If dessert had a dress code, the milkshakes at this buzzy dessert bar would be turning up in sequins. On Parramatta’s ever-busy Church Street and Brighton-Le-Sands’ Grand Parade, the shakes arrive tall, glossy and ready for their close-up, brimming with scoops, sauce and just a hint of excess in all the right places. Chocolatey, fruity or somewhere gloriously in between, each one is blended to that sweet spot between sippable and spoonable. Take it outside and claim a front-row seat to the street’s evening buzz. After all, this is the sort of milkshake that prefers to be admired before it’s tackled. Multiple locations; bayvista.com.au

If your milkshake order usually sits somewhere between ‘treat’ and ‘personality trait’, this is the place for you. The salted caramel is complex and sophisticated, the Malteser version tastes like someone liquified a cinema snack, and the vegan mango Weiss bar number is a sunny throwback with a plant-based twist. True to form, Reuben Hills treats its shakes with the same care as its specialty coffee, meaning they’re creamy without being cloying and sweet without tipping into chaotic novelty. It’s an indulgent order, yes, but never sloppy, and a reminder that milkshakes don’t have to be childish to be fun. 61 Albion St, Surry Hills; reubenhills.com.au

Salt in your hair, sand on your feet and a milkshake in your hand is the general vibe at this cafe in the heart of Cronulla. Served in either jars or takeaway cups, they’re great for the short walk back to the beach, where they’re a welcome cool-down after a swim. Done with the beach? These robustly flavoured shakes also pair perfectly with one of the venue’s titular jaffles, which skew savoury (try the shepherd’s pie, or ‘Miss Hangover’ if you’ve had a big night), and sweet (think Biscoff or Nutella). They’re basically summer in a cup – no sunscreen required. 9/20 Gerrale St, Cronulla; @missjafflescafe

Old-school soda-jerk vibes meet grid-ready dessert maximalism in this line-up of loaded milkshakes that show up ready to start a party. Crunchie, Snickers, Mint Aero and Bueno headline a roster that leans heavily into chocolate, crunch and an excess of whipped cream, often spilling enthusiastically over the rim of the glass. They’re the logical conclusion to a feast of burgers and fries, especially if you’re in the mood for a bit of a spectacle. These are best enjoyed slowly, partly to fully appreciate the excellent chocolate bar-inspired flavours, and partly to minimise the chances of an ice cream headache. 20/22 Macquarie St, Parramatta; milkylane.co

There’s a very specific pleasure that comes from ordering a coffee, a pastry and a milkshake, then immediately leaving with all three for a park picnic across the road. This Inner West favourite makes that ritual infectiously easy, dolling out creamy, classic shakes that feel tailor-made for sipping under a tree in Petersham Park. Pair yours with something flaky from the pastry cabinet and let the morning unfold slowly between bites and slurps. It’s low-stakes indulgence at its most charmingly local; the kind of everyday luxury that turns a quick cafe stop into an occasion (even if you’re doing it alone). 1 Station St, Petersham; thepigandpastry.com.au

Dairy-free doesn’t have to mean fun-free, as evidenced by the frappe shakes spun with vegan ice cream at this diner-vibed cafe on the Enmore Park end of Addison. Vanilla, chocolate, Biscoff and cappuccino flavours all make the cut; each with an addictive creamy texture somewhere between milkshake and smoothie. It’s the sort of menu item ordered by one person but soon passed around the table because everyone wants to know how something plant-based tastes this much like the real deal. Save time and order a bunch when you arrive, then sit back and let Marrickville’s laid-back energy do the rest. 23-29 Addison Rd, Marrickville; matineecoffee.com

When your burger arrives stacked and your fries come loaded, a dainty, simple milkshake simply won’t do. The shakes whipped up here are big, creamy, and far from classic. Forget chocolate, vanilla and strawberry: here your options are the Biscoff, a salted caramel fudge, and the pun-tastic Oreo-na-Grande. Sure, they’re the sort that flirt with both brain freezes and sugar highs if you go too hard too soon, but that’s part of the appeal on a warm Western Sydney afternoon. Grab one to go or settle in and let it slowly become more drinkable while you recover from lunch. Multiple locations; fatjaks.com.au

Milkshakes here come with options, and not just the flavour kind. Vanilla malt, choc fudge and strawberries and cream sit alongside a rotating weekly special that rewards repeat visits. But the real plot twist is the ability to spike your shake with the spirit or liqueur of your choosing. Even without the added booze, these are rich, nostalgic and surprisingly balanced, managing to hold their own next to the venue’s famously overachieving burgers. Order one straight for the throwback experience, or treat it as a very tall, very creamy nightcap that just happens to arrive with whipped cream on top. 52 Phillip St, Sydney; barluca.com.au

Come mid-afternoon, Auburn’s student population starts to orbit this place in search of something sweet. Pistachio, strawberry and coco banana are among the headline milkshake flavours, each built on house-made gelato that gives the shakes an almost velvety finish compared to standard ice cream blends. It’s a little more dessert than drink, ideal for a warm day, and perfectly suited to lingering at an outdoor table while the suburb bustles by. The result is something substantial enough to feel like a reward after a long lecture, but refreshing enough to justify hanging out for a few more minutes before heading home. 121 Auburn Rd, Auburn; snowbar.com.au

These are the kinds of thickshakes that make you wonder if your straw is more decoration than tool. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry all arrive with the structural integrity of soft-serve cement, demanding patience, commitment and possibly a quick jaw stretch beforehand. It’s part of the charm; these aren’t designed to be politely sipped between bites, but properly wrestled alongside a stack of fries. Order one with a burger and lean fully into the diner experience, or take it away and let it mellow into something more sippable while you stroll. Either way, this is an unapologetic thickshake that doesn’t mess around. Multiple locations; ribsandburgers.com/au