous enough to try the new school ones, here is where you could find your next winter drink obsession.

Ovio | Dark Hot Chocolate, Ginger Hot Chocolate & Raspberry Hot Chocolate

Branches all over Egypt

Ovio did not come to play. Their winter hot chocolate collection has four different versions, each one richer than the last and topped with treats like raspberries and marshmallows that look like they were arranged by someone who cares deeply about your serotonin levels.

Nōt Coffee | Pop Out Hot Chocolate

Grand Residence Clubhouse, New Cairo & C3 Mall, Obour & 19 Ramsis St., Heliopolis

Nōt Coffee said “regular toppings are boring” and put a caramelised apple on top of their hot chocolate. Yes, a whole apple moment. It’s giving winter carnival, it’s giving edible centrepiece, it’s giving dessert and drink in one go.

20 Grams | Pistachio Latte, Amber Latte, Cinnamon Spice Latte & White Mocha Latte

Arkan Plaza, Sheikh Zayed & U Venues & Garden 8, New Cairo

Their cinnamon spice latte tastes like someone bottled the concept of “I’m finally getting my life together” and added milk. Warm, fragrant, comforting, and a guaranteed personality reset in cup form.

Moishi | Strawberry Hot Chocolate

Branches all over Egypt

Hot chocolate meets strawberry and suddenly it is Valentine’s Day in December. If you want your winter drink to be cute, pinkish, slightly romantic and slightly unserious, this is your cup.

Brew Buzz | Carrot Cake Latte, Spiced Caramel Latte, Hazel Mocha Latte & Hot Salted Lotus

Enawalks, New Cairo

Brew Buzz basically said “pick your mood” and gave us carrot cake, spiced caramel, hazel mocha, and salted lotus drinks. It is a winter menu and a personality quiz at the same time.

Dancing Goat | Blue & Pink Latte

Branches all over Egypt

Blue lattes. Pink lattes. Winter drinks with full cartoon-character energy. If you are in your colourful-cosy era or if you simply want a drink that sparks conversation, Dancing Goat is the move.

Tabi | Hot Chocolate

3 Sesostris, Heliopolis & TBK, New Cairo

Italian hot chocolate so thick it practically counts as a spoonable experience. This is for the people who want winter to feel decadent, dramatic, and slightly European.

1980 | Créme Brulee Latte

Branches all over Egypt

Crème brûlée latte. The name alone should make you sit up straight. It is caramelised, silky, nostalgic, and basically the latte version of tapping a sugar crust with a spoon.

Brunch and Cake | Beetroot Latte

Lakehouse, New Cairo & Park St., Sheikh Zayed

The beetroot latte is for the aesthetic maximalists. It’s vibrant, earthy, and very “I drink vegetables but make it pretty.” It tastes better than it looks, which is saying something.

Dark Solution | Pecan Crunch Latte, Pink Hot Chocolate & Carrot Cake Latte

Branches all over Egypt

Dark Solution went all in this winter with pecan crunch lattes, pink hot chocolate, carrot cake lattes, and pecan matchas. It is chaos in the most comforting way, like dessert therapy without the commitment.

Kippis | Rose Cardamom Latte

Branches all over Egypt

Cardamom. Rose. Two flavours that basically smell like winter weddings and soft memories. Kippis serves gentle, fragrant cups for people who want subtlety instead of sugar overload.

E11VN | Marshmallow Hot Chocolate

The Drive, New Cairo

Marshmallow hot chocolate taken to dramatic new heights. Toasted, gooey, indulgent, and exactly what you need when Cairo’s fake winter suddenly feels real for two hours.

CAF | Pistachio Sahlab

Branches all over Egypt

CAF said let’s honour the classics and upgraded sahlab with pistachio. Nostalgic, creamy, and the perfect middle ground between old-school and new-school winter flavours.

Saints | Medjool Latte

Branches all over Egypt

Medjool date latte. Natural sweetness, warm spices, and the kind of flavour that makes you want to sit quietly and reflect on your life choices.

Vasko | Belgian Hot Chocolate

Branches all over Egypt

Belgian thick hot chocolate that genuinely qualifies as a meal. This one is for the people who want richness, depth, and a winter drink that refuses to be sipped politely.

am:pm | Marshmallow Hot Chocolate, Creme Brulee Hot Chocolate & am:pm Hot Chocolate

Muse Strip, New Cairo

Three types of hot chocolate for three different personalities: marshmallow, classic, and crème brûlée. All warm, all comforting, all perfect for pretending Cairo is colder than it is.

The Coffee Maker | Hot Chocolate

10 Horya St., Heliopolis

A hot chocolate piled with a whipped cream tower that ignores the laws of gravity. If you want drama, height, and a drink that makes everyone at the café stare, this is the one.

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