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Where to Eat and Drink in Kendall Square

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Two vanilla milkshakes with whipped cream, cherry, and rainbow sprinkles on the rim of the glass sit on a table in a shiny red booth in a sleek diner setting.
Milkshakes at Rosebud in Davis Square.
Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

Where to Find Boozy Milkshakes and Floats in Greater Boston

A refreshing treat on a hot day

by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Updated
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Milkshakes at Rosebud in Davis Square.
| Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar
by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Updated

Temperatures are about to be unrelentingly hot, so it’s a good time for boozy milkshakes — or boozy frappes, if you prefer the correct regional terminology. For the purposes of this map, we're including beverages that include (1) ice cream and (2) booze, regardless of what the restaurant calls it on the menu. In addition to frosty blended beverages, we're also throwing in boozy ice cream floats and similar items for good measure.

Consult this map to track down these sweet adult dessert-drinks around the Boston area.

This map was originally published on May 24, 2016; the date of most recent update appears above.

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Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

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Specializing in whiskey, pies, and Southern-inspired cuisine, Rosebud offers bourbon-spiked milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and a rotating flavor of the week. The same flavors of shakes are also available without booze.

381 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 629-9500
(617) 629-9500

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The Hourly Oyster House

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This Harvard Square seafood spot, part of the restaurant group that includes Russell House Tavern, offers a variety of adult milkshakes that rotate monthly, such as a chocolate soft serve, rum, and Amaro di Angostura concoction called Bittersweet Symphony. An affogato martini (espresso martini with vanilla soft serve) is also available.

15 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 765-2342
(617) 765-2342

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Boston Burger Company

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With locations in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Salem, Boston Burger Co. offers over-the-top burgers with “freak frappes” to match. One of the currently available frappes is boozy — the Hard Apple Pie a la Mode (hard cider with vanilla ice cream, caramel, cinnamon sugar, and a graham cracker rim). Watch for monthly specials, too.

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(857) 242-3605
(857) 242-3605

Earnest Drinks at Gracie's Ice Cream

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Somerville ice cream shop Gracie’s has expanded to Cambridge, and the newer location includes a robust array of boozy and non-boozy beverages. There are adult frappes and floats aplenty: a pandan whiskey frappe, a lambrusco float, an ube coconut rum frappe, and even a build-your-own option. You could, for example, order Twinkies ‘n jam ice cream blended with rum, rainbow sprinkles, and Fritos. Choose your own adventure wisely.

399 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 631-9113
(617) 631-9113

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A&B Kitchen & Bar

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This full-service, burger-focused restaurant — with locations up in Beverly and in Boston’s West End — offers several “adult milkshakes,” including chocolate salted bourbon, peppermint Oreo, and more.

115 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114
(857) 449-2251
(857) 449-2251

Mamaleh's Delicatessen

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This Jewish delicatessen in Kendall Square has served a whole lot of fun drinks, boozy and otherwise, over the years, from egg creams to slivovitz. There are a few adult milkshakes on its current menu, including the malted brandy Alexander milkshake — cognac and creme de cacao blended into a malted vanilla milkshake and garnished with whipped cream, grated nutmeg, and a cherry.

One Kendall Square, 15 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 958-3354
(617) 958-3354

Versus

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At Downtown Crossing bar and arcade Versus, patrons can spike any of the milkshakes, which come in chocolate chocolate chip, vanilla churro, and strawberry candied strawberry.

42 Province St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 482-1213
(617) 482-1213

The Fed at the Langham, Boston

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The cocktail bar at the Langham hotel downtown offers an orange creamsicle float with optional rum alongside food options like customizable seafood towers, truffle lobster mac and cheese, and “glizzy sticks.”

250 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110
(617) 956-8765
(617) 956-8765

High Street Place

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New downtown Boston food hall High Street Place has a plethora of boozy options across its 19 vendors, with a couple in the ice cream territory. Burger favorite Wheelhouse, for example, has rotating flavors of adult milkshakes, such as sea salt caramel bourbon or chocolate peanut butter whiskey. And at Gorgeous Gelato, there’s an option to add a shot of booze (such as fernet or grappa) to an affogato.

100 High St, Boston, MA 02110

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The Capital Burger

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The Capital Burger, an offshoot of steakhouse chain the Capital Grille, features several spiked shakes alongside its fancy burgers, including the Stoli Doli, a vodka-spiked vanilla shake with candied pineapple.

