This was a cute tropical themed bar across from our airbnb for the weekend. We were the last guests…read moreof the night and the service we received was awesome. Unfortunately we came too late to try the bites, but we were given a yummy snack mix to enjoy with our drinks. I'd definitely visit this place again when in Knoxville.

Went here for a cocktail and snack and was not disappointed!! My bartenders Chloe and Hatti were…read morecomplete angels! I like the patio area and the overall ambiance is very nice.

Service was fast and servers nice! Came in because we saw the specials drinks outside and the…read morebanana pudding espresso was good!

The service was attentive and informative. We ordered the cheese and meat board and had some…read morecocktails. The special apricot spritz was tasty. The plum and fig jam with the board was delish.

I found this gem when I was on a business trip and wanted a cozy bar that I could also order food…read moreat. This bar is conveniently located within a hotel, but with speakeasy vibes. You can order food from the hotel, which I did--the escargot was unreal. It paired well with my dirty martini. They have a lot of neat specialty cocktails, but can also do all the traditional, too. The bartender kept me company while at the bar and I enjoyed the atmosphere. He's open a few bars in Cary, NC, so it was nice to connect with someone while traveling.

Cute little hidden library bar with great drinks…read more The only issue we had were some rambunctious neighbors in a booth nearby, but staff was really good at keeping the peace. We got: -Ines (my fav) -Lumiere -Maimie Mannering (very booze forward) -Harry Morgan (the banana didn't really come through, but I could see where they were going with it!)

I love a kitschy bar and this is definitely it. They have fully committed to the theme and the gift…read moreshop next store is filled with Alice and wonderland themed trinkets and treasures. It's quirky and the staff is super friendly making this all around a great experience. I got a magic potion drink because you got to keep the glass bottle it came in and it sparkled which came out to $12 plus a tip. What more could you want really. The drink was some kind of party punch, it was a little stiff but pretty tasty. If you're in the area this is worth checking out. It's a one of one and the drinks were reasonably priced for it being a novelty experience.

So I didn't actually get the chance to try a drink here: I came on Thurs around 3p because Google…read morelisted Thurs hours as 11a-2a. They are wrong, they don't open until 5 on Thurs and I had to get back to the airport by then! That said, there is an adjacent gift shop store that is also Alice themed - it was quite cute! I didn't buy anything but the clerk told me all this about the hours. I could see inside the bar and it looks really cute and fun - shame I couldn't actually get a drink because the menu looks awesome! Overall even though I didn't try anything I am certain this bar would be a great spot to hang in Knoxville if trying to unwind or hang around the social scene.

We stopped here as part of the Whiskey Trail experience, and not only was it the worst customer…read moreservice of the 28 distilleries we visited, the female bartender (red hair, black glasses) was the rudest bartender I have met in my 20 years of being in hospitality. When we walked in, she glared at us as if we had interrupted something. She didn't greet us, didn't ask what we'd like to try, only gave us one word answers to any question that we asked. Never once smiled or tried to engage us. My friend was so frustrated with trying to get information from her that he stood up and almost walked out. I kept trying to engage her and even complemented her cute dress. Nothing. Stone face. I wanted to try the amaro flight and asked for it. She prepared it, set it in front of me, and said "so you'll want to close out now?" I told her "yes, that would be great, when I'm finished with my tasting". She proceeded to lean up against the bar with her back to us and didn't say another word. I had to get up and walk to the register, and when she finally turned around, I asked her "have we done something to upset you?" She said "no, why?" I said "because you seem REALLY annoyed that we're here". Her only response was to turn the register screen around and tell me the total. I'm so sad about this because I really wanted to taste other items and get a cocktail, but she was SO unpleasant and we felt SO unwelcome., Seeing all of the other great reviews, I can only imagine that they were with other people. I wish those other bartenders had been there.

Boozy grapefruit slushy? YES. Just say yes. This cocktail bar distills their own booze right next…read moredoor (you can be a creepster and peek in!). They sell bottles of varying sizes at the bar and also at other places around town, including Total Wine. We love that they offer sampler flights with different liquors and also different size pours. They give you a tray with a sheet that describes the flavor profile for each offering. We also were given slushy samples and a customized gin sample, mixed with another shot to sip. We ordered slushies to enjoy on the patio and a flight with Hi Rye Whiskey, Ginferous Gin (favorite!), Uproot Gin, and Barrel Rested Cacoa Liqueur. I can't believe the differing flavors they can produce within the same type of booze. Masterful! The bartenders are friendly and so dang knowledgable. We purchased a bottle of Ginferous Gin and have kept the party going at home. Can't wait to go back! What a cool spot.

This restaurant feels like new Japanese, a western twist. We had the crab cakes, which were…read moredelicious with a side of roasted beets and edamame. We also had the drunken noodles and the spicy chicken steamed buns. I will say that the portions feel small for the apps and buns. Entrées are filling. Some of the meat in the drunken noodles were tough, others was nice and soft. Service was good. Ambiance is small and feels quaint, they have a patio outside in the back. 8/10

You can find Kaizen at 127 S Central Ave Knoxville, TN 37902. This is in Knoxville's revitalized…read moreOld City. There's some street parking but most of it appears to be pay-to-park. There are several nearby lots also pay-to-park but some may be free on weekends. Kaizen appears to me to be more akin to an Izakaya than a noodle hosue, where you basically go for drinks and they supply some food to keep things going - it has a more expansive menu than an Izakaya (which tends to be yakitori and sushi) - Kaizen's menu features several noodle dishes which all looked very interesting. We started with the appetizers and ordered some mixed steamed buns and soup. All of the buns that I tried I liked quite a bit - some strong, distinctive flavors. For an entree I ordered the Koji-Cured Ribeye medium-rare - 12 oz sliced ribeye, gai lan, broad bean paste, steamed rice. The steak was cooked perfectly. The service was exceptional - the next night we tried Fin-Two Japanese Ale House across the street - this restaurant was my preference - the flavors seemed more authentic and the quality of the dishes better in my opinion.

