CuisineBurgers
Price$$
Neighborhoodfountain-city
HoursMon-Sat 11:00-20:00; closed Sun
Last verified

Why locals love it: The Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.

Tip: Cash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.

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Location

Address: 2803 Essary Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918

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More hidden gems in Knoxville

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.5

Cafe$$downtownMon-Fri 06:30-14:00; Sat-Sun 07:00-14:00

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop in Knoxville: cafe room. Tourists flow to Tupelo Honey; locals walk a block to Pete's on Union Avenue for the diner.

Why locals love it: Tourists flow to Tupelo Honey; locals walk a block to Pete's on Union Avenue for the diner breakfast voted best in Knoxville for seven years running.

Tip: Closes 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00, weekdays move faster.

540 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902

Curious Dog ★ 4.0

American diner$$old-cityMon-Sat 12:00-20:00; Sun 13:00-16:00

Curious Dog is the brothers weidenhamer hide a 200-bottle craft-beer wall behind the jfg building's hot-dog counter that most old city visitors walk past.

Why locals love it: The brothers Weidenhamer hide a 200-bottle craft-beer wall behind the JFG building's hot-dog counter that most Old City visitors walk past.

Tip: Pair a specialty hot dog with a bottle off the craft beer wall; the bottle shop is the real story.

200 W Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902

Schulz Brau Beer Garden ★ 4.3

German$$happy-hollerTue-Wed 15:00-00:00; Thu 11:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-01:00; Sun 11:00-00:00; closed Mon

Schulz Brau Beer Garden is a german room in Happy Holler. Closed Mondays; the outdoor beer garden runs weather-dependent. Drive over from downtown Old City.

Why locals love it: The largest German-style beer garden in Knoxville hides on Bernard Avenue in Happy Holler where downtown tourists rarely venture for an authentic helles.

Tip: Closed Mondays; the outdoor beer garden runs weather-dependent. Drive over from downtown Old City.

126 Bernard Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917

Magpies Bakery ★ 4.1

Italian$$happy-hollerMon 10:00-14:00; Tue-Fri 11:00-17:30; Sat 10:00-16:00; closed Sun

Magpies Bakery is the north central cupcake counter has anchored happy holler's residential dessert scene without ever putting a downtown branch in place.

Why locals love it: The North Central cupcake counter has anchored Happy Holler's residential dessert scene without ever putting a downtown branch in place.

Tip: Closed Sundays; the Italian cream cake is the not-to-miss order. Wedding cake bookings months out.

846 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917

Boyd's Jig and Reel ★ 4.4

Scottish$$old-citySun-Thu 17:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00

Boyd's Jig and Reel is the scottish session pub in the old city keeps one of the world's largest single-malt scotch lists with live music six nights a week.

Why locals love it: The Scottish session pub in the Old City keeps one of the world's largest single-malt Scotch lists with live music six nights a week.

Tip: Sunday and Monday Scottish music jam sessions are the most authentic windows; over 1,000 whiskies on the menu.

101 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902

Wild Love Bakehouse ★ 4.8

Bakery$$north-knoxvilleWed-Sun 08:00-16:00; closed Mon-Tue

Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central Street is the bakery Afar called a contender for best in America, still operating Wednesday through Sunday by design.

Why locals love it: Afar magazine profiled the North Central bakery as a contender for best in America, but the cafe still operates Wednesday through Sunday only.

Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; arrive before noon on weekends to catch laminated pastries before they sell out.

1625 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917

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