Local Favorites. Where do the Locals Go in Gatlinburg?
We hear this question quite a bit! Where to the locals like to go? If the locals hang out, then it must be good right?
There are some local hangouts we can write about easily, because we hang out at them!
Restaurants in Gatlinburg the Local’s love.
Three Jimmy’s Local Goodtime Eatery
Three Jimmy’s is a scratch kitchen, locally owned and operated and loved by the locals. They are known for their friendly cold beers, their afternoon entertainment from 4 – 7 pm Wednesdays – Saturdays, and their delicious menu items. Friends hang out and bring their friends and family to meet one another at Three Jimmy’s because it is that kind of place. Enjoy the outdoor patio — if you have a pet you bring with you, the outdoor patio is your spot! https://www.threejimmys.com
Smoky Mountain Brewery
Located just off the parkway in Gatlinburg, behind the Calhoun’s is the Smoky Mountain Brewery. Local entertainment and delicious pizza and local brews draw the locals back over and over again. Do some dancing, hear some live music, enjoy the pizza and more at Smoky Mountain Brewery.
The Donut Friar
A local fan favorite, you can smell the coffee brewing and the donuts baking about 5:00 am in downtown Gatlinburg. For 50 years now people have flocked to The Donut Friar for the best donuts you an imagine. You can park on the street in those early hours so early birds will often do so, pick up their favorite morning delight and keep on their way. Find the Donut Friar behind the Pancake Pantry in The Village Shops of Gatlinburg.
The Best Italian
You will hear it again and again almost no matter who you ask, where is the best Italian restaurant in Gatlinburg and you will hear The Best! No they are not asking you to clarify, that is the name of the restaurant, The Best Italian. The New York style pizza, the calzones and every meal is a true delight. The Best Italian original restaurant, which is our favorite, is located in the Elk’s Plaza on the strip in Gatlinburg. Enjoy!
When it comes to grocery shopping the choice in town is Food City on highway 321 East. Most of us shop at the Food City if we are shopping in Gatlinburg, you could travel to Pigeon Forge, however, the Food City is very nice and offers enough selection for anything you may want. They have an excellent deli with hot selections also. For reasonable meals at your cabin or condo, the Food City Deli is an excellent choice. There is a Family Dollar Store that has the basic items you may need such as cereal and milk and items, it is also located on Hwy. 321 East in front of Three Jimmy’s.
Shopping can mean a variety of things of course. It depends on what you are shopping for. The locals will tell you The Village Shops are often as nice as they seem. They have quality items and that area is considered the core of what Gatlinburg is all about as a gateway mountain community. Most locals don’t souvenir shop, but when their guests come to town, where do they go? Most locals enjoy an occasional trip through downtown Gatlinburg. The people watching alone will offer much entertainment and you will find a wide variety of everything you can imagine as a souvenir.
The Arts and Crafts Community remains a Local’s Favorite area for shopping due to the fact that the shops are owned by other locals who are friends and family. People in the community always work to support the local business owner so when it is time for a unique gift the Arts and Crafts Community provides a great resource for hand made and wonderful items.
We hope these ideas of some of the Local Hangouts help you plan where you might want to go. Of course, there are more locations, however, these are tried and true and we bet you meet a local when you visit.