Treating Ourselves at The Heart of Europe Cafe {Barrington, IL} CLOSED

**Heart of Europe Has Closed.**


When the cold wind starts to bring the chill to the Chicago area, we start to look for hot chocolate. At some point during the summer, I learned about The Heart of Europe Cafe in Barrington. I am frequently in Barrington during the fall and winter for various events, so I eagerly seized on the opportunity to check the cafe out.

Delicious cheesecake!

The cafe is a family owned business run by two sisters. Their baked goods are from scratch made crafted from quality ingredients. One look at their bakery case and you will be sold! We came for hot chocolate but could not resist the cheesecake. You can tell that love is baked into the cake. We were also tempted by Heart of Europe's chimney cakes which truly look like chimneys that you can fill with your choice of filling. They are HUGE, so we did not want to indulge too much that day. A couple of weeks after our visit, we learned that Buzzfeed chose them as the best donut in Illinois--so they do need to be sampled in the future!

Hot chocolate melted directly from the bar.

Yes, I did get my hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is made by melting chocolate down from the bar. This is truly a sipping chocolate and one that you want to sit and relax to enjoy. Loved it! I have had similar in the past that were too decadent but this was perfect.

Cozy!

The entire cafe is an adorable spot to sit and relax in. There also is a kids' play area which is wonderful for families! Local art adorns the walls -- so you know I am smitten!

So happy to discover this cozy little nook. I can't wait to try more of the Heart of Europe's temptations!