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hummer milkshake
A hummer milkshake from Mercury Burger Bar
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Where to Drink Detroit’s Finest Milkshakes

From rich, creamy, classic shakes to boozy adult brain freezers

by Lexi Trimpe
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A hummer milkshake from Mercury Burger Bar
| Michelle and Chris Gerard
by Lexi Trimpe

Oh, the milkshake. A burger’s best companion, it's the most socially acceptable way to consume ice cream before dessert. When temperatures surge, it's essential to know where to find the goods. From rich, creamy, classic shakes to boozy adult brain freezers, here are some of the best milkshake destinations around metro Detroit.

Did we overlook your favorite milkshake destination? Drop a note in the comments or at the tipline. Locations are organized geographically, never ranked.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Mercury Burger & Bar

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Indulge in a boozy Detroit classic — the hummer milkshake — at this Corktown burger restaurant. Made with Kahlua, dark rum, and vanilla ice cream, it’s dangerously delicious. Virgin shakes are also available in flavors like strawberry and chocolate, or you could opt for another Motor City original, the Boston Cooler, made with Vernor’s and scoops of ice cream.

2163 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI
(313) 924-5000
(313) 924-5000
hummer milkshake Michelle and Chris Gerard

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Mudgie's Deli

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You can’t have a great milkshake without great milk. Mudgie’s knows that. Made with Calder Dairy milk and the ice cream flavor of your choice, this deli’s shake pairs perfectly the restaurant’s monster sandwiches and tastes even better on the patio. 

1300 Porter St, Detroit, MI
(313) 961-2000
(313) 961-2000

Also featured in:

Checker Bar

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This downtown dive bar staple not only dishes out one of the best bar burgers around, but some of the best shakes, spun with locally-made Reilly Craft Creamery ice cream. It’s hard to go wrong with flavors like fresh vanilla and salted caramel blended with add ins like a crunchy waffle cone. Kick it up a notch and make it an “adult” shake with your choice of alcohol blended in.

124 Cadillac Sq, Detroit, MI
(313) 961-9249
(313) 961-9249
checker bar Michelle and Chris Gerard

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Shake Shack

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Although this chain hails from NYC, Shake Shack has some Detroit-centric additions to their menu. The Motor City Mix concrete is made with vanilla custard, peanut butter sauce, Bon Bon Bon dark chocolate with Rocky’s honey roasted peanuts and chocolate toffee. When it comes to more sippable options, classic custard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter are available as shakes or malts daily as well as seasonal flavors like salted vanilla toffee.

660 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
three shakes Facebook

Punch Bowl Social

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This adult playground blends both boozy and virgin shakes in flavors like Almond Joy —a mix of chocolate ice cream, coconut cream, almonds, and shaved coconut. The whole thing is topped off with a swirl of whipped cream. 

1331 Broadway, Detroit, MI
(313) 749-9738
(313) 749-9738
maple bacon milkshake Facebook

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Royale With Cheese

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New to Cass Corridor this spring, this Pulp Fiction-inspired burger spot is serving up fancy custard shakes. Royale With Cheese features fun flavors like Fruity Pebbles, Nutella, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch live alongside of classics like  vanilla bean and strawberry.

4163 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI
Facebook

Brome Burgers & Shakes

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Two words: cornflake milkshake. While it might sound bizarre, Brome Burgers & Shakes is onto something. This breakfast-inspired custard milkshake is in a class of its own, although flavors like Madagascar vanilla and salted caramel make satisfying alternatives. 

22062 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI
(313) 996-5050
(313) 996-5050
Facebook

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Public House

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This Ferndale bar and restaurant turns out quality, unpretentious food and fun desserts. Public House is known for its monthly ice cream specials and cotton candy, but the restaurant also makes a tasty boozy milkshake. While the choices change seasonally, recent milkshake renditions have featured pineapple rum, Coco Lopez, pineapple juice, and vanilla ice cream.

241 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI
(248) 850-7420
(248) 850-7420
boozy milkshake Facebook

Also featured in:

B Spot Burgers

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Michael Symon’s B Spot serves up gourmet milkshakes with creative blends like a vanilla bean, apple pie, and bacon and chocolate banana marshmallow. Add booze for a few bucks more. 

310 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI
(248) 268-1621
(248) 268-1621

Because bacon tastes great with everything. #goodeats #royaloak #myhappyplace #baconshake #bacon #dessert

A post shared by ElleSee(LC)isaFoodie (@elleseeisafoodie) on

Vinsetta Garage

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Made with liquid nitrogen-churned ice cream, Vinsetta Garage may have the creamiest shakes around. Try one with Rock n’ Rye ice cream for a treat you truly can’t get anywhere else. 

27799 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI
(248) 548-7711
(248) 548-7711

A post shared by Riders of Rohan (@negandhi89) on

Browndog Dessert Bar

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Boozy ice cream is one of the things Browndog does best. Beer barrel bourbon infused ice cream and pralined pecans blend perfectly into thick, creamy shakes. Non-alcoholic offerings like a decadent cherry chip chipotle or salted caramel ice cream can also be swirled into the sweet treat, or even used to top beer floats.

