Call them monster milkshakes, freak shakes, or epic shakes, it’s obvious that there’s a global milkshake war happening. Our favorite restaurants and dessert shops are battling it out to create the most over-the-top and gravity defying creations. 

The Lost Bread

This Maginhawa Street gem recently opened a larger space in the neighborhood and they’ve upped the ante on their menu. Their offering of four milkshakes (called Overshakes here) are seriously delicious and Instagram-worthy. The best-selling Popshake (PHP295) is comprised of a hazelnut chocolate and pistachio milkshake crowned with chocolate sauce, white chocolate and pistachio shards, whipped cream, as well as a banana, chocolate, hazelnut, and pistachio popsicle by Liq My Stick — oh my! The Carousel (PHP295), however, is too pretty to pass up. This white chocolate and Chocnut shake is gilded with a bright blue ball of peppermint candy floss, multicolored sprinkles, a swirled marshmallow lollipop, two strawberry love letters, and ice gem cookies. 91 Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Quezon City. +63 917 8212111, www.thelostbread.com. Daily 5pm-11pm.

Scout’s Honor

Chef Miko Aspiras has got it down when it comes to gourmet comfort sweets. At Scout’s Honor, craft cookies and flavored milk is king, but there are great coffees and fun ice creams to be had, too. It’s no surprise that Aspiras has boarded the crazy milkshake train as offered here are build-your-own milkshakes which can be topped with a cookie of your choice. Get inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun by choosing a Matcha Oreo shake topped with a matcha sesame cookie or go a little off kilter with a Butterscotch Popcorn shake topped off with a white chocolate and white cheddar cookie. 4/F, Hole in the Wall, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati. +63 2 8872698, www.facebook.com. Daily 11am-10pm.

Dolcelatte

Dolcelatte’s got a decent menu of food but, let’s be honest, who needs dinner with filling sips like these? This sweet spot is known to be one of the best places in town to grab a cronut, and these guys have capitalised on that with their cronut milkshakes (PHP245). Each of these mason jars are filled to the brim with an ice-cold creamy milkshake and perched on the rim is a complementing flavor of cronut (flavors are seasonal). But if it’s all a little too rich for your palate, they offer healthier blended drinks like smoothies and fruit shakes too (PHP145). 1616 Quezon Avenue, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. +63 2 3323407, www.dolcelatte.ph. Daily 10am-10pm.

Amo Yamie Crib

This youthful cafe is known for their menu of inventive and fun dishes like the taco and waffle hybrid (PHP95) as well as cheesecakes served in flower pots (PHP89). Their drinks menu is equally amusing and reads long with over-the-top milkshakes which are called Fairytale Frosts. There are three of these on the menu, and our hands-down favorite is the Wizard of Oreo (PHP119) which is a thick cookies and cream shake topped with whipped cream, cookie bits, a full sized Oreo, and fresh mint. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up, however, order one of their Fairytale Frappes (PHP109-139) which are caffeinated and also over garnished. 2/F, 2125 Gordi Plaza Building, Legarda Street, Quiapo, Manila. +63 917 8335017, www.facebook.com. Daily 9am-9pm. 

Diner on 16th

A relatively new kid on the block, Diner on 16th doles out classic American eats and hearty fare with a spin. Their milkshake menu includes several impressive options which come overflowing with sticky sauces and crunchy saccharine snacks. The prettiest of the bunch is the Original (PHP162) which is a smooth vanilla milkshake with garnishes stacked high — there’s a variety of dipped pretzels, various sauces, whipped cream, candy floss on a cone, and chocolates. The S’Mores (PHP134), on the other hand, is almost campfire ready with bittersweet chocolate sauce, marshmallows, Graham crackers, and chocolate-dipped pretzels on top. 16 United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig. +63 917 3158343, www.facebook.com. Daily 11am-12am.

Crisp on 28th

The menu of cakeshakes (PHP190) at this BGC eatery has won us over. Offered on the daily are liquid versions of your favorite desserts, such as the Apple Pie and the Nutella Brownie. Each are topped with a thick layer of fluffy whipped cream, dribbles of sauce, and a slice of pie or brownie. However, our favorite is the Bacon & Pancake Maple, which is a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Topping this bad boy off is a swirl of whipped cream, crispy bacon bits, a strip of salty bacon, and a sweet miniature pancake. Who needs breakfast anymore? We’re having milkshakes for brekkie! G/F Allied Corporate Center, 28th Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. +63 917 5846883, www.facebook.com. Daily 7pm-11pm.