Starbucks

While in Knoxville we found this cute coffee shop tucking into a small plaza. I love that it was…read moresuper easy to get to. Plus they had ample parking. Side note the walk up window was so cute. Immediately upon walking in I was in awe. The attention to detail in this shop was top tier design. The ladies working when we went were so sweet and very helpful. I also really love the swag that they have. I am kicking myself for not buying the denim hat! Now onto the coffee. I tried the Blueberry Crisp Latte. The notes of the blueberry were good. Not overpowering and just the right bit of top and bottom. I love to taste the flavor as a finishing note as well. My daughter had a Vanilla Frappe which she enjoyed. I definitely will return whenever I am in Knoxville.

We were driving while in Knoxville and searched for a good coffee shop nearby, and Summer Moon…read moreCoffee caught our attention. The space is surprisingly large, with a beautiful, inviting interior and a really nice atmosphere. I had never tried fire-roasted coffee before. I usually order a plain latte or cappuccino because I like to truly taste the coffee and appreciate its boldness without added flavors. The coffee here had a distinct smoky flavor, which personally wasn't my preference, but I definitely appreciated how unique and different it was. My husband ordered a vanilla latte and loved it! The service was great. A very friendly young lady took the time to explain the different coffee options and helped us understand what makes their coffee unique. The only thing I wish they offered was a little more variety in food. I was hoping for something like avocado toast or another healthier breakfast option rather than primarily baked goods. A beautiful coffee shop with great service, a welcoming atmosphere, and a unique take on coffee. Definitely worth trying, especially if you enjoy a smoky, fire-roasted flavor.

Front counter

Cozy sofas

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Almond Croissant

Honeybee Coffee

4.0(216 reviews)

0.8 mi

Delicious latte! And any place like this that makes their own syrup gets bonus pointsread more

Honeybee is a great spot to study and gather with friends. The space is open and even has an…read moreoutdoor space option. The bar seating is nice if you like to stand while studying as well. The staff is great. They are super nice & pretty fast. The espresso is delicious. Though, I must admit that the flavor is diluted as a latte. I recommend an iced cappuccino if you prefer a coffee forward drink. I love it with the brown sugar syrup! I like trying the seasonal flavors, especially since they make syrups in house. My favorite right now (spring 2026) is the banana bread latte. Parking does get tight during peak hours, but something always opens up or you could try the neighboring lots if you're doing a quick stop.

Entrance to Honeybee.

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Front

The French Market Creperie

4.1(218 reviews)

1.5 mi

Tried a Monte Cristo crepe with deli turkey breast and Swiss cheese, which is considered a savory…read moredish although the strawberries jam that oozed from within could have been a sweet treat as well. I will repeat this as my palate was pleased with the offering. My spouse enjoyed his usual meal with lox and cream cheese although the capers all gathered on one end of crepe so he missed the saltiness in each bite. Since we dined long after the lunch crowd had eaten, the restaurant was quiet and peaceful. It's one of our favorite places to relax and enjoy food with an international twist.

We had a vegetarian delight with goat cheese , a roast beef & Swiss, and a maple syrup & butter…read more Also a chai latte and a hot cinnamon tea. Everything was outstanding! The service was good, and the bathrooms were clean.

Inside

Breakfast crepe

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Admirals Dough Joe

4.6(34 reviews)

1.3 mi

The doughnuts were fresh and they tasted great. The service was Terrific. The place was very clean…read more We will be back for more.

Love the donuts. The most delicious I've ever had!!! The staff is very welcoming too!!!read more

Seating

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Bacon egg and cheese on an everything bagel

Riverside Coffee Shop

4.7(18 reviews)

5.1 mi

A quiet hidden gem that understands the power of simplicity done well. The coffee program here is…read moreconfident and unfussy, the kind that doesn't need theatrics to make its point. I ordered a café au lait, and it delivered exactly what it should: bold, full-bodied coffee balanced by smooth, well-steamed milk. The result was rich without being heavy, strong without tipping into bitterness. This is the sort of place where coffee is treated as a craft rather than a trend--no shortcuts, no distractions, just a well-executed cup that lingers pleasantly and invites you to slow down. A destination worth seeking out for anyone who appreciates coffee with backbone and character.

Cute little shop with a good mission. We got the Italian sandwich and the turkey bacon avocado…read moresandwich. The chipotle turkey one was absolutely delicious! The Italian was good but it was served cold and that's not great for ciabatta bread since it's so dense. It was a lot of chewing. They added balsamic which was a nice touch. The chips on one plate were stale but the other plate's were fresh. I liked the addition of the pickles. Staff was friendly. I liked the games available for patrons to play. If I came back I would probably just get the chipotle turkey sandwich.

