Knoxville Sweet Treats Food Tour: Beignets & Local Bakeries

Warm biscuits with seasonal jam end a two-hour walk through Knoxville's downtown sweets.

A guided food tour through downtown Knoxville where you sample seasonal beignets, macarons, lemon cookies and biscuits while walking Market Square, Strong Alley and Gay Street with a local guide. The tour lasts two hours and covers the city's most iconic streets and neighborhoods. Children from age two are welcome, and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Knoxville's sweet treats and history

• Visit Market Square
• Walk around downtown Knoxville
• Explore history and architecture
• Enjoy seasonal beignets and macarons
• Stroll through Strong Alley murals
• Sample lemon cookie at local bakery
• Conclude with biscuits and seasonal jam

The experience

The tour centers on Market Square, Knoxville's downtown hub, where you start by tasting seasonal beignets and macarons. From there you walk through Strong Alley, an outdoor art gallery filled with colorful murals, then move through Gay Street to take in the city's architectural history. A local guide leads the route and shares stories about Knoxville's food culture and Southern heritage as you move between stops.

Along the way you'll sample a famous lemon cookie from a local bakery and finish with warm biscuits paired with seasonal jam. The guide offers insider recommendations for where to eat and explore beyond the tour, and you'll have chances to capture photos at memorable spots throughout downtown. The whole experience runs two hours and stays family-friendly: infants can ride in a stroller, and the route is suitable for all fitness levels since all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

• Seasonal beignets and macarons at Market Square.
• a famous lemon cookie from a local bakery.
• warm biscuits with seasonal jam.
• guided walk through downtown Knoxville including Market Square, Strong Alley and Gay Street.
• stories about the city's history, food culture and Southern charm.
• insider recommendations for where to eat and explore.
• a knowledgeable local guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (2 to 10 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Underground Donut Tour

Is this one for you?The tour starts in downtown Knoxville at Market Square, so you don't need a car or advance knowledge of where to go. The guide meets you and leads the route on foot through the city's most walkable neighborhoods.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 10 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What sweet treats do I actually get to taste on this tour?

You sample seasonal beignets and macarons at Market Square, a famous lemon cookie from a local bakery, and finish with warm biscuits paired with seasonal jam. The specific flavors and bakeries change with the season.

How long does the Knoxville Sweet Treats tour take?

The tour runs two hours and covers downtown Knoxville on foot, moving between Market Square, Strong Alley and Gay Street at a walking pace.

What is Strong Alley and why does the tour go there?

Strong Alley is Knoxville's outdoor art gallery, known for its colorful murals. The tour includes it so you can explore local artwork and the vibrant street culture alongside the food stops.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options nearby are also wheelchair accessible. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for those with severe mobility impairments.