Knoxville has plenty of places to make brunch the main event, whether you're looking for Southern favorites, eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, a breakfast cocktail or an excuse to linger around the table a little longer. If you're visiting Knoxville for the weekend, several of these restaurants are also near downtown attractions, the University of Tennessee and other spots you'll probably already have on your itinerary.
Brunch days, menus and hours can change, so check with individual restaurants before you go—especially around holidays.
Historic surroundings meet Southern-inspired food at Bistro at the Bijou on Gay Street. Brunch and breakfast offerings have included dishes built around local eggs, grits and familiar Southern flavors. Bonus: you’re next door to the historic Bijou Theatre and just a short walk from Market Square.
Saloon 16 – Near the University of Tennessee
Lean all the way into the Knoxville spirit at Saloon 16, Peyton Manning’s Western-inspired restaurant near the UT campus. The brunch menu mixes breakfast favorites with Volunteer-themed names and cocktails. It's an especially fun option for UT fans visiting Knoxville.
Café 4 – Market Square
Café 4 puts you right in the heart of downtown Knoxville on Market Square. Weekend brunch includes savory breakfast dishes, brunch cocktails and plenty of options for anyone who prefers the “lunch” half of brunch. Grab a patio table when the weather cooperates.
Balter Beerworks – Downtown Knoxville
Chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, breakfast bowls, Benedicts and brunch drinks make Balter a strong choice for a leisurely weekend meal. This downtown brewpub also serves its own beer, so no judgment if brunch stretches into the afternoon.
The Oliver Royale – Market Square
The Oliver Royale brings a slightly more elevated atmosphere to brunch in Knoxville, with a scratch-made menu and classic cocktails served inside the historic Oliver Hotel. Its Market Square location makes it especially convenient for a weekend downtown.
Gourmet's Market & Café – Bearden
This is a longtime local favorite for breakfast and lunch, with omelets, breakfast bowls, burritos and plenty of options for diners looking for vegetarian or vegan choices.
Southern Grit – Old City
If “Southern” is an important part of your brunch vocabulary, make your way to the Old City. Southern Grit puts creative twists on familiar comfort foods, with dishes such as chicken and waffles fitting right into the brunch conversation.
Make a Morning of It
One of the best parts of brunching in Knoxville is what you can do next. Walk around Market Square and Gay Street, browse the Old City, explore the University of Tennessee campus or grab another cup from one of Knoxville’s local coffee shops.
After all, brunch is only the beginning!
This post was written by Sallie Love, Marketing intern at Visit Knoxville for the Spring 2021 semester.
Author
Visit Knoxville
Visit Knoxville is the official Convention and Visitors Bureau for Knoxville and Knox County. It’s our priority and privilege to promote Knoxville as a nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town! If you're seeing this, that means a VK team member, past or present, or maybe even an intern, wrote this post.
