Some of the best lunch spots in South Carolina hide behind the prescription window. Across the state, old drugstores still keep a counter, a row of stools, and a soda fountain running right next to the vitamins and greeting cards.
One former five-and-dime even holds a counter that changed history. These eight stops prove that a quick errand can turn into the best part of your day.
1. Pitt Street Pharmacy, Mt Pleasant, SC
Old Village charm comes with a side of fountain service at 111 Pitt St, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464. Pitt Street Pharmacy is a small, historic drugstore that still keeps an old time soda fountain and grill tucked inside.
The counter runs on classic restaurant counter service. Vintage details fill the room, and the welcoming mood makes a stop here feel like more than a quick ice cream break.
Behind the scenes, it is still a real working pharmacy. Prescription and compounding services are part of the daily routine, and the compounding prices have earned the shop a loyal local following.
Delivery and medication disposal round out the practical side. Plan around the hours, which run Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM, with Sundays closed.
Few places manage to fill a prescription and serve a fountain treat under one roof without missing a beat.
2. Kempson Rexall Drugs Inc, Inman, SC
Back in 1905, Inman got a drugstore that never quite let go of the soda fountain. Kempson Rexall Drugs at 27 N Main St has served the town and nearby communities as a full-service pharmacy and sundries shop ever since.
The fountain side works as a vintage ice cream parlor and diner rolled into one. Sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes, malts, and real fountain soft drinks share the menu with diner basics like hot dogs and cheeseburgers.
Timing helps here. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings bring the biggest crowds, while Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings tend to be calmer.
Parking is easy, with a free lot and free street spaces. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
More than a century in, the counter is still open for business, and that streak deserves a seat.
3. Nye’s Pharmacy, Conway, SC
Old fashioned service with a smile never went out of style in Conway. Nye’s Pharmacy at 1600 10th Ave still keeps a lunch counter going inside a busy neighborhood drugstore.
The food and soda fountain bring back memories of childhood trips to the corner pharmacy. Shelves are well stocked, so a lunch stop easily turns into a little shopping run.
The pharmacy side holds its own, too, with delivery and medication disposal available.
Early birds get a head start, since doors open at 8 AM Monday through Friday and close at 6 PM. Saturday runs from 8 AM to noon.
Weekday mornings and afternoons stay busy, especially Tuesday through Thursday. Evenings and Saturday mornings tend to be quieter, so plan accordingly if a counter stool is the goal.
4. Beaufort Drug Company, Okatie, SC
Lunch breaks in the Lowcountry just got shorter and better. Beaufort Drug Company, at 16 William Pope Dr Unit 201 in Okatie, pairs an independent pharmacy with a gift shop and an old school soda fountain.
Speed is the big draw for nearby office workers. Lunch comes out quick, and the soda counter service keeps things moving.
The gift shop adds a reason to linger. It works well for grabbing a last minute present while waiting on a prescription.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Sundays are closed.
Convenience rarely looks this charming.
5. Lee’s Inlet Apothecary, Murrells Inlet, SC
Floats, milkshakes, gifts, and medication all on one receipt sounds almost too efficient. Lee’s Inlet Apothecary at 3579 US-17 BUS in Murrells Inlet makes it happen.
The shop blends a boutique style gift store with an old fashioned soda fountain. Locals often slow down for an ice cream cone or stay for a full lunch right at the counter.
While the pharmacists fill prescriptions, there is plenty to browse among the unique gifts. Delivery and medication disposal are also offered.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons draw the most people. Wednesday mornings are a smart pick for a quieter visit.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. On the coast, this is one errand worth taking slowly.
6. Vincent’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain, Johns Island, SC
Families have been known to plan whole day trips around a 1950s style lunch here. Vincent’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain sits at 110 Planted Row Ln on Johns Island.
The soda fountain keeps its own schedule. It opens at 11 AM, closing at 6 PM Monday through Thursday and at 8 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Those later weekend hours make it one of the few pharmacy counters on this list that works for an early dinner.
Meanwhile, the pharmacy runs Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM. The pharmacist and team keep everything running smoothly.
A free parking lot makes the visit simple. Sundays are closed, so save the fountain trip for another day of the week.
7. Kounter, Rock Hill, SC
History has a reserved seat in downtown Rock Hill. Kounter, at 135 E Main St Ste 101, occupies the former McCrory’s five-and-dime, where the 1961 Friendship Nine sit-in took place.
The original counter and stools are preserved inside. Items on the walls and other historical touches honor the men who sat there during the civil rights movement.
Today the space serves creative comfort food for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Counter and table service are both available, along with vegetarian options.
Hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM. Mondays are closed.
Reservations are accepted and recommended for dinner, especially on busy weekend evenings. Parking is usually plentiful, with free lot and street options.
Few lunch stops carry this much meaning, and a visit here is a chance to sit where change began.
8. Pink Mama Pickwick Ice Cream & Soda Shop, Greenville, SC
Pickwick Pharmacy has been a Greenville institution since 1947, and its little attached soda shop keeps the tradition sweet. Pink Mama Pickwick Ice Cream and Soda Shop sits at 3223 Augusta St.
The menu covers sandwiches, ice cream, dirty sodas, and more. Egg salad sandwiches and made-to-order milkshakes come out quickly, and hot dogs topped with homemade chili and slaw are a local favorite.
The setting is casual and cozy. It works for solo lunches, groups, and kids alike.
Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all options. Free lot and street parking make it easy to pop in.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with weekends closed. Consider it the perfect weekday finish to this tour of counters.
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