The Best Restaurants in Downtown Knoxville

If you are planning a trip to Knoxville, or a move there in the near future, you will want to know the best restaurants in the city so you can experience the most amazing food the city has to offer. Whether you are a foodie looking for the absolute best of the best, or you are just looking for a laid back meal to eat with friends, Knoxville has a restaurant for you.

So start planning your adenda around these amazing restaurants, or even choosing our ideal neighborhood based on the restaurants that sound most appealing to you that are nearby. Here are the best restaurants in downtown Knoxville:

Jackie’s Dream

If you are looking for some comfort food to fill your belly and your soul, look no further than Jackie’s Dream. Located on Woodland Ave. in Knoxville, this restaurant features all of your soul food favorites, most named after the owner, Jackie’s, family members and based on family recipes. Don’t miss the man and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, and fried green tomatoes.

The Drawing Room at the Tennessean Hotel

If you are looking for a restaurant that is the height of sophistication, be sure to stop by The Drawing Room at the Tennessean Hotel. The Hotel is located on Henley Street, and the restaurant’s impressive windows offer views of the Sunsphere and World’s Fair Park across the street. Diners can enjoy the restaurant’s constantly updated seasonal menus and daily charcuterie, as well as craft cocktails. The Drawing Room is also the location of one of the only high tea services offered in all of Knoxville.

J.C. Holdway

J.C. Holdway is a standout restaurant in Knoxville, as its owner and chef, Chef Joseph Lynn, was named Best Chef Southeast several years ago by the James Beard Foundation. Chef Lynn focuses on wood-fired cooking, and the restaurant offers menus that change weekly, as well as extensive beverage offerings, including wine, cocktails, beer, whiskey, and more.

Oliver Royale 

Oliver Royal, located in the Oliver Hotel on Market Square, is another outstanding restaurant. Oliver Royale serves dinner every night, as well as brunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The restaurant serves American cuisine, and top choices for entrees include the Royale ramen and the confit short ribs.

Emilia

If you are in the mood for Italian, you need to try Emilia on Market Square. Some top choice menu items at this excellent restaurant include the Pollo Al Mattone, the hand-pulled burrata, and the gnocchi amatriciana. All of the bread served at Emilia is made at Paysan, their sister bakery.

If all of these options sound amazing, and you are getting hungry just thinking about all the amazing restaurants in downtown Knoxville, you may decide to move to the city, and luckily there is plenty of Knoxville real estate available downtown.  

Whether you are planning a short visit or do decide to move, you have so many options for outstanding food in Knoxville, from laid back comfort food restaurants to award-winning dining establishments.