The South Knoxville Restaurant Scene Is As Good As The Mountain Biking Here
After some fun exploring Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness whether on bike or foot, our minds always turn to food. Fortunately, you have plenty of excellent food options nearby.
And if you’re looking for an Asheville-like hipster cool brewery scene, you’ll find it here too with a growing craft beer scene near South Knoxville’s riverfront parks.
Even if you haven’t been hitting the trails, these South Knoxville eateries are worth checking out. They are family-friendly places that are our kids love.
If you’re wondering where to eat near Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness (see our guide to adventure here), you’ll find most of the food action on Sevier Avenue near Suttree Landing Park on the South Knox riverfront. (See why we love Suttree Landing Park)
But you’ll also find a few other worthy places sprinkled around South Knoxville as well as new eateries like Kern’s Food Hall which have recently opened.
Where To Eat Near Knoxville’s South Riverfront
Sevier Avenue Restaurants and Breweries Near Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
Close to the Tennessee River and just 5 minutes from both Baker Creek Preserve parking lot and Ijams Nature Center, you’ll find a number of eateries and breweries in the up and coming area along Sevier Avenue.
It’s got an Asheville South Slope vibe and it’s a surprisingly refreshing addition to the Knoxville food scene.
Earl’s
Brand new to the neighborhood, Earl’s has just opened across from Suttree Landing Park. With outdoor dining, handcrafted cocktails, and a menu with pizza, gourmet smashburgers, and breakfast burritos (until 10:30am), adventurers will easily refuel here.
South Coast Pizza
You can’t go wrong at South Coast Pizza for some of the best pizza in town. With community-style picnic tables and Nintendo game stations for the kids (and adults), this is a fun place to dine.
Tip: We usually order our pizza to go, collect paper plates and napkins (provided), and go to nearby HiWire Brewing where the kids enjoy ping pong, soccer billiards, and foosball.
Sevier Avenue Burger
Sevier Avenue Burger is another smash burger joint with rave reviews- good happy hour specials with local craft beers and signature cocktails. Sunday is fun day with brunch and 1/2 price bellinis, mimosas, espresso martinis from 11-2pm.
Hi-Wire Brewing
Founded in Asheville, Hi-Wire Brewing replicates its cool, laid-back community vibe just fine in SoKnox. Leave your ID at the bar for free foosball, ping pong, and soccer billiards (this you have to see- it is like pool but with soccer balls and a much larger floor level table).
Their selfie-camera machine rounds out the fun. We’ve had some great photos of our tweener girls taken here, where the timed photo shoot is then emailed to you.
Hi-Wire reflects the community feel of the area, and you’ll see lots of families gathered here with friends on the weekends. Keep in mind that there is no food service, but a food truck is often present and South Coast Pizza is just a couple of blocks away.
Other food trucks are often found at SouthSide Garage and Alliance Brewing so you will find a surprising amount of choices within walking distance.
Parking- You can park in the lots on either side of the brewery or the school across the street on weekends.
Hi-Wire Brewing 
Foosball and ping pong at Hi-Wire
SouthSide Garage
A bar on Sevier Avenue near Hi-Wire Brewing, SouthSide Garage offers a large selection of local craft beers, a southwestern-style food truck, and a family-friendly space complete with large patios and patio games.
Be sure to check their website calendar for the food truck schedule.
It is family-friendly and they often have games on the big screen TVs in what used to be the work bays of this former mechanics shop.
So grab a beer, then pop out back to play a game of giant Connect-4 or play a round on their outdoor bocce court. It is a great way to end a hike or bike ride in the area.
Alliance Brewing
Just a couple of blocks from HiWire Brewing, family-friendly Alliance Brewing is also worth a stop for a cold beer. It offers ample seating inside or outside on the patio and often has food trucks. You can also take a “crowler” to go to enjoy at home.
Angry Dumpling
Relatively new to the south riverfront dining scene, Angry Dumpling offers a variety of dumplings, as well as a Taiwanese beef braised noodles. The seating area is quite small, so consider grabbing some tasty dumplings and taking it across the street to Alliance.
