Points of Interest & Landmarks

What people are saying

By Ellen B

“Great Public Space”

Oct 2023

Market Square is a great place to hang out, dine, drink, or just stroll around in downtown Knoxville.

“Great area.”

May 2023

There are lots of places to eat and there was live music at night.

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Top ways to experience Market Square and nearby attractions

The area

Reach out directly

Best nearby

Restaurants

313 within 3 miles

Five Thirty Lounge

188

0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Dining bars

Chesapeake's Downtown

1,149

0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Grill • Vegetarian Friendly

Yassin's Falafel House

271

0.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern

Cafe 4

1,192

265 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly

The French Market Creperie

783

0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Cafe • European

Stock & Barrel

1,452

108 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Contemporary

Pete's Coffee Shop Restaurant

439

0.1 mi$ • American • Cafe • Diner

Not Watsons Kitchen + Bar

545

132 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly

Balter Beerworks

286

0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Brew Pub • Gastropub • Vegetarian Friendly

Tomato Head

1,255

208 ft$$ - $$$ • American • Pizza • Healthy

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Attractions

218 within 6 miles

Visit Knoxville Visitors Center

148

503 ftVisitor Centers

East Tennesse Historical Society

357

0.1 miHistory Museums

Krutch Park

90

0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Parks

Tennessee Theatre

716

0.2 miTheaters

Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial

6

324 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

Art Market Gallery

2

417 ftArt Galleries

Church of the Immaculate Conception

3

0.1 miHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings

Knoxville Museum of Art

356

0.4 miArt Museums

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See what travelers are saying

Denise L
Woodbridge, New Jersey169 contributions
A must when you're in Knoxville, TN!
A great place to walk around & shop! So funky & fun...I didn't want to leave LOL! Lots of artsy places to check out. It may be smelly, but Graffiti Alley is really cool to look at.
Visited September 2023
Traveled as a couple
Written October 11, 2023
Ellen B
Hortonville, Wisconsin1,215 contributions
Great Public Space
Market Square is a great place to hang out, dine, drink, or just stroll around in downtown Knoxville. They have put up a bunch of cute decorations for Halloween. I definitely recommend strolling around Market Square if you are visiting Knoxville.
Visited October 2023
Traveled with friends
Written October 18, 2023
nfmom2
Cleveland, Ohio29 contributions
Unique place to visit
We were pleasantly surprised with Market Square. We enjoyed walking around, seeing the different shops & restaurants and looking at the artwork. My daughter enjoyed getting pictures in front of the different murals. Different musicians around the area singing and/or just playing an instrument. We ate at Cafe 4 and sat in their outdoor patio area. It was fun people-watching. Such a variety of people, too. From families to couples to groups of friends. And we felt completely safe. Another nice feature was the free parking in the local parking garage.
Visited March 2024
Traveled with family
Written April 9, 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5

2,987 reviews

Excellent

1,895

Very good

866

Average

182

Poor

29

Terrible

15

Venture553833

1 contribution

Live music Knoxville

Jun 2024 • Friends

Live music at the preservation pub! Its not advertised so just go and find out. If there is a band playing late there will be others earlier that aren’t posted. Have fun… we did!

Written June 29, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marsh

19 contributions

Wonderful place to go

May 2024 • Family

Restaurants and shops were great. When we went, the farmers' market was going, and it was great. This Market Square had a wonderful ambiance.

Written May 23, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

th0mps0n3

Chattanooga, TN2 contributions

A great market in Knoxville

May 2024 • Family

Awesome market and plenty of good shops and restaurants around to enjoy! Lots of food and crafts to choose from. Use the parking garage, it’s free on the weekends.

Written May 12, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LydiaMiami

Miami, FL225 contributions

Fun walk in downtown

Apr 2024 • Friends

Market Place is a fun place to walk around and people watch. Lots of restaurants and boutique stores. Adjacent to a lovely small park with monuments.

Written April 30, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DenverFrequentTrav

Denver, CO201 contributions

Reason to come to downtown Knoxville!

Apr 2024 • Family

Perfect publicSquare. Clean, free of riff raff, nobody hassling you .Lots of great choices for excellent dining or relaxing al fresco, some entertainment venues. Regular farmers market. Some interdting historic architecture. Nice place to meander and people watch! Free Sunday street parking! (Kudos knoxville)

Written April 28, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peggy W

9 contributions

Safe environment/Fun place.

Apr 2024 • Friends

What a fun place! Nice restaurants, roof top night time entertainment and a safe environment to walk around. Enjoyed shops and artisans performing in the square.

Written April 18, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nfmom2

Cleveland, OH29 contributions

Unique place to visit

Mar 2024 • Family

We were pleasantly surprised with Market Square. We enjoyed walking around, seeing the different shops & restaurants and looking at the artwork. My daughter enjoyed getting pictures in front of the different murals. Different musicians around the area singing and/or just playing an instrument. We ate at Cafe 4 and sat in their outdoor patio area. It was fun people-watching. Such a variety of people, too. From families to couples to groups of friends. And we felt completely safe. Another nice feature was the free parking in the local parking garage.

