New Yorkers have a love affair with the cold, creamy treat of milkshakes. Even the hottest months bring people to cool off at one of the city’s many milkshake restaurants.
These restaurants serve everything from buttery snow cones to boozy ice cream sodas and frozen yogurt concoctions.
Whether during brunch, happy hour, or late at night, these restaurants will satisfy many palates.
You’ll find the best milkshake restaurants in New York City on this list:
Here are 13 of New York City’s best milkshake bars.
1. Lekka Burger
- 81 Warren St, New York, NY 10007, United States
- Contact: +1 646-678-5367
- Visit website
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If you are looking for delicious, satisfying, and a little bit of Greek flair, Lekka Burger has the best milkshakes in New York City.
They have delicious shakes like the “Boss Shake,” which contains whiskey, Kahlua, and ice cream, or the more classic “Greek Street” with vanilla ice cream, crushed pistachio ice, and whipped cream.
They also have some on-trend treats, such as their honey lavender frozen yogurt topped with toasted coconut or their chocolate malt shake made with malted milk ice cream.
I ordered their “Greek Street” milkshake; it is topped with whipped cream, pistachio crumbs, and two wafer cookies shouting “Opa”! The shake was tart and sweet which I enjoyed.
The cookies were crunchy, and the whipped cream tasted just like the topping on a regular old bowl of ice cream.
I would highly recommend the Matcha shake, it is smooth and sweet, and I love the Matcha taste.
You could also get one with coffee or even salty pretzels! You should try it out if you haven’t already.
2. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
- 529 Broome St, New York, NY 10013, United States
- Contact: +1 917-639-3089
- Visit website
Looking for a great place to share mouthwatering shakes with friends? Head to Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer in SoHo. This restaurant is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, with a super trendy vibe.
This place is home to the most amazing burgers, milkshakes, and beer. Their S’More shake is a must-try made with chocolate ice cream, graham cracker crumbs, marshmallow fluff, and a whole roasted marshmallow!
Frozen hot chocolate lovers will enjoy the Double Rainbow made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and popping candy.
My friends and I enjoyed the American Milkshake made with vanilla ice cream and a pretzel stick. It was delicious, refreshing, and light.
3. Surreal Creamery
- 538 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
- Contact: +1 646-590-3575
- Visit website
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See what the entire buzz is about at Surreal Creamery, located at the Gansevoort Hotel in Meatpacking.
Visitors will love their unique and memorable milkshakes, including the Nutella Milkshake with Razzmatazz made with chocolate ice cream, Nutella liqueur, and chocolate cookie crunch.
Try the Surreal Milkshake made of vanilla ice cream, marshmallow fluff, and a graham cracker swirl for a more adventurous taste bud adventure.
They also have savory milkshakes for those craving something besides dessert. The Melt, Your Face off Fries Milkshake comprises fries, cheese curds, bacon bits, chives, and gravy.
This creamery place has delicious and decadent milkshakes to satisfy your sweet tooth.
4. MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes
- 485 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
- Contact: +1 917-261-2806
- Visit website
Located in Moxy NYC Times Square, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes has many meaty burgers and mouthwatering shakes.
They have the best chicken wings in NYC, milkshakes so creamy you’ll want to lick the glass and fries that are sure to make you want more!
Their most popular shake is the Nutella Milkshake made with Nutella brand chocolate hazelnut liqueur, caramel sauce, and chocolate chips. It’s a rich treat sure to satisfy any chocolate lover.
I tried their Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Milkshake and had the best time eating it. I loved the popcorn texture mixed with the smooth and creamy texture of the shake.
You can also try their Oreo milkshake—a great choice for chocolate lovers.
5. Sundae and Cones
- 95 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003, United States
- Contact: +1 212-979-9398
- Visit website
Located in SoHo, Sundae and Cones are one of the city’s most popular milkshake shops.
This place has a fun and friendly vibe that sets it apart from other milkshake places in NYC.
Their famous shakes include the Banana Split Milkshake made with vanilla ice cream, banana slices, and chocolate chips.
