Keeping track of what’s new in the world of restaurants, shops, and attractions is a near impossible task, especially if you haven’t visited Knoxville in while. This post highlights just a few of this year’s openings throughout the county that you might have missed! (Check out more new restaurants, attractions, and events here)
Coffee is always the perfect starting point, and Knoxville is properly caffeinated (see our Guide to Coffee for proof!). In January, Cultivate Coffee & Flowers opened in the Fountain City neighborhood. A blend - no pun intended - of Likewise Coffee + Flourish Flower Truck, this unique spot is a one stop shop. August was a good month for brews, with Sunago Coffee Co. opening in the Hardin Valley neighborhood in northwest Knox County and Frothy Monkey opening to great fanfare downtown. Sunago is a Greek word meaning to gather together, or to join two things that were once separated – the perfect concept for a cozy café to meet friends over a cuppa. Frothy Monkey is a Nashville, Tennessee-based roaster making Knoxville its 8th location. Expect an all-day café serving breakfast, brunch, lunch + dinner including coffeehouse standards as well as craft beer, wine, and cocktails.
What goes better with coffee than books? Not much, so we’ll tell you about new bookstores that have opened. lowercase books opened in East Knoxville in the Parkridge Neighborhood. You’ll find hand-selected used books with a range of topics from mid-century crime and thrillers to twentieth century fiction by women, and more. On the 100 Block of Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, Addison’s is a two-story independent, used bookstore TN specializing in rare and old books. Alongside the antiquarian collection you’ll find The Tea Bar with Chinese tea. In the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood, Bear Den Books serves those who love books with an assortment ranging from westerns to biographies, and everything in between, with a particularly great selection of Knoxville-specific and Children's books. And coming soon – Fable Hollow Coffee and Bookshoppe to open in Fountain City in October!
The food truck craze isn’t going anywhere, case in point with the Creekside Food Truck Park that opened this past spring. It’s now the family go-to in northwest Knox County that features several food trucks on any given evening, often alongside energetic music, trivia, or sports on the big screen. Some food trucks have seen such incredible success and so decided to open a brick and mortar. A shining example of this is Alé Rae’s Gastropub, which has blossomed into a coffee bar, café, and live music hot spot in North Knoxville on Broadway. Next door is another food truck success story, LuLu Liquor Cakes. As their saying goes, “cake + booze? Yes please!” Speaking of sweet treats, The Sugar Queen Creamery in SoKno is “sweeter, smoother, scrumptious”. Their food truck focused on fresh doughnuts, while their permanent location is now the place for handmade, small-batch ice cream dreams.
Take dining to the next level on your next visit to Knoxville. If you’re staying downtown, no need to go far to enjoy fresh seafood – it arrives daily at The Brass Pearl in Market Square. This oyster bar highlights a selection of cold and hot options, along with comfort choices like fish ‘n chips and fisherman’s stew. Now that you’ve got a “Point A”, now you need a “Point B”! point b is an establishment in west Knoxville on Ebenezer that offers brunch, an elevated lunch, charcuterie boards, dinner, and of course, dessert. Expect a variety of reds, whites, and cocktails to pair. Need even more wine options? Van Edom’s Wine Bar in far west Knoxville at Choto will fit the bill. Plan to taste tapas alongside an extensive wine and beer list from around the world.
As the latest addition to Knoxville’s incredible Ale Trail, Ebony and Ivory Brewing’s mission is to “create a safe, comfortable, inclusive atmosphere where all can find common ground through our beer.” Find them and their diverse delights on Central in North Knoxville. A solid add to the LGBTQ+ scene is CORE Knoxville, a locally owned bar and grill in west Knoxville with live shows Friday-Monday. From drag bingo to karaoke night, the 21+ crowd is sure to have a great time! Prefer an alcohol-free evening? Look no further than The Boocherie. After founding Frog Juice in Chicago, Frog Greishaw relocated to Knoxville in 2018. A few years later this groovy kombucha bar opened on Sutherland in the Bearden neighborhood.
Knoxville continues to be a nature-loving-adventure-seeking-ARTSY-kinda-town with several new galleries that opened in spring of 2022. The 100 Block of Gay Street downtown saw Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts establish a gallery adjacent to The Emporium, a perfect addition to the First Friday scene. Just north of downtown at Emory Place, adjacent galleries Lilienthal and Pivot Point opened, both high-end art destinations featuring artists from across the country and around the world.
While Zoo Knoxville is not a new attraction itself, the Clayton Otter Creek opened in March. Three playful little guys Clayton, Pascal, and Reed are front and center upon entrance at the Zoo. Just beyond these water-loving critters visitors will find the state-of-the-art ARC (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus, opened in 2021) that houses all kinds of snakes, turtles, crocodiles, and even a sloth! For a “swing” of a different variety, head to Topgolf in Farragut. For those not familiar with the concept, the Top Golf experience includes climate-controlled hitting bays for year-round comfort with HDTVs in every bay plus a sports bar and restaurant on site.
The River Breeze Event Center is the newest host to live music in Knoxville with several outdoor concerts as part of their fall soft opening, and a grand opening expected in 2023. Head to East Knoxville for this season’s lineup:
Sept. 23 – Watchhouse w/ TBA guest ($36.00)
Sept. 30 – Paul Cauthen w/ Kaitlin Butts ($36.00)
Oct. 7 – Yonder Mountain String Band w/ The Lil Smokies ($37.00)
Oct. 21 – The Head and the Heart ($46.00)
Oct. 28 – Blackberry Smoke ($39.00)
Hope this helped you find something new in Knoxville – plan a visit soon so you can make your own new memories!
Author
Kristen Combs
Kristen Combs is the Director of Communications & Social Strategies for Visit Knoxville. With an extensive knowledge of Knoxville as a tourist destination, Kristen is also the author of 100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die, published by Reedy Press and available in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. Find Kristen on Instagram at @100thingsknoxville.
