These Are The Restaurants in Townsend We Love!
As locals, we have enjoyed many terrific meals in Townsend, TN, especially after spending a fantastic day in the Smokies.
For a small town at the base of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend offers quite a few restaurants to choose from ranging from fancy gourmet dining at Dancing Bear Lodge to super casual counter service at the famous Burger Master.
Whether you’re grabbing a meal after a Smokies hike or spending the day in Townsend, these are our favorite restaurants in Townsend and nearby Wears Valley.
The great outdoors always makes us hungry!
P.S. See our favorite hikes in the Smokies, find out where to camp, get our tips on biking Cades Cove, or discover the best things to do in Townsend, TN. We’ve got you covered!
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Best Breakfast Restaurants in Townsend
All three of these restaurants are amazing for breakfast. I may like the ambiance of Riverstone and Elvira’s Cafe the best, but all three of these offer a really filling and tasty breakfast.
Riverstone Restaurant
Enjoy southern style cooking at this local Townsend restaurant. On winter days, we love the cozy fireplace while enjoying a steaming plate of biscuits and gravy or munching on a burger or chicken fried steak.
Riverstone’s food is reasonably priced and tasty, and we always have a good time.
Elvira’s Cafe
We love the breakfast menu here at this cozy Wears Valley restaurant. Elvira’s Cafe is a convenient spot to stop on the way to (or from) both the Alum Cave hike and the Greenbrier Schoolhouse hike in the Smokies.
Tip- Elvira’s is a good stop on the way to Alum Cave Trail and the Walker Sisters Trail, two of our favorites in the Smokies. Read more about them or check out our list of favorite easy hikes in the Smokies here. If you are making a weekend of it, see our best places to stay in Townsend.
Try a satisfying breakfast of homemade biscuits and gravy, delicious omelettes, sweet and savory crepes, or the french toast with local Benton’s Bacon. So good!
Generally serving breakfast until 11am, but be sure to check their website for current hours.
Elvira Cafe has great food for lunch and dinner too!
Apple Valley Cafe
This nice cafe offers good breakfast sandwiches, pancakes with a variety of sweet toppings, and lunch specials. Open everyday for breakfast and lunch and they serve breakfast until 11am so great for the late risers!
Apple Valley Cafe is also a good place to pick up a boxed lunch to take with you for a picnic in the park. Note that they also have an outdoor beer garden and a kids menu value-priced at $7.99 with fries and drink if you are here later in the day.
Next door to the cafe, you’ll find a fun General Store if you feel like browsing for souvenirs or treating the kids to ice cream or a sweet treat from their candy bins.
Pro Tip- Apple Valley Cafe gets super busy at lunch in the summer so place your order online, stroll in past the line of people, and grab your order before heading out to one of the outdoor picnic tables.
Coffee Shops In Townsend
The Artistic Bean– If you need a caffeine or WiFi fix, you’ll find it here. Enjoy coffee at the shop or take a bag home to enjoy! They have home made baked goods too, but no breakfast sandwiches or hot food.
Towns End Coffee has good coffee and a delicious breakfast/brunch menu with breakfast burritos and sandwiches as well as some super fun seasonal drinks.
P.S. Towns End Cafe was a shooting location for the Hallmark Channel Movie “Love In The Great Smoky Mountains” which is about as famous as we like to get in Townsend.
Our Favorite Restaurants in Townsend For Lunch/Dinner
These are our go-to Townsend restaurants for a relaxed, casual meal after a day in the Smokies or exploring Townsend. Outdoor seating, good food and Little River views make the meal that much better!
Peaceful Side Social
Although it doesn’t boast views of the Little River, it is home to the best patio in Townsend and stands out as our favorite place to eat.
The Peaceful Side Social Brewery and Craft Kitchen may have a mouthful of a name but is one of our go to spots for family meals.
Besides delicious pizzas and sandwiches in the main restaurant, they also have a pop-up taco bar outside and a super cool nature playground for the kiddos with rocks to jump off and a tunnel thru a hill.
Dogs are welcome on the patio with thoughtful leash clips by tables. It is just that kind of place.
Peaceful Side Social also offers a nice lineup of shareables including a charcuterie board, truffle fries, and goat cheese grit fritters that we can’t get enough of.
Rounding out your snacks with a cold beer from rotating taps or a glass of wine makes for the best post-hike outing.
Everything on the menu is excellent, and you’ll often find the TVs tuned to UT Vol’s sports.
Bonus! Plus, next door you’ll find their Peaceful Side Creamery with excellent homemade ice cream, a delicious finale to your yummy meal. Double bonus!
The Townsend Abbey
It doesn’t get more East Tennessee than this. You’ll find local craft beer and tasty bites at this former wedding chapel located right on the banks of the river.
The Abbey is family-friendly with corn hole and giant Connect Four, outdoor dining patio with views of the Little River, and flatbread pizzas, steamed subs, salads and BBQ specials.
They are known for their Friday night BBQ ribs specials and offer live music on Friday’s and Saturday’s. Check their website for schedules.
For free entertainment, relax at the Townsend Abbey and watch the tubers floating down the river. The patio is dog friendly as well.
Little River Pub and Deli
Little River Pub and Deli is a small place with a lot of charm. Great paninis, a wonderful moonshine pork bbq plate, soups, and an excellent curated craft beer selection of local brews plus a river side patio make this a family favorite.
It is always a favorite for the family, and I love the super-friendly owner who takes the time to chat with us.
You’ll find terrific sandwiches at the Little River Pub and Deli. I like the great craft beer selection and the view of the Little River from the cozy back patio.
It makes a perfect spot while bike riding the Townsend Historical Trail.
The Burger Master
Get your burger and shake fix at Burger Master, a Townsend institution that’s been a local favorite since 1967.
Order at the window and eat at one of their outdoor picnic tables. Closed Nov- Feb and only open Thur-Sun in spring and fall. Open everyday in the summer.
The line can be long but it moves quickly!
Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro
Calling all foodies! Recently featured on the Travel Channel, stop in Dancing Bear for a drink on their beautiful outdoor patio or indulge in the chef’s gourmet Appalachian-inspired cuisine.
It’s more expensive than other options in the area but worth it. The setting is tucked away in the natural setting of the mountains, the staff is friendly and helpful, the food is excellent, and we guarantee you’ll want to come back.
P.S. Dancing Bear also offers lodging if you want to make a B&B weekend of it.
Company Distilling
Company Distilling is a craft distillery with 2 locations in Tennessee, here and outside Franklin. They offer a line of whiskeys, a gin, and several very tasty flavored spirits, like blackberry and chocolate truffle.
Two thumbs up for their blackberry liquor, so tasty in a mixed drink! They also brew their own beer and have some fantastic mocktails too, so a little bit for everyone.
It is a family-friendly place, with a lovely back patio and food catered by Amico Deli, a wonderful restaurant in nearby Maryville. (Food is only served Wed – Sun.)
This is another great stop while biking on the Townsend Historical Trail. I always enjoy the pimento cheese dip and crackers and a refreshing drink here.
More Of Our Townsend Favorites!
If you’d like to learn more about Townsend, TN and exploring the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, see our blogs:
- Exploring Townsend- A Locals Guide
- Where To Stay In Townsend
- Favorite Hikes With Kids in the Smokies
- Complete Guide To The Townsend Historical Trail
Check out our Smokies page to see all of our favorite places in the park we love so much – best hikes, favorite campgrounds, biking Cades Cove, and more.
Happy Trails! I hope you get a chance to try some of these great restaurants in Townsend, TN and enjoy a lovely meal in the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.” – Amy
