Café$downtownMon-Fri 06:30-14:00; Sat-Sun 07:00-14:00
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown Knoxville diner since 1986, runs the breakfast counter that voted Best Breakfast in town.
Signature drink: Diner-counter coffee
Tip: Closed by 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00, weekdays move faster.
Café$gay-streetDaily 12:00-22:00
Cruze Farm Ice Cream on South Gay Street, the family dairy's downtown Knoxville counter, churns ice cream with milk from the Cruze herd in East Tennessee.
Signature drink: Fresh-churned ice cream and milkshakes
Tip: Late-night ice cream runs to 22:00 daily; the line moves faster than it looks.
Café$old-cityMon-Fri 07:00-18:00; Sat-Sun 08:00-18:00Work-friendlyWifi
Old City Java on South Central Street, the neighborhood coffee shop serving downtown Knoxville since 1991, anchors the Old City's specialty coffee tier.
Signature drink: Filter coffee
Tip: Weekday mornings turn over faster than weekend afternoons; the bench at the front fills first.
Café$gay-streetMon-Thu 07:00-18:00; Fri-Sat 07:00-20:00; Sun 08:00-18:00Work-friendlyWifi
K Brew Downtown on South Gay Street, the locally roasted coffee and handmade bagel counter in the Embassy Suites building, anchors downtown.
Signature drink: Knoxville-roasted espresso
Tip: Friday and Saturday close at 20:00 for the post-work crowd; weekday mornings open at 07:00 sharp.
Café$north-knoxvilleMon-Sat 06:30-18:00; Sun 07:00-18:00Work-friendlyWifi
K Brew North Knox on North Broadway, the original K Brew location, runs locally roasted coffee and handmade bagels north of downtown Knoxville with a fuller.
Signature drink: Drip coffee and bagels
Tip: Drive-through line moves faster than the inside counter on weekday mornings.
Café$north-knoxvilleWed-Sun 08:00-16:00; closed Mon-TueWork-friendlyWifi
Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central Street, the North Knoxville cafe and bakery, runs scratch pastries and Joe Coffee on tap and was named Afar's best.
Signature drink: Drip coffee and croissants
Tip: Mondays and Tuesdays closed; weekend mornings fill fast for the laminated pastries.