Italian Sandwich

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Schakolad Chocolate Factory

4.5(31 reviews)

0.1 mi

I drove an hour specifically to try the viral fruit pastries I've been seeing everywhere, and I'm…read morehappy to say the trip was worth it! This was my first time trying this style of pastry, so I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. They are almost too pretty to eat, but thankfully, they taste just as impressive as they look. I brought home several flavors for my family to try, including strawberry, blueberry, peach, mango, coconut, and raspberry. One of the things I found most interesting was that each of us ended up with a different favorite. The pastries have a delicate outer shell with a wonderfully light mousse filling and a fresh fruit purée in the center. I noticed a small amount of cake in some of them, although not as noticeably in every flavor. Overall, they were much lighter and more refreshing than I expected from such an indulgent-looking dessert. The strawberry was easily my favorite. The mousse was light and delicate, while the strawberry purée in the center added just the right amount of bright, fresh fruit flavor. I could see this becoming a serious problem if I lived closer! On a hot summer day, it would be the perfect dessert when you want something sweet without feeling overly rich or heavy. Surprisingly, mango was my second favorite, and I'm not normally a big mango person. That alone says quite a bit. The flavor was incredibly well balanced and had me going back for another bite. My son's favorite was the coconut, which had almost a piña colada quality to it. The coconut mousse paired with the pineapple center gave it two distinct flavors that complemented each other beautifully. He loved the contrast between the two. His second favorite was the raspberry. His only critique was that he would have liked the mousse just a touch sweeter to balance the tartness of the raspberry purée. His fiancée chose the peach as her favorite, saying the mousse and peach center had the perfect balance. Raspberry came in a close second for her. The blueberry was probably the least favorite among the three of us, but "least favorite" is very relative here--we still ate every bite! You could tell there was real blueberry fruit flavor in the center, and it was still a very good pastry. It simply had some tough competition from the other flavors. What impressed me most was that these weren't just visually beautiful desserts created for social media. There was real thought put into the flavors, textures, and fillings. The mousse was light rather than overly sweet or heavy, and the fruit centers gave each pastry its own personality. After driving an hour specifically to see whether these viral pastries lived up to the hype, I can say I was definitely not disappointed. They're beautiful, unique, fun to share, and genuinely delicious. And apparently, if you bring home a box for the family, be prepared for everyone to claim a different favorite!

Today on a whim I decided to go treat myself to this Dubai Strawberry cup everyone raves about!…read moreThere are NO words for how incredibly delicious this thing was! I must admit it comes with slight sticker shock but I'm going to continue to be electrocuted It was worth every single penny then some! Please do not pass go and get you and your loved ones to Schakolade ASAP! Meantime if you are looking for me you know where to find me lol

Dubai chocolate bar

I had the dark chocolate and it was so good.

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The viral fruit pastries

Primo Passo Coffee

4.7(13 reviews)

5.1 mi

There are coffee shops you stop at because you need coffee, and then there are places that make you…read morewant to sit down and actually enjoy it. Primo Passo Coffee Co. is the latter. I came here three mornings in a row while in Knoxville--which, for me, says a lot. The coffee is fantastic. It's thoughtful, well-made, and feels created with purpose. The menu reads like it was put together by someone who genuinely likes coffee and wants you to experience something beyond the standard routine. I tried the Iced Vanilla Cloud Latte, and you can taste the difference between something simply flavored and something actually crafted. Then there are the bagels. Next level. They're sourced through a local sourdough bakery and are exactly the kind of addition that completes the experience. Good enough that instead of grabbing your coffee and inhaling breakfast in traffic, you actually want to sit down, eat, and stay awhile. And that's really what makes Primo Passo work: the place has a vibe. It's young, vibrant and genuinely local. Sitting here in the mornings, I watched people come in who clearly knew one another. They'd grab coffee, talk about their day, discuss business, catch up for a few minutes and then head out. I watched that happen over and over again. It feels less like a business trying to manufacture a neighborhood coffee-shop atmosphere and more like one naturally becoming part of the neighborhood. It's also truly tucked away. Located beneath residential housing in a mixed-use development, this is the kind of place you can drive right past if you aren't specifically looking for it. Trust me: look for it. There are bigger names and plenty of convenient options nearby, but convenience isn't really the point here. Primo Passo is about the coffee, the process and the experience. Places like this become local staples because people support them while they're still becoming one. If you're in Knoxville for business, live nearby and want to change up your morning routine, or simply appreciate genuinely good coffee, put Primo Passo on your radar. This could easily become my go-to coffee shop if I lived here. Maybe it's the coffee. Maybe it's the bagels. Maybe it's the atmosphere. After spending three consecutive mornings here, I think it's a little bit of all three. Whatever they're doing, it works. And it works very well. There is more to the coffee experience than ordering through an app and getting a thank-you message written on your cup. Sometimes it's about the taste, the process, the people and taking the time to actually enjoy the experience. Primo Passo reminded me of that.

