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Thirsty, hungry or both: the milkshake solves all of life's problems.
Thirsty, hungry or both: the milkshake solves all of life's problems.
Amber Procaccini

Eleven Milkshakes Worth the Brain Freeze

Grab a spoon and a straw, we're digging in.

by Joy Summers and Alex Lodner
View as Map
Thirsty, hungry or both: the milkshake solves all of life's problems.
| Amber Procaccini
by Joy Summers and Alex Lodner

First there was ice cream: and it was good. There was cream and cold and delightful sugar all churned up together. Next came the crazy flavors and things got even better. Give me your Reese's peanut butter cups, your Butterfinger bars, your crushed Oreos yearning for chilly bliss! Who would have thought that the outrageously good could get even better? Well, the folks on this list discovered frozen nirvana in a myriad of new ways. Within our carefully concocted list you will find milkshakes made with chocolate, bacon, Sebastian Joe's ice cream, rich and frothy fruit confections and yes, the ultimate in adult decadence: the booze spiked milkshake. Strap on your fingerless gloves, brace for brain freeze and pull up a stool to join us for our favorite summer treat.

Did we miss your favorite or do grave injustice to the memory of a childhood beloved? Hit the comments and let us what you think!

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. The Bad Waitress Diner & Coffee Shop

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2 E 26th St
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 872-7575
(612) 872-7575
Visit Website
The popular breakfast joint on Eat Street knows that there are many mornings when you just can’t decide between a latte and a malt. No? Just me? Anyway, wake up with the Spyhouse Caramella Malt with vanilla ice cream, caramel and a smooth as silk cold-press from Spyhouse.
Facebook

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2. Ward 6 Food & Drink

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858 Payne Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55130
(651) 348-8181
(651) 348-8181
Visit Website
These adult milkshakes are some of the best deals in town. At only $7 a pop, you can get a brain freeze and a buzz. Mom’s Salted Caramel is an over the top concoction of Absolut Vanilia, dark cacao, caramel and a brilliant salted rim. Feeling vacationy? Try the Wonderful Ice Cream Suit with Meyers Rum and white Creme de Cacao.
Facebook

3. Burger Jones

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3200 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(612) 746-0800
(612) 746-0800
Visit Website
Let’s see if I can get through this without a single “when you’re jonesing for a malt” line. After you inhale a bucket of fries, top it off with a hard shake like the Southern Belle, crafted with Jim Beam, Peach Schnapps, Nilla Wafers, and peaches. Or maybe the sassy Nut Buster with Frangelico, Creme De Cocao and hazelnuts. There is a plethora of choices at both their Uptown and Burnsville locales.
Facebook>

4. Snuffy's Malt Shop

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244 Cleveland Ave S
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 690-1846
(651) 690-1846
Visit Website
Snuffy’s has been around for over 30 years and continues to provide classic favorites at ridiculously low prices. A burger for under $5 bucks? Believe it. Add a cherry phosphate and a basket of golden fries for the table and you’re in poodle skirt heaven. You might want to share the burger too, because the malts here feed a small army, or one and a half 9 year olds after soccer practice. A “half malt” is the size of a regular malt anywhere else and is only $3.85.
Facebook

5. Conny's Creamy Cone

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1197 Dale St N
Saint Paul, MN 55117
(651) 488-4150
(651) 488-4150
Visit Website
Conny’s in St. Paul is the quintessential neighborhood stand, where everyone gathers in the summer time, agreeably waiting in a winding line to get their hands on a dipped cone in one of about 1800 flavors. Their malts and shakes are equally popular, crafted by nice youngsters likely on their first summer job. Grab a seat at the picnic tables around the corner, and soak in the community vibe, even if you drove 30 minutes to get here. Work it off with a walk around Como Lake, just a few blocks West.
Yelp

