Snookies Malt Shop

Absolute fave is the frozen 🍌. Legendary hangout on Beaver Avenue that stands the true tes of time - a blast from the past but also the future, at least we can hope.

An old fashioned soft serve ice cream stop in Beaverdale that is exactly what I was looking for on a hot day. Great service, easy menu, plenty of parking and seating. Iconic and it rocks.

Not a fan of the Styrofoam cup but otherwise a great shake for me. Neat little seating area out front.

Nice "hole in the wall" atmosphere, felt like I was transported back in time...I ordered a cherry flavor freeze, which I wasnt expecting to be so good! Very satisfying to taste, along with walking up and down the street, or sitting at one of their picnic tables. Even though they were very busy that evening, I was able to receive my order within minutes! I had so much fun!

This ice cream shop is very good. Every time we drove by there was a line of people. Tonight we finally stopped and ordered some treats. I was very impressed how fast the lined moved and we actually didn't have to wait that long. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. We accidentally got there about 2 min before they closed and every one tested us kindly and even helped explain some items on the menu. All of our ice creams were good and tasted very good. I would like to come back with the whole family. Worth a visit for sure!

All the nostalgia plus great Ice cream! Snookies never fails to please whatever your sweet tooth demands. Pleasant service and a quaint inside seating area if the weather is disagreeable. (It was empty on our pleasant summer evening visit.) Park around back and walk up or do the drive through.

Made a random stop here with some friends. Great prices! Friendly staff! Tasty ice cream! My dog also enjoyed his pup cup!

Just as great and yummy as it was when we lived here 20 years ago. Love Snookies. My adult daughter reminded us of Snookies and how much she loved walking up to enjoy sundaes, ice cream, and malts with a cookie on the straw. So we stopped to enjoy it again on our vacation. Worth the long wait in line. It's still very popular.

It was such a fun stop--an old-school soft-serve stand in Beaverdale, with a classic menu and kind staff on a hot day. Yup, it was quite good. You can't miss the sign and the traditional look, and I begged for us to drive back after spotting Snookies on the way to run some errands. It has its own parking lot, and there are tables in front and "booths" along the rim. My chocolate cone prevailed in myriad options, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. They also have pup cones for your four-legged friend.

Super busy parking lot. Short line, seamed like efficient service. I thought I knew what i was ordering but when it arrived it was not what I thought! The Zinger- I thought I was ordering a vanilla cone dipped in peanut butter. What I got was a vanilla ice cream pop dipped in peanut butter. It was made fresh, on the spot which is cool. But I ordered it to share with my 2 year old and it wasn't enough. If it was the cone... It also flaked apart everywhere.

Awesome lil IceCream Shop! Old school feel and great ice-cream and service! And puppy sized cones for the lil pups! Love the older style places that have some character!

Pumpkin arctic freeze was fun and seasonal. Portion size is big for a speciality freeze though, so we split one. Amazing that they do free puppy cones.

Snookies is the best. I am an ice cream snob. I'm so much an ice cream snob that I don't believe soft serve ice cream should exist. Snookies is the exception. I can't even try everything on the menu because the malts are so good that I can't imagine ordering anything else. My personal favorite is the black raspberry although the butterscotch is a close second.

It's been awhile since we were last here. It was a nice evening temp-wise, drive in line was short and there was a moderate sized crowd outside. About blew my socks off to have our small dip cone and turtle sundae be over $8. Definitely a turn off to have the gal at the drive up ask if we want to leave a "tip for the crew." But I'm not a total scrooge. Glad to support the local business. And happy to see the iconic neon light is back up. Oh, and the 4 star rating because ultimately the ice cream was really great.

