Cool drinks

All restaurant information is correct as of press time. However, since hours, prices and other details are subject to change, it's wise to call ahead.

Astor Bake Shop
12-23 Astoria Blvd at 14th St, Astoria, Queens (718-606-8439, astor-bakeshop.com). Subway: N, Q to Astoria Blvd. Small gingerade: $2.50. High chairs.
Local families have flocked to this friendly, white-tiled corner café since its June 2010 opening. In addition to a short savory menu and fresh-baked pastries (owner George McKirdy honed his skills at Tribeca Grill and Café Boulud, among others), you'll find one of the most thirst-quenching bevvies around—the gingerade, an iced brew of lemon, ginger and anise, sweetened with honey.—Time Out Kids

Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry St at Sackett St, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (718-522-6260). Subway: F, G to Carroll St. Egg cream: $2.50.
Introduce your kids to a signature Kings County beverage, the egg cream, at Brooklyn Farmacy. The version at the vintage 1920s drug store–turned–soda fountain is made with the time-honored Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup and served with a pretzel rod ($2.50). Or, sample the menu of sparkling fountain sodas ($3.25), flavored with cherry, ginger and other natural syrups.—Alison Lowenstein

Cafe Lalo
201 W 83rd St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-496-6031, cafelalo.com). Subway: 1 to 79th St. Lalo Paradise: $7. Cash only.
Served in a glass fit for an ice cream sundae, the Lalo Paradise, a chilled fruit blend, expertly disguises any hint of healthiness. The mix of mango, papaya, pineapple, kiwi, banana, cantaloupe and strawberries gives the drink a purplish hue that just might distract young smoothie sippers from the cases displaying 100-plus desserts.—Alyssa Grossman

City Bakery
3 W 18th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-366-1414, thecitybakery.com). Subway: 1 to 18th St. Frozen hot chocolate: $4.50. High chairs, changing tables.
Almost thick enough to eat with a knife and fork, the mischievously oxymoronic frozen hot chocolate does, in fact, taste more like its cold-weather cousin than like a milk shake. The cookies here are also divine—and baked fresh every 30 minutes—but to avoid a sugar overdose, pair the sweet concoction with a pretzel croissant.—LT

Dallas Jones Bar-B-Q
•178 W Houston St at Sixth Ave (212-333-3366, dallasjonesbbq.com). Subway: 1 to Houston St.
•87 Atlantic Ave between Henry and Hicks Sts, Brooklyn Heights (718-855-5511, dallasjonesbbq.com). Subway: A, C to Jay St–Borough Hall. Organic white-peach lemonade: $3.50.
Pick up this family-owned restaurant's peachy palate pleaser for a summertime drink that's as natural as it is sweet. Freshly squeezed lemons and organic fruit give the white-peach lemonade a fresh-from-the-orchard taste. It's the perfect companion to sticky-good BBQ finger food.—AG

Dogmatic
26 E 17th St between Fifth Ave and Union Sq West (212-414-0600, eatdogmatic.com) Subway: L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St–Union Sq. House-made soda: $2.50.
When Coke and Sprite have overstayed their welcome, the strawberry house-made soda here offers a naturally sweet change of pace. Kids can balance out the unexpected flavor punch with an order of non-fried fries, perfect for smaller snackers.—AG

Dylan's Candy Bar
1011 Third Ave at 60th St (646-735-0078, dylanscandybar.com). Subway: N, R, 4, 5, 6 to 59th St–Lexington Ave. Caramel Classic: $7. Booster seats, changing tables.
Stepping into this Upper East Side confectioner is a bit like stepping into Dorothy's Technicolor Oz. Your munchkins will go wide-eyed at the rainbow-colored sweets and gooey fudge on the first two floors, but to beat the heat, try the upstairs café's Caramel Classic. The frozen hot chocolate is lighter and less creamy than a milk shake, but any attempts at prudence are busted by the dollop of whipped cream on top—not to mention the accompanying milk duds and drizzles of caramel and chocolate syrup. Even a hard-core sweet tooth might need help polishing off the whole thing.—LT

Island Burgers & Shakes
766 Ninth Ave between 51st and 52nd Sts (212-307-7934). Subway: A, C, E to 50th St. Sunkist Float: $5.50. High chairs and booster seats.
The Sunkist Float, made with locally produced Sedutto's vanilla ice cream, tastes just like a Creamsicle—without that pesky stick. Thick dollops of ice cream fill a gargantuan, old-fashioned soda-shop glass; the milk-shake maker then douses the dessert with a can of Sunkist orange soda. The outcome? A drink brimming with bubbles and that delightful foam that forms when ice cream meets carbonation. Think of it as a root beer float, with a citrus twist.—TOK

