Before drive-thrus and coffee chains, a lot of Texas towns had one favorite place to sit down for something cold and sweet: the soda fountain. You climbed onto a stool, ordered a chocolate malt, and watched it get mixed right in front of you.
Some of those counters are still pouring today, from Galveston’s historic Strand to a working pharmacy in Kingsville and a downtown shop in Bryan. Grandparents, parents, and kids have all had a turn at these counters, and many still order the same treats.
Some are tucked inside old drugstores, while others share space with candy makers and antique-style shops. A few serve full breakfasts and burgers, and one even scoops ice cream from a brand that dates back to 1889.
If you love a good malt or just want a sweet road trip idea, here are six spots to save for your next outing.
1. Star Drug Store, Galveston, TX
Few places in Texas still let you sit at an original fountain counter, but Star Drug Store on 23rd Street does exactly that. Its U-shaped counter sits inside a historic drug store building, and it remains the main attraction.
Old-fashioned floats, malts, and sodas are still made at that counter. The menu goes well beyond dessert, too, with omelets, deli sandwiches, and good coffee for a full breakfast or lunch.
If you have a sweet tooth, the Combination Nut Sundae is a classic pick. Grab a counter seat and you can watch the cooks work while your order comes together.
Hours run daily from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, so plan this one for the morning or early afternoon. Weekend mornings get busy, while Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be calmer.
Families will find high chairs and a kids’ menu. Parking downtown can take a little patience, so give yourself a few extra minutes to find a spot.
2. La King’s Confectionery, Galveston, TX
Here is a fun bit of Texas history: Purity ice cream, founded on Galveston Island in 1889, is known as the state’s first ice cream manufacturer. La King’s Confectionery makes and serves it at a working soda fountain from the 1920s.
The shop sits on The Strand, Galveston’s well-known historic street, and it pulls double duty as an old-school candy maker. You can pick up traditional sweets, then walk over to the soda jerk station.
The fountain menu covers malts, shakes, ice cream sodas, sundaes, splits, and floats. Coffee, soda, and tea are on hand too, and the chocolate malt is a popular order for good reason.
Arcade games add another reason to linger, which makes this a handy stop with kids. Saturday afternoons and evenings draw the biggest crowds, while Tuesday mornings are much quieter.
The shop is open daily, with later hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Another Time Soda Fountain & Cafe, Rosenberg, TX
Phosphates are hard to find these days, which makes this Rosenberg cafe a fun discovery. Alongside the shakes and malts, Another Time keeps that old fountain favorite on the menu.
The name fits. With its 1950s style, the cafe brings back the days when malt shops were common on Texas main streets.
Food is a real draw here, not an afterthought. Burgers, grilled cheese, sandwiches, and a well-liked chicken salad round out the menu.
On the sweet side, look for the Old Fashioned Sundae, butterscotch sundaes, floats, root beer, and limeades. Fair warning for anyone counting sugar: the malts lean sweet.
The cafe is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM and closed Monday and Tuesday. Parking is usually easy, with a free lot and street spots nearby.
4. Harrel Drug Co, Kingsville, TX
Pick up a prescription and a chocolate malt in the same trip. At Harrel Drug Co in Kingsville, that is still how things work.
This is a working pharmacy first, with an old-fashioned soda fountain inside. Walk in through the front or back door and you move from the pharmacy counter to the fountain in a few steps.
Malts are made by hand, and shakes and floats are on the menu too. The kitchen also turns out old-fashioned burgers and fries, so it works as a lunch stop.
I like this one because it has not been turned into a theme stop. It is part of everyday life in town, which is how soda fountains started.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 3 PM. It is closed Sundays, and free parking is easy to find.
5. Dougherty’s Soda Fountain, Dallas, TX
Big-city Dallas still has a pharmacy soda counter, and it sits inside Dougherty’s Pharmacy on Preston Road.
The fountain’s goal is simple: give guests an old-fashioned experience and treat them like family. Food is made fresh, and the soup and avocado spread follow homemade recipes.
Malts are a natural pick, and the Oreo malt is a good one to try. Sodas and classic desserts fill out the rest of the menu.
Prices are friendly, usually in the $1 to $10 range per person, which makes it an easy midday treat. Lunch is the main crowd, and plenty of folks stop in solo.
Hours are weekdays from 11 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays until 3:45 PM, closed Sundays. Reservations are not taken, but parking in the free lot is rarely a problem, and curbside pickup is available.
6. Soda Shop Malts Shakes, Bryan, TX
Downtown Bryan makes a great place for a slow afternoon walk, and this soda shop on North Bryan Avenue fits right into that plan.
The name says it all. Malts and shakes come from a real soda fountain, and homemade fudge gives you something to take home.
There is shopping too, with items for sale that make browsing part of the visit. Order a malt, look around, then take it with you as you explore the historic district.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. It is closed Sundays and Mondays, so time a weekend trip for Saturday.
It makes a sweet end to this list of Texas soda fountains. From Galveston to Bryan, these counters show that a good malt never really goes out of style, so pick one and bring someone who remembers the old days.
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