The Best Eats in East Tennessee

The Best Eats in East Tennessee
Sweet Ps Barbecue Downtown Dive

One block from Knox Mason, on West Jackson Avenue, sits a restaurant serving up a different facet of beloved Southern fare: barbecue. You won’t leave Sweet P’s Barbecue Downtown Dive hungry, especially if you order the Sweet P’s Sampler, featuring a barbecue pork or chicken sandwich, a quarter rack of ribs, beef brisket, and three flavor-packed sides.

West Jackson Avenue takes you to the historic Old City just beyond South Gay Street, and it’s a charming, eclectic neighborhood. You can’t go to Old City without popping into OliBea for breakfast or brunch. Choose the scrambled eggs, squared potatoes, biscuit, and side of house-smoked pork belly on the OliBea Plate and you’ll leave planning to return.

The Best Eats in East Tennessee
OliBea

Surrounding Spots Worth a Try 

There are more than enough incredible places to eat within walking distance of the city center, but the Knoxville food scene reaches beyond its main walkable neighborhoods. 

A Dopo Sourdough Pizza is less than a 5-minute drive north from Old City and downtown. The wood-fired pizzeria specializes in 13-inch sourdough Neapolitan-style pizzas, and the atmosphere is inviting enough for a family but special enough for a date night. The menu is divided into artisanal pies with red or white sauce, and you’ll want to try one of each.