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The Sunsphere looms above the Knoxville cityscape.
Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Essential Restaurants Near Downtown Knoxville

How to eat and drink your way through Knoxville, Tennessee, from a brewery that makes its own glassware to a soul food restaurant showcasing family recipes

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Knoxville, Tennessee.
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After Knoxville won its 1982 World’s fair bid, the Wall Street Journal infamously called this a “scruffy little city.” Knoxville paid the slight no mind. Fast forward to today, and the city’s scene is far from scruffy. Just a few hours’ drive east of Nashville, the home of the Tennessee Volunteers now has dozens of restaurants — most locally owned — within a square mile of downtown and scores of breweries throughout the city. Want to understand why the unofficial motto of this Tennessee town is “Knox Rox”? Start with these places, from a soul food restaurant showcasing family recipes to a saloon from UT football legend Peyton Manning to a brewery that makes its own glassware.

For a potential 24-hour itinerary, check out How to Eat and Drink Your Way Through Knoxville, Tennessee, in One Day.

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Jackie's Dream

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This comforting, no-frills soul food restaurant in North Knox is named after its owner, Jackie Griffin, who has accomplished a lifelong dream of sharing the food she grew up cooking alongside her grandmothers, mother, and uncles. Family recipes make appearances all over the menu, from Nanny Mary’s cornmeal-fried green tomatoes and Aunt Maimie’s candied yams to Grandaddy C.D.’s collard greens and Mama’s mac and cheese, and daily specials include further favorites from Griffin’s childhood, like hamburger steak and gravy.

Schulz Bräu Brewing Company

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Knoxville’s Ale Trail is overflowing with breweries; one of the best places to start is at Schulz’s massive beer hall (inside a warehouse designed to look like a legit European castle) or sprawling outdoor biergarten, where you can sip German-style beers like a refreshing Munich Helles or smoky Rauchbier paired with quintessential German dishes made from scratch daily. The boisterous, family- and dog-friendly space also regularly hosts live music and events. If you’ve left room after schnitzel, brats, and a few brews from Schulz Bräu, head across the street and grab a few extra snacks at the Central Filling Station Food Truck Park.

A Dopo Sourdough Pizza

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If you’ve had enough of your own pandemic sourdough attempts to last a lifetime, taste how the pros at A Dopo Sourdough Pizza do it for their chewy, Neapolitan-style pies. Situated just outside of the Old City, the lively wood-fired pizzeria features fresh sauces topped with Calabrese salami, 16-month-aged prosciutto, oyster mushrooms, and local honey alongside creative house-made gelato flavors and an extensive Italian wine and beer list.

Lonesome Dove Knoxville

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Chef Tim Love offers a nod to Western culinary tradition with a touch of Knoxville at his Old Town restaurant Lonesome Dove. An extensive wine portfolio pairs with a predominately wood-fired menu, including wild game. A must-order is Love’s proprietary wild game fettine presenting a selection of cuts spit-roasted over mesquite.

Boyd’s Jig and Reel

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Hundreds of whiskies grace the bar at this Old City Scottish haunt, where traditional dishes such as Scotch eggs, steak and ale pie, neeps and tatties, and haggis typically come with a hearty side of live music, whether it be a big show or a pub session where you’re encouraged to join in — if that’s your talent. 

A casual Asian fusion restaurant modeled after Japanese izakayas and sporting a covered patio, Kaizen offers small plates from steamed buns stuffed with fried eggplant or Thai sausage to tamari-glazed potatoes and tingly mapo tofu. The kitchen also rotates in specials like ribeye fried rice or Chana Dal Loup de Mer. You can catch a live show at chef-owner Jesse Newmister’s other nearby restaurant, Tako Taco, focused on street food.

Pretentious Beer Co

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Beverage aficionados often argue that the glass is as important as what’s in it. As one of the only places you’ll find making its own beer and glassware on-site, Old City’s Pretentious Beer Co is a quirky-cool place to taste that difference in action. The liquids are pretty darn tasty, from pale ales to Czech-style pilsners to seltzers, and the vessels are unique and dramatic. Even the tap handles are hand-blown next door at Pretentious Glass Co. Wander over there to watch the expert glass-blowers turn out the works of art that help take the experience to the next level; naturally, you can also buy glassware to go.

Tern Club

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Even if you try to not get turned up at Tern Club, prepare yourself — the drinks hit hard at this hip Old City tiki bar, which mixes classics like Zombies (one per person, mind you) and originals like the Jungle Lullaby, an amped-up play on the bittersweet Jungle Bird. Set a base for that booze with a short list of quesadilla-like mulitas stuffed with jerk chicken or Cubano sandwich fillings.

Sweet P's Barbecue and Downtown Dive

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A casual barbecue spot with the low-key vibes of a dive bar, the Downtown Dive in the Old City’s arts district also features a spacious beer garden. Enjoy all things smoked — Boston butts to brisket — accompanied by soul food classics like collards and cornbread plus a diverse array of wine and craft beer. Fun fact: Sweet P’s owns the World’s Fair logo and is full of kitschy collectibles.

