Celebrate the warm weather with our favorite Columbus milkshakes
The advent of warm weather means a lot of different things. It can signal beach trips, bike rides, barbecues, and more. If you’re like me, though, one of the most important perks of longer days and shorter sleeves is ironically something that’s itself frozen: milkshakes.
With seasonal ice cream stands across Ohio starting to open their doors for another spring and summer, we thought this would be a good time to get you up to speed on our favorite Columbus milkshakes spots. This list is by no means exclusive—because there are a lot of great places we have to leave out. It should give you a feel for what the city has to offer, from simple, classic shakes to wild and indulgent masterpieces. So grab a straw or a spoon (we won’t get into that debate here), and dig into this list.
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If you haven’t heard of this south-campus spot slinging speciality milkshakes and coffee drinks, that’s probably because they haven’t been open long. And now that you have heard of them, feel free to thank us. These gravity-defying milkshakes regularly use candy, baked goods, and even entire cookie ice cream sandwiches (in the case of their Cookies ‘N Cream Milkshake) as extravagant garnishes. This means these frozen treats, which are truly a sight to behold, often wind up standing feet tall, with every inch as delicious as the last.
Don’t let the name fool you. Krema has been a Columbus institution for (brace yourself) over 120 years, and while nuts are how most people know them, this Cbus spot also serves up a variety of other sweet treats. One of these is a classic, hand-scooped milkshake that’s always made to order. While they only come in one size—16 ounces—don’t worry, you’re probably going to finish the whole thing anyway. You can order Krema’s milkshakes for curbside pickup (at 1000 Goodale Blvd.) here.
Boozy. Milkshakes. We’re not sure we even have to say anything else here. Hadley’s chic downtown location is currently serving up a variety of alcohol-infused milkshakes, and we can’t think of a better way to blow off a little steam on the weekends. Some of their creations include the Strawberry Shortcake Shake (featuring Smirnoff strawberry and fresh strawberries), and the Oreo Bonanza (with Smirnoff vanilla and cookie pieces).
This wildly-popular spot for throwback drive-in fare first started in Akron in 1934, and since has expanded to multiple other Ohio locations (including five in the greater Columbus area). And we’re sure glad it did. While Swenson’s food is top-notch and bolstered by a fun, nostalgic, Americana atmosphere, what really steals the show are their milkshakes. These shakes are offered in 18 different flavors—including interesting options like root beer, peanut butter, mocha, and mint. They’re even offering a seasonal Nutella milkshake. And if one’s not enough, you can feel free to mix up your own flavor combinations.
For a fun and delicious change of pace, Diamonds is absolutely worth a visit.nThis northside spot serves up of Mexican ice cream, incorporating all sorts of delicious—and unique—flavors, such as corn and chili powder. And that includes their milkshakes as well. Check out Diamonds’ Gansito Milkshake, which features a decked-out shake with your choice of ice cream flavor topped with sprinkles, whipped cream, and an entire Gansito, a delectable crème and jam-filled Mexican snack cake.
While Tony’s hasn’t been around Columbus as long as Krema Nut Co., they’ve still served up their own beloved brand of hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream treats for west side residents (located at 5266 W. Broad St.) since 1951. And in many ways, Tony’s small, unassuming storefront mirrors the milkshakes they serve up: simple and unpretentious, but still classic. Tony’s offers everything from a kids-sized serving to a whopping 32-ounce milkshake, which you can make extra thick for an additional 50 cents.
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