Primo Passo is doing something special. I got a drink with a double shot of espresso, house-made…read morecherry syrup, milk, and a cherry cold foam dusted with sakura powder--honestly one of the most unique drinks I've had. Super well-balanced and felt like a really elevated coffee experience. Seating isn't the most comfortable, so maybe not a long hang spot, but the coffee alone makes it worth it. Definitely coming back.

Seating area offering a few table options

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Einstein Bros. Bagels

3.4(82 reviews)

1.4 mi

We love their bagels Not most expensive in area but by far…read morethe best Was treated really well. Sales lady made sure I got my points and promotional discount The store is well decorated and welcoming but most importantly, spotless every time we've been

Travelling through the area and had an issue with the slowest service at another restaurant we…read morestopped in at Einstein for a hopefully quick lunch. We weren't disappointed by the service. The staff was friendly, courteous, and helpful. The dining room was cool (mid-nineties outside), quiet, and relaxing. The sandwiches were very tasty as the staff suggested. In hindsight, we should have stopped here first.

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Scooter's Coffee

4.5(41 reviews)

1.1 mi

You can scoot on over!! I love scooters coffee this is the second time I've come across one and had…read moreto stop! I was stoked to see they had the brown butter banana bread at this location too, the first one I had been too was in Iowa and that drink slaps! The flavors are off the hook and it's so addicting! Banana bread a work dude hell yeahhhhh! Staff is always so friendly and that catch phrase just makes you smile, scoot on over!

Scooters is probably the friendliest service for any local coffee spot. Even though it's just…read moredrive through, the staff are always super nice. Coffee is on point too. I'd rank it higher than Starbucks and the usual chain-store coffee. It's not quite as good as the true "craft" / independent coffee shops. But, it's close. Definitely a good choice if you need caffeine. Haven't tried their food. But, Scooters also has a breakfast menu with several sandwich options. Overall: recommended. Good coffee and service.

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The Empty Cup

4.4(115 reviews)

3.8 mi

This is a Terrific place to enjoy coffee and a breakfast pastry or a bagel. They have WiFi and you…read morewill find many folks using it. There are two meeting rooms that are available by reservation. The service is very friendly and they are happy to brew your favorite coffee for you. The unique thing about The Empty Cup is that all the profits go to care for Foster and Adopted children.

I've been back to Empty cup a fews times since my first review, but I would not change my original…read morereview from 4 years ago. Still slow and I just get a negative vibe from them. I've never found them friendly.

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Spacious, sofas, chairs, communal tables, live it!

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Kathleen W.

0

1

0

6 years ago

10/13/2020; it's been a week since I was at the Starbucks at 4942 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN. I was walking and stopped in for an iced coffee. Not wearing a mask, as a free Independent American Citizen, I was refused service inside the store. Starbucks 'policy' on this mask thing.... is causing their business to visit other small business owner's Coffee Shop. https://joemiller.us/2020/10/cdc-study-finds-overwhelming-majority-of-people-getting-coronavirus-wore-masks/ I have attached an article that came out from a CDC study. I hope more Independent American Citizens read and find for themselves what is the best way to take care of your health. KWINK read more

Troy S.

0

1

0

12 years ago

Thanks to Mandy for being very cool, and helpful. :)

Wess P.

0

8

0

13 years ago

very relaxing place to go

Starbucks - coffee - Updated October 2026

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Starbucks

4.0

(23 reviews)

My tea is always made to perfection. The staff is always amazing and the store is always cleanread more

I usually come here since it's near home and i've never had a bad experience till today but whoever…read morewas working window today (Wednesday morning, January 21st) you can catch these hands because there was no reason to be rude to my bf and I at 8:30 in the morning be fr

Vienna Coffee House

4.2

(213 reviews)

The ambience here is superior. There are a nice mix of folks in here and they respect the space…read more Customer care is good, coffee is creative and not expensive. I don't live in the area but I usually come here when I visit.

