Knoxville: Downtown Food Tour with Tastings and Guide
Discover the flavors of Knoxville on a guided food tour. Enjoy tastings at local restaurants, learn about the city's history, and explore the neighborhoods of Market S...
40 mid-range places in Knoxville, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Knoxville, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Knoxville food.
Old City Java ★ 4.8
old-city · 109 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Old City Java on South Central, the Knoxville coffee anchor since 1991, runs espresso, drip and whole-bean retail in the Old City as a longtime cafe.
Tip: Weekday open at 07:00 catches the commuter crowd; Saturdays move slower for sit-down work sessions.
Wild Love Bakehouse ★ 4.8
north-knoxville · 1625 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
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.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; arrive before noon on weekends to catch laminated pastries before they sell out.
Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.7
fountain-city · 2803 Essary Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918
Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.
Tip: Cash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.
Lilou Brasserie Jazz Brunch ★ 4.7
gay-street · 428 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Lilou Brasserie jazz brunch on South Gay Street, the Aaron Thompson and Jessica King French brasserie weekend brunch with live jazz, runs Saturdays.
Tip: Reservations open about three weeks out; the live jazz starts at 11:00 in the dining room.
Wild Love Bakehouse Brunch ★ 4.7
north-knoxville · 1625 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central, the North Knoxville bakery and cafe profiled by Afar magazine, runs weekend pastry and coffee brunch service Wednesday.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; the pastry case sells out by midday on weekends.
The Plaid Apron ★ 4.6
bearden · 1210 Kenesaw Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the long-running Southern brunch and dinner room in West Knoxville, works with East Tennessee farmers.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday for brunch and dinner; Sunday is brunch only and the kitchen closes Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Plaid Apron ★ 4.6
bearden · 1210 Kenesaw Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the long-running Southern brunch and dinner room, runs Wednesday-to-Saturday dinners sourcing from East.
Tip: Wednesday to Saturday for dinner; Sunday is brunch only and the kitchen closes Monday and Tuesday.
Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.6
fountain-city · 2803 Essary Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918
Litton's Market and Restaurant on Essary Drive in Fountain City since 1946, the family-run burger and bakery counter, sells the famous burger.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weekday lunch lines move faster than the dinner crowd in Fountain City.
Wild Love Bakehouse ★ 4.6
north-knoxville · 1625 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917
Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central, the North Knoxville bakery and cafe, partners with Joe Coffee for espresso and drip alongside its scratch.
Tip: Wednesday to Sunday only; weekend mornings draw the longest line for the pastry case.
Pretentious Beer Co. ★ 4.6
old-city · 131 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Pretentious Beer Co. on South Central, the Old City brewery from glass artist turned brewer Matthew Cummings, pours experimental beers in glassware made.
Tip: The beer garden connects the brewery and glass studio; weekday afternoons run quietest.
Boyd's Jig and Reel ★ 4.6
old-city · 101 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Boyd's Jig and Reel on South Central in the Old City, the Scottish session pub with 1,000+ whiskies, keeps kitchen and music running until 02:00 Friday.
Tip: Friday and Saturday nights run latest; Sunday and Monday traditional Scottish music jam sessions are mid-evening.
The Plaid Apron ★ 4.6
bearden · 1210 Kenesaw Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
The Plaid Apron on Kenesaw Avenue in Sequoyah Hills, the Southern brunch and dinner room, runs Wednesday-to-Sunday brunch with cinnamon rolls.
Tip: Sunday brunch only; Wednesday to Saturday are full brunch and dinner. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.6
downtown · 540 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown diner since 1986, runs breakfast counter service voted Best Breakfast in Knoxville seven.
Tip: Closes 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00 and weekdays move faster.
Kaizen ★ 4.5
old-city · 127 S Central Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Kaizen on South Central, chef Jesse Newmister's Asian-fusion room in the Old City since 2016, runs steamed buns, ramen and rotating chef plates a block.
Tip: The Old City location runs busier than the kitchen seats can handle on Friday and Saturday nights; aim for Tuesday or Wednesday.
Stock and Barrel ★ 4.5
market-square · 35 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the burger and bourbon room running since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with a bar pouring more than 300.
