In the Mood / Shakes and Malts

Ice cream you can drink: a grand old idea showing up with some cool new twists:

* Swingers: This hot, hip coffee shop is downright notorious for its rich, unusual shakes. There’s the Rocket, made with chocolate ice cream, a shot of fresh espresso, ground espresso, whipped cream and a few whole espresso beans. Burst of Blue is vanilla ice cream with fresh blueberries; the “Creamsicle� is made with vanilla ice cream and fresh o.j.; there’s also a classic Black and White, (vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, milk) and fresh fruit shakes made with your choice of seasonal fruits. (Shakes and malts, $3.25-$4.50.) Swingers, 8020 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (213) 653-5858.

* Bonnie and Clyde’s Dessertery: The ice cream counter is built to look like the longest old car, complete with endless running board, fenders and tires. Here a classic vanilla shake made from Dreyer’s ice cream outsells all other ice cream drinks--but peppermint shakes with Columbo’s yogurt are gaining in popularity. (Shakes and malts, $2.95-$3.25.) Bonnie and Clyde’s Dessertery, 9113 W. Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 278-0773.

* Robin Rose: Fresh, meticulously made ice cream and no syrup is the secret to these fabulous shakes. Robin Rose will use only her smooth flavors for shakes (the chunky ones just don’t blend well), which means that, in addition to the traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, there’s also cappuccino, Irish cream, Chambord raspberry, rose petal and cinnamon to choose from. For a nonfat shake, try any of the intense fruit sorbets blended with nonfat milk. (Shakes and malts, $3-$3.50.) Robin Rose, 215 Rose, Venice, (310) 399-1774.

* Buster’s: Because Buster’s is half-soda fountain and half-coffeehouse, it stands to reason that its most popular shake by far is the Frosted Mocha, with vanilla ice cream blended with freshly brewed espresso, chocolate syrup, milk and topped with whipped cream. This and other more traditionally flavored shakes are made with the delicious, locally made Fosselman’s ice cream. (Shakes and malts, $2.95-$3.85.) Busters, 1006 Mission St., South Pasadena, (626) 441-0744.

* Opie’s: This bright and busy new soda fountain uses Dreyer’s ice cream. Most popular: the chocolate malt and shakes in any of 20-plus flavors. The good-sized shakes come in malt glasses, the overflow in the metal container. (Shakes $3.25, malts $3.50.) Opie’s, 414 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. (626) 359-0477.

* Twoheys: The best-selling ice cream drinks at this landmark coffee shop are traditional chocolate shakes and knockout concoctions known as Frosteds--orange, lemon or lime juice, ice cream and a not-so-secret ingredient--a generous squirt of soda water, which adds an enlivening fizz to the mix. Frosteds are worth the detour if you don’t live in Alhambra. (Shakes $2.85; malts $2.90; frosteds $2.85.) Twohey’s, 1224 N. Atlantic Blvd., Alhambra. (626) 284-7387.

* Snug Harbor: This anachronistic neighborhood cafe has some venerable old milkshake machines, which churn out up-to-the-minute espresso shakes (crunchy with real espresso beans) and fresh fruit shakes (strawberry, blueberry, cantaloupe, etc.). They’re served in heavy fountain glasses and those classic metal containers. (Shakes $3.75; malts, $4.) Snug Harbor, 2323 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 828-2991.