Welcome to Gatlinburg’s premier nightlife guide.
On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Gatlinburg. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid-back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.
Enjoy!
Amidst the hot summer air and tiring routines, if you desire a refreshing weekend getaway with your friends and family, Gatlinburg, TN, proves to be a perfect choice. This city is known for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the U.S. Route 441 connecting to Cherokee (North Carolina). In addition, Gatlinburg is popularly known for its rich culture, natural heritage, mouth-watering food, famous drinks, and mind-blowing theme parks. In fact, after enjoying the daytime natural sightseeing and adventure parks, you can explore the nightlife fun at numerous Gatlinburg breweries, nightclubs, and theaters. For a small resort town, Gatlinburg has a great nightlife that competes with the lavish and extravagant bars of the big cities. It also has a great mix of places suitable for a hangout with family, friends, children, and elders.
Starting from what you can do when the sun sets down on the smokies, here are some of the best choices for Gatlinburg nightlife.
Best Bars, Restaurants, and Clubs:
Gatlinburg offers places where you can drink, show some moves, and relish delicious food. The best part of Gatlinburg bars and restaurants is that they provide memorable nightlife. Here are a few of the must-visit bars, restaurants, and clubs in Gatlinburg :
- Blaine’s Grill and Bar:
It is known for its best dining and entertainment experience. This bar is not only famous for its great ambiance, convenient location, and tasty All-American food but also for an eye-blazing dine-out balcony that overlooks the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. Situated on the 812 Parkway Suite 105, Blaine’s Grill and Bar offers a wide range of casual dining and provides appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. Even if you are looking for a gluten-free menu, Blaine’s Grill and Bar is a place where you will not be disappointed. But, of course, do not forget to check out the dance club situated on the upper floor.
- Club 812:
Situated on the third floor above Blaine’s, Club 812 is famous for its professional DJ setting, large dance floors, cool drinks, and a fantastic crowd. It is a perfect place for ages 21 and above and opens from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. on weekends.
- Puckers Sports Grill:
Puckers Club is a home for the ‘World Famous 5lb burger Gatlinburger’, wings with homemade sauces, and sandwiches with freshly made buns! It is a casual bar that opens from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m daily. You can also enjoy live music from 9 p.m. to vibe with your nightly entertainment. One of the other best parts of this bar? You can enjoy Great Happy Hour Specials, Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials while spending some fun time with friends. You can also sing the night away with Karaoke or play Dartboard bets and pool.
- Hog’s Upstairs Tavern:
This bar is known for its award-winning and great customer-reviewed barbecue wings. Hog’s Upstairs Tavern is one of the only places in Gatlinburg that offers indoor smoking. It is a popular sports bar by day and turns into a lively saloon at night where you can enjoy chilled beet by the balcony. You can check out a game of pool or darts with friends and enjoy the locals taking on an entertaining night further. This frisky bar also features daily specials and hosts karaoke every Thursday night.
- Ole Red Gatlinburg:
Situated at 511 Parkway in the Old Planet Hollywood, Ole Red is a complete family entertainment venue that offers excellent food, cold drinks, and the best country music stage outside Nashville. This restaurant is inspired by country music superstar Blake Shelton and has a complete bar setting with customized cocktails. And offers live music from famous local performers every night along with a dance floor.
- Smoky Mountain Brewery:
This is a locally managed and one of the most popular craft breweries in East Tennessee. This bar offers entertaining live music every night. Even with a micro setup, it promises a perfect get-together that lets you enjoy time with your friends and family. It also serves famous and varied craft beers like Mountain Light, VelasHelas, Cherokee Red Ale, Black Bear Ale, Windy Gap Wheat Beer, Appalachian Pale Ale, and other seasonal brews. Smoky Mountain Brewery also satisfies its customers’ taste buds by offering USDA choice and prime graded beef, seafood, house sauces, and fresh dressings to add the extra flavor. In addition to being one of the most-loved places for beer lovers, it also offers pub trivia each week.
- Crawdaddy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar:
It is one of the famous late-night restaurants that offer a balcony view of the Gatlinburg downtown and overlooks the Great Smoky Mountains. Crawdaddy’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar offers a prime spot that provides an amiable ambiance to spend time with friends and family. If you enjoy Karaoke, then this is a must-visit place, especially on the weekends. Oysters, seafood, Cajun cuisine, steak, and pasta are among the delicious dishes available at Crawdaddy’s.
- Ole Smoky Whiskey Distillery:
This is among the last distilleries in Gatlinburg that operates till 11 p.m. On weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays. Differentiating from other regular distilleries in the town and formerly known as the Gatlinburg Barrelhouse and Davy Crockett’s Distillery, this place has the best authentic Tennessee Whisky for its visitors. You can also learn about making authentic Smoky Mountain whiskey in the heart of Downtown Gatlinburg through the distillery tours and enjoy relishing the available whiskey samples for only $5. But, even if you do not get a chance to visit the Ole Smoky Distillery, do not worry! You can still feel the sweet and complex aromas of whiskey distilling right when you walk across this rustic-looking famous distillery.