The Brass Pearl

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Oysters might not be your top association with Knoxville, but when you cozy up in the Brass Pearl’s handsome banquettes with freshly shucked oysters on crushed ice, crispy shrimp po’boys, and creamy lobster dip it’s easy to forget you’re in a landlocked state. Don’t leave this Market Square boite without trying the homemade hot sauce served with tiny droppers — they’re also available to purchase and take home.

Oliver Royale

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Serving dinner nightly and brunch Friday through Sunday, this Market Square staple tucked into the boutique Oliver Hotel blends regional ingredients into a broadly international menu. Slurp the signature Royale ramen with confit pork belly and house kimchi or devour the confit short rib with cornbread puree — either makes for a memorable meal. After capping your night with unique cocktails at the hotel’s speakeasy-style Peter Kern Library, head back over to Oliver Royale for the Hangover Helper at brunch.

J.C. Holdway

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If you only have one meal in Knoxville, this downtown charmer in a former photography studio may be the one. Chef Joseph Lynn won a James Beard Award for best chef: Southeast during his time at fine-dining destination Blackberry Farm; at J.C. Holdway, his wood-fired Appalachian flavors permeate the weekly a la carte menus to great effect. Expect an impressive beverage list to complement dishes like a riff on smoked chicken wings with Alabama white sauce or mushrooms and a soft-cooked farm egg on a tender pile of gnocchi.

The Drawing Room at the Tennessean Hotel

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Seated inside the chic Drawing Room restaurant at the Tennessean Hotel downtown, diners can sip craft cocktails aplenty and gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows at the infamous golden Sunsphere towering above World’s Fair Park just across the street. Cheese and charcuterie boards here change daily; the rest of the menu sticks to classics with some seasonal shifts, from shrimp and grits or pancakes for breakfast to roasted half chicken and scallops with corn succotash at dinner. This is one of the only places around town with high tea service; check the website for occasional dates.

Saloon 16

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UT football legend Peyton Manning opened this Western-inspired watering hole at the Graduate hotel in 2020, and it’s been an elevated game-day staple ever since. Along with memorabilia from “the Sheriff’s” personal collection, wood paneling on the floors and walls, and cozy booths, you’ll find a knockout chicken parm sandwich from chef Calvin Winfrey (a Blackberry Farm alum) and a crowd-pleasing drink menu from Natalie Jacob of Nashville’s Attaboy.

Cruze Farm Ice Cream - East Knoxville

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Sure, you could sample some of Cruze Farm Dairy’s frozen treats at the company’s ice cream shop in downtown Knoxville, but for a special experience, head to Asbury in East Knoxville — that’s where the Cruze and Burkhart families first launched their dairy farm dream. Today, they use milk from their own herd of cows in Riverdale to churn some of the creamiest desserts around town and maintain two locations here, including this one with a big covered patio. Flavors rotate daily, but sweet cream, butterscotch, and orange Dole Whip are fan favorites.

Jackie's Dream

This comforting, no-frills soul food restaurant in North Knox is named after its owner, Jackie Griffin, who has accomplished a lifelong dream of sharing the food she grew up cooking alongside her grandmothers, mother, and uncles. Family recipes make appearances all over the menu, from Nanny Mary’s cornmeal-fried green tomatoes and Aunt Maimie’s candied yams to Grandaddy C.D.’s collard greens and Mama’s mac and cheese, and daily specials include further favorites from Griffin’s childhood, like hamburger steak and gravy.

Schulz Bräu Brewing Company

Knoxville’s Ale Trail is overflowing with breweries; one of the best places to start is at Schulz’s massive beer hall (inside a warehouse designed to look like a legit European castle) or sprawling outdoor biergarten, where you can sip German-style beers like a refreshing Munich Helles or smoky Rauchbier paired with quintessential German dishes made from scratch daily. The boisterous, family- and dog-friendly space also regularly hosts live music and events. If you’ve left room after schnitzel, brats, and a few brews from Schulz Bräu, head across the street and grab a few extra snacks at the Central Filling Station Food Truck Park.

A Dopo Sourdough Pizza

If you’ve had enough of your own pandemic sourdough attempts to last a lifetime, taste how the pros at A Dopo Sourdough Pizza do it for their chewy, Neapolitan-style pies. Situated just outside of the Old City, the lively wood-fired pizzeria features fresh sauces topped with Calabrese salami, 16-month-aged prosciutto, oyster mushrooms, and local honey alongside creative house-made gelato flavors and an extensive Italian wine and beer list.

Lonesome Dove Knoxville

Chef Tim Love offers a nod to Western culinary tradition with a touch of Knoxville at his Old Town restaurant Lonesome Dove. An extensive wine portfolio pairs with a predominately wood-fired menu, including wild game. A must-order is Love’s proprietary wild game fettine presenting a selection of cuts spit-roasted over mesquite.