159 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 262-1333
(617) 262-1333

Also featured in:

Nash Bar & Stage

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This Nashville-inspired restaurant and live music venue serves a couple boozy, dessert-y options to cap off a meal of a crispy chicken skin B.L.T. or pulled pork sliders. There’s the hummingbird cake shake, for one: vodka, vanilla, banana, pineapple, cinnamon, milk, pecan, and whipped cream, with an optional Skrewball peanut butter nip. Or try the cotton candy mimosa, featuring the soft-serve of the day with cotton candy and prosecco.

253 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 338-1000
(617) 338-1000

Crazy Good Kitchen (Boston location only)

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Burger-and-shake joint Crazy Good Kitchen, which originated in Malden, serves booze at its newer Newbury Street location, and diners can add it to any of the shakes, which come in classic flavors like strawberry and more elaborate options like “make it rain Nutella.” Boozy add-ons include chocolate whiskey, vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and more.

268 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 936-4359
(617) 936-4359

Citrus & Salt

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Alongside flavored margaritas, frozen cocktails, and optional souvenir palm tree and bikini bottles, Citrus & Salt has a mimosa float on the brunch menu, pairing the soft-serve sorbet of the day with a split of cava or rosé.

142 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
(833) 324-8787
(833) 324-8787

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Blossom Bar

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Popular Brookline Village cocktail bar and Sichuan restaurant Blossom Bar features its take on a boozy Dole Whip — Duan’s Whip (named for owner Ran Duan). Pineapple soft serve is enhanced with Havana Club Añejo Blanco, Martini Fiero, lime, and acerola. Try it with some spicy dry hot chicken.

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 734-1870
(617) 734-1870
A boozy dole whip sits in a Blossom Bar branded glass, with a pineapple in the background.
Duan’s Whip at Blossom Bar.
Blossom Bar

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Wahlburgers

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Boozy frappes have always been a staple at this rapidly growing international burger chain with Boston roots. Birthday cake and mud pie are on the currently flavor list, each spiked with vanilla vodka. Wahlburgers also has plenty of non-boozy shakes. There are Massachusetts locations in Boston (Fenway, Dorchester, and the airport), Hingham, Lynnfield, and Springfield.

9 District Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 282-5300
(617) 282-5300
Closeup of a chocolate frappe with a chocolate syrup swirl. There’s a green circle on the glass with a white “W” in it.
A frappe at Wahlburgers.
Wahlburgers

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OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

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The Chestnut Hill offshoot of this New York-based group of ice cream shops is a local rarity: a boozy ice cream shop. There are a variety of boozy floats, adult milkshakes, and liqueur-spiked affogati available.

55 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 505-6446
(617) 505-6446
A bulbous glass with a scoop of ice cream inside has red wine poured onto it
OddFellows combines booze and ice cream in a variety of ways.
OddFellows

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Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar

381 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02144

Specializing in whiskey, pies, and Southern-inspired cuisine, Rosebud offers bourbon-spiked milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and a rotating flavor of the week. The same flavors of shakes are also available without booze.

381 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 629-9500
(617) 629-9500

The Hourly Oyster House

15 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 02138

This Harvard Square seafood spot, part of the restaurant group that includes Russell House Tavern, offers a variety of adult milkshakes that rotate monthly, such as a chocolate soft serve, rum, and Amaro di Angostura concoction called Bittersweet Symphony. An affogato martini (espresso martini with vanilla soft serve) is also available.

15 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 765-2342
(617) 765-2342

Boston Burger Company

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

With locations in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Salem, Boston Burger Co. offers over-the-top burgers with “freak frappes” to match. One of the currently available frappes is boozy — the Hard Apple Pie a la Mode (hard cider with vanilla ice cream, caramel, cinnamon sugar, and a graham cracker rim). Watch for monthly specials, too.

1105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
(857) 242-3605
(857) 242-3605

Earnest Drinks at Gracie's Ice Cream

399 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Somerville ice cream shop Gracie’s has expanded to Cambridge, and the newer location includes a robust array of boozy and non-boozy beverages. There are adult frappes and floats aplenty: a pandan whiskey frappe, a lambrusco float, an ube coconut rum frappe, and even a build-your-own option. You could, for example, order Twinkies ‘n jam ice cream blended with rum, rainbow sprinkles, and Fritos. Choose your own adventure wisely.

399 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 631-9113
(617) 631-9113

A&B Kitchen & Bar

115 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114

This full-service, burger-focused restaurant — with locations up in Beverly and in Boston’s West End — offers several “adult milkshakes,” including chocolate salted bourbon, peppermint Oreo, and more.