6. The Malt Shop

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809 W 50th St
Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 824-1352
(612) 824-1352
Visit Website
First, it’s called The Malt Shop, so that’s gotta be a good thing. The menu consists of diner classics like salads, burgers and a nice list of vegetarian options, but save room for their signature malts. They have unique flavors like honey, pumpkin, cantaloupe and fig, and they use fresh fruit when in season.
Yelp

7. Annie's Parlour

Copy Link
313 14th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-0744
(612) 379-0744
Annie’s has been around since the beginning of time, and they are still serving the same beloved burgers and shakes near the University of Minnesota campus. The malt flavors are mostly traditional like Oreo, Butterfinger or hot fudge, but they are familiar in the best way possible and worth another visit to good ol’ Dinkytown.
Facebook

8. Convention Grill and Fountain

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3912 Sunnyside Rd
Edina, MN 55424
(612) 920-6881
(612) 920-6881
Visit Website
You may have noticed a theme of burgers and malts. It’s classic Americana at its best. At Convention Grill, you practically expect to see Al from Happy Days slinging burger and shaking his head at the Fonz. Red and white tablecloths and comfy booths have been welcoming families since 1934, and the quality and friendly service have not changed since.
Yelp

9. Milkjam Creamery

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2743 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 424-8855
(612) 424-8855
Visit Website
The hottest ice cream joint in town is undoubtedly this little shop, owned by chef Sameh Wadi of Saffron and World Street Kitchen. Crazy cool flavors and a few vegan options satisfy even the most discriminating of ice cream lovers. There is , of course, the already infamous Jam Bun – an ice cream sandwich crafted from a glazed Glam Doll donut, and the malts and shakes created with unique flavors like the signature Milkjam with three kinds of caramelized milks are heavenly, but if you are over 21, try the Adult Floats with sparkling wine, beer or lambic. It’s five o’clock somewhere.
Katie Cannon

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10. Hi-Lo Diner

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4020 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Visit Website
The Hi-Lo Diner is the best of all worlds. Old meets new with a beautifully restored diner car, a menu that draws on nostalgia with modern technique and an extensive list of milkshakes, some of which include booze. Enjoy them in one of the sleek booths or outside on the new, breezy patio.
Amber Procaccini

Also Featured in:

11. Prairie Dogs Hot Dogs & Handcrafted Sausages

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610 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 223-8984
(612) 223-8984
Visit Website
This neighborhood restaurant is best known for its hot dogs, that is what it's named for after all, but what most people don't know when horking down sausages and French fries is that it's imperative that they save room for dessert. Or heck, start with dessert in the form of their s'more malt made with Sebastian Joe's ice cream, drizzled with chocolate, sprinkled with bacon and garnished with marshmallows and a doughnut. Yes, it's insane, but the best adventures are.
Yelp

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1. The Bad Waitress Diner & Coffee Shop

2 E 26th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Facebook
The popular breakfast joint on Eat Street knows that there are many mornings when you just can’t decide between a latte and a malt. No? Just me? Anyway, wake up with the Spyhouse Caramella Malt with vanilla ice cream, caramel and a smooth as silk cold-press from Spyhouse.
2 E 26th St
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 872-7575
Visit Website

2. Ward 6 Food & Drink

858 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130
Facebook
These adult milkshakes are some of the best deals in town. At only $7 a pop, you can get a brain freeze and a buzz. Mom’s Salted Caramel is an over the top concoction of Absolut Vanilia, dark cacao, caramel and a brilliant salted rim. Feeling vacationy? Try the Wonderful Ice Cream Suit with Meyers Rum and white Creme de Cacao.
858 Payne Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55130
(651) 348-8181
Visit Website

3. Burger Jones

3200 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Facebook>
Let’s see if I can get through this without a single “when you’re jonesing for a malt” line. After you inhale a bucket of fries, top it off with a hard shake like the Southern Belle, crafted with Jim Beam, Peach Schnapps, Nilla Wafers, and peaches. Or maybe the sassy Nut Buster with Frangelico, Creme De Cocao and hazelnuts. There is a plethora of choices at both their Uptown and Burnsville locales.
3200 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(612) 746-0800
Visit Website

