Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Knoxville

"Smokies Cuban Cafe is a hidden gem located in a strip mall on the Parkway. Visitors will enjoy authentic Cuban food, including empanadas, plantains, palomilla steak, and Cuban sandwiches. No meal at Smokies Cuban Cafe is complete without trying one of their delicious mango shakes!"

"There’s not another place like it around, so you’ll definitely want to try it. They have a classic Cuban sandwich, or you can try one of their other sandwiches, such as the Palomilla steak. They have roasted pork, chicken, beef, and a ton of other entree options."

"Smokies Cuban Cafe is the only place in the Smokies where you’ll find authentic Cuban food that represents generations of family cooking. The small, intimate setting is a backdrop to some of the best food in Pigeon Forge. Talk to anyone who knows Cuban food."

"Both locations offer a wide range of desserts, prompting a definite struggle for indecisive types. For many, the treat of choice is dictated by the time of day: donuts for breakfast and ice cream later on. Otherwise, your best bet may involve enjoying ice cream in the store and saving your donut for later."

"Mad Dog’s Creamery and Donuts has a full selection of hand-dipped premium ice cream, soft serve, sundaes, banana splits and so much more!. You’ll be able to choose from 24 different flavors of ice cream, from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Strawberry Cheesecake. You can even get milkshakes!"

"This small little eatery has gained quite a bit of notice from locals and tourists alike since it opened a few years ago. The Lil Black Bear Cafe is a small business open for breakfast and lunch, but it’s a big hit with the kids and worth including as one of the top places to eat in Pigeon Forge for the little ones. The owner is very caring and lets kids do some coloring to be featured on their ​Facebook page​ as members of the Color the Bear Club."

"A favorite for both breakfast and lunch, guests rave about the pancakes, which are thankfully served all day!. Head on over to their Facebook page to read all of the numerous reviews citing them as, “the best pancakes I’ve ever had.” Now that’s a good pancake!. If you hate pancakes (what?!), the cafe also serves a variety of other American breakfast foods, as well as soups, salads, and yummy baked goods."

"This small, family-owned restaurant has built a loyal following for its super friendly service, mouthwatering food, and extremely reasonable prices. Guests will find a great selection of omelets, salads, soups, sandwiches, and more all-American fare. Standout menu items include the biscuits and gravy, fried bologna sandwich, and the patty melt."

"While many gluten-free eaters prefer to avoid asking for accommodations, this approach will definitely expand your menu options if you stop by Dollywood’s Front Porch Cafe. From grilled chicken to Reuben sandwiches, a significant share of the restaurant’s entrees can be enjoyed by gluten-free visitors, so long as the need for adjustments is made clear. The Front Porch Cafe also offers numerous menu items that appeal to vegetarians."

"Girl behind the counter had had it for the day but if you've ever done that job, you can re..."

"The top destination for seafood lovers, Harpoon Harry's Crab House, is one the newest restaurant in Pigeon Forge and is located directly across the street from our property.. Perfect for families, Harpoon Harry's Crab House features fresh seafood items such as Alaskan King Crab, Jumbo Fried Shrimp, Pan Seared Sea Scallops, and more. With daily live entertainment, you will see why their motto is "It's not just a restaurant, it's an adventure!" Call 865-428-2006 to learn more."

"Harpoon Harry’s has one of the best seafood dinners in Pigeon Forge. Always fresh and always full of flavor!. Popular menu items here include sushi, shrimp any way you like, crab legs, lobster mac and cheese, oysters, and so much more!"

"Harpoon Harry’s features quality seafood, crab buckets, lobster, burgers and sandwiches at an affordable price. Harpoon Harry’s reservations are available on Resy. Click here to reserve your table."

"I recently included Tandur in my roundup of 5 great Indian-food restaurants, but I’m throwing it in again here, because the menu specifies a number of vegetarian dishes. In fact, all of the sauces fall into that category, as do half of the six protein choices – paneer, tofu and vegetable medley. Tandur also serves a vegetarian biryani bowl built on saffron basmati rice, and the Mumbai Veggies wrap features vegetables and paneer with masala rice, onion-tomato slaw and jalapeño raita."

"601 James Agee StUnderrepresented in many “Best of Knoxville” lists, it seems that only university students and Fort Sanders residents frequent this overlooked gem. While known for sushi, soups, Thai tea, and a BYOB policy (right next door there’s a convenience store living up to its designation), Chaiyo does perhaps its best work with the pad Thai. It’s sunk in a red-orange sauce and can be prepared, like much of the menu, to varying levels of spiciness."

"The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is easily recognizable thanks to the dinosaur that welcomes guests on the front lawn called Monty. The aim of the museum is to showcase the best of the local historical and archeological background of Tennessee, and to that end you can find fossils and dinosaur bones on display as well as exhibits that delve into periods such as the Civil War."

"If you were only going to visit one museum or historical site in Knoxville, this should be it!. The McClung sits on the eastern edge of the University of Tennessee campus. It has an incredible variety of exhibits, ranging from archaeological finds from ancient Egypt to one detailing the experience of ordinary Knoxville citizens during the Civil War."

"It’s easy to spot the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture from a distance. A large dinosaur stands at the front, affectionately named Monty, ready for photo-taking on the lawn. Entry into the museum has no charge at all and coupled with its high educational value, that makes it one of the top things to do in Knoxville."

"Just a block away from Market Square and diagonal to the East Tennessee History Center, it’s a great place to start the day with some caffeine and pleasant conversation with your barista. And if you like the neighborhood already, that’s greater than great since you’ll be looping back around to it later in the day."