Guidebook for Knoxville
Food Scene
These are my personal favorites!
Best brunch ever! Highlights local food and farmers in creative and delicious ways! If you only choose one restaurant on your visit -- this is it!
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OliBea
211 S Central StBest brunch ever! Highlights local food and farmers in creative and delicious ways! If you only choose one restaurant on your visit -- this is it!
A real taste of Southern soul food! And Jackie is awesome! Best fried chicken in town!
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Jackie's Dream
1008 E Woodland AveA real taste of Southern soul food! And Jackie is awesome! Best fried chicken in town!
Chivo Taqueria
314 S Gay StPerfect best drinks + food combination.
K Brew
1138 N BroadwayCool coffee spot!
Best tamales, in a cozy, quirky atmosphere. Casual counter service. Great meat, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options! This is a great take-out option, too!
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Good Golly Tamale
112 S Central StBest tamales, in a cozy, quirky atmosphere. Casual counter service. Great meat, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options! This is a great take-out option, too!
Cozy, Izakaya-style restaurant with incredible food and attentive, friendly service. And next to a coffee house so you can get your drink next door 😉
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Kaizen
127 S Central StCozy, Izakaya-style restaurant with incredible food and attentive, friendly service. And next to a coffee house so you can get your drink next door 😉
THE most amazing bread and bagels in Knoxville! And next to a coffee house 😉
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Paysan Bread & Bagels
804 Tyson StTHE most amazing bread and bagels in Knoxville! And next to a coffee house 😉
Local brewery with inventive beers, all served in glasses that are hand-blown right next door at Pretentious Glass Co.! If you are a beer-lover, this is a must-visit! Grab your beer at the bar and then walk through the back door into the glass-blowing studio to watch the spectacle!
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Pretentious Beer Co
131 S Central StLocal brewery with inventive beers, all served in glasses that are hand-blown right next door at Pretentious Glass Co.! If you are a beer-lover, this is a must-visit! Grab your beer at the bar and then walk through the back door into the glass-blowing studio to watch the spectacle!
My favorite dinner experience in town! Amazing pizza+wine+gelato combination.
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A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
516 Williams StMy favorite dinner experience in town! Amazing pizza+wine+gelato combination.
My favorite lunch spot in town! Can’t get fresher and healthier than this place 😋
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KoPita Falafel & Hummus Bar
507 S Gay StMy favorite lunch spot in town! Can’t get fresher and healthier than this place 😋
Incredible Neapolitan style sourdough pizza, great wine list, fantastic service!
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A Dopo Sourdough Pizza
516 Williams StIncredible Neapolitan style sourdough pizza, great wine list, fantastic service!
Fantastic local brewery in a beautiful space. Great food, and excellent happy hour specials!
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Balter Beerworks
100 Broadway SWFantastic local brewery in a beautiful space. Great food, and excellent happy hour specials!
Amazing Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare. Just go and order the Mezze (chef's choice) and you will be delighted! It's all vegan, but so good that meat-eaters won't even notice!
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KoPita Falafel & Hummus Bar
507 S Gay StAmazing Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare. Just go and order the Mezze (chef's choice) and you will be delighted! It's all vegan, but so good that meat-eaters won't even notice!
Delicious, inventive soft-serve ice cream from our local, family-owned dairy.
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Cruze Farm Ice Cream
445 S Gay StDelicious, inventive soft-serve ice cream from our local, family-owned dairy.
Gorgeous, elegant space, delicious local food, excellent cocktails!
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Oliver Royale
5 Market SquareGorgeous, elegant space, delicious local food, excellent cocktails!
Fantastic food!! Named by Reader's Digest as "The Friendliest Place in America."
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Yassin's | Falafel House
706 Walnut StFantastic food!! Named by Reader's Digest as "The Friendliest Place in America."
Koyo Knoxville
416 Clinch Avenue
Marble City Market
333 West Depot AvenueThe French Market Creperie Downtown
412 Clinch AveCentral Filling Station
900 N Central StPotchke Deli
318 North Gay StreetDrinks & Nightlife
Perfect size bar: not to big, not too small. :) Great food and kitchen open late! Live music almost every night.
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Boyd’s Jig and Reel
101 S Central StPerfect size bar: not to big, not too small. :) Great food and kitchen open late! Live music almost every night.
Hip but comfy locals bar; great cocktails and yummy, creative snacks; great patio/beer garden.
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Knox Public House
212 W Magnolia AveHip but comfy locals bar; great cocktails and yummy, creative snacks; great patio/beer garden.
Peter Kern Library
407 Union AveLibrary-themed speakeasy bar in historic building.
Unique, locally-crafted, small-batch spirits, creative and delicious cocktails, great patio, super-friendly and knowledgeable staff.
