Long before drive-thrus and phone apps, a lot of Tennessee towns had one favorite place to sit and sip. It was usually a soda fountain, often tucked inside a drugstore, where a milkshake came in a tall glass and the stools spun.
The good news is that some of these spots are still pouring. A few have been at it since the 1930s or earlier, while others have brought the old style back to life on historic downtown streets.
This list covers six soda fountains across the state, from the Smoky Mountain foothills to West Tennessee. You will find hand-dipped malts, banana splits, ice cream sodas, and even a working pharmacy or two.
Some serve full breakfasts and burgers, while others keep it simple with lunch and dessert. Grab a friend, pick a booth, and plan a sweet little road trip.
1. Reds Soda Fountain and Ice Cream, Sevierville, TN
Here is a place where the jukebox is free to play, and it is loaded with oldies. That alone makes Reds a fun first stop on a soda fountain tour.
The shop sits at 114 Court Ave in downtown Sevierville, just a short hop from the busy Smoky Mountain tourist strip. Inside, you get vintage decor, booths, bar stools, and a real soda fountain bar with table service.
The fountain sodas are handmade, and the Orange Ice Cream Soda is a bright, old-school pick you do not see on many menus anymore. Milkshake fans should look for the Buster Brown Milkshake.
Dessert lovers can go big with a Banana Split topped with nuts and cherries, a Brownie Sundae, or anything with hot fudge. There is also a hot dog if you want something savory first.
Hours run Monday through Saturday starting at 11 AM, with a later 8 PM close on Fridays. It is closed Sundays, and Saturday afternoons get the busiest, so a weekday visit is the calmer choice.
2. Elliston Place Soda Shop, Nashville, TN
Nashville has changed a lot since 1939, but Elliston Place Soda Shop is still scooping. That long run makes it one of the city’s true neighborhood institutions.
The shop has been remodeled and expanded, so there is more room than in its early days. The tiled walls, jukeboxes, and old-school soda fountain are still part of the look.
A nice modern touch is the plug-ins at the booths, along with free Wi-Fi. That makes it an easy spot for college students or anyone who needs to answer a few emails over a float.
This is also a real meal stop. Breakfast brings a TN Country Ham Breakfast Meal or pancakes and eggs, while lunch leans on the Signature Soda Shop Burger, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, and onion rings.
Save room for the Banana Split or a Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae. Sodas, floats, and shakes round out the fountain side.
It opens at 7:30 AM Monday through Saturday and closes at 4 PM, with Sunday hours from 9 AM to 3 PM. There is a parking lot and a to-go window, and live music on weekends adds extra fun.
3. Soda Pop Junction, Lynnville, TN
Road trippers heading through Giles County should plan a detour to Lynnville. The tiny town is home to Soda Pop Junction, set inside an old drug store with its soda fountain still in use.
The decor pulls from the 1920s through the 1950s, so there is plenty to look at while you wait for your order. Counter seating and tables both work here.
Burgers are made with local beef, and the Burger and Curly Fries plate is a classic combo. Sweet potato fries are another good side.
Then comes the fun part. Shakes, malts, and old-fashioned ice cream fill the dessert side, and the Banana Split is a big crowd pleaser.
It opens at 7 AM every day, so breakfast is on the table too. Friday and Saturday hours stretch to 8 PM, and some visits come with live music.
Prices run about $10 to $20 per person, and parking is usually easy. Saturday mornings get the biggest crowds.
4. Livingston’s Soda Fountain & Grill, Brownsville, TN
Thick milkshakes are the headliner in Brownsville. Livingston’s Soda Fountain and Grill recreates the classic soda shop right on South Washington Avenue in this West Tennessee town.
The space is roomy, with a 1950s diner look and a cool old-fashioned soda fountain as the centerpiece. Shake fans should look for the Delta Dawn shake.
The kitchen goes well past burgers. You can order chicken and waffles, a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, patty melts, turkey melts, and Blues Fries, which nod to the area’s music roots.
Sunday brunch has its own fans, with biscuit beignets among the treats. Fresh lemonade is another nice touch.
Check the schedule before you go. It is closed Mondays, open only until 3 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open until 8 PM Thursday through Saturday, and serves from 10 AM to 2 PM on Sunday.
Plan on about $10 to $20 per person. Free parking makes it an easy stop off I-40.
5. Hoskins Drug Store #2, Clinton, TN
Pick up a prescription and a malt in the same trip. That is the everyday reality at Hoskins Drug Store in Clinton, a working pharmacy with a soda fountain and cafe running inside.
The store traces its history back to 1930, and it still has the feel of a true community landmark on North Main Street. The lunch counter keeps busy, so expect company around midday.
The real star is the fountain. Hand-dipped malts and shakes are the draw, and the grill turns out lunch for shoppers and downtown workers.
It is still a full drugstore too, with a solid selection of medical items and pharmacy service. Few places in the state mix errands and ice cream quite this well.
Hours run 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturday. It is closed Sundays, and Wednesdays and Saturdays tend to draw the biggest crowds.
6. Thomas Drugs, Cross Plains, TN
The store fixtures date to 1915, and the soda fountain dates to the 1930s. Thomas Drugs in Cross Plains is about as close to a time machine as this list gets.
The business has served Cross Plains and nearby communities since the early 1900s as a full-service drugstore and soda fountain. It sits on TN-25 in Robertson County, north of Nashville.
The fountain menu covers all the classics. Think malts, shakes, banana splits, sundaes, ice cream sodas, and hand-mixed soda drinks, plus lunch.
I would save this one for a slow weekday drive through the countryside. It opens at 8 AM Monday through Friday and closes at 6 PM.
Saturday hours are short, from 8 AM to noon, and it is closed Sunday. Arrive early on a weekend.
From Sevierville to Cross Plains, these six fountains prove the tall glass and the spinning stool still have plenty of fans. Pick the closest one, or turn them all into one very sweet Tennessee road trip.
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