5 Best Coffee Shops in Downtown, Knoxville TN
Updated 11 October 2026 · 12 cafes in Downtown, Knoxville TN considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide ranks Downtown Knoxville coffee shops from Google's coffee shop category, ordered by weighted rating so that scores backed by more reviews count for more. Twelve qualifying businesses were considered, and the five highest scoring are listed here. Each entry includes the listed hours, address, and attributes from Google, along with a summary of what reviewers mention about drinks, seating, and service. Some shops suit a quick order to go, while others are better for sitting down with a laptop, so check the notes for each one.
#1
K Brew
★ 4.7 (1,203 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
K Brew is listed as a coffee shop at 1138 N Broadway, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 1,203 reviews and a listed price range of $1 to $10. It is open most days from 7 am to 6 pm, and from 8 am on Sundays. Attributes include outdoor seating, takeaway, dine-in, a laptop-friendly setting, and gender-neutral toilets. Reviewers mention a good place to study, consistent bagels and pastries, a honey latte that one reviewer ranked above other shops, and seasonal lattes. Staff are described as kind and quick.
Best for: Study sessions and specialty lattes
- Address
- 1138 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–6 pm; Mon 7 am–6 pm; Sat 7 am–6 pm; Sun 8 am–6 pm; Thu 7 am–6 pm; Tue 7 am–6 pm; Wed 7 am–6 pm
#2
Coffee and Chocolate - Downtown
★ 4.7 (717 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Coffee and Chocolate Downtown is listed as a coffee shop at 327 Union Ave, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 717 reviews. It is listed as open daily from 7 am to 10 pm. Attributes include wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet. Reviewers mention a rich hot chocolate, a smooth Americano, a spiced mocha, and a pistachio latte. Some say prices are higher than nearby shops but worth it, and that the place gets busy on farmers market days, with seating both indoors and outdoors.
Best for: Late-hours coffee and hot chocolate
- Address
- 327 Union Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States
- Hours
- daily 7 am–10 pm
#3
Old City Java
★ 4.7 (579 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Old City Java is listed as a coffee shop at 109 S Central St, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 579 reviews. Hours run from 7 am to 6 pm on most days, with 8 am openings on Saturdays and Sundays. Its listed attributes are wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, and toilet. Reviewers mention painted ceilings and morning sunlight, a pour over with a bold, fresh taste, a latte with caramel, seasonal drinks, and a pumpkin loaf. One reviewer found a cappuccino over-roasted.
Best for: Pour overs in a historic setting
- Address
- 109 S Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–6 pm; Mon 7 am–6 pm; Sat 8 am–6 pm; Sun 8 am–6 pm; Thu 7 am–6 pm; Tue 7 am–6 pm; Wed 7 am–6 pm
#4
Awaken Coffee
★ 4.7 (519 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Awaken Coffee is listed as a coffee shop at 125 W Jackson Ave, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 519 reviews and a listed price range of $1 to $10. Hours are 7:30 am to 7 pm on most days, with Saturday from 8 am and Sunday from 1 to 6 pm. Attributes include delivery, takeaway, dine-in, breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a quiet, cozy feel. Reviewers mention plenty of seating, a quiet space for work, a rotating selection of seasonal lattes, and an Americano at a reasonable price. Some report slower service at busy times.
Best for: Quiet work sessions and seasonal lattes
- Address
- 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7:30 am–7 pm; Mon 7:30 am–7 pm; Sat 8 am–7 pm; Sun 1–6 pm; Thu 7:30 am–7 pm; Tue 7:30 am–7 pm; Wed 7:30 am–7 pm
#5
Seed Coffee Co
★ 4.8 (174 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Seed Coffee Co is listed as a coffee shop at 2558 Sutherland Ave, with a Google rating of 4.8 from 174 reviews. It is open weekdays from 7 am to 5 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 3 pm, and on Mondays until 1 pm. Attributes include wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet. Reviewers mention a bagel, scones, a drink that one called among their favorites, and a cozy interior with plenty of seating. Some say the spot is tucked away and suits studying or meeting friends, though parking can be hard when it is busy.
Best for: Cozy meetups and bagels
- Address
- 2558 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37919, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–5 pm; Mon 7 am–1 pm; Sat 8 am–3 pm; Sun 8 am–3 pm; Thu 7 am–5 pm; Tue 7 am–5 pm; Wed 7 am–5 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 12 cafes in Downtown, Knoxville TN with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then Google category “Coffee shop”, ranked by weighted rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 11 October 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- For an early start, K Brew opens at 7 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?
K Brew ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 1,203 reviews. Coffee and Chocolate - Downtown is second at 4.7 from 717 reviews.
Which cafes in Downtown, Knoxville TN are open late?
None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is Coffee and Chocolate - Downtown, at 10 pm.
How much does it cost at these cafes?
Google lists these price ranges per person: K Brew $1–10; Old City Java $1–10; Awaken Coffee $1–10. The others do not list a price range.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for K Brew, Old City Java and Awaken Coffee.
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