Some clown said "Starbucks never disappoints" in another review posted below. That's like saying…read moreMcDonalds never disappoints and in both cases you'd be correct if you're used to slop and don't expect better than slop so you're as happy as a pig when that's what you get. The coffee at Vienna is as high quality as it gets and there are many many varieties to choose from here. Their flagship VCH coffee is excellent, but their single origin roasts are what's truly unique tasting with bright, expressive flavors that never taste burnt or heavy handed. That fella is crazy for bringing up Starbucks lmao I'd as soon as make my own coffee at home then spend my money on Starbucks. Pretty sure he was a Californian, go figure. What you'll notice many other reviewers mention is the location. This is seriously the most impressive cafe I've ever seen, there are so many different rooms and areas to choose from, with sofas and couches and booths and tables to choose from. Many kinds of ambiance to choose from but it all feels cozy. I'm still laughing to myself about Mr California one-starring Vienna Coffee House because it ain't Starbucks lmao

K Brew

3.3

(31 reviews)

This place was SO big and spacious, and I absolutely loved the atmosphere! They even had these…read morecute swing chairs in the back, which were such a fun little touch. I got the banana pudding latte and WOW. It was the perfect amount of sweetness, not overly sweet, but still sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. Definitely a fun drink if you're a banana pudding girlie! I also got the jasmine green tea, which was pretty good as well. Overall, such a cute spot with plenty of space to hang out and relax. And the staff really got it all done quick we were in and out of there is a jiffy.

Walking into this place, I was surprised by how huge it is! There's plenty of seating and so many…read morespots where you could work or study. It's also really pretty inside and has such a cozy atmosphere. Sofia took my order and was also very nice and welcoming, which made the experience even better. They even have these swings that feel like they're literally hugging you. I sat in one and immediately thought, "I need a blanket and a book, and I could stay here forever." We tried the Pumpkin Pie Sweet Foam Cold Brew and the Banana Pudding Sweet Foam Cold Brew. The cold brew itself is VERY strong, so the coffee flavor definitely overpowers the sweet foam a bit. You can still taste hints of the pumpkin pie and banana pudding flavors, but the cold brew is definitely the star of the show. That said, the cold brew itself has a really good flavor--it's just STRONG. If you like your coffee bold and caffeinated, this is definitely the place for you. And honestly, I'd come back just for the atmosphere and those cozy swings.

Southern Grace Coffee

4.4

(92 reviews)

Super cute Christian themed coffee shop! I love that it very much feels like a home converted into…read morea coffee shop. There's a lot of nice seating areas with good lighting, and the drinks are really good!

This was such a sweet little shop. The ambiance was so comfortable and relaxing. We sat in the…read morefront porch and relaxed with a delicious coffee! Everyone was so friendly. We highly recommend this coffee shop!

Summer Moon Coffee

4.5

(91 reviews)

While in Knoxville we found this cute coffee shop tucking into a small plaza. I love that it was…read moresuper easy to get to. Plus they had ample parking. Side note the walk up window was so cute. Immediately upon walking in I was in awe. The attention to detail in this shop was top tier design. The ladies working when we went were so sweet and very helpful. I also really love the swag that they have. I am kicking myself for not buying the denim hat! Now onto the coffee. I tried the Blueberry Crisp Latte. The notes of the blueberry were good. Not overpowering and just the right bit of top and bottom. I love to taste the flavor as a finishing note as well. My daughter had a Vanilla Frappe which she enjoyed. I definitely will return whenever I am in Knoxville.

We were driving while in Knoxville and searched for a good coffee shop nearby, and Summer Moon…read moreCoffee caught our attention. The space is surprisingly large, with a beautiful, inviting interior and a really nice atmosphere. I had never tried fire-roasted coffee before. I usually order a plain latte or cappuccino because I like to truly taste the coffee and appreciate its boldness without added flavors. The coffee here had a distinct smoky flavor, which personally wasn't my preference, but I definitely appreciated how unique and different it was. My husband ordered a vanilla latte and loved it! The service was great. A very friendly young lady took the time to explain the different coffee options and helped us understand what makes their coffee unique. The only thing I wish they offered was a little more variety in food. I was hoping for something like avocado toast or another healthier breakfast option rather than primarily baked goods. A beautiful coffee shop with great service, a welcoming atmosphere, and a unique take on coffee. Definitely worth trying, especially if you enjoy a smoky, fire-roasted flavor.

Old City Java

4.5

(210 reviews)

We love stopping by this little cafe. They have great coffee and you can tell they care about what…read morethey're doing. They have awesome nooks for you to tuck in and do work or get things done.

Fantastic stop this morning on the way to the office…read more Grabbed a vanilla bean latte and a prosciutto and Gruyère croissant and both were ready in a few minutes.

Five and Hoek

4.7

(27 reviews)

Adorable place and truly obsessed with the seasonal fig and pear oat milk latte I tried. They were…read morevery knowledgeable and helpful about what was vegan. I didn't see any vegan food options but I dream of the latte!!!

Really awesome coffee shop. We came here with our son after he graduated and bought a few coffees…read more Their service is excellent, the employees love their product and it shows. We stayed there and drank our iced coffees and the environment was very friendly to allow us as much time as we wanted to drink our drinks. I highly recommend this store.

The Artistic Bean

4.2

(6 reviews)