Eating and drinking
Our recommendations for restaurants, cafés, and bars in the Gatlinburg area
There is no lack of good food available in Gatlinburg. These, however, are a few of our favorite spots that we keep returning to.
See all of our recommendations in our guide for Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains!
Restaurants
Wild Plum Tea Room
Located in the historic Arts and Crafts Community, and inspired by Austrian-style tea houses, this is our favorite place to have lunch in Gatlinburg (despite its name, it is primarily a lunch restaurant). Note that reservations are required at least one day in advance (read more on their website for how to reserve) and that they don't have the capacity for very large groups.
Address: 555 Buckhorn Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-3808
Web: https://www.wildplumtearoom.com/
Delauder's BBQ
The best BBQ in Gatlinburg can be found on the East Parkway at Delauder’s BBQ. Note that they keep quite irregular hours and may close early – it depends on whether they have anything left to sell! You can always try calling them first.
Address: 1875 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 325-8682
Smoky Mountain Trout House
Even if you are not an angler yourself and can catch your own in the mountain streams, you can still sample the local fish. Recommended if you would like to try out all the ways that local trout can be prepared!
Address: 410 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-5416
Web: https://www.trouthousegatlinburg.com/
Three Jimmy's Good Time Eatery
We always have a good time for dinner at Three Jimmy's! Can be on the somewhat more rowdy side, but with a very friendly atmosphere. BBQ, comfort food, pizza, sandwiches.
Address: 1359 East Pkwy #F, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 325-1210
Web: https://threejimmys.com/
Ski Mountain Pizza
Our favorite pizza place in Gatlinburg and perfectly located if you're driving to or from Ober Gatlinburg. Ski Mountain Pizza makes very good New York-style pizza with cozy seating (and a pretty good chance to spot a bear).
Address: 631 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 325-1512
Web: http://skimountainpizza.com/
Breakfast (and lunch)
Trish's Mountain Diner
Our favorite classic mountain diner for breakfast and lunch with very friendly staff.
Address: 3619 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 325-8093
Web: https://www.facebook.com/TrishsMountainDiner/
Pancake Pantry
The original pancake house experience in Gatlinburg. In high season and on weekends, there can be a line later in the morning – so if you don't like waiting, get there early.
Note that they only take cash.
Address: 628 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-4724
Web: http://pancakepantry.com/
Little House of Pancakes
If you want a more convenient option than the Pancake Pantry with parking and no standing in line, this is our second pick for pancakes – right on the East Parkway and with delicious pancake offerings.
Address: 807 East Pkwy, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-8784
Catering and personal chefs
Although we think that cooking together is one of the best parts of getting together in a large cabin in the Smokies, sometimes you just want to focus on enjoying the company of everyone and sit back and relax and enjoy your meal when it’s ready. Having a chef come to your cabin and prepare everything can be a very worthwhile investment.
Our recommendation is Chef Ray, with a New Orleans Cajun background and well versed in a variety of styles – several of our guests have employed his services and have been very happy with the experience:
- Fruitful Vintage Personal Chef – Chef Ray
http://www.fruitfulvintagechef.com
(865) 774-0251
For catering, our recommendation is Miss Lily's Cafe (who also run The Lily Barn wedding venue in Townsend):
- Miss Lily's Cafe
https://www.lilybarn.com/wedding-event-catering/
(865) 448-9895
Moonshine, whiskey, and more
Although no longer the illegal variety, Gatlinburg carries on its moonshine traditions with many distilleries in the area, which have also been joined by several wineries, breweries, and recently a cider maker. Many of them have outlets in downtown Gatlinburg where you can do free tastings or pay for more substantial tasting glasses, normally for $5.
In downtown Gatlinburg, on the Parkway, you will find quite a few producers represented:
Moonshine
Wine
- Elkmont Winery
- Goodwater Winery
- Sugarland Cellars
- Little Bear Winery
- Tennessee Homemade Wines
- Bootleggers Homemade Wine
- Gatlinburg Wine Cellar
Beer and cider
Moonshine walking tours
Although you can certainly make your own way around, many appreciate following a guided moonshine tour to get a bit more context to their distillery visits. While we have not tried it ourselves, we hear particularly good things about Smoky Tours' walking tour in Gatlinburg.