Cocktail barNeighborhood cocktail bar$$$downtownMon-Sat 16:00-00:00; closed Sun
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV no-live-music neighborhood bar, runs a serious cocktail program and a tight Southern-inflected food menu.
Signature drink: Craft cocktails and small wine list
Food: Southern-inspired bar plates
Tip: Walk-up only; the bar opens at 16:00, the kitchen runs the full night menu.
Cocktail barScottish pub$$$old-citySun-Thu 17:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00
Boyd's Jig and Reel on South Central, the Old City Scottish session pub, holds one of the largest single-malt Scotch lists in the world with live Celtic.
Signature drink: Single-malt Scotch whisky
Food: Scottish gastropub
Tip: Sunday and Monday Scottish music jam sessions are the most authentic windows; the whisky list runs over 1,000 bottles.
Cocktail barCraft beer bar with ramen$$$gay-streetDaily 16:00-00:00
Suttree's High Gravity Tavern on South Gay Street, the downtown Knoxville craft-beer bar named for the Cormac McCarthy novel, runs 32 rotating taps.
Signature drink: 32 rotating craft taps
Food: Ramen and bar snacks
Tip: Ramen menu runs to last call; check the tap-list chalkboard for the night's rotation.
Cocktail barCraft beer bar and bottle shop$$$beardenMon-Wed 10:00-22:00; Thu-Sat 10:00-00:00; Sun 12:00-22:00
Bearden Beer Market on Old Kingston Pike, the West Knoxville beer bar and bottle shop, runs a rotating tap and bottle list open 365 days a year.
Signature drink: Rotating craft beer flights
Food: Food-truck rotation
Tip: Outside dog-friendly patio is the real draw; food trucks rotate so check the Facebook page for the night's truck.
Cocktail barCocktail and craft beer pub$$$beardenSun 13:00-21:00; Mon-Thu 13:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 13:00-01:00
Marble City Pub on Jack Dance Street, the West Hills cocktail and beer bar, runs craft cocktails, rotating taps and Saturday salsa nights in the strip.
Signature drink: Craft cocktails and rotating taps
Food: Pub menu
Tip: Saturday salsa nights run late; weeknights are reliably easier for the cocktail program.
Cocktail barBurger and bourbon bar$$$market-squareSun-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the bourbon-and-burger room since 2013, carries a 300-deep American whiskey list with Pappy and Blanton's allocations.
Signature drink: 300-deep American whiskey list
Food: Burgers from Mitchell Family Farms beef
Tip: The bar runs past kitchen close on Friday and Saturday; aim for early dinner if the kitchen is the priority.