Knoxville brewery/lunch/brunch recommendations

#1

BRTiger

Geaux Tigers!
Joined
Oct 18, 2017
Messages
120
Likes
54
#1
Hey VolNation, my wife and I are headed to Knoxville for a 4-night stay starting Labor Day weekend. We'll have our 6-month (by then) little man with us and are staying at an AirBnB in Old North Knoxville.

The main point of the trip is to see how we like Knoxville as a potential move from Baton Rouge, as this place isn't a good spot to raise a kid.

We'd love some recommendations on places to go with a 6-month old. Most of the breweries/taprooms around here are very kid-friendly, is that the case up there? It looks like 4 or 5 will be within walking distance of our stay. Crafty Bastard, Schultz Brau, Last Days of Autumn, Saw Works, and a few downtown look to all be pretty close by.

We're also looking for a good brunch spot on Sunday, again preferably close by to avoid having to take cabs, but we can always do that if necessary.

Any ideas on the best spot to watch the LSU game Saturday night? Our AirBnB host recommended Central Flats & Taps as a good spot close by, any thoughts on it?

Also looking for things to do besides eat and drink. The Ijams nature center was recommended, worth a stop?

Thanks all, looking forward to visiting, and then possibly moving.
 
#2
#2
Pretty hard to get a feel for all of Knoxville by confining yourself to downtown but if you have to do it for financial reasons that's understandable.
 
#3
#3
There’s some really nice parts of old North Knoxville, and some really bad parts. Get a good feel for the area before you take your kid on any walks with you.
 
#4
#4
Ijams is great for a quick hike, just keep in mind you will be carrying the baby. They have a couple of interesting rehab birds, some odd fish, and a few different turtles.

I love Knoxville, fantastic town if you like outdoor activities. You can hike, swim, kayak, ride, and climb within the city limits. Killer mountain biking town if you are into that sort of thing.

Since you will be near Ijams anyway, hit up South Coast Pizza and maybe (have to check on kid friendliness) Alliance Brewing. They are on the same street and Suttree Landing Park is right there as well. On the riverfront and they do have a playground, though not sure what a 6m old would be up for.

If I was moving, I would make it South Knox. Lots of enthusiasm and momentum there, but it is still rough around the edges in places. Your opinion might differ based on having a soon to be school age kid. Try to see the different areas of town as it differs greatly between North / South / East / West.

Take the kid to the zoo!
 
#5
#5
Definitely plan on seeing more than downtown and the immediate environs, other ideas are appreciated.
 
#6
#6
If I was moving, I would make it South Knox. Lots of enthusiasm and momentum there, but it is still rough around the edges in places. Your opinion might differ based on having a soon to be school age kid. Try to see the different areas of town as it differs greatly between North / South / East / West.

Take the kid to the zoo!

Schools will be a big factor in where we would eventually settle, but we are a few years off from that.
 
#7
#7
Do not walk Broadway from Central street to downtown. You may never come back. It is littered with trash and hundreds of homeless people. A discusting blight on our thriving and revitalized downtown.
 
#8
#8
Do not walk Broadway from Central street to downtown. You may never come back. It is littered with trash and hundreds of homeless people. A discusting blight on our thriving and revitalized downtown.

Good to know. Thanks!
 
#9
#9
Schools will be a big factor in where we would eventually settle, but we are a few years off from that.

You should at least consider West Knoxville, then. Farragut, Hardin Valley, Northshore, A.L. Lotts, Bearden, et al are all great public schools. There are multiple private options, as well: Webb, CAK, ESK, etc.

Farragut is probably the most expensive suburbia, but it's a clean, safe, friendly place to raise kids. It doesn't have the hip-ness of downtown or the new South Knox revival, though.
 
#10
#10
If schools matter visit west Knox while you're here. North Knox is not the place for that.

There are plenty of good things to do around North Knox and parts are nice, but it's not exactly a walk everywhere part of town.

Knoxville is a great place for a family. Karns is also a good option along with Hardin Valley, Farragut, Maryville and Oak Ridge.

Enjoy your stay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#11
#11
Hey VolNation, my wife and I are headed to Knoxville for a 4-night stay starting Labor Day weekend. We'll have our 6-month (by then) little man with us and are staying at an AirBnB in Old North Knoxville.

The main point of the trip is to see how we like Knoxville as a potential move from Baton Rouge, as this place isn't a good spot to raise a kid.

We'd love some recommendations on places to go with a 6-month old. Most of the breweries/taprooms around here are very kid-friendly, is that the case up there? It looks like 4 or 5 will be within walking distance of our stay. Crafty Bastard, Schultz Brau, Last Days of Autumn, Saw Works, and a few downtown look to all be pretty close by.

We're also looking for a good brunch spot on Sunday, again preferably close by to avoid having to take cabs, but we can always do that if necessary.

Any ideas on the best spot to watch the LSU game Saturday night? Our AirBnB host recommended Central Flats & Taps as a good spot close by, any thoughts on it?

Also looking for things to do besides eat and drink. The Ijams nature center was recommended, worth a stop?

Thanks all, looking forward to visiting, and then possibly moving.


