The Missouri Soda Shop With A Gooey Butter Cake Worth Every Mile

I came upon Union Station last summer, looking for air conditioning, and walked out with a sugar buzz that lasted until Kansas City, Missouri.

The Soda Fountain sits right there in the historic train shed, serving up gooey butter cake in forms I never imagined possible.

This place turns St. Louis’s most famous dessert into ice cream, shakes, and towering creations that make you forget you’re technically inside a train station. It’s part candy store, part time machine, and completely worth the detour.

Soon, you will understand why.

Meet the Union Station crowd-pleaser

Walking into this spot feels like your grandparents’ photo albums came to life in full color. Bright booths line the walls, a long counter stretches out for solo sippers, and the candy shop section glows like a sugar-powered beacon.

Families pile in after riding the Ferris wheel outside, couples claim corner booths for date nights, and tourists treat it like the Instagram pit stop it absolutely is.

The historic train shed wraps around everything, adding architectural drama to your dessert run.

You can feel the energy before you even order. It’s designed to handle crowds without losing that nostalgic charm, so even on busy weekends, the vibe stays fun instead of frantic.

Gooey butter cake, the house obsession

St. Louis built its dessert reputation on gooey butter cake, and this place takes that legacy seriously.

You’ll find gooey butter cake as a scoop flavor on the menu, featuring local Clementine’s ice cream that captures every bit of that dense, sweet, buttery magic.

It shows up on its own and in specialty drinks like the “St. Louis Standard” float, and it also sneaks into seasonal creations. The texture is rich without being heavy, and the flavor hits that perfect balance between cake and cream.

I ordered a single scoop on my first visit and immediately regretted not going double. It’s the kind of thing that makes you understand why people drive across state lines for dessert.

The cult order: turn gooey into a shake

Seasonal freakshakes build the Soda Fountain spectacle, rotating through over-the-top themes that beg for a photo before you even think about drinking it.

For a gooey-butter fix, ask for the “St. Louis Standard” float made with gooey butter cake ice cream, or pair a traditional shake with a side scoop.

These limited releases draw lines that stretch past the candy counter, and every phone in the place points toward the bar when one gets delivered. The shakes rotate with the seasons, so what you see in spring might vanish by summer.

I watched a family of four share one and still look defeated halfway through. It’s engineered for sharing, though solo attempts earn respect.

Old-school technique, new-school fun

Phosphates and malts sit right next to towering sundaes on a menu that refuses to pick a lane. Purists can order a simple float made the way soda jerks did it in 1950, while thrill-seekers chase the wildest creation on the specials board.

The kitchen respects traditional techniques but isn’t afraid to pile on the fun. You get hand-scooped classics, proper malt powder in your shakes, and real soda fountain equipment doing the work.

My uncle ordered a plain vanilla malt and declared it the best he’d had in thirty years. Meanwhile, I tackled something with four scoops and regretted nothing.

Candy counter memories to go

Past the ice cream bar, the retail candy section transforms your dessert stop into a full souvenir operation. Glass jars hold everything your dentist warned you about as a kid, and paper bags get loaded with nostalgia by the pound.

It’s positioned perfectly for impulse buys on your way out, when you’re already sugared up and making questionable decisions. Parents cave to requests, tourists grab gifts, and you end up with a bag of candy you swear you’ll ration.

I left with rock candy and Swedish Fish, neither of which survived the drive home. The candy counter knows exactly what it’s doing.

What locals order first

Start with either a traditional shake or a freakshake, then add a scoop of gooey butter cake ice cream to seal the deal. Locals know to ask about current specials because the lineup shifts and limited runs vanish fast.

If you’re celebrating anything, mention it. The staff might steer you toward a creation that’s about to rotate off the menu, saving you from regret later.

My go-to move is a classic chocolate shake with a gooey butter cake scoop on the side. It sounds simple, but the combination hits every note without requiring a nap afterward.

Where to find it and when to go

You’ll find the shop at 201 S 18th St, St. Louis, MO 63103, tucked inside Union Station alongside the other attractions. Hours shift between weekdays and weekends, so check the official site or tourism listings before you make the trip.

Peak times hit hard on weekends and during school breaks, when families flood the station. Weekday afternoons offer shorter waits and easier access to counter seats.

I’ve learned to arrive right when they open to avoid the rush. Early timing means fresher toppings, faster service, and prime seating before the tour groups roll in.

Why it’s worth the miles

This isn’t just another ice cream stop. It’s a destination that wraps St. Louis tradition into a throwback setting, serves it with a candy store glow, and makes gooey butter cake the star of the whole operation.

You walk out a little sugared, a lot charmed, and already calculating when you can come back. The combination of nostalgia, local pride, and over-the-top desserts creates something that feels both timeless and perfectly now.

I’ve dragged friends here who rolled their eyes at the hype, and every single one left planning their next order. That’s the power of gooey butter cake in shake form.