Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Travel Chevron Right
  3. Best Soda Fountains in the U.S.

Best Soda Fountains in the U.S.

By Food & Wine
Updated April 26, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Francis Fountain
Despite being commonly associated with the simple life of the 1950s, the soda fountain saw its heyday at the turn of the 20th century. A bow-tied soda jerk was as skilled and serious as a modern day mixologist, custom-chipping ice cubes and swirling house-made syrups and bitters with seltzer pulled from the tap. By the time the bottle cap was invented and Prohibition came to an end, these ubiquitous national fixtures began to decline in number and popularity. Even many of the veterans quickly modernized, trading taps for machines, skill for convenience and local suppliers for big brands. Luckily, the institutions that have resisted change are joined by a growing list of new-school folks who are serious about reviving old-school ways, like New York’s beloved Bubby’s, which just opened a traditional fountain at the base of Manhattan’s High Line. Here’s a roundup of the best soda fountains across the country dedicated to keeping this all-American tradition alive.—Christina Liva
Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain; Brooklyn

Credit: Photo © Michael Harlan Turkell

Opened a few years back in a restored 1920s pharmacy, this modern fountain is a favorite neighborhood hangout, with old-timey knickknacks lining the walls, cola syrup made from scratch and kids sipping shakes at the counter overlooking the mirror-backed fountain. Don’t miss an original Brooklyn egg cream, made with the borough’s own Fox’s U-Bet syrup, Hudson Valley milk and seltzer jerked from the tap.

  • Great Places to Eat in Brooklyn

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Leopold’s Ice Cream; Savannah, GA

Credit: Photo courtesy of Leopold's Ice Cream

It’s no accident if you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a movie set inside this bustling soda fountain in downtown Savannah. Owner and Hollywood producer Stratton Leopold hired an acclaimed set designer to re-create his father’s soda fountain from 1919, complete with the original black marble fountain, retro neon window sign and wooden phone booth. There’s almost always a line for the old-fashioned fountain drinks and hand-dipped ice cream, including Leopold’s signature flavor, tutti-frutti.

  • Best Southern Food in the U.S.

2 of 17

3 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bubby’s Soda Fountain; NYC

Credit: Photo © Bubby's Soda Fountain

It’s no surprise that Bubby's, which has been hand-making colas for years, has launched a full-fledged soda fountain revival. Inspired by the innovation of the ’20s, Bubby’s extracts root beer flavor from sweet birch and sassafras for its classic float, macerates sour cherries for the Shirley Temple and crafts ice cream from a local dairy for its original sundaes.

  • The World’s Best Food Cities: New York City

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

The Ice Cream Bar; San Francisco

Credit: Photo © Nick Vasilopoulos

The signature alcoholic soda drinks make this 1930s-style fountain as thrilling for adults as it is for kids. Thoughtful period touches like the porthole mirrors, black tiles and vintage lamps match the intense attention to detail on the menu. Everything from the ice cream, to the syrups, hot dog buns and waffle cones are made from scratch, while the phosphates and lactarts (sodas with a tart foam) follow pre-Prohibition recipes.

  • San Francisco's Best Foodie Street

4 of 17

5 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Shady Glen; Manchester, CT

Credit: Photo © Christina Liva

Originally a dairy farm, Shady Glen hasn’t changed much since 1948, when it started producing its own ice cream and operating as a soda fountain and luncheonette. The staffers don retro uniforms (down to the branded white paper hats), water is served in tiny waxed cups and the fountain remains the focal point of the room. Oh, and in 2012, the James Beard Foundation deemed the Shady Glen cheeseburger an American Classic.

  • Best Ice Cream Spots in the U.S.

5 of 17

6 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

La King’s Confectionery; Galveston, TX

Credit: Photo courtesy of LA King's Confectionery

It feels like a carnival inside this massive old building, where you can play a penny arcade game, ride a hobby horse, watch taffy being pulled on a 100-year-old machine, sample dime-store candy from the confectionary or order a root beer float from the antique soda fountain. This is currently the only place you can find Purity ice cream, Texas’s oldest and beloved brand. It’s made on the third floor.

  • America's Best Diners

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Hillside Farmacy; Austin

Credit: Photo © Apple Box Images

The historic former drugstore has been beautifully restored in vintage chic, with white mosaic tile floors, copper-topped tables and framed old prescription sheets on the walls. But in a truly contemporary concept, the soda fountain in this farm-to-table restaurant is all about the cocktails. Artisan syrups are made from seasonal ingredients with spirit pairings to match, like the Country Doctor: ginger, fresh apple, cinnamon and either whiskey or applejack. Hillside Farmacy also serves ice cream from Coolhaus and coffee from Stumptown.

  • Texas Recipes

7 of 17

8 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Blueplate; Portland, OR

Credit: Photo © Emily Pogozelski of PogoPhoto

There are a few decade-old fountains still operating in Portland, but Blueplate is bringing back the old-school ways the others couldn’t hold onto. Syrups are made from fresh fruit and cane sugar, carbonated water comes from the gooseneck tap, ice cream is sourced from a family-owned dairy, and Americana classics, like a “better than the lunch lady’s” Sloppy Joe, are served at the counter. Don’t miss the locally grown–huckleberry shake.

  • 12 Hot New Places to Eat and Drink in Portland, Oregon

8 of 17

9 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

The Franklin Fountain; Philadelphia

Credit: Photo courtesy of The Franklin Fountain

The two brothers who own and operate this Old City fountain are so devoted to history that everything from the antique marble fountain to the hot fudge cooked in copper pots to the homemade vintage ice cream flavors (ever heard of teaberry?) to even their period-appropriate mustaches heighten the neo-retro experience. They are equally fanatic about the authenticity of their phosphate sodas (soda with acid phosphate added for an extra bite) and the provenance of their ingredients.