Brunch: OliBea

The breweries are all kid friendly, and good. Enjoy them.

Ijams is worth it. Central Flats and Taps is a good place to catch the game. Also good: Fieldhouse Social
 
#12
#12
Sunday brunch:
Olibea
Tupelo Honey
Downtown Brewery
Crown and Goose
Copper Cellar

The LSU v Miami FL game is on 9-2-18 which is actually on Sunday night at 7:30p on ABC. You shouldn't have any trouble seeing that game pretty much anywhere you'd like to go. I've only heard good things about Central Flats and Taps. Also heard good things about Fieldhouse Social.

Take a visit to the iconic Sunsphere and the World's Fair Park immediately below it. The TN River boardwalk at Ijams is actually kind of neat(bug spray will be helpful).

You can do cabs, also Uber and Lyft but it'd be totally worth it to rent a car as you'd have more freedom to do what you want and you'll have to consider the rear facing car seat. TN Law requires rear-facing for age 1 and below.
 
#13
#13
Thanks all.

I feel like a **** LSU fan for not realizing the game was Sunday night, but yeah that makes the viewing options much greater since they will be the only big game on.

We'll actually be driving up from Baton Rouge so we'll have our car (with rear-facing car seat) for going places like Ijams or the zoo, but we'll likely take cabs a few places in the evening, obviously when the wife and I will both be drinking a few. It's illegal to take an Uber or Lyft with anyone under 1 year old, but not illegal for cabs. Not sure why, but that's the law.

I keep reading that West Knox is the better side of town for schools, so we'll be sure to drive through and check that area out as well. Ideally we'll be there a few years before he would start to give us more time to learn the area and pick a definite part of town in which to buy.

Public schools are important though, that's one of the main reasons we don't want to stay in Baton Rouge... second being the crime although it's mostly kept to one side of town. The suburbs here have decent schools but the traffic is terrible, plus we both just feel like a change of pace would be exciting and beneficial.
 
#20
#20
French market on Clinch Avenue.
Curious Dog, SweetPeas and love shack in the Old City.
Don’t miss Bistro at the Bijou on Gay st.
Schulz Brau has a great outdoor space. I usually see kids there.
If walking from North Knoxville to downtown... just avoid Broadway and come up Gay St. you’ll go past Crafty Bastard brewing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#21
#21
if you're coming from an area rife with crime, West Knoxville will blow your mind. Cops can routinely designate 2 cars for a traffic violation. Coming from Memphis, it still blows my mind. There just isn't much violent crime here, and I love it. I remember my freshman year riding with people who never locked their car doors. Couldn't believe it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#22
#22
if you're coming from an area rife with crime, West Knoxville will blow your mind. Cops can routinely designate 2 cars for a traffic violation. Coming from Memphis, it still blows my mind. There just isn't much violent crime here, and I love it. I remember my freshman year riding with people who never locked their car doors. Couldn't believe it.

Baton Rouge and New Orleans are two of the worst cities in the country as far as crime... but in Baton Rouge at least it's for the most part contained to half the city and easy to avoid.
 
#23
#23
I hit Maple Street Biscuit Company for the first time Saturday...I just about dipped my balls in that sausage gravy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#24
#24
I live in that area and it's great and really starting to pop up. All the breweries around where you're staying are very kid/dog-friendly **although most rely on food trucks so you're not guaranteed food at all hours** I really like Crafty Bastard, Schultz Brau, and Last Days of Autumn //PSA: Sawworks shut down.

Flats and Taps would be a good spot walking distance-wise for food/drinks/sports for the LSU game. If it's not already on just ask for them to put it on and they should oblige.

Use Uber/lyft; not cabs. You can get around REALLY cheap(~$5-8). I really enjoy Downtown Grill and Brewery's Sunday Jazz Brunch, Petes, and Olibea's are also good.

Ijams is fun, walking around Dtown/market square is nice (rooftop bar at Preservation Pub is fun/free during the day). There are also some nice parks around but not many that are walking distance to Old N Knox.

I see a lot of young families moving into the area but definitely do your research on schools.
 
#25
#25
Thanks all.

I feel like a **** LSU fan for not realizing the game was Sunday night, but yeah that makes the viewing options much greater since they will be the only big game on.

We'll actually be driving up from Baton Rouge so we'll have our car (with rear-facing car seat) for going places like Ijams or the zoo, but we'll likely take cabs a few places in the evening, obviously when the wife and I will both be drinking a few. It's illegal to take an Uber or Lyft with anyone under 1 year old, but not illegal for cabs. Not sure why, but that's the law.

I keep reading that West Knox is the better side of town for schools, so we'll be sure to drive through and check that area out as well. Ideally we'll be there a few years before he would start to give us more time to learn the area and pick a definite part of town in which to buy.

Public schools are important though, that's one of the main reasons we don't want to stay in Baton Rouge... second being the crime although it's mostly kept to one side of town. The suburbs here have decent schools but the traffic is terrible, plus we both just feel like a change of pace would be exciting and beneficial.

Traffic in K-town isn't one of the better perks to highlight though.
 

VN Store



Back
Top