Coffee, Dirty Sodas, and the St. George Drink Scene
The way St. George drinks is its own culture. Serious coffee at FS, and the dirty-soda ritual that Swig invented right here.
This is a mild thing to get excited about, but the way St. George drinks is genuinely its own little culture, and it makes more sense once you are here.
Coffee, done seriously
The standout is FS Coffee Company on Tabernacle Street downtown. The beans are roasted in-house by a guy who has actually won a U.S. roasting championship, and they care more about a good pour-over than a mountain of syrup. It is the real-deal stop. There are plenty of other good shops too; the local scene has quietly gotten strong.
The dirty soda thing
Here is the part that confuses visitors: a lot of the town does not drink coffee, and the local caffeine ritual is the dirty soda, a fountain drink loaded with cream, fruit purees, and flavored syrups, ordered from a drive-through window. It is not a gimmick here, it is the culture. Swig, the chain that basically invented the category, was founded right here in St. George back in 2010, and the drive-through lines still wrap the building on a hot afternoon.
What to do about it
Get a real coffee at FS in the morning, then grab a ridiculous dirty soda in the afternoon when it is 105 out and you will understand immediately why everyone drinks them. Both are very St. George.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dirty soda?
A fountain soda mixed with cream, fruit purees, and flavored syrups, usually from a drive-through. The category was popularized by Swig, which was founded in St. George in 2010.
Where is the best coffee in St. George?
FS Coffee Company on Tabernacle Street downtown roasts in-house and is the local favorite for serious coffee.