Tennessee Waltz

Southern hospitality shines

Written by Jeffrey Cohen

Situated near the World’s Fair Park on the banks of the Tennessee River, The Tennessean Hotel in Knoxville offers a luxurious experience just steps from the city’s burgeoning culinary, arts and music scene. It was here that my wife and I spent a few days towards the end of summer, and it would be no understatement to say that we were overwhelmed by the extraordinary hospitality we experienced at every point during our stay.

Warmly welcomed upon our arrival (and this was our first visit to Knoxville), the greeting was sincere and heartfelt, reminiscent of the kind of reception we get in my hometown of New Orleans. Having taken care of our bags and registration, we were invited to head to the second floor where we were immediately enveloped by the tantalizing scent of “Smoked Old Fashioneds” in The Drawing Room restaurant. Here, guests can enjoy selections from the largest whiskey list in town, as well as partake in a welcoming ritual of a beautifully prepared old fashioned made with great gusto by the extremely knowledgeable bartenders. Intrigued by the name of this cozy establishment, we were fascinated to discover that the owners of the hotel are aficionados of British culture; following a first-rate cocktail, we were equally delighted to find ourselves riding the “lift” (per the charming sign affixed to the elevator) up to our suite overlooking the World’s Fair Sunsphere.

By good fortune, we also discovered that we had arrived just in time for that most British of all pursuits: afternoon tea, a ritual they take quite seriously at The Tennessean. Served in our suite, the tea featured several selections from Rare Tea Sellers in Chicago, accompanied by a host of dainty sandwiches, scones and cakes, all served with a bit more southern flair than one might expect to find in London.

The Drawing Room at The Tennessean Hotel offers a cozy place for a variety of meals, snacks and libations.

After unpacking, we relaxed for a while in our elegant suite, with its aquatic themes, Frette linens and view of the World’s Fair Park, with the hazy Smoky Mountains beyond. In every aspect, The Tennessean Hotel displays a thoughtful design aesthetic, with nods to local history and European elegance. With the river just outside its doors, touches of the waterway are spotted from the discreet water pattern in the carpeting and droplet-shaped sconces along the halls to the lobby’s grand bookcase. Each of the guest room floors are named after branches of the river and side tables are fabricated to look like river reeds. Furnishings in the rooms were created by Sneedville-based Hackney Furniture, and most of the furniture and artwork throughout the hotel is made by local artisans.

The Maker Exchange

Having admired our surroundings for a while, my wife and I then headed next door to the Maker Exchange, a space that connects The Tennessean and the neighboring Marriott. Unveiled in 2022, the Maker Exchange is a gathering space and artistic and culinary showcase designed to highlight and embrace Knoxville’s creative maker community. The opening of Maker Exchange marked a major revitalization of the buildings comprising the hotel complex, originally built for the 1982 World’s Fair. This giant, welcoming and vibrant space hosts everything from informal, impromptu gatherings to weddings, concerts, art shows and other large events.

A wall of art at The Maker Exchange

It was here that we enjoyed a casual dinner at the Tavern, home of elevated Southern cuisine, where we began with some deviled eggs and pork rinds before moving on to a ribeye for my wife and the hanger steak for me. No visit to a fine Southern restaurant would be complete without fried green tomatoes, something we rarely find at home, let alone those accented with bacon jam, so we happily polished off a generous portion. From the innovative cocktail list, we chose the “Sunrise in the Smokies,” featuring tequila, watermelon juice, lemon and crème de violette and the “Field of Dreams,” made of house-infused orange vodka, lavender syrup and pomegranate liquor. A bottle of Justin Cabernet Savignon provided the perfect fleshy accompaniment to our steaks. All in all, our first day was a wonderful introduction to the culinary pleasures and hospitality of Knoxville.

The huge fireplace at The Maker Exchange is a convivial gathering spot.

Back in the hotel, we repaired to The Drawing Room for a nightcap, then revisited the following morning for breakfast, where we indulged in a healthy parfait and a somewhat more robust dish of shrimp and grits that kept us going through a morning of sightseeing. First up was a workout in The Tenneseean’s wellappointed fitness center, and coffees at Perk Up in the Maker’s Exchange. Then we were off to Knox Brew Hub for a tasting.

“Smoked Old Fashioneds” at The Tennessean Hotel

A short walk from the hotel in downtown Knoxville, the Brew Hub offers selections from every brewery in town, like a one-stop pub crawl without the inconvenience of travel. After that, it was off to the funky and fun Chivo Taqueria for a couple of innovative street tacos, then a leisurely stroll around Market Square, a popular destination for shopping, dining and, it would seem, even more beer. This is a college town after all, and a haven for sports fans. For those of a sporting bent, The Tennessean offers elevated experiences during the University of Tennessee home football weekends with a sparkling wine welcome reception and door-to-stadium luxury motor coach transportation, bringing a touch of traditional Southern hospitality to game day.

Top:The Tennessean Hotel’s front desk / Bottom: The Maker Exchange offers vibrant art and dramatic architecture at every turn.

For dinner that night our exceedingly helpful concierge recommended A Dopo Sourdough Pizza in Old City, another popular and bustling part of town (who knew Knoxville has so many districts?!). We were not disappointed. With its crusty Neapolitan-style pizzas and well-chosen, reasonably priced wines, A Dopo reminded us of the little trattorias in Italy we loved. This was to be the last dinner of our stay, as the following morning we hit the road for the scenic drive home. Our brief Knoxville getaway had been a voyage of discovery, a gem of a place about which we knew very little, but of which we were soon thoroughly enamored.

For more information, visit thetennesseanhotel.com