Philly’s best boozy milkshakes tap into nostalgia

Philly boasts some great shakes. Nifty Fifty’s are a favorite with its traditional ice cream milkshakes served right in the metal malt cup used to make them. Goldie, Philly’s local falafel chain, has cultivated a fan-base for its tahini shakes, and Kook’s Burger & Bar places a whole slice of cake atop its shakes.

What else can a shake gourmand look forward to if they’ve had it all? Enter boozy shakes and slushies. An adult riff on childhood decadence, boozy shakes are at the center of a Venn diagram satisfying your sweet tooth, keeping you cool, and even indulging nostalgia.

From chocolate liqueurs paired with fruity ice creams to malt-based slushies that use Mike’s Hard, Philly spots cover the bases when it comes to alcoholic dessert beverages. Here are some of the best.

Bella Vista Beverage isn’t just the neighborhood beer distributor with over a thousand beers available. It also has adult slushies to go. Six slushie wells are available each week with rotating flavors like Mike’s Harder black cherry, Get Slushed frozen pineapple, and Neon Burst punch blast. The shop cat, “Gary,” has slushies named after him from time to time as well. While Bella Vista Bev’s slushie mix itself doesn’t have any liquor, the addition of 8% alcohol malt beverages packs a punch. Grab a 20 oz. cup for $6.99 , and get a sixer on your way out.

📍 755 S. 11th St., 📞 215-627-6465, 🌐 bvbeerphilly.com

In the heart of Philly’s Jewelers Row sits a classic American pub-grub joint with a fine selection of boozed-up milkshakes. With beers, liquors, and liqueurs, Craftsman Row Saloon concocts bold flavor pairings from chocolates and beers to fruits and vodkas. Try its $16 signature spiked milkshakes like 3 Strikes You’re Stout, a stout and chocolate liqueur shake, or the Salty Dog, with Frangelico, vanilla vodka, and chocolate. Even better, any of its shakes can be made boozy for $6 — ask for your favorite liquor or have one suggested for you.

📍 112 S. 8th St., 📞 215-923-0123, 🌐 craftsmanrowsaloon.com

A frozen delight that will be familiar — it’s rosé but make it frozen. Garage’s watermelon frosé is a must-have that is a years-old staple to its neighborhood watering holes, found at both its Fishtown and Passyunk locations. Its mix of rosé and vodka, plus watermelon Red Bull for a kick, is a sweet and fun way to shake things up from Garage’s selection of hundreds of canned bears. Grab a $12 watermelon frosé while enjoying karaoke, trivia nights, or watch parties.

📍 100 E. Girard Ave. / 1231 Passyunk Ave., 📞 215-515-3167 / 215-278-2429, 🌐 garagephilly.com

The only New Jersey destination on this list but for good reason, Lickety Splitz Sweet & Sinful Ice Cream stays true to the name. Choose between its seasonal ice cream cocktails or pick your favorite ice cream flavors and a shot of liquor to create a boozy masterpiece. The cocktails really sing, like its Pink Lemonade à la mode with Pink Whitney vodka, lemonade, and cranberry juice with a scoop of lemonade ice cream. There’s even an ice cream beer float with citrusy wheat Blue Moon and a scoop of orange Creamsicle ice cream. Signature cocktails are $9 to $12, or make your own milkshake ($6.95 to $7.85). Lickety Splitz is a part of the Laurel Lanes family entertainment center, so enjoy those beverages alongside a bowling alley, bar and restaurant or while playing pool and other games.

📍 2825 Rt. 73-S, Maple Shade, 📞 856-778-7467, 🌐 laurellanesnj.com

Philadelphia’s original board game cafe, Thirsty Dice teams up with Philly’s (and the country’s) original ice cream parlor, Bassetts, to deliver mouthwatering milkshakes. Using some of the city’s best ice cream, Thirsty Dice chooses the perfect liquors to match, through combinations like Skrewball peanut butter whiskey and Bassetts peanut butter swirl ice cream or Bird Dog apple whiskey, French vanilla ice cream, and apple pie filling. Take a refreshing break from its over 1,000 board games with a boozy shake for $17.50.

📍 1642 Fairmount Ave., 📞 215-765-2679, 🌐 thirstydice.com