What a great place to get ice cream with that 1950's vibe that really makes you know you are in the heartland of America. We were in Des Moines for one day of our road trip and it was over 100F and after walking around the downtown area and finally cooling off by the time we got back to the hotel, we decided to look for an ice cream place to indulge in and Snookies fit the bill. The line was long since it was so hot, but the pay off was great! We all enjoyed what we ordered. I decided to give the peanut butter soda a chance since I've never heard of it. The first few sips were so gross. It was like tonic water and peanut butter mixed together. So I decided to mix around the soda, ice cream, and peanut butter and then it all made sense and I really enjoyed my beverage. They have these unique swings to sit in on the side which we did and slowly rocked back and forth while enjoying our ice cream. I have no clue if I'll ever be in this area during a hot summer night, but if I am, I will come back here!

I stumbled upon this place last night and I'm so happy I did. I will now come here whenever I want a treat! The chocolate malts and arctic blasts are to die for. There are always a lot of people outside, but they are very quick at taking and making orders. I love the different type of seating they have around the back. Great place to bring the family. They are similar in price to other ice cream places with similar offerings. 5 Stars!

Wow! The hot fudge malt brought me back to growing up in a little mulch shop in Pueblo Colorado. Delicious not too sweet and very malty, perfection ! I think the ice cream is key along with the malt... I highly recommend it shake was good according to my partner, as was the freeze according to my grandson, so do yourself a favor and give it a try! Also, very cute outside seating with shade and swings. Staff is very nice as well.

The ice cream is your standard soft serve. Nothing spectacular, which is why I give it three stars. This place could be something extraordinary, if they made their own ice cream and had lots of flavors. Pre-covid, they offered indoor seating, which is now closed, but they provide enough patio seating instead. There's almost always a line, but it moves at a decent pace. They are always well-staffed, and the folks there are friendly. The prices are reasonable, and they are very dog friendly!!! The drive thru can be an annoyance, and always spills out onto Beaver Ave, causing traffic headaches. The parking lot is tight and only offers a handful of spaces. Trying to turn left out of the lot is the biggest pain. We're lucky to live close by, so we can just walk. The building is very nostalgic, and after a sleepy driver knocked down their neon sign, the kind neighbors in the dentist office next door allowed them to erect the old sign on their property, when the city refused to allow them to put it back where it originally was (new zoning laws). A perfect representation of the kind, neighborly neighborhood of Beaverdale.

Such a cute little ice cream place in Des Moines. It has a drive thru and many places around the shop to sit at. I'll be back!

I came here expecting to only be served malts, but contrary to the name, they offer much more than just that! Various ice cream novelties, bottled water, and napkins are served for prices that adjust with inflation. They even serve puppy cones, that's just another reason why I wish I was a dog! There was no indoor seating, but I guess that's how they keep their ice cream recipe secret from the public. My go-to order is a turtle sundae without the nuts and caramel, it's a state of ice cream rapture!

Having been parked out on the Jersey Shore for the last tan years or so, Snooki has finally made a foray into real America, middle America, the flyover zone, named as such because you need to fly right over here and try these delicious malts at your earliest inconvenience. What to get: A Malt! What not to get: Assaulted. What to get: Amalted! While I obviously prefer that JWoww Malt Shop (I mean she's just so tall and stunning), I love Snooki madly, especially in her early days, and she's definitely my kind of girl. Which is appropriate because this place is serving my kind of malts and All-American sweet treats for bargain prices in the Des Moines suburbs. I first tried this place 10 years ago when I was on tour in Iowa (my first ever concerts there), and there's a picture of me looking pretty chunky at this Malt Shop. Now I'm in slightly better shape, but I still coming back for the Malts here during seasonal hours. Please be aware they close for the entire winter. But my bedroom is open for the entire winter. Especially if you look like Snooki or J Woww.

Love this place and the pup cone is adorable! I got the cherry dip cone and my only wish was that there would have been more cherry because it was so good!

This is a busy spot. I had a milkshake and it was very good. Be prepared to wait in line to order, but the line moved quickly

Wish there was easier access, I had to turn left and go around so I could turn right into their parking lot since cars were blocking my entrance with the driving lane. I just wanted to park. The strawberry shake and peanut butter shakes were both excellent! Reasonable price.