Try the Mango Madness Milkshake made with mango sorbet, silver rum syrup, and a mango slice for a unique flavor.
Their milkshakes are always thick and creamy. If you’re looking for a light, refreshing treat, try the Lemon Sorbet Milkshake made with lemon sorbet and lemon slices.
My friends and I loved their refreshing and fruity shakes, which were just the right amount of sweet.
Sundaes and Cones uniquely serve their milkshakes, so you can take them home (or you might want to share one with your friends)!
Try this place, and you’ll be hooked!
6. Schnipper’s
- 620 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
- Contact: +1 212-921-2400
- Visit website
Located in New York Times Building, Schnipper’s is known for its famous burgers.
They also have many milkshakes like the Cookies & Cream Milkshake with Oreo pieces, chocolate sauce, and Whipped cream.
Try the Rusty Nail Milkshake made with vodka and Frangelico if you’re craving something more adventurous.
Those who don’t have time to sit down at this popular restaurant also have milkshakes to go!
I loved the setting at Schnipper’s and the friendly staff. It’s a great place for families to enjoy a meal or dessert.
7. Ben & Jerry
- 30 Rockefeller Center Concourse Level, New York, NY 10020, United States
- Contact: +1 212-218-7843
- Visit website
If you’re in Rockefeller Center, stop by Ben &Jerry and enjoy a fun and memorable experience.
This famous ice cream spot is home to top-quality ice cream made from fresh ingredients.
They offer an extensive variety of ice cream flavors; including the famous beer-flavored that is sure to leave you wanting more.
Their milkshakes are always creamy and delicious. They have decadent flavor options like cookie dough, chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter cup, rocky road, green tea, and the obligatory birthday cake flavor.
On the ground floor of Rockefeller Centre, you will find this Iconic Vermont-based ice cream shop. Their ice cream is always the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
The Green Tea Fudge Brownie Milkshake is served with green tea ice cream, milk and fudge brownies.
It’s a great combination that will leave you feeling comforted in the cool February weather.
I enjoyed the Mango Madness Milkshake made with mango sorbet, silver rum syrup, and a mango slice. It was light, refreshing, and fruity.
This place is a must-visit for those visiting NYC who loves ice cream in the summertime!
8. Shake Shack
- 691 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036, United States
- Contact: +1 646-435-0135
- Visit website
Located in InterContinental New York Times Square, an IHG Hotel, Shakes Shack is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth.
This place has a great name and an even better shake! The Shackburger Shake has everything you need for a great meal. It’s made with vanilla ice cream, grilled onions, lettuce, and tomato.
They also have shakes with chocolate, peanut butter, cookie dough, chocolate chip cookie dough, and many other interesting flavors that you won’t be able to resist trying.
I loved their milkshakes and their friendly service. My favorite shake is the Black and White Shake made with vanilla phosphate and chocolate syrup.
This milkshake is a classic flavor combination—chocolate and vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate chunks. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are.
I also had to try their famous Shackmelter Milkshake (made with salty caramel sauce). It was sweet and salty, just as advertised. The Shakes Shack shakes have a delicious balance of sweetness, creaminess, and freshness that you’ll want to savor each delicious sip.
I recommend this place to anyone looking for a sweet treat.
9. Milk &Cream cereal Bar
- 159 Mott St, New York, NY 10013, United States
- View website
Milk & cream is a great place to stop if you’re looking for a spot in NYC and want something cold, salty, and sweet.
Their ice cream is homemade with real ingredients, and all of their shakes are made with fresh milk.
Their specialty shakes include the classic hot fudge sundae shake, think velvet chocolate milkshake, and chocolate peanut butter shake.
Try their green tea tiramisu shake if you’re looking for a unique experience. Milk & cream is one of NYC’s most popular edible shops with great ice cream and unique flavors of shakes.
My siblings and I popped into this cute shop in the West Village on a visit to our Grandmother. It was incredibly busy, and we had to wait about 15 minutes for our order.
When we finally got our food, I had the most delicious chocolate shake. It was thick, rich, and bursting with flavor.