  • F&W Photo Tour: Philadelphia

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

The Pickwick; Greenville, SC

Credit: Photo courtesy of The Pickwick Pharmacy & Soda Fountain

Patrons perch on blue-upholstered swivel stools to watch as freshly squeezed orangeade and griddled sandwiches are made at the ’40s-style fountain inside one of the few independently operated pharmacies left in South Carolina. Opened in 1947, Pickwick closed the fountain in the ’80s to focus on prescriptions. In 2007, the third-generation owners, two brothers, found and restored a marble-and-steel fountain from a closed-down shop and brought it back to Pickwick, reviving a Greenville tradition.

  • Southern Comfort Food

10 of 17

11 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Zaharakos; Columbus, IN

Credit: Photo © Bob Anderson, Stillframes Photography & Imaging

Perhaps Columbus’s most popular site for rehearsal dinners and engagement photos, Zaharakos is not exactly a hidden treasure. But this historic landmark/soda fountain/museum really is a sight to see. Careful renovation has kept the onyx fountain, stained glass and carved oak detail resembling its early days in the 1900s. Hand-drawn seltzer is mixed with original flavored syrups for sodas, floats and shakes, while the Welte orchestrion has been self-playing for 100 years and counting.

  • Midwestern Recipes

11 of 17

12 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Doc’s Soda Fountain; Girard, IL

Credit: Photo © John T Simm

Built in 1929 inside an already 45-year-old pharmacy, this soda fountain on Historic Route 66 was purchased by a friend of the original owners, the Decks, when the pharmacy shut down. A renovation amplified the 1920s Coca-Cola theme and kept the original fountain, which churns out phosphates and floats alongside a luncheonette menu. The Decks gathered what was left of their grandfather’s pharmacy to create a museum of herbal remedies, medicines and elixirs inside the shop.

  • America's Best Ice Cream Cities

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lynden’s Soda Fountain; St. Paul

Credit: Photo © Seth Hannula

Wedged between a florist and a bowling alley, this two-year-old fountain devotedly re-creates nostalgic classics—phosphates, malts, eggs creams and more—with artisan syrups from Brooklyn’s P&H, in addition to specialty flavors like Hibiscus and 1886 Cola, made in-house. The fountain itself was refurbished after it was rescued from a nearby church, and opposite the white marble counter stands a wall of vintage candy (remember Pop Rocks?) and chocolates. Free Wi-Fi is a welcome modern amenity.

  • F&W Photo Tour: Minneapolis

13 of 17

14 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Highland Park Pharmacy; Dallas

Credit: Photo by Bill B. of Yelp.com

Opened in 1912, Highland Park has become a nostalgic Dallas institution. Vestiges of its former life as a pharmacy remain (you can still pick up a toothbrush). The lunch rush is still the busiest time, when regulars settle onto stools at the counter for the most popular order: a grilled cheese with a pile of pickles and a chocolate shake served in the stainless steel mixing cup with a chilled glass on the side.

  • Texas-Style Barbecue

14 of 17

15 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Model Pharmacy; Albuquerque

Credit: Photo courtesy of Model Pharmacy

Model is often referred to as “Jack’s place” after the pharmacist who’s owned and operated the pharmacy and soda fountain for almost 30 years. Jack still prepares the phosphates for the sodas in the pharmacy (which remains in business despite the Walgreens across the street) and juice is still squeezed fresh for the lemon- and limeades. In addition to drugs and soda concoctions, Model specializes in greeting cards, high-end perfumes, and upscale grooming products like Mason Pearson brushes and artisan shaving kits.

  • Lemonade Recipes

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jerry’s Soda Shoppe; Canoga Park, CA

Credit: Photo courtesy of Jerry's Soda Shoppe

Inside an independent pharmacy in a nondescript Valley strip mall is a small no-frills counter with arguably the best ice cream float in the L.A. area. The frosted mug is dipped in chocolate and left to harden before the addition of two scoops of Lappert’s ice cream (favorite flavors are the Kauai Pie and Hawaii Pink Sea Salt Caramel), chocolate syrup and seltzer, then topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry.

  • Obsessed-Over Los Angeles Restaurants

16 of 17

17 of 17

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

St. Francis Soda Fountain; San Francisco

Credit: Photo courtesy of St. Francis Fountain

Changing with the times since opening in 1918 has kept St. Francis as bustling and relevant as its early days, particularly with young Mission hipsters. While original fountain offerings remain, the ice cream, once homemade, now comes from a long-standing local producer, the candies are retro, a diner menu caters to vegans and the soda jerks have traded bow ties and hats for beards and hoodies.

  • 11 New Places to Eat in San Francisco

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 17 Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain; Brooklyn
2 of 17 Leopold’s Ice Cream; Savannah, GA
3 of 17 Bubby’s Soda Fountain; NYC
4 of 17 The Ice Cream Bar; San Francisco
5 of 17 Shady Glen; Manchester, CT
6 of 17 La King’s Confectionery; Galveston, TX
7 of 17 Hillside Farmacy; Austin
8 of 17 Blueplate; Portland, OR
9 of 17 The Franklin Fountain; Philadelphia
10 of 17 The Pickwick; Greenville, SC
11 of 17 Zaharakos; Columbus, IN
12 of 17 Doc’s Soda Fountain; Girard, IL
13 of 17 Lynden’s Soda Fountain; St. Paul
14 of 17 Highland Park Pharmacy; Dallas
15 of 17 Model Pharmacy; Albuquerque
16 of 17 Jerry’s Soda Shoppe; Canoga Park, CA
17 of 17 St. Francis Soda Fountain; San Francisco

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

Best Soda Fountains in the U.S.
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.