Knoxville has become a seriously fun city for cocktail lovers, with downtown, the Old City and South Knoxville offering everything from French martinis and tropical drinks to oysters, sake and margaritas. Better yet, some of the city’s best drinking spots put just as much thought into what lands on the plate. Happy-hour menus and specials can change, so check before heading out, but these eight destinations offer plenty of reasons to arrive thirsty and hungry.
Lilou
Bring a little French flair to happy hour at Lilou, the stylish Gay Street brasserie known for martinis, French wines and an impressive cheese program. The Cornichon Martini, made with vodka, dry vermouth and cornichon brine, is the signature order, especially alongside fresh oysters or French cheeses. Hungry for more? Duck-and-beef-fat frites and beef tartare are worthy additions. Local diners also regularly praise Lilou’s escargots, tartare and cheese selections.
The Brass Pearl
Oysters are reason enough to visit The Brass Pearl on Market Square. Its Oyster Hour menu goes well beyond raw bivalves, with oyster shooters, lobster sliders, oyster sliders and lobster fries among the tempting possibilities. Pair them with a Dirty Martini, sparkling wine or the rotating tiki cocktail. Reddit diners frequently recommend The Brass Pearl when the craving for oysters strikes, making this one of Knoxville’s strongest stops for a seafood-heavy happy hour.
Tern Club
Vacation vibes arrive by the glass at Tern Club, a downtown favorite devoted to tropical cocktails without the over-the-top resort-bar feel. Happy-hour selections currently include a Mojito, Paloma and Tamarind Whiskey Sour, while the full menu digs even deeper into rum, fruit and island flavors. Knoxville drinkers regularly include Tern Club among the city’s go-to cocktail bars, and its creative nonalcoholic drinks also receive praise, making it an easy choice for mixed groups.
SoKno Taco Cantina
Tacos and margaritas are a hard combination to argue with at SoKno Taco Cantina, a lively South Knoxville hangout near Ijams Nature Center and the area’s biking trails. The locally owned cantina specializes in SoCal-inspired street tacos, house margaritas and plenty of beer. Make the Nasty Nachos your table’s centerpiece, then add tacos and a margarita. SoKno’s margaritas have also earned shout-outs from Knoxville drinkers looking for a casual, unfussy option.
Five Thirty Lounge
Come for cocktails and stay for one of downtown Knoxville’s best rooftop views at Five Thirty Lounge. Located atop Hyatt Place in the former Farragut Hotel, the lounge looks across downtown toward the Smoky Mountains through towering windows and an outdoor terrace. Cocktail lovers should explore the whiskey drinks, especially an Old Fashioned, while shareable bites make lingering easy. Recent Knoxville recommendations specifically call out the Hyatt rooftop as a worthy Old Fashioned destination.
Fiori Bar & Kitchen
Fiori brings plenty of personality to cocktail hour in the Old City. The current drink menu has a decidedly cheeky streak: try the Late Night Grindr, combining vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and vanilla, or the Queen Bitch, with gin, grapefruit, lemon, honey and Champagne. Pair your drink with cold-water oysters or the goat cheese and cranberry flatbread, finished with walnuts and hot honey. Happy-hour specials include select drinks alongside discounted wine and drafts.
Fin-Two Japanese Ale House
Think beyond ramen at Fin-Two Japanese Ale House, an Old City izakaya built around food designed to pair well with drinks. Start with made-from-scratch gyoza or Japanese fried chicken, then add sushi or nigiri and a Yuzu Mojito or Japanese 75 made with Roku gin, yuzu and sparkling wine. Fin-Two continues to offer a weekday happy-hour menu, making its combination of sushi, sake, beer and small plates the real draw.
Fly By Night
Channel the 1970s at Fly By Night, the South Knoxville cocktail bar from the team behind Tern Club. Vintage furnishings and retro details give the room a groovy living-room feel, but the drinks are taken seriously. The bar itself declares that a great martini never goes out of style, so that’s an easy place to start. Knoxville locals frequently recommend Fly By Night alongside the city’s other notable cocktail bars, with its nonalcoholic offerings earning praise, too.
