5 bar gay street knoxville tn

Get our Insider's Guide to Downtown Knoxville delivered straight to your inbox. We promise to send you only the good stuff. You'll find beautifully preserved architecture, a lively cultural scene, and plenty of fun. Catch a show at one of the two historic theaters, shop 'til you drop, dine at a new restaurant, visit an underground bar, or simply take in the undeniable beauty of the streetscape at dusk.

Explore the best of Gay Street below! Start your day with a handheld breakfast bagel sandwich and seasonal coffee from K Brewor if you have a sweet tooth, try Status Dough's famous Paczkis paired with an iced coffee. If you're near the heart of Gay Street, swing by DiCarlo's Pizza for Ohio Valley-style pizza topped with tomato sauce, fresh cheese, and pepperoni after the bake.

And make time for farm-to-table daily lunch specials from Bistro at the Bijou or their sister restaurant Dazzo's with pizza slices as big as your face! Just take a walk down Gay Street, and you'll find many places and patios ready to welcome you for lunch! Maybe our favorite meal of the day does caffeine count as a food group?

Enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up from coffee and tea shops located on just about every block of Gay Street. Hello Tea House's bubble teas are a refreshing treat that pairs well with their sweet and savory crepes. There's also K Brew and Status Doughwhich we mentioned earlier in the breakfast category, plus a Starbucks.

Options abound!

A Major Downtown Restaurant Closes on Gay Street

Just walk down Gay Street and take your pick of the many dinner options for all occasions and for all appetites! Harvest boasts a seasonal menu of small plates, charcuterie boards, steak and seafood, and delicious specials, crafted with locally-sourced ingredients. BabaluChivoand Vida are popular spots for tacos, burritos, and upscale Latin cuisine.

Each of them have their own atmospheres, so check out their social media. Not to be missed is Nama with award-winning sushi and yummy cocktails! And finally, three times on this list, kick off your weekend with live jazz and a farm-to-table dinner at Bistro at the Bijou.

But wait, there's more! Newly-opened Lilou is an authentic French restaurant in Hotel Cleo that boasts escargot, traditional beef tartare, duck breast, oxtail soup, profiteroles, and so much more. It's well worth your time! Kilwins is another sweetshop on Gay Street serving up ice cream cones, but that's not all.

Order up a nostalgic caramel apple, hand-paddled fudge, truffles, and chocolates. Their motto is "good food made with love 'n butter" and you can taste it with every bite. Then head to Suttree's, where they have 32 ever-changing taps, so you'll "never be in the same bar twice. Whiskey more your thing? A trip down Gay Street isn't complete without a bottle of wine to take home.