Old City Java
- ★ 4.8
- Coffee roaster
- $$
- Old City
Old City Java on South Central, the Knoxville coffee anchor since 1991, runs espresso, drip and whole-bean retail in the Old City as a longtime cafe.
40 mid-range places in Knoxville, editor-picked. The comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Knoxville, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Knoxville food.
The mid-range list
40 places
Wild Love Bakehouse
Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central Street is the bakery Afar called a contender for best in America, still operating Wednesday through Sunday by design.
Litton's Market and Restaurant
- ★ 4.7
- Burgers
- $$
- Fountain City
Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.
Book food experiences in Knoxville
Lilou Brasserie Jazz Brunch
- ★ 4.7
- Brunch
- $$
- Gay Street
Order Steak frites brunch plate with the jazz set
Lilou Brasserie jazz brunch on South Gay Street, the Aaron Thompson and Jessica King French brasserie weekend brunch with live jazz, runs Saturdays.
Wild Love Bakehouse Brunch
Order Almond croissant with a pour-over
Wild Love Bakehouse on North Central, the North Knoxville bakery and cafe profiled by Afar magazine, runs weekend pastry and coffee brunch service Wednesday.
The Plaid Apron
- ★ 4.6
- Southern, All-day
- $$
- Bearden
Order A morning cinnamon roll with grits, or the smash burger at dinner.
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.
Pretentious Beer Co.
Pretentious Beer Co. on South Central, the Old City brewery from glass artist turned brewer Matthew Cummings, pours experimental beers in glassware made.
Boyd's Jig and Reel
Try Scotch and Scottish pub plates
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.
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop
Order Country ham and eggs with grits
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown diner since 1986, runs breakfast counter service voted Best Breakfast in Knoxville seven.
Kaizen
- ★ 4.5
- Asian Fusion
- $$
- Old City
Order A round of steamed buns with the chef's noodle bowl of the week.
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.
Where to stay in Knoxville
A sample of Knoxville hotels from our booking partner, who list 119 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville Downtown Area
When you stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville Downtown Area in Knoxville, you'll be near the airport, withi...
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The Hillside Hotel
Located in Knoxville, The Hillside Hotel is a 3-minute drive from Maryland Heights and 6 minutes from Harpe...
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Travelodge by Wyndham Knoxville East
With a stay at Travelodge by Wyndham Knoxville East, you'll be centrally located in Knoxville, within a 10-...
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Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville
With a stay at Super 8 by Wyndham Knoxville in Knoxville, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of National Spr...
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Econo Lodge North
Located in Knoxville, Econo Lodge North is within a 5-minute drive of Knoxville Expo Center and Knoxville C...
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Inn of Knoxville
A stay at Inn of Knoxville places you in the heart of Knoxville, within a 5-minute drive of The Muse Knoxvi...
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Red Roof Inn Knoxville Central - Papermill Road
When you stay at Red Roof Inn Knoxville Central - Papermill Road in Knoxville, you'll be near the airport, ...
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Motel 6 Knoxville, TN
Located in Knoxville, Motel 6 Knoxville, TN is within a 10-minute drive of Dead Horse Lake Golf Course and ...
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Motel 6 Knoxville, TN - East
With a stay at Motel 6 Knoxville, TN - East, you'll be centrally located in Knoxville, within a 10-minute d...
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Quality Inn Merchants Drive
A stay at Quality Inn Merchants Drive places you in the heart of Knoxville, a 3-minute drive from Knoxville...
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Americas Best Value Inn-Knoxville East
Located in Knoxville, Americas Best Value Inn-Knoxville East is within a 10-minute drive of Ramsey House Pl...
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Red Roof Inn Knoxville North - Merchants Drive
A stay at Red Roof Inn Knoxville North - Merchants Drive places you in the heart of Knoxville, within a 5-m...
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Also compare: Holidu in Knoxville from USD 119/night · LateRooms in Knoxville · Expedia in Knoxville
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Stock and Barrel
Order A house burger with a bourbon flight off the 300-deep American whiskey list.
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.
The Tomato Head
Order The Mahasti pizza with the sun-dried tomato pesto, or the veggie sandwich at lunch.
The Tomato Head on Market Square, Mahasti Vafaie's Persian-American pizza and sandwich counter since 1990, is downtown Knoxville's longest-running.
The Public House
Order The smashburger with whichever rotating cocktail the bar is featuring that night.
The Public House on West Magnolia, the no-TV no-live-music neighborhood bar, runs a serious cocktail program and Southern-inflected food menu.
Dead End BBQ
- ★ 4.5
- American Bbq
- $$
- Bearden
Order A combination plate with brisket and pulled pork and two East Tennessee sides.
Dead End BBQ on Sutherland Avenue in the Pond Gap neighborhood near Bearden, the competition-team-turned-restaurant, runs award-winning smoked brisket.
Schulz Brau Brewing Company
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.
Bistro at the Bijou
Order The pre-theater bistro menu, plus a wine pour off the shortlisted list before the curtain.
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.
Sunspot
Order The sweet potato burrito with black beans, or the rotating Sunspot bowl of the season.
Sunspot on the Cumberland Avenue Strip near the University, the multicultural Southwestern and Caribbean room since the 1990s, anchors the UT dining scene.
The Tomato Head Bearden
Order Same Mahasti pizza pesto build that runs at Market Square.