Perry St
176 Perry St between Washington and West Sts (212-352-1900, jean-georges.com). Subway: 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan Sq. Homemade soda: $5.
Hold the Coke, please. Tweens will love the “mocktail” aspect of Perry St’s homemade sodas, served in tall glasses with cocktail stirrers and grown-up-style garnishes. Exotic flavors like passion-chili and cherry yuzu are made by mixing syrupy, custom-blended bases with Pellegrino to create a colorful drink both parents and budding gastronomes will enjoy. Overworked adults can ask for a splash of alcoholic relief in their bitter lemon-thyme.—TOK

Ralph's Famous Italian Ices
501 Port Richmond Ave between Hooker Pl and Laforge Ave (718-448-0853, ralphsices.com; check website for other locations). Travel: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the S44 bus to Hooker Place/Carlo Denino Way. Palm Tree Ralphie: $4.50.
Refreshingly unique flavors are the norm at Ralph's, a local favorite since 1928. But beyond those 40-plus flavors and 80-plus years in business is a decadent shake called the Palm Tree Ralphie. Filling enough to share but addictive enough that you won't want to, the frosty taste of summer is made with coconut ice, Ghirardelli Frappe mix and 1 percent milk, then finished with homemade whipped cream and toasted coconut. Beach umbrella and Frisbee optional.—AG

Ronnybrook Milk Bar
75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts (212-741-6455, ronnybrookmilkbar.com). Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave. Apple Pie a la Mode shake: $6. High chairs.
At Ronnybrook Milk Bar, apple pie isn’t reserved for Thanksgiving. Offered every day, the milkman’s Apple Pie a la Mode shake will make you thankful your tongue exists. Kids can sit at the vintage-inspired counter and watch shake-makers blend roasted apple slices with cinnamon, melted caramel and homemade vanilla ice cream, while they suck down their own slice of heaven.—TOK

Saints Alp Teahouse
•39 Third Ave at 10th St (212-598-1890, saintsalp.com). Subway: N, R to 8th St–NYU.
•164 Bedford Ave at North 8th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-486-3888, saintsalp.com). Subway: L to Bedford Ave. High chairs (Brooklyn location only). Cash only. Bubble tea: $3.55.
Proceed with a bit of caution: Bubble tea gets its name from boba, or pearl tapioca bits made from sweet potato and tapioca starch. The pearls are suspended at the bottom of the lightly creamy blend of milk, tea and sugar, and just gummy enough to get sucked through a straw. This one gets points for both visual appeal and the play-with-your-drink fun factor.—AG

Schnipper's Quality Kitchen
The New York Times Building, 620 Eighth Ave at 41st St (212-921-2400, schnippers.com). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority; N, Q, R, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq. Milk shake: $6.50. High chairs, changing tables.
The Schnipper brothers launched the Hale & Hearty Soup brand back in 1995. After leaving the chain in 2006, they embarked on a cross-country trip in search of great roadside cuisine, including the all-American burger, and set up shop in midtown to share their findings. And what goes better with a patty than a handcrafted milk shake? Our pick: the salted caramel variety, with its delightful sweet-and-salty contrast.—LT

Stand
24 E 12th St between Fifth and University Pl (212-488-5900, standburger.com). Subway: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St–Union Sq. Toasted marshmallow premium gelato shake: $6.
If ever there was a drink worth all its calories, it's Stand's toasted marshmallow premium gelato shake. Topped with three giant, toasted marshmallows, it smells like a crackling campfire and tastes like liquefied Marshmallow Fluff, though slightly less sweet. If you’re going for something not quite as sugary, quench your thirst with the burger joint’s lemon basil frappé. Our advice? Go with an empty stomach, order a bevy of beverages, and request extra straws for an afternoon of taste tests.—TOK

Tom's Restaurant
782 Washington Ave at Sterling Pl, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-636-9738). Subway: 2, 3 to Eastern Pkwy–Brooklyn Museum. Cherry lime rickey: $3. High chairs. Cash only.
The kitschy decor (think ceramic roosters) is a bit dated, and so is the menu—but we're not complaining. Tom's has been a mainstay of the diner scene since 1936, and it's still serving the Prohibition-friendly cherry lime rickey. The limeade-meets–Shirley Temple makes for a blissfully refreshing combination on a hot summer day; it also goes great with a stack of Tom's renowned lemon ricotta pancakes.—LT

Vynl
754 Ninth Ave between 50th and 51st Sts (212-974-2003, vynl-nyc.com). Subway: C, E to 50th St. High chairs and booster seats.
102 Eighth Ave at 15th St (212-400-2118, vynl-nyc.com). Subway: A, C, E to 14th St. Watermelon lemonade: $4. High chairs and booster seats.
Watermelon lemonade from Vynl: So summery, so old-timey, it tastes like a classic picnic. Served in a pint glass, pink and pulpy watermelon juice floats atop the type of lemonade you thought only existed at a 1950s county fair. Your kid will love plunging her straw into the drink and mixing the brightly colored juices together. Ferris wheel and poodle skirt not included.—TOK

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