Boyd’s Jig and Reel

Hundreds of whiskies grace the bar at this Old City Scottish haunt, where traditional dishes such as Scotch eggs, steak and ale pie, neeps and tatties, and haggis typically come with a hearty side of live music, whether it be a big show or a pub session where you’re encouraged to join in — if that’s your talent. 

Kaizen

A casual Asian fusion restaurant modeled after Japanese izakayas and sporting a covered patio, Kaizen offers small plates from steamed buns stuffed with fried eggplant or Thai sausage to tamari-glazed potatoes and tingly mapo tofu. The kitchen also rotates in specials like ribeye fried rice or Chana Dal Loup de Mer. You can catch a live show at chef-owner Jesse Newmister’s other nearby restaurant, Tako Taco, focused on street food.

Pretentious Beer Co

Beverage aficionados often argue that the glass is as important as what’s in it. As one of the only places you’ll find making its own beer and glassware on-site, Old City’s Pretentious Beer Co is a quirky-cool place to taste that difference in action. The liquids are pretty darn tasty, from pale ales to Czech-style pilsners to seltzers, and the vessels are unique and dramatic. Even the tap handles are hand-blown next door at Pretentious Glass Co. Wander over there to watch the expert glass-blowers turn out the works of art that help take the experience to the next level; naturally, you can also buy glassware to go.

Tern Club

Even if you try to not get turned up at Tern Club, prepare yourself — the drinks hit hard at this hip Old City tiki bar, which mixes classics like Zombies (one per person, mind you) and originals like the Jungle Lullaby, an amped-up play on the bittersweet Jungle Bird. Set a base for that booze with a short list of quesadilla-like mulitas stuffed with jerk chicken or Cubano sandwich fillings.

Sweet P's Barbecue and Downtown Dive

A casual barbecue spot with the low-key vibes of a dive bar, the Downtown Dive in the Old City’s arts district also features a spacious beer garden. Enjoy all things smoked — Boston butts to brisket — accompanied by soul food classics like collards and cornbread plus a diverse array of wine and craft beer. Fun fact: Sweet P’s owns the World’s Fair logo and is full of kitschy collectibles.

The Brass Pearl

Oysters might not be your top association with Knoxville, but when you cozy up in the Brass Pearl’s handsome banquettes with freshly shucked oysters on crushed ice, crispy shrimp po’boys, and creamy lobster dip it’s easy to forget you’re in a landlocked state. Don’t leave this Market Square boite without trying the homemade hot sauce served with tiny droppers — they’re also available to purchase and take home.

Oliver Royale

Serving dinner nightly and brunch Friday through Sunday, this Market Square staple tucked into the boutique Oliver Hotel blends regional ingredients into a broadly international menu. Slurp the signature Royale ramen with confit pork belly and house kimchi or devour the confit short rib with cornbread puree — either makes for a memorable meal. After capping your night with unique cocktails at the hotel’s speakeasy-style Peter Kern Library, head back over to Oliver Royale for the Hangover Helper at brunch.

J.C. Holdway

If you only have one meal in Knoxville, this downtown charmer in a former photography studio may be the one. Chef Joseph Lynn won a James Beard Award for best chef: Southeast during his time at fine-dining destination Blackberry Farm; at J.C. Holdway, his wood-fired Appalachian flavors permeate the weekly a la carte menus to great effect. Expect an impressive beverage list to complement dishes like a riff on smoked chicken wings with Alabama white sauce or mushrooms and a soft-cooked farm egg on a tender pile of gnocchi.

The Drawing Room at the Tennessean Hotel

Seated inside the chic Drawing Room restaurant at the Tennessean Hotel downtown, diners can sip craft cocktails aplenty and gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows at the infamous golden Sunsphere towering above World’s Fair Park just across the street. Cheese and charcuterie boards here change daily; the rest of the menu sticks to classics with some seasonal shifts, from shrimp and grits or pancakes for breakfast to roasted half chicken and scallops with corn succotash at dinner. This is one of the only places around town with high tea service; check the website for occasional dates.

Saloon 16

UT football legend Peyton Manning opened this Western-inspired watering hole at the Graduate hotel in 2020, and it’s been an elevated game-day staple ever since. Along with memorabilia from “the Sheriff’s” personal collection, wood paneling on the floors and walls, and cozy booths, you’ll find a knockout chicken parm sandwich from chef Calvin Winfrey (a Blackberry Farm alum) and a crowd-pleasing drink menu from Natalie Jacob of Nashville’s Attaboy.

Cruze Farm Ice Cream - East Knoxville

Sure, you could sample some of Cruze Farm Dairy’s frozen treats at the company’s ice cream shop in downtown Knoxville, but for a special experience, head to Asbury in East Knoxville — that’s where the Cruze and Burkhart families first launched their dairy farm dream. Today, they use milk from their own herd of cows in Riverdale to churn some of the creamiest desserts around town and maintain two locations here, including this one with a big covered patio. Flavors rotate daily, but sweet cream, butterscotch, and orange Dole Whip are fan favorites.

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