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.
Honeybee Coffee Co.
- ★ 4.4
- Coffee roaster
- $$
- South Knoxville
Honeybee Coffee Co. on Sevier Avenue, the South Knoxville roaster with cafes in South Knoxville and West Knoxville, runs the specialty bean program for both.
Crafty Bastard Brewery (Emory Place)
Crafty Bastard Brewery at Emory Place, the brand's downtown Knoxville HQ taproom in the Old City, runs rotating taps and a nightly food-truck rotation.
Stock and Barrel Late Bar
Try Burger and bourbon flight
Stock and Barrel on Market Square keeps the bourbon bar past kitchen close on weekends, the 300-deep American whiskey list running into the late night.
Suttree's High Gravity Tavern
- ★ 4.4
- Japanese ramen
- $$
- Gay Street
Try Ramen and craft beer
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.
Schulz Brau Brewing Late Garden
Try German lagers and bar food
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.
The Tomato Head Weekend Brunch
Order Brunch pizza or veggie sandwich
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.
Honeybee Coffee Co. Sevier Avenue Brunch
- ★ 4.4
- Brunch
- $$
- South Knoxville
Order Pour-over and pastry case selection
Honeybee Coffee Co. on Sevier Avenue, the South Knoxville roaster and cafe in the Urban Wilderness corridor, runs weekend brunch pastry and pour-over coffee.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar
Order The fried chicken biscuit with sweet tea, or the Shoo Mercy double-biscuit plate.
Tupelo Honey on Market Square, the Asheville-born Southern kitchen at the plaza's north end, runs all-day brunch with biscuits, fried chicken and Shoo Mercy.
Holly's Eventful Dining
- ★ 4.3
- Eclectic New American
- $$
- Bearden
Order Whatever Holly's kitchen is leading the daily-changing seasonal menu.
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.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen
Order The fried chicken biscuit with sweet tea, or the Shoo Mercy double-biscuit plate.
Tupelo Honey on Market Square, the Asheville-born Southern kitchen at the plaza's north end, runs all-day brunch with biscuits, fried chicken and Shoo Mercy.
Crafty Bastard Brewery (Kingston Pike)
Crafty Bastard Brewery on Kingston Pike, the brand's West Knoxville taproom and pizza counter, runs the same rotating tap list and a pizza kitchen.
Yee-Haw Brewing Company Knoxville
Yee-Haw Brewing on North Broadway, the regional Tennessee brand's Knoxville taproom, runs the full Yee-Haw lager and ale line in a North Knoxville space.
Schulz Brau Beer Garden
- ★ 4.3
- German
- $$
- Happy Holler and North Knoxville
Schulz Brau Beer Garden is a german room in Happy Holler. Closed Mondays; the outdoor beer garden runs weather-dependent. Drive over from downtown Old City.
Tupelo Honey Brunch
Order Fried chicken biscuit and Shoo Mercy plate
Tupelo Honey on Market Square, the Asheville-born Southern kitchen at the plaza's north end, runs weekend brunch with biscuits, fried chicken and Shoo Mercy.
Stock and Barrel Weekend Brunch
Order Brunch burger with a bourbon Bloody Mary
Stock and Barrel on Market Square runs weekend brunch with burgers, biscuits and bourbon Bloody Marys, drawing the post-Saturday-Farmers-Market crowd.
Sitar Indian Cuisine
Order The weekday lunch buffet, or chicken tikka masala with garlic naan at dinner.
Sitar Indian Cuisine on Kingston Pike in Bearden, the long-running Indian buffet and dinner room, anchors West Knoxville's daily curry program.
Stir Fry Cafe
- ★ 4.2
- Thai
- $$
- Bearden
Order Pad thai with chicken or drunken noodles at the heat level of your choice.
Stir Fry Cafe at Gallery Shopping Center on Kingston Pike, the long-running Bearden Thai counter, runs pad thai and drunken noodles for West Knoxville.
K Brew Coffee
- ★ 4.2
- Coffee roaster
- $$
- Happy Holler and North Knoxville
K Brew Coffee on North Broadway, the locally roasted Knoxville coffee brand with multiple cafes, runs handmade bagels alongside espresso and whole-bean.
Hexagon Brewing Company
- ★ 4.2
- Brewery
- $$
- Fountain City
Hexagon Brewing Company on Dutch Valley Drive in Fountain City, the North Knoxville craft brewery, runs a Tennessee Brewers' Jam regular tap list across IPAs.
Soccer Taco
Order Carne asada tacos with a classic margarita off the rocks list.
Soccer Taco on Market Square, the long-running Mexican counter on the plaza's south end, runs tacos and margaritas with World Cup broadcasts and weekend.
Calhoun's on the River
Order A rack of baby-back ribs with a Smoky Mountain Brewery pour and a river-side patio table.
Calhoun's on the River at Volunteer Landing, the Copper Cellar group's barbecue and burger room overlooking the Tennessee River, runs baby-back ribs.
Aubrey's Papermill
- ★ 4.1
- Southern American
- $$
- Bearden
Order The pretzel-crusted chicken plate with a side of fried green tomatoes.
Aubrey's Papermill in Bearden, the Knoxville-born comfort-food chain's West Knoxville flagship, runs pretzel-crusted chicken and weeknight family dinners.
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