I have been going to this malt shop since I was little. I had my first ice cream cone here! There is always a wait, but it is always worth it. Driveway normally takes about 20 minutes to be served because there is normally 2 cars ahead of you. Same with the wait in line. Inside seating is normally only open during the week unless its raining. I love the fact that this place has been passed down through the family. This ice cream is also so much healthier than dairy queen and made with real milk. You can never go wrong with any of the toppings. I have not tried their hot food options, but I am always trying something new for dessert. Right now I am loving a brownie bite artic blast with peanut butter or brownie bite artic blast with red raspberry. Yum! So good. Tip: cash or check only. No plastic. Also tip the kids that work there. All tips go to a college fund for the people working there and they do such good work!

Smookies is just the cutest little ice cream shop you've ever seen. They have ice cream cones, milk shakes, malts, sundaes and so much more. They are a staple of Beaverdale and Des Moines. Snookies is only open for the summer months, usually from March 31st- September 30th. I personally adore their Chocolate shake. It even comes with their staple cookie on top. They offer seating inside and out for those beautiful and not so beautiful days, because every day is a good day for ice cream. Even better, they have free "pup cones" for your furry friends! Little puppy sized ice cream cones for your dog! We absolutely love Snookies and will be around all summer long! PS: Snookies used to be Cash Only, but they now also accept cards! We love this new addition to the shop!

A wonderful neighborhood place who old owners finally retired and the new owners have worked very hard to create a safe environment this summer to early fall in order to serve their tasty treats. They have all the classics the only thing is kind of a bummer is they serve their cones in cups but they need to do that in order keep people safe. I always enjoyed their orange or lemon freeze as well as their shakes it's a really good family place where you can get your stuff to go and you and your family can social distance somewhere and have a great cold treat. I hope that by next summer things have settled down for them there are really nice neighborhood owners who are trying to do a good thing.

Definitely a popular place! Not from this area so we looked up dessert near us. We like trying small businesses everywhere we go. My husband got a peanut butter malt and I got the strawberry shortcake. It definitely satisfied my sweet craving!

Simple ice cream, done well. The perfect place to walk up to and grab a cold treat to enjoy with the family. Nothing fantastic or over the top, but a good neighborhood staple

We came to Snookies on opening day with Yelp's Festival of Firsts! This was another true first for us! It was a bit of a drive (for us) but worth it to get a cool treat on a nice spring day. You order at one window and pick up at the next. They had really fast and friendly service. I had never seen blue raspberry or peanut butter as a dipped cone option before so we were sure to give it a try. They were both yummy with great flavor! And who could forget the special extra of an animal cracker on top! They have plenty of parking around the building. There is a lot of street traffic at this awkward intersection but that also leads to some entertainment (if you like cars screeching or speeding up). Overall, a nice place to come enjoy some ice cream on a sunny day!

First time visiting Des Moines and so glad I found this gem! They have walk up windows AND a drive through, both of which had long lines (and it was totally worth it). We got a reese's cup artic blast which is like a Blizzard but better. There are tables outdoors as well as indoor seating with a classic Malt Shop theme. Pets are welcomed in the outdoor area.

We drove from Grimes to check out the hype! I was craving peanut butter (I don't like peanut butter but pregnancy is weird) and I had to come try a malt! Best malt I have EVER had. I went with chocolate and peanut butter. The sizes are huge, and it was definitely worth the wait. Bring your dog for a free pup cup. We really liked the convenient drive through! Having a toddler and being super pregnant, I really appreciate drive thrus right now. Especially in the heat. The girl at the window was sweet. You can tip with cash or card. We will definitely be back! Maybe I'll bring my mom by when she is here from California for the summer.

Recently visited Des Moines and had the opportunity of trying Snookies. This place brought me back to a time when life was simpler. The ice cream was good, and the atmosphere was just wonderful. A must try if you are in the area.

Always a treat to go to Snookies especially with our 90 pound puppy in tow...he's addicted to their free puppy cones. Hot fudge malt or just a worm cone, I'm happy with anything I get.