- Sherlock Holmes Pub:
Known for its British pub-like atmosphere, Sherlock Holmes Pub is nice enough to stop by, grab a pint, and taste some snacks before you continue your ride. This bar offers comfortable and inviting seating with a friendly ambiance. Sherlock Holmes is a famous family-friendly pub offering the finest craft beers amidst the Smoky Mountains. One can listen to its outstanding live music while enjoying American and Irish cuisine along with the top beers, including Newcastle, Harps, and Smithwick’s, as well as domestic favorites like Bud, Coors, and Miller products. Of course, fish and chips are the most favorite food items to order at Sherlock Holmes Pub.
- Mellow Mushroom: If you crave delicious pizzas amidst the Smoky Mountains ranges, Gatlinburg has one of its best restaurants at your service. Mellow Mushroom claims to have the best pizza. Plus, some varieties are vegan or gluten-free. Mellow Mushroom makes sure that they get a chance to treat each customer. You can also try burgers, salads, calzone, and sandwiches. It is needless to mention that they also have a good beer collection of 29 craft beers and tasty, handcrafted cocktails to complete your meal. Located across the street from the Gatlinburg Convention Center, Mellow Mushroom is preferred among tourists and locals. It operates till 10:30 p.m. on Friday/Saturday and till 9:30 p.m. otherwise.
- Three Jimmy’s Entertainment Hub:
This is the perfect place to enjoy a combination of premier catering, private dining, the best live music, and Karaoke. This place is known for its best and award-winning wings, fried mushrooms with special sauce, and chicken tenders. One can also enjoy various entrees served with delectable side dishes that aim to please the taste buds. They also have famous smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese, baked beans, fresh homemade coleslaw, unique fresh salads with homemade dressings, and several meat dishes smoked to perfection. The restaurant remains open till 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends and operates till midnight on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends.
Book Your Tickets for some of the Great Gatlinburg Shows:
Even if you are in the Smokies, the small town of Gatlinburg makes sure that the entertainment quotient is no less than any metropolitan city. Theaters, artist clubs, and haunted mansions are among a few of the famous tourist attractions.
- Impossibilities Magic, Mindreading, and Mayhem!
This is a 1-2 hour show by Master Mentalist and Magician Erik Dobell that turns out to be a stunning night affair full of magic, reality-crushing mindreading, and rib-tickling mayhem. As the name suggests, this is a perfect show for unrevealing the impossibilities in front of your eyes. You can book your seats at the Gatlinburg Space Needle’s Iris Theater starting from $25 and enjoy the magical time with family and friends. Even though the theatre looks a bit small, Eric makes sure the audience is left jaw-dropped.
- Challenge yourself with a Ghost Tour:
If you like adventure and get excited at the thought of spooky experiences, Ghost Tours must be included during your visit to the Smokies. This offers the year-round tours at 9:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and 12:00 a.m., organized by the Ghost and Haunt Tours of Gatlinburg. They not only have awesome ghost-hunting equipment but will also engage you with their gripping stories and a fantastic setup. You can also buy a souvenir from their little gift shop and flaunt your Ghost & Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg glow-in-the-dark T-shirts.
- Ripley’s Haunted Adventure:
Another ghost-bumping adventure awaits you in the town of Gatlinburg. Here you can experience a natural feeling of living in a haunted place. Operational for 365 days a year and open until midnight, Ripley’s place is occupied with live actors waiting to welcome you in their ghostly and creepy renovated house, keeping you on your toes and scare extra every time you go from one room to the other. However, it only allows visitors aged six years and above, with a ticket price starting from $25. They also have other attractions like Mirror or Maze, Aquarium, Moving Theater, Fun Zone, and Mini Golf. The haunted house tour starts with an old coffin factory, entering a rickety old elevator down to the main shaft. Several dark corridors and rooms spread across a humongous 10,000 square foot and a multi-million-dollar ghost-haunted mansion. Dare to take the tour?
Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook
Do not miss a chance to post a selfie with the Great Smoky Mountains’ backdrop and enjoy the picturesque ad majestic view to cherish for a lifetime. Instead, pull off the side on your way through the Gatlinburg Bypass, which runs between Gatlinburg Spur and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Gatlinburg Spur runs between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, and the Bypass is accessible from both the Spur and the National Park. Although there are four parking areas on the Bypass where you can exit your vehicle, 2nd and 3rd areas are the most preferred parking space for visitors.
Stay at Mountain View Cabins and Hotels
Not only does Gatlinburg has the best places to eat, drink, dance, and entertainment, but it also has unique cabins and hotels that offer a serene and beautiful overview of the Smoky Mountains. You can book an affordable cabin rental starting from $250 or opt for a much lavish place up to $7,000 per night. Greenbrier Estate, Coppertop, Million Dollar View, The Lodge at Buckberry Creek are some of the best-rated places by tourists. Not only do they offer a scenic view, but they also provide spacious rooms, parking, breakfast facilities, and many other free services to make sure that you have a comfortable, reviving, and memorable stay.
Conclusion
What are you waiting for? After going through the top-most awaited places to visit during your stay in the small yet happening town of Gatlinburg, you deserve a visit to refresh yourself amidst Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountain Range and indulge in the experience of deliciously carved, perfectly smoked food items and the best craft beers from its local breweries. So pack your bags, book your tickets or get ready for a long drive with your friends and family and get awed by the beauty of Gatlinburg. Do not forget to check your bucket list of enjoying the fantastic food, lively nightlife, and other exciting Gatlinburg experiences. While you do that, also challenge yourself to visit your ghost friends.