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PostModern Spirits
205 W Jackson AveUnique, locally-crafted, small-batch spirits, creative and delicious cocktails, great patio, super-friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Brother Wolf
108 West Jackson AvenueMerchants of Beer
137 S Central StParks & Nature
Ijams Nature Center
2915 Island Home AveEasy to get to, very pleasant trails.
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
2743 Wimpole AveBeautiful views and landscape.
UT Gardens
2518 Jacob DrBeautiful, easy walking trail highlighting native species.
Great spot for a walk, bike ride, or picnic with awesome views of the Knoxville skyline from across the river!
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Suttree Landing Park
1001 Waterfront Drive SEGreat spot for a walk, bike ride, or picnic with awesome views of the Knoxville skyline from across the river!
Great outdoor recreation spot! Rent kayas and paddleboards, or just swim, picnic, or hike. Beautifully clear, perfect-temperature water.
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Meads Quarry
Great outdoor recreation spot! Rent kayas and paddleboards, or just swim, picnic, or hike. Beautifully clear, perfect-temperature water.
Essentials
Three Rivers Market
1100 N Central StCoop. Great for local products and healthy choices.
The closest and easiest. They have milk, juice, batteries, deodorant, and probably all the essentials you need.
Family Dollar
1932 E Magnolia AveThe closest and easiest. They have milk, juice, batteries, deodorant, and probably all the essentials you need.
Kroger
2217 N BroadwayAwesome local wine and spirits shop; friendly and knowledgeable staff; easy to walk to.
Corks Wine & Spirits
116 S Central StAwesome local wine and spirits shop; friendly and knowledgeable staff; easy to walk to.
Cute, regionally-owned catchall store, carrying everything from gifts, clothing, locally-made bath and beauty products (and a mind-boggling by-the-pound candy selection!) to kitchen-wares, camping gear, and kid's toys and books.
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Mast General Store
402 S Gay StCute, regionally-owned catchall store, carrying everything from gifts, clothing, locally-made bath and beauty products (and a mind-boggling by-the-pound candy selection!) to kitchen-wares, camping gear, and kid's toys and books.
Arts & Culture
Stunning historic theater! Variety of performances including live music, movies, comedy shows, and ballet.
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Tennessee Theatre
604 S Gay StStunning historic theater! Variety of performances including live music, movies, comedy shows, and ballet.
Small historic theater hosting a range of performers from small local bands to internationally famous musicians. Known for its near-perfect acoustics.
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Bijou Theater
803 S Gay StSmall historic theater hosting a range of performers from small local bands to internationally famous musicians. Known for its near-perfect acoustics.
Beautiful, hand-blown glassware and art pieces. This is the #1-selling Etsy store IN THE WORLD! And you can check it out, watch the process live, and then go drink a craft beer out of a hand-blown glass at their brewery next door!
Pretentious Glass Co
133 S Central StBeautiful, hand-blown glassware and art pieces. This is the #1-selling Etsy store IN THE WORLD! And you can check it out, watch the process live, and then go drink a craft beer out of a hand-blown glass at their brewery next door!
Constantly-changing murals from local artists. Worth a quick detour if you're walking around Gay Street/Market Square!
Strong Alley (Graffiti Alley)
Strong StreetConstantly-changing murals from local artists. Worth a quick detour if you're walking around Gay Street/Market Square!
Entertainment & Activities
Regal Riviera
510 S Gay StKnoxville's community-supported local radio! WDVX hosts The Blue Plate Special every day at noon -- a FREE live concert series featuring local and traveling artists. Visit https://wdvx.com/ for schedule and locations!
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WDVX
301 S Gay StKnoxville's community-supported local radio! WDVX hosts The Blue Plate Special every day at noon -- a FREE live concert series featuring local and traveling artists. Visit https://wdvx.com/ for schedule and locations!
Beautiful, interactive museum featuring the history of East Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Appalachian culture.
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East Tennessee History Center
601 S Gay StBeautiful, interactive museum featuring the history of East Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Appalachian culture.
Beautiful basement bowling alley in a recently restored historic building. Great food and drinks, friendly staff. Also check out the upstairs lounge for a quiet drink in a gorgeous, retro atmosphere.
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Maple Hall
414 S Gay StBeautiful basement bowling alley in a recently restored historic building. Great food and drinks, friendly staff. Also check out the upstairs lounge for a quiet drink in a gorgeous, retro atmosphere.
Vintage train that takes 2-hour tours along the river on historic-track routes.
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Three Rivers Rambler
2560 University Commons WayVintage train that takes 2-hour tours along the river on historic-track routes.
Sightseeing
Knoxville's most iconic landmark. Free to visit, you can take the elevator to the Observation Deck for 360 degree views of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains!
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Sunsphere
810 Clinch AveKnoxville's most iconic landmark. Free to visit, you can take the elevator to the Observation Deck for 360 degree views of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains!