The magic of Christmas lights, snow, and decorations is enough to really warm your heart during this beautiful season of giving, but it doesn’t quite help your cold nose or freezing fingers! While touring the captivating lights and over-the-top holiday scenery of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, escape to some of my favorite little coffee shops in the Smoky Mountain area. There are numerous stops with tons of unique drink flavors you will definitely want to swing through to taste. Or you can enjoy a hot drink on a cold night from the comfort of your Gatlinburg cabin!
I am a tea and coffee connoisseur of sorts, and I love finding unique and hip places to visit and try while I am vacationing away from my own hometown coffee shop. Plus, the warm atmosphere is the perfect setting for catching up with friends, reading a good book, or doing some writing in the midst of this magical time in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. There are also locations you can pick up a growler of cold brew or a bag of signature tea blends to sip on while out on the patio of your cabin in the mountains while in full view of the Smokies!
Great variety with a homey setting: Espresso Yourself
Conveniently located on the streets of The Old Mill District in downtown Pigeon Forge, Espresso Yourself is the perfect quick stop while you and the family are out taking in all the extravagant Christmas lights. Open 6 days a week (Monday through Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Espresso Yourself is a great place to take your time waking up as the soft winter sunlight rises over the surrounding Smoky Mountains and you sip a hot coffee on their patio.
This quaint little shop is packed with tons of great drinks, pastries, and teas! Offering soy, almond milk, and a variety of gluten-free eats, this is a great place for anyone with food allergies. Their frappe menu is something to behold, with signature drinks such as Banana Cream Pie, Turtle Cheesecake, and Orange Creamsicle. Sit in their log rocking chairs and sip on a warm latte while you enjoy the warmth, because while Christmastime decorations are fabulous, it’s little moments like watching your kids enjoy a hot chocolate and talk about their favorite moments so far that mean the most.
That late caffeine fix: Burg Coffees
Out late trying to see every last one of the millions of Christmas lights in downtown Gatlinburg? You are in luck. Burg Coffees is one of the few coffee stops that stays open late! Open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Burg Coffees is the perfect late stop if you are getting cold or sleepy but want the holiday cheerful explorations to keep going! This little shop located just a short distance from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium is a short walk from all the holiday excitement and lights of the downtown area.
Sip on some of your hot favorites like a caramel macchiato, white mocha, or daily brew while the kids can enjoy a real fruit smoothie or hot chocolate! I love Burg Coffees as the perfect downtown Gatlinburg pit stop during your tour of one of the country’s biggest holiday destination cities.
Hipster-rustic with quality brews: Stillwater Cold Brew Coffee
Okay, you are definitely going to want to wake up early and leave the cabin in the morning for this place! It is the rustic-Smoky-Mountains-meets-hipster-meets-high-quality-brewing coffee shop. Stillwater Cold Brew in downtown Gatlinburg is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and when you walk in, you will think you are at a brewery with all of the silver kegs and taps. You are not lost; I love cold brew coffee, and this is some of the best I have ever had.
Pull up a chair at the coffee bar and talk to the very informative staff to find your next coffee obsession. The Stillwater Cold Brew crew pride themselves on their quality of natural spring water infused with the “finest, responsibly sourced” coffee beans and brewing methods to reduce acidity in their coffees. The coffee shop also offers growlers to fill with your favorite, unique flavors like Coconut Rum, Black Jack, and Mountain Whiskey (don’t worry, there is no alcohol sneaked into your coffee)! Each of their signature brews has a vibrant taste personality like Chocolate Espresso with its “subtle hints of chocolate and woody notes”. Their coffee can be taken home and enjoyed hot or cold, making it a great way to warm up once you get back to the cabin after a full day of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas!
Warm drinks and cold weather go together like Santa and Rudolph! With millions of lights, the enormous, magical Christmas extravaganza of the Smoky Mountains, and so many great warm brews to try, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are the place to be this holiday season!
Favorite don’t-want-to-get-out spot: Your cozy Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge cabin
Whether you want to stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, we have a huge variety of cabins perfect for cold mountain nights. And if you’re having that hot-drink craving but can’t bring yourself to brave the cold, cozy up inside with a coffee (brewed in your cabin’s fully equipped kitchen), a cup of hot cocoa, or some hot apple cider created stovetop in your cabin’s kitchen. With amenities like big screen TVs, hot tubs, private home theaters, game rooms, and luxurious master suites, our cabins in the Smokies offer plenty of places to enjoy a hot drink on a cold night!