Tip: Walk-up is reliable weeknights before 18:00; the bar runs later than the kitchen on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Tomato Head ★ 4.5
market-square · 12 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Tomato Head on Market Square, Mahasti Vafaie's Persian-American pizza and sandwich counter since 1990, is downtown Knoxville's longest-running.
Tip: Weekend brunch runs 11:00-15:00; happy hour for slices and salads runs Sunday to Thursday from 16:00-18:00.
The Public House ★ 4.5
downtown · 212 W Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV no-live-music neighborhood bar, runs a serious cocktail program and Southern-inflected food menu.
Tip: Walk-up is the only seating; aim for early evening on weeknights for the cocktail bar's quieter run.
The Tomato Head ★ 4.5
market-square · 12 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Tomato Head on Market Square, Mahasti Vafaie's Persian-American pizza counter since 1990, is downtown Knoxville's longest-running independent restaurant.
Tip: Weekend brunch runs 11:00-15:00; happy hour Sunday to Thursday from 16:00-18:00 for slices.
Stock and Barrel ★ 4.5
market-square · 35 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Stock and Barrel on Market Square, the bourbon-and-burger counter since 2013, sources beef from Mitchell Family Farms with bread from Flour Head Bakery.
Tip: Walk-up runs weeknights before 18:00; the bar stays open past kitchen close on weekends.
Dead End BBQ ★ 4.5
bearden · 3621 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37919
Dead End BBQ on Sutherland Avenue in the Pond Gap neighborhood near Bearden, the competition-team-turned-restaurant, runs award-winning smoked brisket.
Tip: Order from the counter and find a seat; Friday and Saturday dinners run busiest.
Kaizen ★ 4.5
old-city · 127 S Central Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Kaizen on South Central, chef Jesse Newmister's Asian-fusion room in the Old City since 2016, runs steamed buns, ramen and rotating chef plates a block.
Tip: Friday and Saturday nights run busiest; Tuesday and Wednesday are easier for the chef's plates.
Schulz Brau Brewing Company ★ 4.5
happy-holler · 126 Bernard Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
Schulz Brau Brewing on Bernard Avenue in Happy Holler, the German family-owned brewery with the city's largest beer garden, pours authentic German lagers.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the beer garden runs weather-dependent and fills fastest on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Public House ★ 4.5
downtown · 212 W Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV cocktail bar, runs the kitchen and craft cocktail program through midnight Monday through Saturday in downtown.
Tip: Closed Sundays; walk-up only seating.
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.5
downtown · 540 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
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.
Tip: Closes 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00, weekdays move faster.
Bistro at the Bijou ★ 4.4
gay-street · 807 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Bistro at the Bijou on South Gay Street, attached to the historic Bijou Theatre, runs a pre-theater menu in one of downtown's oldest buildings.
Tip: Time the reservation 90 minutes before showtime at the Bijou Theatre next door; Sundays run quieter than weekends.
Sunspot ★ 4.4
the-strip · 2200 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916
Sunspot on the Cumberland Avenue Strip near the University, the multicultural Southwestern and Caribbean room since the 1990s, anchors the UT dining scene.
Tip: UT home football Saturdays run packed; weeknights for the lunch counter, weekend brunch for the patio.
Bistro at the Bijou ★ 4.4
gay-street · 807 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Bistro at the Bijou on South Gay Street, the dining room attached to the historic Bijou Theatre, runs a pre-theater menu and live jazz Tuesdays in one.
Tip: Time the reservation 90 minutes before showtime; Sundays run quieter than Friday and Saturday.
The Tomato Head Bearden ★ 4.4
bearden · 7240 Kingston Pike #172, Knoxville, TN 37919
The Tomato Head Bearden on Kingston Pike at Gallery Shopping Center, Mahasti Vafaie's West Knoxville arm of the Market Square original, runs the same pizza.
Tip: Bearden opens 10:00 on Saturdays for brunch; the Kingston Pike location is reliably easier than downtown on weekends.
Sunspot ★ 4.4
the-strip · 2200 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916
Sunspot on Cumberland Avenue, the multicultural Southwestern and Caribbean room on the UT Strip since the 1990s, anchors Knoxville's student-area dining.