33314 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
(248) 615-2955
(248) 615-2955

Basement Burger Bar

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Build-your-own burgers and shakes are what’s on the menu at this local chain. Here you can get creative by picking any two of your favorite flavors such as Nutella, apple crumbles, cheesecake, or brownie mix to be blended into creamy Hudsonville ice cream. 

33316 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
(248) 957-8179
(248) 957-8179

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Mercury Burger & Bar

2163 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI

Indulge in a boozy Detroit classic — the hummer milkshake — at this Corktown burger restaurant. Made with Kahlua, dark rum, and vanilla ice cream, it’s dangerously delicious. Virgin shakes are also available in flavors like strawberry and chocolate, or you could opt for another Motor City original, the Boston Cooler, made with Vernor’s and scoops of ice cream.

2163 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI
(313) 924-5000
(313) 924-5000
hummer milkshake Michelle and Chris Gerard

Mudgie's Deli

1300 Porter St, Detroit, MI

You can’t have a great milkshake without great milk. Mudgie’s knows that. Made with Calder Dairy milk and the ice cream flavor of your choice, this deli’s shake pairs perfectly the restaurant’s monster sandwiches and tastes even better on the patio. 

1300 Porter St, Detroit, MI
(313) 961-2000
(313) 961-2000

Checker Bar

124 Cadillac Sq, Detroit, MI

This downtown dive bar staple not only dishes out one of the best bar burgers around, but some of the best shakes, spun with locally-made Reilly Craft Creamery ice cream. It’s hard to go wrong with flavors like fresh vanilla and salted caramel blended with add ins like a crunchy waffle cone. Kick it up a notch and make it an “adult” shake with your choice of alcohol blended in.

124 Cadillac Sq, Detroit, MI
(313) 961-9249
(313) 961-9249
checker bar Michelle and Chris Gerard

Shake Shack

660 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI

Although this chain hails from NYC, Shake Shack has some Detroit-centric additions to their menu. The Motor City Mix concrete is made with vanilla custard, peanut butter sauce, Bon Bon Bon dark chocolate with Rocky’s honey roasted peanuts and chocolate toffee. When it comes to more sippable options, classic custard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter are available as shakes or malts daily as well as seasonal flavors like salted vanilla toffee.

660 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
three shakes Facebook

Punch Bowl Social

1331 Broadway, Detroit, MI

This adult playground blends both boozy and virgin shakes in flavors like Almond Joy —a mix of chocolate ice cream, coconut cream, almonds, and shaved coconut. The whole thing is topped off with a swirl of whipped cream. 

1331 Broadway, Detroit, MI
(313) 749-9738
(313) 749-9738
maple bacon milkshake Facebook

Royale With Cheese

4163 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI

New to Cass Corridor this spring, this Pulp Fiction-inspired burger spot is serving up fancy custard shakes. Royale With Cheese features fun flavors like Fruity Pebbles, Nutella, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch live alongside of classics like  vanilla bean and strawberry.

4163 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI
Facebook

Brome Burgers & Shakes

22062 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI

Two words: cornflake milkshake. While it might sound bizarre, Brome Burgers & Shakes is onto something. This breakfast-inspired custard milkshake is in a class of its own, although flavors like Madagascar vanilla and salted caramel make satisfying alternatives. 

22062 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI
(313) 996-5050
(313) 996-5050
Facebook

Public House

241 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI

This Ferndale bar and restaurant turns out quality, unpretentious food and fun desserts. Public House is known for its monthly ice cream specials and cotton candy, but the restaurant also makes a tasty boozy milkshake. While the choices change seasonally, recent milkshake renditions have featured pineapple rum, Coco Lopez, pineapple juice, and vanilla ice cream.

241 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI
(248) 850-7420
(248) 850-7420
boozy milkshake Facebook

B Spot Burgers

310 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI

Michael Symon’s B Spot serves up gourmet milkshakes with creative blends like a vanilla bean, apple pie, and bacon and chocolate banana marshmallow. Add booze for a few bucks more. 

310 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI
(248) 268-1621
(248) 268-1621

Because bacon tastes great with everything. #goodeats #royaloak #myhappyplace #baconshake #bacon #dessert

A post shared by ElleSee(LC)isaFoodie (@elleseeisafoodie) on

Vinsetta Garage

27799 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI

Made with liquid nitrogen-churned ice cream, Vinsetta Garage may have the creamiest shakes around. Try one with Rock n’ Rye ice cream for a treat you truly can’t get anywhere else. 

27799 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI
(248) 548-7711
(248) 548-7711

A post shared by Riders of Rohan (@negandhi89) on

Browndog Dessert Bar

33314 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI

Boozy ice cream is one of the things Browndog does best. Beer barrel bourbon infused ice cream and pralined pecans blend perfectly into thick, creamy shakes. Non-alcoholic offerings like a decadent cherry chip chipotle or salted caramel ice cream can also be swirled into the sweet treat, or even used to top beer floats.

33314 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
(248) 615-2955
(248) 615-2955

Basement Burger Bar

33316 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI

Build-your-own burgers and shakes are what’s on the menu at this local chain. Here you can get creative by picking any two of your favorite flavors such as Nutella, apple crumbles, cheesecake, or brownie mix to be blended into creamy Hudsonville ice cream. 

33316 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
(248) 957-8179
(248) 957-8179

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