Treat yourself to one of San Francisco’s best milkshakes.
Once in awhile we all need a tall, frosty milkshake. When you treat yourself to a shake, or split one with your kid, you want only the best. For a city where you never need to cool off, San Francisco’s milkshake game is on point. From classic chocolate diner shakes to bruleed marshmallows to vegan cacao-laced treats, there’s an ice cold milkshake for every kind of shake fan.
Little known fact: Fog pairs well with a shake. So does Friday after school with the babysitter or nanny, or a long weekend with the whole family. Both feel a little more decadent with a round of milkshakes. When it’s time to shake, we’ve got you covered. Here are San Francisco’s top 10 milkshakes, sure to make your day (and your Instagram)!
Salted Butterscotch Shake at Shakedown
Address: 835 Geary St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday, 4 p.m. – midnight | Saturday 2 p.m. – midnight | Sunday, 2 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 415-374-7523
Move over salted caramel, there’s a new salty sweet kid in town! Shakedown’s salted butterscotch milkshake is pure, creamy bliss. Drenched in butterscotch sauce and topped with a cloud of whipped cream, it’s a blast of sweetness balanced with salt. Shakedown makes small batch ice cream from fresh ingredients, and they pack a flavorful punch. It’s a small space with some seating, and it’s only open later in the day — after 4 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on weekends. This is an ideal spot to grab a late afternoon, to-go milkshake.
Address: 740 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 415-349-0942
Frosty, chocolatey, and full of legendary Dandelion chocolate, this is a chocolate lover’s dream. There’s plenty of seating at Dandelion toward the front and at the bar along the side, and it’s close to Dolores Park and smack dab on Valencia street if you feel like strolling. The one caveat is that it’s a tough place to park, so opt for public transit (BART is close by) or a ride-sharing app, especially on the weekends. Chocolate lovers can schedule a factory tour to find out how the chocolate is made, which is open to kids over the age of 8.
Dream Shake at St. Francis Fountain
Address: 2801 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone: 415-826-4210
The Dream Shake is a delightful creamsicle-style drink, reminiscent of an Orange Julius, that’s served up in St. Francis Fountain’s cool, old-timey glassware. The funky, fun interior is full of cozy booths and a vibe that feels like an SF spin on a throwback diner. You can even sidle up to the soda bar to sip on your shake, but we recommend pairing it with a patty melt and fries at one of the booths. Go all in. Live a little. This place has seriously long lines on the weekends, but it’s pretty easy to get a weekday table.
Cacao Paradise at Elixiria
Address: 25 Beale St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 628-444-3149
Elixiria calls this a “Guilt Free Frosty Shake,” and it might be the only shake on the list that’ll give you energy instead of making you want to curl up for a good nap. First off it’s vegan, so everyone can enjoy it without having to worry about dairy. Secondly, white sugar is swapped for raw coconut blossom sugar. Cashews, raw cacao paste, vanilla powder, Himalayan salt, and ice cubes are the backbone of this beverage. It’s a superfood dream come true, complete with energizing cacao and healthy fats and proteins from cashews. It makes you feel good while tasting incredible. You won’t miss your usual ice-cream filled order elsewhere when you slurp on one of these. Bonus: On busy days, you can order delivery shakes from Elixiria on Grubhub.
Milkbean Milkshake at Milkbean SF
Address: 881 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 415-866-8811
Let’s call this shake “wake-up and s’more.” If you need a little coffee, and a big ole toasted marshmallow (come on, who doesn’t?), the Milkbean milkshake is calling your name. This namesake shake combines Milkbean’s rich vanilla bean ice cream and whole milk with a super strong shot of espresso. The concoction is topped with a mega toasted marshmallow and big swirl of whipped cream. Ooey, gooey, creamy, coffee-laced — it’s an explosion of flavor and textures bound to tantalize your tastebuds. This is a great place for a leisurely shake since there’s plenty of seating and a menu of homemade pastries, subs, and breakfast sandwiches.
O Canada! at The Ice Cream Bar SF
Address: 815 Cole St., San Francisco, CA 94117
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, noon – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 11 p.m.
Phone: 415-742-4932
It’s the rare nighttime milkshake! This is a fun go-to for a date night, a kid date, or maybe even a slumber party activity — but get there early. The interior is a sleek and chipper old-school soda fountain, complete with staff in throwback soda jerk outfits. A soda fountain-style lunch counter menu of savory bites, like tuna melts and grilled cheese, completes the retro picture. There are floats, boozy shakes for grownups, and coffee-laced shakes. But if you’re looking for a shake to split with your kid, look no further than the O Canada! This creamy maple shake has a unique flavor with a little tang from the buttermilk. It’s a guaranteed hit. All drinks are served in cute, old-fashioned glassware, so make sure to take some pictures with the kids on your milkshake date.
Vanilla at It’s Tops Coffee Shop
Address: 1801 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Hours: Monday & Tuesday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Wednesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. – 3 a.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 415-431-6395
Sometimes your sweet tooth can only be satisfied by a straightforward, classic shake. When that craving comes, head over to It’s Tops Coffee Shop for the best vanilla shake in town. It’s Tops feels a little bit like a time machine with its tabletop jukeboxes, retro-styled waitresses, and kitschy interior. Cushy booths are the ideal place to sip on a big, frosty vanilla milkshake. If you’re in the market for pure junk food bliss, pair it with one of the burgers and a piping hot order of onion rings. It’s Tops Coffee Shop boasts the latest hours of all the spots on this list, meaning if you ever need a 2 a.m. shake, this is the place for you.
Funfetti Milkshake at Over the Moon
Address: 2144 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, noon – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, noon – 11 p.m.
Phone: 415-359-0055
Funfetti fans, your fave cake is about to be your fave new shake. It doesn’t get much more festive than this sprinkle-flecked, sweet vanilla milkshake. A mountain of whipped cream topped with more colorful sprinkles completes this mouthwatering picture. It’s like a birthday in a cup, guaranteed to banish your blues and make you feel like you’ve truly treated yourself. All the ice cream is made in-house. It’s fresh, frosty, creamy, and downright dreamy. This is the perfect drink to walk hand-in-hand with as you enjoy some Marina window shopping.
Snickerdoodle Milkshake at The Melt
Address: 1 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 415-813-6062
The Melt is typically known for their cheesy, melty grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers. But did you know they also boast an out-of-this-world shake menu to cool you down from your molten hot cheese fest? The snickerdoodle milkshake tastes just like that chewy sugar cookie gently laced with warm cinnamon. It’s a twist on classic vanilla and an homage to an adored childhood sweet. This is the perfect pick-me-up for adults and kids alike.
Strawberry Milkshake at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – New Mission
Address: 2550 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Hours: Varies by showtimes
Phone: 415-549-5959
Embrace the ideal combo: milkshake + movie. Comfy seating, great food and drinks delivered to your seat, and awesome theatres mean you’ll want to see all upcoming blockbusters at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. And when you do, don’t miss out on the strawberry shake. That sweet, strawberry jam flavor combined with creamy vanilla ice cream is a can’t-miss accompaniment to your next movie night. Add a bottomless bowl of buttered popcorn and you’re all set for a fun, snack-filled few hours.
