Downtown Knoxville's Best Patios

Situated on Gay Street, soak up the sun under Babalu's orange umbrellas while sipping a margarita and noshing on chips and guac! It's a spacious patio to dine with your friends and family over high-end Latin-inspired fare.

The Brass Pearl boasts a serene patio surrounded by lush greenery and adorned with string lights. An inviting atmosphere to unwind over fresh oysters and seafood during lunch, social hour, and dinner. Their expansive wine and champagne list is the perfect compliment to any entree, like the po' boy, fish 'n chips, and sea bass. All with great views of buzzing Market Square!

Our favorite time to enjoy Calhoun's outdoor deck is on a nice spring or summer day, where we can lazily eat and drink the day away. The view of the Tennessee River makes it that much better. Their deck menu is filled with tailgate favorites, like burgers BBQ, steaks, and cheesecake, and their outdoor bar keeps cold beer on tap.

It's small but packs a punch! Order one of Chivo Taqueria's famous margaritas and enjoy the open-air before your table's ready inside. Or, have your whole meal outside and people watch while munching on chips and salsa, queso fundido, tacos, quesadillas, and of course, tequila!

Grab your sweetheart and dine alfresco at Emilia, an Italian dining experience for both celebrations and a weeknight treat. Take your time over a bottle of wine, fresh focaccia, homemade pasta, and luxurious desserts. All while enjoying the energy of Market Square.

Indulge in a sweet Nutella crêpe and cappuccino on French Market's patio on Clinch Ave, and you'll be transported right to Paris. They use flour imported directly from France, so their crêpes are as authentic as they come. Croissants, sandwiches, soups, omelettes, and an espresso and cocktail bar round out a menu that you need to experience.

J.C. Holdway is on Union Ave, a quieter part of Downtown, which makes their patio nice for a romantic evening out. Savor snack plates from Chef Joseph Lenn's kitchen, a James Beard Award winner of Best Chef Southeast. It was also named one of "The 12 Best New Restaurants in America!"

Visit Jig & Reel for whiskey-sipping and patio-sitting. In the heart of the Old City, you're sure to soak up the districts' scruffy vibes and spot a cute doggo too! Some say the fish and chips are as good as across the pond.

Kaizen's outdoor seating is a 10/10 (and their interior design deserves a shout-out here too). Hang out under the pergola next to the projector screen, or sit at a patio table under string lights in the gated alley near the mural painted on the brick wall — a cool spot to observe over fried eggplant, steamed buns, and chilled Dan Dan noodles.

You may have been bowling at Maple Hall, but did you know about Maple Room, the lounge located at the top of the exposed brick staircase between the lanes? They have board games, life-size scrabble, a killer bar, and an outdoor patio to enjoy a selection of cocktails only available upstairs.

A great spot for lunch on Market Square, Myrtle’s patio might be small, but it's mighty. The hanging lights, the pretty planters, and the cute tables set an atmosphere you'll never want to leave. Plus the famous fried chicken and soulful sides will have you coming back for more.

A patio that needs no introduction: you'll find Not Watson’s buzzing for brunch, lunch, and dinner. If you're lucky enough to snatch a table, you're in for a yummy treat! Order up a burger, meatloaf, fried green tomatoes, and more.

We love this romantic patio, and it's all in the details for Oliver Royale. The French bistro chairs, the greenery surrounding patrons, and the romantic string lights above. The same attention to details is true for their well-crafted cocktails and farm-to-table entrees. This patio is hard to forget.

The legendary Pete’s has been serving up breakfast and lunch specials to regulars and out-of-town visitors since 1986. Even if you're familiar with this famous breakfast spot, you might not have noticed their patio on Union Ave. Their outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy a mid-week lunch, if you ask us!

PostModern's bright blue tables and chairs draw you into their magical patio to enjoy a carefully crafted cocktail overlooking the gorgeous architecture of Jackson Ave. Their distilled in-house liquors provide the base to creative, seasonal drinks that are full of surprises. Save some for us!

Another solid place for craft brews is Pretentious Beer! Located side-by-side to Pretentious Glass on Central Street, head out the back door to their large outdoor space to sip a locally-brewed beer out of a glass that's been hand-blown next door. Most of their patio is covered, so it's great for whatever the weather brings.

Another coveted Market Square patio that always hits the spot ... Soccer Taco. It's great for lunch and dinner with friends, sipping margaritas, eating street tacos, and keeping those chips and salsa coming. On a beautiful night, it can't be beat!

The wrap-around patio at STIR is one of the largest outdoor seating areas in Downtown Knoxville, offering a delightful alfresco experience amidst the vibrant Old City atmosphere. It's always buzzing with friends catching up over brunch, lunch, and dinner – sipping on cocktails, sharing apps like cheeseburger egg rolls and char-broiled oysters, and chatting the evening away!

The patio of the party! Sweet P's has an outdoor space true to their roots — a downtown dive for live music, good times, and great BBQ. Boston butts smoked low and slow, bone-in rubbed and smoked chicken quarters, Tennessee beef brisket. Yeah, it's good.

The Tomato Head's patio boasts colorful string lights and neon green chairs, which match the bright flavors of their fresh meals. Nosh on hot pizzas out of the oven, tasty vegetarian fare, freshly baked bread, and healthy salads after a trip to the Market Square Farmers' Market. Or, really, lunch or dinner anytime. We could eat here every day!

Tupelo Honey calls their corner patio an "extended front porch," which makes sense, since they make us feel like we're at our Granny's home with their southern cooking! They've been serving delicious food and cocktails on Market Square since 2012. Sweet tea and fried green tomatoes, please.

A hidden gem in the Holston Building, Vida's patio sits right next to Krutch Park. The hanging flower baskets add privacy to the romantic patio, where you can enjoy pan-Latin cuisine for a delicious dinner with friends. We hear the limonada suiza and empanadas are a match made in heaven.