This place knows us (or at least knows our dog). It's one of those neighborhood treasures that's so ingrained and part of Beaverdale. Updates this year: they take cards and pup cones are still free. We love Snookies!

Got a plain sundae with toppings: cookie dough and cheesecake. It wasn't too sweet like though pastries you get from grocery stores (you know that taste) but satisfied my craving for something sweet enough. I liked the cookie dough bits more than the cheesecake topping. The cheesecake topping tasted freeze dried. This simple combination of flavors were complimentary too each other. Highly recommended. Lots of parking spots (I have been here twice and never had problems with parking) and nice location. Kind of homey. Oh! This is a cash only place so do bring cash. Don't worry. Everything is affordable and not overpriced. ;)

Small little ice cream shop with many options. I went here to try the dipped cones. They all tasted good but the coating wasn't as thick as we thought it would be. Still good though. If we're ever back in Iowa, will definitely stop by and try something different.

This was hands down the BEST malt I've had in my life. I got a marshmallow malt and it tasted very strongly of both marshmallow and malt, and was creamy and delicious. Thick enough to use a spoon but also drinkable. Absolute perfection. I thought the prices were on the higher side, but totally worth it for the quality. Not to mention it's an adorable kitschy spot to hang out especially on beautiful days. We sat on a unique covered glider swing once it was free. This place is pretty awesome and our order was ready very quickly. My husband loved his butterscotch malt, too.

Very good ice cream & shakes. You'll wait for a while, but it's well worth the wait. I got a medium shake and should have got a small. My husband enjoyed a cherry sundae.

This place is poppin' during the summer season. I've driven here many times over the years seeing crowds and crowds of families, but have never actually stopped in until recently. The menus taped on the windows are a bit confusing as specials are all garbled, kind of triggered a bit of ADD in me. I decided to reel myself in a little and order what the rest of my group ordered: a dipped soft serve cone. To be honest, I feel like I opted for the dip just to "Do It For the 'Gram" as I realized halfway through eating my butterscotch dipped swirl cone, that I actually appreciate the simplicity of soft serve ice cream in and of itself. Next time no dip for me! The rest of my crew, however, seemed to enjoy their dip flavors. I love the patio area and people watching. The little kids and their families were at tables, teenie boppers huddled together, furry friends accompanying their humans - - - all partaking in their love of frozen treats! Ps. Snookies serves puppy cones, but be sure to have cash on hand as they do not accept cards!

Snookies in Beaverdale. Not sure what else to say besides that... :) Love pretty much everything about this little local ice cream shop...except that they don't accept plastic. Dog friendly...free treat cones for your furry friends. I had a medium black raspberry shake and she had a small sour gummy worm cone. $8 and change and we enjoyed part of the beautiful day we had today (7/1) on a wooden swing, eating ice cream, and watching the traffic go by.

Snookies is a Des Moines summer institution. You are not cool unless you partake. Brownie points if you partake with a dog :) On the bright side: 1. It's local 2. It's cute 3. dogs get free cones 4. The ice cream is not bad. On the flip side: 1. It is small 2. 95% of the time it is always packed 3. The drive thru line is the shortest drive thru line on the planet 4. There is parking but not much 5. The ice cream is over priced and underwhelming 6. No credit cards. The reasons I come back every now and then: 1. proximity, 2. the drive thru (yes, it is tiny but.. at least they have one) 3. The staff are always SUPER nice 4. Free puppy cone for my fur baby 5. They have both red and black raspberry topping 6. They give cute little cookies with cones, shakes, and malts. Everyone should come here at least once :)

Really cute little local malt shop, it's been in the neighborhood for at least 20 years. I heard great things and wanted to love it, but the vanilla sundae I tried was disappointing. It was soft serve, like DQ but not as sweet. I really love homemade ice cream, like really love it, but snookies flavor just wasn't there. I may try a malt next time, but won't go out of my way to stop by.

