The Old City is where most of Knoxville's bar and live music scene is concentrated — a six-block area of restored warehouses and brick buildings just east of Gay Street. Market Square adds a few more outdoor drinking options, and the strip along Cumberland Avenue near the university caters to a younger, student-heavy crowd.
Knoxville has a respectable craft beer scene for its size, and Tennessee whiskey is taken seriously here — you will find good selections even in neighbourhood bars. Live music, particularly Americana, country, and indie rock, is easy to find most nights of the week.