Where To Drink In Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Written By: The Gnarly Gnome
Photography By: The Gnarly Gnome

Gatlinburg is a complicated city – not because it isn’t amazing (because it is). Much like some other “touristy” places, though, it’s easy to overlook what really makes the drinking culture of a place like this work – and get lost in that “touristy-ness”. Hopefully, I can give you a glimpse into the other side of Gatlinburg and help you find your drink through the noise. This is far from a complete list… I don’t get down to Gatlinburg nearly enough (and never without kids and wife in tow) to really dive as deeply as I would like to… so don’t stay to my path – forge your own!

With that said… every time I DO get to visit… I’m working on this list to make it even more comprehensive. With that, if you discover a place that I didn’t tell you about, that you think I need to know about – leave a comment!

Cliff Top Bar and Grill – At Anakeesta

This one is a bit expensive for just grabbing a drink, because it’s part of Anakeesta, which requires a ticket to access. Once you board the ski lift and make your way to the top of the mountain, you can find the Cliff Top Bar and Grill. While Cliff Top isn’t the only place up there to grab a drink, the view makes it the absolute best. The deck overlooks Gatlinburg and the mountains, providing an incredible view while you grab lunch and a beer or a cocktail.

This one is 100% worth it just for the warm sunshine and the view. Spectacular.

  • Location
    • 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg
  • Website

Gatlinburg Brewing Company

Right in the heart of Gatlinburg sits a small craft brewery called (no surprise) the Gatlinburg Brewing Company. The brewery has evidently been around for quite some time, but the taproom itself is a fairly recent addition to the city. They’ve got food, pizzas and things that can be cooked in a pizza oven… but the beer is why I think you should stop.

The tap list surprised me with the variety. The gamut ranged from a tasty, trendy NE IPA which sat right next to a Belgian witbier and a dry Irish stout.

The brewery’s space is in a really cool round building that overlooks the Main Street running through town – providing a nice quiet space to grab a beer and watch as people rush about below you: shopping, and doing whatever it is people do when they aren’t drinking.

Loco Burro

I don’t know how this spot slipped past me for as long as it did, but Loco Burro is amazing. Not only is it a wonderful spot to snag a big margarita (and take a break from walking). It’s also got a killer rooftop bar (good for people watching), and inside the restaurant is a flippin’ mechanical donkey. It adds a fun aspect to grabbing a drink, making it a spot you want to hang out in for much longer than some of the other bars around it. It’s hard to stand out in a town like Gatlinburg, and Loco Burro NAILS it.

  • Location
    • 735 Parkway #1, Gatlinburg
  • Website

The Mountain Edge Grill (And Taproom)

I love this bar for its old school Gatlinburg vibe. There are few and far places like this still around in downtown Gatlinburg – it’s what I remember the town being like when I was a kid. Designed to look like a ski-lodge, it’s just a tad cheesy, but they have a nice beer list and space that is nostalgic and certainly worth a stop when you need a break. Their kitchen is known for the bison burgers, but they have a really great selection of burgers, salads and traditional American fare.

  • Location
    • 631 Parkway, Suite b4 (In Baskin’s Square)
  • Website

The Smoky Mountain Brewery

This is the OG. Gatlinburg’s first craft brewery, which opened its doors in 1996. There are a lot of things that are fun about this spot, or spots (they have multiple taprooms around the area). First and foremost, I get hit with nostalgia. This is something I crave when visiting Gatlinburg: a sense of the past. The Smoky Mountain Brewery feels like a brewpub, the kind that ignited my love for craft beer while I was in college. With great prices (a rarity in town), three-hour free parking while you’re visiting (another rarity), and some really delicious pizza… It’s a no-brainer, even if you’re not a huge beer fan.

  • Locations:
    • 1004 Parkway, Gatlinburg
    • 2530 Parkway, Pigeon Forge
    • 743 Watkins Rd, Maryville, TN
    • 11308 Parkside Dr, Turkey Creek TN
  • Website

Smoky Mountain Winery

If you’re looking for wine while you’re in Gatlinburg, I think it’s hard to go wrong with the Smoky Mountain Winery. The winery has been in town for nearly forever (actually since 1981) and it holds that great nostalgic feeling that I love about “old school Gatlinburg” extremely well. They have a small tasting room and gift shop, so you can sample a few bottles before you stock up on what you want to take with you.

  • Location
    • 450 Cherry St
  • Website (it’s a pretty bad website… just a heads up)

Sugarlands Distillery

Moonshine is the not-so-hidden gem of Gatlinburg’s drinking culture. There is something about Moonshine in this city that is unlike what I’ve seen in any other place that I’ve been to, even though there is moonshine almost everywhere, now. In my opinion, you can’t find better moonshine in town than you’ll find at Sugarlands – and the bar out behind the distillery is a great place to hang out and drink a cocktail or two while taking a break from the craziness out front.

The tasting experience of Sugarlands isn’t all that different than you’ll find at any one of the moonshine places in town. For around five bucks you get to work your way through a tasting flight of a bunch of different flavored moonshines – and I think it’s safe to say that regardless of your taste preferences, you’ll find something that you enjoy.

Tennessee Cider Co.

We stumbled upon this place during our day there, and while we quickly figured out that it’s a little different than you might expect a “cidery” to be – you can’t just get a pint of cider – you can buy a bottle to go, and they’ll give you glassware so you can hang out in the back tasting area and drink with your friends. It makes my list because I genuinely enjoyed the cider that they were making… it also doesn’t hurt that you could get some free samples before you picked what you wanted to drink.

Tom And Earl’s Back Alley Grill

There is a lot of ‘Tourist’ personality to Gatlinburg. That isn’t a bad thing, but it can get taxing sometimes. THIS is the spot that you can go if you need a break from that feeling. Tom and Earl’s would be a great neighborhood bar if it was located in your hometown – and if you’re visiting Gatlinburg it becomes an absolute treasure. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the mood for a cocktail, or a great craft beer (or even a cold glass of one of the macro breweries) they have you covered. That doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what they provide, either… the menu? Everything that I’ve tried (or stolen from my wife’s plate) has been phenomenal. Check it out for yourself!

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