Written April 9, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Serviceprof

Lexington, SC1,378 contributions

Will reserve final judgement until we can experience this pedestrian way once the sun shines and weather improves.

Mar 2024 • Friends

This is a pedestrian mall in downtown area of Knoxville. Since we were there on a cold spring day with threat of rain, this area was devoid of much traffic or energy. There were no street vendors or musicians. None of the restaurants had set up outdoor dining, etc.
I suspect that once the weather turns this will probably be a “go to” destination in the city.

Written March 10, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SueCB-7

Knoxville, TN127 contributions

Parking Garages housing homeless?

Feb 2024 • Family

The city seems to be allowing the homeless to use the public parking garages now. While homeless used to mill around the outside of the entry to the Market Square parking garage on Wall, now they are inside. We passed some sitting inside the building across from the ticket/pay booth. While asking the attendant if cars are being broken into or vandalized we saw another homeless man climbing the stairs to the upper levels. This feels unsafe. We've been harrassed for money nearly every time we try to enjoy a stroll in Market Square and occasionally on Gay Street. We really have enjoyed the downtown area the past several years but the situation is becoming more intimidating and depressing. I hope the Mayor makes changes soon.

Written February 27, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OrangeBackpacker

Hamburg, MI153 contributions

Nice walk

Dec 2022 • Family

Nice area to walk through, lots of restaurant options, some shops, a splash fountain for kids to play in. The welcome center is in town.

Written November 14, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Rose A

Knoxville, Tennessee

any events taking place at market square this weekend?

Written May 23, 2023

lioncharlescarter

Dahlonega, Georgia

6 contributions

I do not know. Try Google to see if you can find an event calendar?

Written June 20, 2023

Rose A

Knoxville, Tennessee

Is there anything happening this Friday May 26, 2023??

Written May 23, 2023

Guera

Mexico City, Mexico

399 contributions

Check out visitknoxville /events this weekend TA won’t let me post the link

Written May 24, 2023

Bonnie D

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

7 contributions

What day is the farmers market held?

Written June 7, 2020

Dave G

Knoxville, Tennessee

64 contributions

On Saturdays, on market, Square!

Written June 8, 2020

Ryan M

Atoka, Tennessee

6 contributions

Is the market open now w covid 19 restrictions released?

Written May 29, 2020

ChawlaMohit

New Delhi, India

382 contributions

There are not many cases in Knoxville, so possibility is high that some stores would be open now.

Written May 30, 2020

Diane Esposito-Comeaux

1 contribution

Where is the nearest Catholic Church to Market Square in Knoxville, TN?

Written November 5, 2019

holdayluv

Melbourne, Australia

60 contributions

Not sure of exact distance but beautiful churches were all around Knoxville. If the Catholic Church is the one I am remembering it is within walking distance.But I can`r be sure.

Written November 6, 2019

Gary J

1 contribution

Is the market open on Sundays?

Written July 26, 2019

Les L

Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines

73 contributions

Restaurants and gift shops. YES. Farmers Market is every Saturday morning and well worth the effort. Best regards... JL Lunceford

Written July 27, 2019

Maria R

181 contributions

What’s it like mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday)?

Written August 16, 2018

Cazzintexas

Orland, California

163 contributions

Lots of fun things happen during the week. It is worth going any time.

Written August 18, 2018

Jayashree S

Dayton, New Jersey

1 contribution

How is Knoxville on Good Friday are Restaruant and shops open

Written March 26, 2018

beachgirl4life14

32 contributions

As far as I know, they are. I have not heard otherwise. If you have a restaurant in mind, you might want to double check with that individual restaurant.

Written March 27, 2018

Aimsey

104 contributions

I'll be travelling through Knoxville on New Years Eve just for night. I'd like to go out for a drink and celebrate New Years with some good people. Would this be a good place to "wing it" and are there hotels close by?

Written December 20, 2017

Stilsam

Loudon, Tennessee

132 contributions

I would recommend it. Sure it will be crazy busy, but there are many other options within walking distance if it's too crowded. We also tried Scruffy City across the street which has three levels and looked like a great place to party. There are tons of hotels but I'm not sure how close. Check it out here and see what you can find.

Written December 20, 2017

mskingfish60

Cloverdale, California

8 contributions

Where is parking if towing a camper

Written October 23, 2017

900miler

Knoxville, Tennessee

5 contributions

University Commons is a shopping Center on the west end of the UT Campus on Cumberland Boulevard with a Wal Mart and a Publix. The parking is free. Park there and ride the free Trolley (Trolley looking bus) downtown. The drivers are friendly and will help you decide where to get off the Trolley.

Written October 24, 2017

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