The Oreo ice cream was creamy and almost melted in my mouth. The chocolate sauce made the shake slightly sweet without being too sweet. It was perfect.
If you’re looking for a real treat, I recommend getting this shake!
10. Harlem Shake
- 100 W 124th St, New York, NY 10027, United States
- Contact: +1 212-222-8300
- Visit website
Harlem Shake is a burger and shakes shop located in Harlem. They offer unique and delicious milkshakes, cones, soft-serve, cookies, and ice creams. Their shakes are made with fresh ingredients rather than premade from a machine.
The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Shake was creamy and rich, and it’s made with quality chocolate chips.
The almonds added more texture to the shake, which came out smooth and tasty.
I tried the Milk &Cheese shake, a combination of milk and white chocolate ice cream. It was a great flavor combination and made with real ingredients.
The shop is small so that the lines can be longer during busy times; however, the quality of their shake is excellent despite their small size!
I would recommend Harlem Shake to anyone visiting NYC looking for something unique and try out the Halzem nut shake!
11. Ray’s Candy Store
- 113 Avenues A, New York, NY 10009, United States
- Contact: +1 212-505-7609
- Visit website
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Nothing makes a rapid cooling sensation on a hot day like a cold cup of milkshake. This place is the perfect place to stop if you’re looking for a cool treat.
Though Ray’s is a small shop with limited seats, it offers high-quality ice cream and fresh ingredients to satisfy your taste buds.
Their classic milkshakes are made with fresh ingredients and creamy ice cream.
I loved their Neapolitan shake, which had vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream layers.
I also tried their Oreo shake, which is thick, creamy, and bursting with Oreo flavor.
Ray’s Candy store offers different unique shakes prepared with fresh ingredients.
If you’re looking for a classic milkshake with great fresh ingredients, this is a great place to stop.
12. Emack&Boilios
- Emack & Bolios, 389 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024, United States
- Contact: +1 212-362-2747
- Visit website
Emack &Bolio’s is a unique ice cream store in the heart of New York.
Choose your flavor and add as many toppings as desire for a milkshake. You can choose from over 50 toppings, including rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sauce, nuts, fruit, or cereal.
Their shakes are healthy and delicious with real ingredients. Their green tea shake is lightly sweet; the chocolate cookie dough shake is smooth, rich, and delicious; the espresso fudge bananas shake bursts with flavor.
After a long day at work, I walked into this place and was hoping for something refreshing and delicious.
The danish blueberry shake was the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. It was so delicious, and I had it two days in a row!
I would highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a tasty fresh milkshake or ice cream of your own.
13. Burgers N’ Shakes
- 264 Bleecker St, Brooklyn, NY 11237, United States
- Contact: +1 929-397-3134
- Visit website
If you’re looking for a place to relax while enjoying a tasty milkshake, Burgers N’ Shakes is the place to stop.
Their menu offers delicious hamburgers, sandwiches, fries, and shakes using fresh ingredients.
Who wouldn’t be excited by the name of their signature milkshake: “The Elvis.” This shake is layered with peanut butter, banana, and caramel. I recommend this shake if you’re a fan of peanut butter.
They offer two sundaes for one price as well. Their “Cup O’ Joe” has freshly squeezed orange juice and soft-serve ice cream with a layer of hot fudge and crushed Lucky Charms cereal on a waffle cone.
The “Chocolate” cup is made with fresh chocolate chips, whipped cream, and crushed Oreos, making this extra milkshake sweet.
I loved the blueberry, peanut butter, and banana shake, which was flavorful and refreshing.
If you’re looking for a delicious milkshake, Burgers N’ Shakes is the place to stop.
Final Thoughts
Milkshakes are the star of a dessert. They’re made with fresh ingredients rather than premade and can be made with chocolate or vanilla ice cream. It’s no wonder that these are such a popular dessert in New York.
If you’re looking for something unique to eat in NYC, milkshakes will satisfy your sweet tooth!
Which other milkshakes would you recommend? We would love to hear them, so feel free to leave a comment!