Tip: UT home football Saturdays run packed; weeknights and weekend brunch are reliably easier.
Honeybee Coffee Co. ★ 4.4
south-knoxville · 700 Sevier Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920
Honeybee Coffee Co. on Sevier Avenue, the South Knoxville roaster with cafes in South Knoxville and West Knoxville, runs the specialty bean program for both.
Tip: Sevier Avenue location runs as the roastery and primary cafe; Kingston Pike for the West Knoxville crowd.
Crafty Bastard Brewery (Emory Place) ★ 4.4
old-city · 6 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917
Crafty Bastard Brewery at Emory Place, the brand's downtown Knoxville HQ taproom in the Old City, runs rotating taps and a nightly food-truck rotation.
Tip: Food trucks rotate nightly; check the Crafty Bastard Instagram for the night's truck before walking up.
Stock and Barrel Late Bar ★ 4.4
market-square · 35 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Stock and Barrel on Market Square keeps the bourbon bar past kitchen close on weekends, the 300-deep American whiskey list running into the late night.
Tip: Kitchen closes 22:00 Sun-Thu and 23:00 Fri-Sat; the bar typically runs an extra hour beyond the kitchen.
Suttree's High Gravity Tavern ★ 4.4
gay-street · 409 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Suttree's High Gravity Tavern on South Gay Street, the craft-beer bar with 32 rotating taps and a ramen menu, keeps the kitchen and bar open to midnight.
Tip: Kitchen runs ramen and bar snacks until midnight; arcade games run later than the kitchen.
Schulz Brau Brewing Late Garden ★ 4.4
happy-holler · 126 Bernard Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917
Schulz Brau Brewing on Bernard Avenue keeps the German beer garden running until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays, the latest brewery hours in Knoxville's Happy.
Tip: Friday and Saturday nights run latest; Sunday through Thursday wind down by midnight.
Boyd's Jig and Reel ★ 4.4
old-city · 101 S Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
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.
Tip: Sunday and Monday Scottish music jam sessions are the most authentic windows; over 1,000 whiskies on the menu.
The Tomato Head Weekend Brunch ★ 4.4
market-square · 12 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Tomato Head on Market Square since 1990 runs weekend brunch service 11:00-15:00 with brunch-specific pizzas and salads alongside the regular menu.
Tip: Brunch pizzas and special menu items run Saturday and Sunday 11:00-15:00; rest of the day runs the regular menu.
Honeybee Coffee Co. Sevier Avenue Brunch ★ 4.4
south-knoxville · 700 Sevier Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920
Honeybee Coffee Co. on Sevier Avenue, the South Knoxville roaster and cafe in the Urban Wilderness corridor, runs weekend brunch pastry and pour-over coffee.
Tip: Weekend mornings draw mountain-biking crowds; weekdays are reliably quieter for sit-down brunch.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar ★ 4.3
market-square · 1 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Tupelo Honey on Market Square, the Asheville-born Southern kitchen that brought its biscuit menu to downtown Knoxville, runs all-day brunch with fried.
Tip: Weekday lunch runs faster than weekend brunch; the Farragut branch on Biddle Farms is quieter on UT football Saturdays.
Holly's Eventful Dining ★ 4.3
bearden · 5107 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Holly's Eventful Dining on Kingston Pike, chef Holly Hambright's long-running Bearden room since 2006, runs a daily-changing seasonal menu of eclectic.
Tip: Menu rotates daily; call ahead for reservations and to ask what's on for the night.
Holly's Eventful Dining ★ 4.3
bearden · 5107 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Holly's Eventful Dining on Kingston Pike, chef Holly Hambright's Bearden room running a daily-changing menu, anchors Knoxville's local-source eclectic.
Tip: Menu rotates daily; call ahead for reservations and to ask what is on the board for service.
Book food experiences in Knoxville
Knoxville: Sunset Dinner Cruise on Tennessee River
Sail through Knoxville's scenic waterways. Relish a three-course meal at your private table while enjoying a breathtaking sunset.
Knoxville: Scenic Lunch Cruise on the Tennessee River
Cruise along Knoxville's riverfront while enjoying a delicious meal. Relax in comfort and take in sights like Neyland Stadium.