Unless you're lucky enough to hail from the great city of Knoxville or from somewhere nearby, there are several places around that you may not know about. Knoxville is home to a lot of undercover gems, whether you're looking for a new restaurant, boutique or just a cool place to hang out. Here's some places you should visit next weekend (or sooner if you want to beat the mid-week blues).
1. The Knoxville Pearl
Commonly referred to as the "Cereal Bar," The Pearl is the closest thing to Heaven that I know of. It's exactly what it sounds like: a cereal buffet. It's fairly cheap, too. You pay a small price and eat as many bowls of cereal as you want (or can). They also have bubble tea, which is different, but definitely worth a try. It's located in the Old City, and the location itself is small but very unique. It's got vintage TV sets, couches to lounge on, and tons of board games to play. Where else can you go and get all-you-can-eat cereal and play Scrabble?
2. Old City Java
Old City Java is another little place also located in the Old City. It's a quiet coffee shop that's great for studying. The inside is vintage-looking, and right outside, there's some awesome graffiti on the walls. Their coffee and baked goods are incredible, and the atmosphere is always laid-back and relaxing. This is the perfect place to come when you need a break from Hodges.
3. The Farmer's Market
Every Saturday, Market Square turns into a bustling Farmer's Market for six or seven hours. The vendors start setting up around 8 a.m. and start taking down their tents at 2 p.m. There's a wide variety of items, from homemade soaps and jewelry to produce and cookies. You can walk around and enjoy the market and then grab breakfast or lunch at one of the many restaurants that the Square has to offer. You'll want to go soon, though; the Farmer's Market only lasts until the end of November before winter hits full force.
4. Naples Italian Restaurant
Naples is a great place to go for a nice dinner. It's been voted Best Restaurant in Knoxville for several years in a row. While it's not cheap, it's definitely worth the money; just make sure you have a good reason to go. And when you do, especially if it's a date, ask about the Wine Cellar. It's a little section of the restaurant that's curtained off and filled with empty bottles of wine with handwritten notes from guests stuffed inside. It's different and unique to the restaurant. And their Chocolate Chip Canoli is to die for.
5. Nothing Too Fancy
Nothing Too Fancy is a small boutique on Union Avenue (a block over from Market Square) that sells mainly t-shirts and posters, but has a variety of all different items. A lot of their stuff is very vintage-looking, and all the clothes they sell are unique to Knoxville. Nothing Too Fancy also has cool posters for sale and lots of handy knick-knacks, like phone cases and stylish flasks. Make sure you stop in and take a look at some of their stuff!