Yum city. No words. Hometown milkshakes at their best. Embrace the oddity of the wait and sit outside with a group.

YAY, what a legendary shop Snookies is! I had the pleasure of seeing so many smiling faces get their first cone of the year on opening day today! Snookies is your classic Ice Cream shop with indoor and outdoor service, lots of family friendly places to sit, and a wonderful fun environment! It makes the kids smile and makes the grand parents feel like kids again! Tons of flavors, all the classics, and every cone is topped with a little animal cracker for added cuteness! Snookies is only open seasonly so make sure you check your dates if you are coming in the spring, fall, or winter! A true Des Moines landmark and a must for anyone who loves ICE CREAM!

Nostalgic old-timey approach to a soft-serve ice cream store. I see the appeal, but the product they offer isn't really much different than Dairy Queen. This place is packed all summer, which does add a very nice "busy hangout" atmosphere that makes the experience seem that much more legit. I've been several times, I can't find a significant draw to the place but ice cream in general is hard to say 'no' to so I'll likely be back occasionally. The ice cream sandwiches have been my favorite item so far.

It's Summer. It's Hot. It's Snookies time! What a sweet little Ice cream stand that doesn't seem to close (it actually does though!). I came here and got a dilly bar, which i definitely would NOT recommend. My friend had their butter finger (malt?) and it was delicious. They really do a fine job of incorporating the flavors! I love the inside. It really shows the personality of the malt shop. So cute! I also love how they put an animal cracker on their cones. It's a Snookie's Signature! Every year, they say it will be their last season, but it never is! Which.. I guess... is a good thing! NO credit cards. Cash ONLY. Enjoy!

Summertime is our family's favorite time because of our weekly bike rides to Snookies. When we bought our house, I think I was more excited about the proximity to Snookies rather than the house itself. I have a few favorites that I rotate: chocolate malt, cherry dipped cone, or the crunch cone. They have yet to disappoint and I hope it stays that way. Prices are higher than a Dairy Queen but you don't get the cool vibe that comes with going to Snookies. Until they start taking debit/credit cards, Snookies is a solid 4 star business.

This place is poppin! Went there at 8pm I'm Saturday and the line was around the block! Closes at 9, and they stayed open for the 3-5 cars still in line which my husband, 4 kids and I totally appreciated! Small size is huge! Very satisfied with our shakes and Malta!

I hope the people who rate it less than 5 stars don't come back so the lines are shorter!!! This place is quaint and loved by the neighborhood. The workers are so nice and the ice cream is the best. Plus you get free dog cones. If you are visiting in the summer, be sure to stop by.

I had a huge cup of frozen yogurt with gummy bears in it. What more could you expect?

Love this place go every summer with my collie dog auggie to get a puppy cone and a grasshopper!

What a fun, old-fashioned malt shop! Snookies is great! They have tons of tasty dessert options like shakes, malts, ice cream cones, slushies, and more! There are so many flavors it's hard to choose one! They also have some hot dogs and sandwiches. Snookies has indoor and outdoor seating. There nothing as relaxing as sitting outside with an ice cream treat! I usually get the shakes, which come with a round animal cookie. You can also request whipped cream on top of your shake. They also have mini ice cream cones for kids. Snookies is seasonal: Memorial Day to Labor Day. Also, they do not accept credit cards; they only take cash or personal checks. For that reason, I keep my checkbook in my messenger bag during the summer so u can swing by after work! Always a great choice during the summer!!

Had a great malt here. Tried to stop by around 10pm one Saturday night, but they were closed. I bet they would kill it if they stayed open a little later on the weekends.

Family owned ice cream shop, a Beaverdale staple. Great place for a treat or to take your kids. Great chocolate malts. Highly recommend.

Not a huge ice cream person but Snookie's is nearby and my kids love it. My two favs are the peanut butter dip cone and black raspberry shake... yum

This is the cutest, most quaint malt shop ever! The ice cream is so thick and great. It's a quick little stop and definitely worth it!