4. Snuffy's Malt Shop

244 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55105
Facebook
Snuffy’s has been around for over 30 years and continues to provide classic favorites at ridiculously low prices. A burger for under $5 bucks? Believe it. Add a cherry phosphate and a basket of golden fries for the table and you’re in poodle skirt heaven. You might want to share the burger too, because the malts here feed a small army, or one and a half 9 year olds after soccer practice. A “half malt” is the size of a regular malt anywhere else and is only $3.85.
244 Cleveland Ave S
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 690-1846
Visit Website

5. Conny's Creamy Cone

1197 Dale St N, Saint Paul, MN 55117
Yelp
Conny’s in St. Paul is the quintessential neighborhood stand, where everyone gathers in the summer time, agreeably waiting in a winding line to get their hands on a dipped cone in one of about 1800 flavors. Their malts and shakes are equally popular, crafted by nice youngsters likely on their first summer job. Grab a seat at the picnic tables around the corner, and soak in the community vibe, even if you drove 30 minutes to get here. Work it off with a walk around Como Lake, just a few blocks West.
1197 Dale St N
Saint Paul, MN 55117
(651) 488-4150
Visit Website

6. The Malt Shop

809 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Yelp
First, it’s called The Malt Shop, so that’s gotta be a good thing. The menu consists of diner classics like salads, burgers and a nice list of vegetarian options, but save room for their signature malts. They have unique flavors like honey, pumpkin, cantaloupe and fig, and they use fresh fruit when in season.
809 W 50th St
Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 824-1352
Visit Website

7. Annie's Parlour

313 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Facebook
Annie’s has been around since the beginning of time, and they are still serving the same beloved burgers and shakes near the University of Minnesota campus. The malt flavors are mostly traditional like Oreo, Butterfinger or hot fudge, but they are familiar in the best way possible and worth another visit to good ol’ Dinkytown.
313 14th Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 379-0744

8. Convention Grill and Fountain

3912 Sunnyside Rd, Edina, MN 55424
Yelp
You may have noticed a theme of burgers and malts. It’s classic Americana at its best. At Convention Grill, you practically expect to see Al from Happy Days slinging burger and shaking his head at the Fonz. Red and white tablecloths and comfy booths have been welcoming families since 1934, and the quality and friendly service have not changed since.
3912 Sunnyside Rd
Edina, MN 55424
(612) 920-6881
Visit Website

9. Milkjam Creamery

2743 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Katie Cannon
The hottest ice cream joint in town is undoubtedly this little shop, owned by chef Sameh Wadi of Saffron and World Street Kitchen. Crazy cool flavors and a few vegan options satisfy even the most discriminating of ice cream lovers. There is , of course, the already infamous Jam Bun – an ice cream sandwich crafted from a glazed Glam Doll donut, and the malts and shakes created with unique flavors like the signature Milkjam with three kinds of caramelized milks are heavenly, but if you are over 21, try the Adult Floats with sparkling wine, beer or lambic. It’s five o’clock somewhere.
2743 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 424-8855
Visit Website

10. Hi-Lo Diner

4020 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Amber Procaccini
The Hi-Lo Diner is the best of all worlds. Old meets new with a beautifully restored diner car, a menu that draws on nostalgia with modern technique and an extensive list of milkshakes, some of which include booze. Enjoy them in one of the sleek booths or outside on the new, breezy patio.
4020 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Visit Website

11. Prairie Dogs Hot Dogs & Handcrafted Sausages

610 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Yelp
This neighborhood restaurant is best known for its hot dogs, that is what it's named for after all, but what most people don't know when horking down sausages and French fries is that it's imperative that they save room for dessert. Or heck, start with dessert in the form of their s'more malt made with Sebastian Joe's ice cream, drizzled with chocolate, sprinkled with bacon and garnished with marshmallows and a doughnut. Yes, it's insane, but the best adventures are.
610 W Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 223-8984
Visit Website

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