3 of the Best Hidden Gem Restaurants in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains is filled with wonderful places to dine with everything from chain restaurants to local spots. As everyone knows trying to choose a place to eat can be a difficult task, especially when travelling with others. We wanted to not only give you a headstart on deciding where to eat but also share with you a few of the best gems in town!
Old Dad’s General Store
The first hidden gem restaurant that we want to share with you is one that is actually hidden in plain sight along the strip in downtown Gatlinburg. This old fashioned general store is the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd on the street. You can’t go wrong with choosing to make Old Dad’s General Store your breakfast, lunch or even dinner spot. You won’t find a wifi password on the wall or the latest game on tv, but you will find plenty of friendliness and delicious food! They serve up many of the south’s favorite foods with small town charm tossed in. The best part of a stop at this spot? Roaming the aisles and finding yourself lost in a world of nostalgia. The next time you’re in town, swing by for lunch and leave with a bag of childhood memories!
Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill
Tucked away in The Marketplace area of downtown Gatlinburg is one of the best watering holes in the Smokies. Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill is a great spot for catching your favorite sports even or just relaxing outside as you spend time with friends and family. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner as well as drinks, dessert and more. Tom & Earl’s is family friendly and often receives excellent reviews of both their southern hospitality and fantastic foods. The next time you’re in Gatlinburg stop in and see them! The only complaint you’ll have will be when you get back home and start craving more!
Wild Plum Tea Room
The Wild Plum Tea Room sits nestled away in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community and is one of the most highly rated lunch spots in the state. This little tea room was established with the tea houses of Austria in mind. Built as a place of hospitality the hope was that people would gather for lunch and share stories of their day or just chat the afternoon away, the idea has clearly worked because it has been one of the most loved restaurants in Gatlinburg for decades. Due to it being adored so greatly, they do require you to make reservations at least 48 hours in advance and even then you may have to wait a bit for your table. This isn’t due to lack of service on their part, but instead because of the high level of quality service that they strive to provide their guests. While staying at The Appy, you can arrive at the Wild Plum Tea Room within less than 15 minutes if you take the Dudley Creek Road route next to the hotel and skip the downtown traffic. Have breakfast with us, spend the morning by the pool, head over to the tea room for an amazing lunch and then explore the arts and crafts community!
Can’t get enough hidden gems? Check out these unique places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Where To Stay
We would love to have you as our guest at The Appy Lodge in Gatlinburg! Our hotel was created to pay homage to America’s most loved footpath, The Appalachian Trail. During your time with us you will find that our hallways tell the story of the AT, our rooms are luxurious as well as rustic and cozy. We offer a free complimentary breakfast every morning and free cookies in the afternoon. You’ll enjoy taking a dip in our indoor pool and hot tub or enjoying the waterslide and waterfall in our outdoor pool. Relax by our fire pits in the evening or book a room with a balcony and your enjoy time privately. Guests receive a free parking pass for downtown upon request and also have access to a trolley stop on our property. With our location being next to the Gatlinburg Spur, you will have easy access to not only Gatlinburg and the Smokies but also to all of the wonderful attractions in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville!
Browse our guest rooms and start planning your next vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains!
