A Different Side (Or Two) of Gatlinburg Set to Open Soon

Gatlinburg has built a reputation on pancakes, moonshine, wine, and a decidedly adult-friendly playground. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but in my honest opinion, it’s still a place that caters to a wide audience. If you’re looking for something unique and clearly different than anything this tourist town has ever seen before, you might be pleasantly surprised at what’s just around the corner.

The Elks Plaza in downtown Gatlinburg is known as the home of the premiere Italian restaurant, Best Italian. However, another one-of-a-kind establishment will be ushering in a new form of adults-only entertainment real soon. But first, an elevated coffee experience will challenge you to think of it as something more—especially for this tourist town.

Getting set to open on May 14th is The Coffee Syndicate, located in the Elks Plaza near Best Italian, which has been a staple in this community since 1976, serving outstanding pasta and pizza. The Italian theme continues with this new coffee sh—well, we’re going to call this an espresso and dessert bar.

You can call it a coffee shop, but one look at the menu and name should give you a clue it isn’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill place for a cup of joe in Gatlinburg. They are building quite the “bean syndicate” by selling coffee beans from 3 Knoxville coffee roasters—one being a custom, hand-selected espresso blend from Golden Roast. Also included is a full menu of all your favorite caffeine cravings, plus some additional surprises.

Beyond just your common cup of coffee is a crafty creation they will be offering, called the Spumoni Latte. Spumoni is Italy’s version of Neapolitan ice cream. But instead of the familiar vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, it is a more flavorful (my opinion) pistachio, chocolate, and cherry. The full ingredients feature a double shot of espresso, steamed whole milk, pistachio syrup, house-made cherry whipped cream, chocolate sauce drizzle, and a pistachio crumble topping. This is something “extra” we can appreciate!

Speaking of extra, there is something exciting, original, and certainly one-of-a-kind in Gatlinburg. We’re speaking of… yes, a speakeasy. If you’re not familiar with the term, it was a place during prohibition where you could enjoy an alcoholic beverage, as long as it was kept on the down-low—hush-hush, if you will.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts, let’s introduce the woman spearheading both. It’s the brainchild of someone who has a wealth of experience in seeing projects through. Brooklyn Steinway is the Director of Business Development for England Hospitality, and her love for good coffee and cocktails has served her well in this line of work. She’s a Seattle native, but she’s worked in places all over this country, seeing her drive and perseverance pay off in the building of eight businesses in as many years. In this area, she’s best known for crafting The Dylan, The Greenbrier’s—and Gatlinburg’s most famous standout cocktail. Her passion and creativity became clear to me after she proudly showed us guests what is coming together with both of these ventures.

As if The Coffee Syndicate wasn’t enough, she is hard at work seeing through Alibi, Gatlinburg’s first ever speakeasy. Located behind the Italian caffeination station, this new hangout bar—according to Brooklyn—is expected to open in late June or early July.

It is still under construction, but the resemblance of an actual 1920s speakeasy is becoming quite apparent from the looks of it. The fixtures are all relics of that era, and it already has a nice fireplace—not of that era, though. The seating will fill this space in the coming weeks, with couches, bar seats, and everything that’ll make you feel like you stepped inside a time warp. No kids allowed, so this will solely be a spot for the adults to chill, enjoy their favorite beverage, and feel a sense of community with fellow patrons. I personally can’t help but feel the remarkable potential this has. I can’t wait to see the finished product, and I kindly invite you to see for yourself!

Getting invited to this event was a real pleasure, and it was likewise to meet this energetic woman (thank you, Brooklyn!) marveling over this budding business. A big thanks goes out to England Hospitality and Willett Distillery, especially. From the latter, you could have a tasting tour—which I did—of their prized bourbons including: Johnny Drum, Willett Pot Still, Speakeasy, (appropriate, right?) and Old Bardstown. There was also a cocktail bar that also deserved mega props. England Hospitality delivered with amazing and extensive charcuterie boards that I delightfully picked from. All in all, it was a great event that everyone—including myself—fully enjoyed!

I am sincerely excited to visit both The Coffee Syndicate and Alibi. I’m pretty basic when it comes to coffee, but that “basic” cuppa’ joe tells me a lot about what the other more complex concoctions do to your taste buds. I also like a good adult beverage; however, my introverted, social awkwardness can be a deterrent if the vibe doesn’t jive with me. One thing is certain, though: I will certainly give Alibi a fair shot—so long as I stay out of trouble. (see what I did there).

So, if you want something totally unique to Gatlinburg and the entire Smoky Mountain tourist area, I highly suggest you give these places a visit. I understand there are aspects that may not be for everyone, but that’s the beauty of Gatlinburg. There’s literally something here for everyone, and now, you can add another dimension of camaraderie in this wonderful tourist town!

Thank you all for reading and subscribing to my publication. I hope you’ll consider a stop at one of these new places, and if it’s not your cup of tea, I’ll have reviews of a few more new restaurants opening real soon in Gatlinburg! Stay tuned, everyone! I appreciate you all for your support and kind words.