One of Knoxville’s many monikers is “The Maker City,” and it’s a place full of artists and crafters, creators and hustlers, hobbyists and tinkerers, movers and shakers – makers.

In addition to these creatives, you’ll find those who focus on the flavor: a fiercely creative food and drink scene rooted in this “Maker” identity. Here, chefs, brewers, roasters, bakers, and distillers aren’t just serving up meals – they’re crafting experiences that reflect the soul of East Tennessee.

This sample weekend itinerary invites you to taste The Maker City – one bite at a time.

 

FRIDAY: Welcome to Knoxville, let’s start with a downtown dining adventure

🧁 Sweet Start: Stop by Cruze Farm
Grab a soft-serve treat hand-swirled by “dairy girls” in red-and-white gingham at this Insta-icon. The fresh churned milk comes from Jersey cows on the Cruze family farm in East Tennessee.

🎨 Pop into the Art Market Gallery
Stroll across Gay Street and step into this cooperative gallery run by local artists. It’s filled with ceramics, woodwork, paintings, and jewelry – all handmade in East Tennessee.

🍷 Pre-Dinner Sip: Knox Whiskey Works
This small-batch distillery in the Old City crafts inventive vodkas, whiskies, and liqueurs using regional ingredients. Try a tasting flight or grab a cocktail.

🍽️ Dinner at J.C. Holdway
Chef Joseph Lenn (Tennessee’s first James Beard Award winner) brings local sourcing and wood-fired finesse to every dish. Think elegant Appalachian cuisine without the fuss. A perfect start to a weekend of flavor-forward discovery.

🎭 Catch a Show at the Tennessee Theatre or Bijou Theatre
If you're up for it, end the night with live music, a local production, or a traveling act at one of Knoxville’s iconic theaters, both within walking distance of your dinner table.

 

SATURDAY: East Knoxville, North Knoxville, and the Old City – Historic Streets, Bold Flavors

☕ Morning Kickoff at Likewise Coffee
Tucked just off Magnolia in East Knoxville, this inviting café sources beans ethically and roasts them in-house. Pair your espresso with a house-made pastry and get your bearings.

🌸 Slow Stroll through Knoxville Botanical Garden

Wander through this free, public garden on 44 acres of the former Howell Nurseries. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Garden features walking trails, display gardens, unique & historic horticulture, timeless buildings, and over two miles of distinctive stone walls.

🍳 Brunch at Ale Rae’s Gastropub
A quick detour into North Knoxville will reward with this fun hangout spot. Get there before 12:45 for brunch – might we suggest the bourbon apple pecan French toast?

🛍️ Stroll + Shop: Makers Here and There
Pop onto the 100 Block to Jacks for prints and plants.

🍺 Afternoon Ale Trail: Pretentious Beer Co ➜ Next Level ➜ Crafty Bastard
Wind your way through the Knoxville Ale Trail with a free digital pass that earns you prizes as you sip. Make your way to Pretentious Beer Co. – the only place in the world where you can drink beer out of glassware handblown onsite. Take things to the next level at, well, Next Level, where Broadway and Central intersect, offering high quality brews in a relaxed atmosphere. Round it out with Crafty Bastard, where small-batch brews and quirky flavors (picklebier, anyone?) highlight their mad-scientist approach to craft.

🍽️ Dinner at Kaizen
This izakaya-style spot in the Old City delivers big umami vibes in a cozy setting. From steam buns to spicy noodles, every dish feels like a love letter to flavor.

🎵 Nightcap: Live Music at Barley’s
Soak up some local tunes with your final pint of the night. Music. Made.

 

SUNDAY: South Knoxville – Trails, Taps & Tasteful Bites

🥐 Brunch at 71 South
A favorite among the outdoorsy sorts because it sits inside a former church now known as Baker Creek Bottoms at Baker Creek Preserve – one of the key mountain biking trailheads in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness (we’ll tell you more about this in just a sec)! Relax and fuel up, then stop by neighboring Hummingbird Apothecary for a coffee or tea and Small Comforts Kitchen for a gluten-free hand pie to go.

🥾 Lace up: Urban Wilderness
Get your heart pumping with a hike in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness (KUW) – 1,000+ forested acres just minutes from downtown.

🍻 Brewery Hop: Alliance ➜ Printshop ➜ Hi-Wire
Hit three neighborhood favorites — Alliance Brewing Co. for hop-forward creativity, Printshop Beer Co. for river views and mellow vibes, and Hi-Wire Knoxville for funky sours and lawn games.

🧀 Snack Stop: Pizza n Dumplings
All these SoKno shenanigans have certainly earned you some savory treats before you depart. End your day with a pizza pie at South Coast Pizza, or just down Sevier Ave. get happy for some Angry Dumplings. When the sun goes down, the vibes are up…so maybe you’ll just have to stay another night…

 

Whether you’re chasing hops, sourdough, or something sweet, Knoxville’s flavor is ready to be discovered – one hand-crafted stop at a time.

 

Plan your visit & come see us in The Maker City!