115 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114
(857) 449-2251
(857) 449-2251

Mamaleh's Delicatessen

One Kendall Square, 15 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

This Jewish delicatessen in Kendall Square has served a whole lot of fun drinks, boozy and otherwise, over the years, from egg creams to slivovitz. There are a few adult milkshakes on its current menu, including the malted brandy Alexander milkshake — cognac and creme de cacao blended into a malted vanilla milkshake and garnished with whipped cream, grated nutmeg, and a cherry.

One Kendall Square, 15 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 958-3354
(617) 958-3354

Versus

42 Province St, Boston, MA 02108

At Downtown Crossing bar and arcade Versus, patrons can spike any of the milkshakes, which come in chocolate chocolate chip, vanilla churro, and strawberry candied strawberry.

42 Province St, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 482-1213
(617) 482-1213

The Fed at the Langham, Boston

250 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110

The cocktail bar at the Langham hotel downtown offers an orange creamsicle float with optional rum alongside food options like customizable seafood towers, truffle lobster mac and cheese, and “glizzy sticks.”

250 Franklin St, Boston, MA 02110
(617) 956-8765
(617) 956-8765

High Street Place

100 High St, Boston, MA 02110

New downtown Boston food hall High Street Place has a plethora of boozy options across its 19 vendors, with a couple in the ice cream territory. Burger favorite Wheelhouse, for example, has rotating flavors of adult milkshakes, such as sea salt caramel bourbon or chocolate peanut butter whiskey. And at Gorgeous Gelato, there’s an option to add a shot of booze (such as fernet or grappa) to an affogato.

100 High St, Boston, MA 02110

The Capital Burger

159 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

The Capital Burger, an offshoot of steakhouse chain the Capital Grille, features several spiked shakes alongside its fancy burgers, including the Stoli Doli, a vodka-spiked vanilla shake with candied pineapple.

159 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 262-1333
(617) 262-1333

Nash Bar & Stage

253 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

This Nashville-inspired restaurant and live music venue serves a couple boozy, dessert-y options to cap off a meal of a crispy chicken skin B.L.T. or pulled pork sliders. There’s the hummingbird cake shake, for one: vodka, vanilla, banana, pineapple, cinnamon, milk, pecan, and whipped cream, with an optional Skrewball peanut butter nip. Or try the cotton candy mimosa, featuring the soft-serve of the day with cotton candy and prosecco.

253 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 338-1000
(617) 338-1000

Crazy Good Kitchen (Boston location only)

268 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Burger-and-shake joint Crazy Good Kitchen, which originated in Malden, serves booze at its newer Newbury Street location, and diners can add it to any of the shakes, which come in classic flavors like strawberry and more elaborate options like “make it rain Nutella.” Boozy add-ons include chocolate whiskey, vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and more.

268 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 936-4359
(617) 936-4359

Citrus & Salt

142 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116

Alongside flavored margaritas, frozen cocktails, and optional souvenir palm tree and bikini bottles, Citrus & Salt has a mimosa float on the brunch menu, pairing the soft-serve sorbet of the day with a split of cava or rosé.

142 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
(833) 324-8787
(833) 324-8787

Blossom Bar

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445

Popular Brookline Village cocktail bar and Sichuan restaurant Blossom Bar features its take on a boozy Dole Whip — Duan’s Whip (named for owner Ran Duan). Pineapple soft serve is enhanced with Havana Club Añejo Blanco, Martini Fiero, lime, and acerola. Try it with some spicy dry hot chicken.

295 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 734-1870
(617) 734-1870
A boozy dole whip sits in a Blossom Bar branded glass, with a pineapple in the background.
Duan’s Whip at Blossom Bar.
Blossom Bar

Wahlburgers

9 District Ave, Boston, MA 02125

Boozy frappes have always been a staple at this rapidly growing international burger chain with Boston roots. Birthday cake and mud pie are on the currently flavor list, each spiked with vanilla vodka. Wahlburgers also has plenty of non-boozy shakes. There are Massachusetts locations in Boston (Fenway, Dorchester, and the airport), Hingham, Lynnfield, and Springfield.

9 District Ave, Boston, MA 02125
(617) 282-5300
(617) 282-5300
Closeup of a chocolate frappe with a chocolate syrup swirl. There’s a green circle on the glass with a white “W” in it.
A frappe at Wahlburgers.
Wahlburgers

Related Maps

OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

55 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

The Chestnut Hill offshoot of this New York-based group of ice cream shops is a local rarity: a boozy ice cream shop. There are a variety of boozy floats, adult milkshakes, and liqueur-spiked affogati available.

55 Boylston St, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 505-6446
(617) 505-6446
A bulbous glass with a scoop of ice cream inside has red wine poured onto it
OddFellows combines booze and ice cream in a variety of ways.
OddFellows

Related Maps