Best Sweet Treats in Knoxville + Knoxville Sweet Treats Tour FAQ

The Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville is a guided walking food tour that explores some of the city’s best beignet shops, coffee houses, chocolate shops, cookie bakeries, and crêperies while sharing local history, culture, and neighborhood stories.

The Underground Sweet Treats Tour has been rated one of the top food tours in Knoxville and the world for over 8 years by TripAdvisor. We have more than 28,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, Viator, Airbnb, Google, and many other places. We think that's a pretty good endorsement.

The Underground Sweet Treats Tour has more than 28,000 reviews that say we are the best sweet treats tour and, in many cases, the best food tour in Knoxville.

The Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville combines delicious sweet treats, local history, neighborhood exploration, and fun photo opportunities into one memorable experience.

Our Knoxville Sweet Treats Tour: Beignets, Biscuits, & More visits some of downtown's most-loved sweet spots, starting with beignets at Ruby Sunshine, then coffee with macarons or handmade chocolates at Coffee & Chocolate and the famous lemon cookie at Ham 'N Goodys. Your final sweet stop depends on your tour time and might be a Nutella crepe at the French Market Creperie, ice cream at Cruze Farm or small-batch popcorn at Proper Popcorn. Lineup may vary depending on the day of the week or the season. Along the way you'll explore Market Square, the murals of Strong Alley, the sculpture garden at Krutch Park, the historic Tennessee Theatre and a view of the Sunsphere.

Knoxville's sweet scene goes beyond the donut case, so this tour is a celebration of downtown's sweetest treats: warm beignets, coffee and chocolate, cookies, crepes, ice cream and more. Every stop is locally loved, and every tour brings out new favorites.

Every stop has its fans. Guests love the classic and seasonal beignets at Ruby Sunshine, the colorful macarons and chocolates at Coffee & Chocolate, the lemon cookie at Ham 'N Goodys, the Nutella crepe at the French Market Creperie, the ice cream at Cruze Farm and the many popcorn flavors at Proper Popcorn.

At some stops, yes! At Coffee & Chocolate, you can pick between macarons or chocolates (your guide will happily recommend a favorite), and you can choose hot or iced coffee. At other stops, your guide orders ahead so your treats are fresh and ready when you arrive.

You'll enjoy treats at four stops, from beignets and coffee to chocolates, cookies and a sweet finish, with shareable portions so you can try a little of everything.

Some tours in Knoxville may include coffee or other beverage pairings depending on the city and specific tour experience.

Guests meet their guide at the starting location and walk together through several neighborhoods in Knoxville, stopping at curated bakeries and sweet treat destinations for tastings along the way.

The tour starts at Ruby Sunshine on Market Square and ends in the heart of downtown, a great spot to keep exploring after your tour. Your guide is always happy to share recommendations for what to see, eat and do next.

The tour starts at Ruby Sunshine on Market Square and stays in compact downtown Knoxville, passing the murals of Strong Alley, the sculpture garden at Krutch Park and the historic Tennessee Theatre, with a view of the Sunsphere along the way.

A little! The lineup changes with the time of day and the day of the week so we can visit shops while they're open. That means morning and late-morning tours each get their own sweet finish.

About two hours of strolling, tasting and Knoxville history, on a compact route through the heart of downtown.

The tour in Knoxville is a walking tour with light to moderate walking between tasting stops and neighborhood landmarks.

The Market Square garage right next to Ruby Sunshine is the easiest option.

Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended for the sweet treats tour in Knoxville.

We run in most weather, so bring an umbrella on drizzly days. If heavy storms or lightning are in the forecast, we'll reach out ahead of time to help you find a new date.

Yes, sweet treats tours in Knoxville run year round, weather permitting.

The Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville does its best to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences whenever possible.

Several of our partners in Knoxville have gluten-free options. Please include any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so our guides can ensure you have a great tour.

Several of our partners in Knoxville have vegan-friendly options. Please include any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so our guides can ensure you have a great tour.

Yes. Vegetarian friendly options are often available on the sweet treats tour in Knoxville.

Please let us know about any dietary needs or allergies when you book, and we'll work with our partners to find the best options for you. Since our partners prepare their treats in shared kitchens, we can't guarantee against cross-contact.

Absolutely. With beignets, cookies and ice cream on the menu, kids love this tour, and families are always welcome.

Yes. The Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville is designed to be family friendly and enjoyable for guests of all ages.

There are tons of things to do with your kids in Knoxville. We'd recommend the Underground Sweet Treats Tour. It was intentionally designed to be fun for kids of all ages. In 2015, Jeff Woelker created the tour because his family was always looking for things to do in the morning, as a family, that were fun and delicious. That's how the Underground Donut Tour got created.

The route is compact, about half a mile through downtown, with stops along the way, and our guides are happy to go at your pace. Please contact us with any questions before you book.

Yes. The sweet treats tour in Knoxville is a great activity for solo travelers looking to explore the city and meet other guests.

Definitely! Local guests tell us they learn something new about their city's history, from the Krutch family to the stories behind the murals, and discover shops they hadn't tried before. It's also a great way to show visiting friends and family around downtown.

Sweet lovers from all over join us in Knoxville, from visitors exploring East Tennessee to families visiting students at the University of Tennessee, along with plenty of locals.

Yes! Birthdays and special occasions are some of our favorite tours to lead. Let us know you're celebrating when you book, and your guide will help make it extra special.

Yes. Private group tours are available in Knoxville for birthdays, corporate outings, student groups, and celebrations.

Yes. Corporate and team-building sweet treats tours are available in Knoxville.

Yes. The Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville can accommodate both small and large groups.

Prices for the Underground Sweet Treats Tour in Knoxville start as low as $55. For the most current pricing and availability, check our website.

For the best pricing and the most up-to-date availability, you can purchase tickets for the sweet treats tour in Knoxville directly on our website.

Booking in advance is recommended for the sweet treats tour in Knoxville, especially during weekends and holidays.