The Vault was our second stop on our cocktail hop night, and I'm so glad we found it!…read more First off, the interior is chef's kiss. The dark, glamorous aesthetic is stunning--perfect for date night or for impressing out-of-town guests. I loved the gold accents, layered textures, and thoughtful lighting. Everything worked together beautifully. We chose to sit at the bar to watch the mixologists work their magic. They were incredibly helpful in guiding us toward drinks that matched our preferences. I absolutely loved my cocktail--even if I can't recall the name--because it delivered the spicy kick they promised. We also ordered several shareable plates, all of which were delicious. We tried the Carnitas Tamales (shredded pork, ancho mole, fresh corn, masa, cilantro, yuzu arbequina oil), the Vegetable Empanadas (house-made pastry, wilted kale, roasted sweet potato, Oaxaca and cotija cheese, black bean purée, and adobo & chile-lime aioli), and a salad. I'd happily order any of them again. I did find myself wishing for a bit more heat, but I've learned that's hard to come by in Tennessee. At least the staff gave us a heads-up that the spice level is toned down. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu. The vibe is fantastic--and while they have a nice outdoor space, the interior is so eye-catching I'm not sure I'd want to sit anywhere else.

Cool atmosphere it's an underground speakeasy type of deal and had a cool list of cocktails…read more My cocktail was pretty good I wouldn't get it again but I liked it and the banana and gin was fun and new. Tapas were good the carrots were by far the best roasted perfectly and the sauce was so flavorful. The crab dip was good but typical same with mushroom truffle pizza. The empanadas were good but a little dry I was glad they had sauce. Would go again and get the carrots and new items!

Fiori in Old City downtown Knoxville is such a cute spot with an amazing ambiance--perfect for a…read moregirls night or a special occasion. The atmosphere alone makes it feel like a little escape. The service was good, and my friend and I both really enjoyed our cocktails and entrées--they were definitely the highlight of the meal. We weren't huge fans of the appetizers we tried, but we found out they're leaving the menu soon anyway, so that made sense. On a high note, the pistachio cream dessert was an absolute delight and the perfect way to end the night. Overall, a really lovely experience and I'd definitely go back!

You definitely are paying for the ambiance. The food itself isn't anything to right home about,…read moreespecially for the price. But I will applaud that the portions are decent sizes. I wasn't blown away and felt like the flavors were lackluster. The pasta was an alright red sauce, flavors could've been a bit more complex and boldly fresh. The Arancini tasted like a bland mushy hushpuppy in marinara. The best dish was the salmon, if I had to recommend anything! Super flaky with a crispy fish, paired nicely with the salad and potatoes. Service itself was good and the drinks were just okay. I like that they have many cocktail options to choose from, but my drink was honestly straight juice. As someone who's lightweight, I was shocked to find that the portions for drinks for the little amount of alcohol for $15 is a bit absurd (I got the st Richard ride). I'd only come once for the ambiance but it's pretty disappointing for what you pay. 6.5/10

Stir was great from start to finish. We had oysters and they were fresh and tasty…read more We had some old fashioned's and they were great drinks! The service was fast and with a smile. The place was large inside and clean. The restrooms were very clean despite being busy that day. The steaks were perfect. We will be back !!

We stopped into Stir on Tuesday night, December 9, 2025, and the place had great energy right from…read moreour 7:00 PM seating. The cocktail selections are excellent, with a strong selection of creative drinks along with a solid wine list. I love that you can choose from craft ice cubes! This is definitely a seafood-forward restaurant, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Everything we ordered was well prepared and thoroughly enjoyed. I took a few photos of the food but forgot to grab shots of the restaurant itself. I'm positive there are plenty of good photos on Yelp that capture the atmosphere. One thing worth noting is parking. Street parking is limited, and we ended up using a nearby lot, which felt a bit pricey in my opinion. It was 17ish for 2 hours. Hopefully I didn't pay in vein but I didn't want a ticket... Stir is an absolutely a place I'll be coming back to whenever I'm in Knoxville.

Finally, a restaurant downtown that's not insanely loud. Loved the fact they had booths all around…read morethe outside of the room. Made it much easier to have a conversation. Also loved the fact there was a mocktail flight. As a sober couple this is huge for us. Portions were good sized and although a bit pricey, we'd come back and make a dinner out of like 3 apps.

This place needs to do better. I searched what places in East Tennessee sell grilled octopus and…read morethis place pops up. So of course I naturally look at reviews and pictures and people posted pictures with two or three good size pieces of octopus. I figure perfect, it looks delicious I'm gonna order. So I ordered the grilled octopus and also the tzatziki. My total was about $35. I get to my car and I look in the bag and instantly think "WTF are you kidding me?" What I got was a complete and utter joke. I had asked for veggies instead of the potatoes and I get what is shown in the picture a couple teeny tiny carrots and radishes and I'm kind of laughing as I eat them because I'm thinking damn... Each of these cost me a dollar so I better actually eat them. I look at how tiny my portion of food is and I think wow I wonder if I would've actually sat in the restaurant if it would've looked anything like the picture or if I would've got a decent size instead of this teeny tiny little container. The octopus was overcooked, it was tough and hard to chew. All they did was put it on the grill it had the char flavor but that was it no other flavor. Definitely would not recommend this place.