Trailhead Beer Market
With a great outdoor patio, you’ll find all members of the family (adults, kids, and pups) gathering at the laidback Trailhead Beer Market on Island Home Ave. Regional craft beers, rotating food trucks, and special events like “Singo” (Bingo but with songs) and Trivia Night add to the fun.
Honeybee Coffee
Get your caffeine fix with a side of character and charm in this cozy coffee shop located at 700 Sevier Ave. Honeybee Coffee began in a trailer serving coffee downtown and at events before expanding to two coffee shops now located in West Knoxville and South Knoxville.
In addition to coffee, they offer beer as well as pastries and cookies. Though limited, parking can be found at the back of the building.
Kern’s Food Hall
Although not located on Sevier Ave, Kern’s Food Hall is located less than a mile away on Chapman Highway where the former Kern’s Bakery once stood. Brand new to the food scene and a highly anticipated arrival, Kern’s Food Hall features over 20 restaurants, bars, stores and amenities.
You’ll find something for everyone here with a variety of cuisines- sushi, tacos, pizza, burgers, bba, coffee shops, and more. You can also grab drinks on the rooftop patio for skyline views of downtown Knoxville.
Not sure what we are talking about when we mention the Urban Wilderness? See our Guide To Exploring Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.
Restaurants Nearest To Baker Creek Preserve Mountain Bike Trails
All of the restaurants along Sevier Avenue are reasonably close to Baker Creek Preserve, one of the parks that make up the Urban Wilderness.
But if you’re looking for a place to eat that’s the absolute closest to Baker Creek Preserve’s mountain bike trails, then look no further than SoKno Taco and 71 South.
SoKno Taco
SoKno Taco is one of the closest restaurants (1/4 mile) to the bike trails at Baker Creek Preserve. Residing in a refurbished building with concrete floors and local artwork, this neighborhood restaurant has a friendly, cool vibe along with really good street-style tacos, an expansive beer list, and even a kids menu.
And to make this place even better, you can also enjoy your taco at one of their outside tables.
Our favorite thing about SoKno Taco is that its atmosphere is very community-oriented with families and mountain bikers congregating together at the large tables.
It’s also equally convenient to Ijams Nature Center and Mead’s Quarry which are located just 5 minutes away.
71 South
71 South is literally at the base of the trails at Baker Creek Preserve and housed in the renovated space of the old church. Open 7 days a week for brunch, lunch, or dinner and offers a full-service bar.
It’s a bright and airy space, and you can’t beat its location to the trails. Also has a kids menu. It is a bit more upscale than SoKno Taco but the smash burgers and the black bean burger we tried were very tasty.
Restaurants Closest to Ijam’s Nature Center
All of the above restaurants will be close to Ijams Nature Center, but the absolute closest is the YeeHaw Brewery Beer Wagon at Mead’s Quarry (seasonal).
If you just want a snack and a cold beverage after an afternoon on the trails or paddling the lake at Mead’s Quarry, you can find the Yee-Haw trailer next to the parking lot at Mead’s Quarry during the warmer months.
It has a small selection of snacks such as chips and granola bars as well as non-alcoholic drinks like Gatorade to go along with their excellent beer. You will find a few picnic tables around to enjoy your refreshments along with a view of Mead’s Quarry.
Downtown Knoxville Restaurants
And of course, you’ll find an abundance of eating options across the river in downtown Knoxville, just about a 12 minute drive from the Urban Wilderness in South Knoxville. Parking in the city’s downtown garages is easy and free on weekends and after 6pm on weekdays.
If you decide to go downtown, check out our parking tips and downtown Knoxville favorite places to eat.
Happy Trails! Hope you get the opportunity to refuel from your adventures at one of these fantastic South Knoxville restaurants near Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. It’s a growing food scene in South Knoxville, and we are so excited to see it evolve! – Amy
