Alcohol Free in the Smokies

Where can you go in the Smokies for a family meal without being exposed to alcohol consumption?

There have been a lot of changes over the course of my decades in the Smoky Mountains, probably the biggest change has been the availability of alcohol. We are talking by either the drink or the bottle in distilleries and package stores around the region.

Now, let’s be clear. The Smokies have never been actually dry. But it was harder to purchase in a legal manner than it is today. When I was young in Maryville, we’d have to run down to the tiny community of Vestal, just across the Knox County line, to legally purchase alcohol. Most of us also knew a guy – or we knew a guy who knew a guy – who could get their hands on the illicit mountain stuff without much trouble.

During local election season you’d have to be a little bit more careful. The local sheriffs have been known to make an illicit alcohol or gambling bust right before the election to grab a few extra headlines. However, most of the time, as long as you were quiet and didn’t cause any ruckus, it was mostly don’t ask, don’t tell with local law enforcement.

But as attitudes loosened somewhat and local businesses recognized how much more profit they could make selling liquor by the drink, municipalities began to change their laws. Pigeon Forge originally passed liquor by the drink in 2012. Sevierville didn’t allow the sale of liquor in stores until 2023.

But now, if you want to visit a restaurant that doesn’t sell alcohol at all? The options are relatively few. So, let’s point some out.

What are the best restaurants in the mountains where they don’t sell alcohol by the drink?

1. Breakfast joints

While you might assume that all of the Smoky Mountains’ many breakfast and lunch only places don’t have alcohol, it’s probably good to check the menu – especially if they have brunch. Champagne Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s are frequent brunch libations and while you’re not as likely to find somebody really tying one on with their brunch it does happen.

For the record, the Pancake Pantry and Crockett’s Breakfast Camp in Gatlinburg don’t sell alcohol. Neither does the Frizzle Chicken Café in Pigeon Forge – though from a purely amusement standpoint, I kind of wish they did. Those singing chickens are trippy enough sober, but can you imagine getting your drink on while animatronic chickens clucked “We don’t talk about Bruno?”

2. Homestyle restaurants

You might think that the various “homestyle” or “old farm” restaurants in the mountains would be alcohol free but, friends, granny’s recipes frequently came with a shot of the hair of the dog. Mama’s Farmhouse offers a variety of moonshine cocktails and a couple of beer options, nothing too fancy though. Mama didn’t go for no foreign beers.

Neither the Applewood Farm restaurants nor the Old Mill Restaurants have alcohol on the menu. However, we should note both have distilleries on site. Another option is Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville, which does not offer alcohol amongst it’s many homestyle offerings.

3. Some of the diners

The Smokies have a couple of classic roadside diner style restaurants, serving up breakfast classics and shakes. One of them, however, serves up cocktails and the other does not. Mel’s – located on Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge does not have any alcoholic beverages on the menu while the Sunliner – which also has a location in Gulf Shores, lists beer, cocktails and even a house wine on the menu. I don’t recall Archie and the gang ordering a chardonnay with their burgers, fries and malteds, but whatever pays the bills.

4. Chubby’s Deli

Chubby’s now has two locations in Sevierville – the restaurant located in a former Mexican place on Dolly Parton Parkway – and the Deli, located inside the Citgo Station on Newport Highway. I’m sure the Deli doesn’t serve alcohol – it only has water and tea. However, it does allow guests to buy drinks in the gas station and bring them over. The restaurant also does not list alcoholic beverages, but it’s always good to double check – if you feel strongly about the no alcohol thing – as policies can change.

Why are we recommending a deli inside a gas station? Listen, Chubby’s is very good. Its burgers, sandwiches and fries are better than you’d find at many more “respectable” type restaurants in town as is its down-home style cooking like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A former Hoosier, I’m a big proponent of the breaded tenderloin sandwich – made popular in Northen Indiana – which goes great with fried okra – which was not made popular in Northern Indiana.

Fast food joints

You don’t want to resort to this very much on vacation, but there are a lot of the chain fast food restaurants that don’t sell alcohol. Maybe you can find a chain that doesn’t have a lot of locations in your area – such as Johnny Rockets, Pals or the like – so that you can at least try something new or different. But, the truth is, alcohol free options in the mountains are fairly limited.

Do you have a favorite alcohol free establishment? Let us know in the comments!