The Best Breakfast in Gatlinburg, TN
You don’t just want breakfast – you want the best breakfast in Gatlinburg, TN! We have what you’re looking for right here!
I know—that’s a bold claim, given that Gatlinburg, TN, has so many breakfast restaurants. However, having eaten in A LOT of them, I have some recommendations for you.
So, if you’re hungry, keep reading!
Published November 7, 2024
If You’re in the Mood for Pancakes…
Gatlinburg may be the “Pancake Capital of the World”. (That’s not official, but the town gets my vote!) There are so many pancake houses here! Here are our three favs…
Pancake Pantry
If you drive down Parkway early in the morning and see a line forming on the sidewalk, it’s probably the Pancake Pantry. It has been a fixture in Gatlinburg since it opened decades ago. In fact, it was the first pancake specialty restaurant in Tennessee!
Pancake Pantry offers 24 varieties of pancakes, plus eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets, waffles, French toast, and crepes. It also has a kids’ menu.
The service here is excellent! Even when the room is full (which is usually the case), your food arrives very quickly.
And the food is so, so good! The pancakes are light and fluffy, and there are FIVE of them, which is more than I can finish. Plus, the coffee here is the best I’ve had (so far) in Gatlinburg.
- Location – 628 Parkway, at the front of The Village Shops
- Hours – 7 AM-3 PM Daily
- Cost – $10-$20 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://pancakepantry.com
- Google Rating – 4.4 Stars
Crockett’s Breakfast Camp
While standing in line at the Pancake Pantry, another person standing in line told us about Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. He said, “The pancakes there are over an inch thick!” “Sure, they are…” I skeptically thought to myself. I owe that man an apology.
Deciding to be adventurous, I ordered the “Thick Aretha Frankenstein’s Pancakes”. They reminded me of the skillet cornbread my wife makes – they are almost that big! And they aren’t just big – they’re good! I found them to be a little less sweet than pancakes from other restaurants. The side of country ham (pictured above) was large and tasty.
Mary Ellen ordered “Crockett’s Buckwheat Fruit & Nut Pancakes”. Based on her clean plate, I think she really liked them!
- Location – 1103 Parkway, near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Hours – 7 AM-1 PM Daily
- Cost – $10-$20 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://crockettsbreakfastcamp.com
- Google Rating – 4.7 Stars
Log Cabin Pancake House
This family-owned restaurant has been around since 1976, so they must be doing something right. I’m here to tell you they are!
Unlike our other recommendations, the Log Cabin Pancake House is not on Parkway, the main street through Gatlinburg. It is instead on a side street, the Historic Nature Trail, also known as Airport Road. The road takes you by the side of the Gatlinburg Convention Center. If you’re walking from Parkway, it’s a little uphill…but worth the walk!
The restaurant does indeed look like a log cabin, inside and out. It has a rustic charm. You’ll notice flags representing several universities hanging from the ceiling. I asked, and all you have to do is bring them your favorite university flag, and they’ll hang it up there for you, too!
The service here is fast, courteous, and helpful. And the food is scrumptious!
- Location – 327 Historic Nature Trail Road, the same road the Gatlinburg Needle is on
- Hours – 7 AM-2 PM Daily
- Cost – $10-$20 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://logcabinpancakehouse.com
- Google Rating – 4.7 Stars
If You’re Hungry for a Big Country Breakfast…
The Pancake Pantry; Crockett’s Breakfast Camp; Log Cabin Pancake House
That’s right – we recommend the same three pancake houses listed above if you want eggs, bacon, sausage, country ham, grits, potatoes, biscuits and gravy…you get the idea! All three of the “pancake” restaurants have the ability to bring out enough breakfast to make you miserable…in a good way!
If You’re Looking for a Unique Diner…
Sun Diner
I love breakfast in a diner, so I was eager to try out Sun Diner, which had opened since our last visit to Gatlinburg. There were several surprises. First, instead of diner tables and booths, you sit at long tables (seen in the photo below).
Second, the room has several screens, including a huge screen covering most of the back wall. This screen plays recordings of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and other country music legends. I wasn’t expecting that.
The food here is pure diner. I had eggs, sausage, biscuits, and coffee. It was good, especially the sausage! My only complaint – the Sun Diner doesn’t “feel” like a diner (whatever that means).
- Location – 646 Parkway, Gatlinburg
- Hours – Opens 7:00 AM Daily
- Cost – $10-$20 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://thesundiner.com
- Google Rating – 4.0 Stars
If You’re Looking for Something Fancy and Upscale…
The Buckhorn Inn
The Buckhorn Inn is our favorite place to stay in Gatlinburg. We have been there multiple times. We love the Inn, the staff, and the food!
Here are a couple of sample menus taken from the Inn’s website…
Sample Menu One
- Brie Stuffed French Toast with Banana-Walnut-Maple Sauce and Bacon
- Canadian Sunrise: Pan-Fried Walleye, Yukon Gold Home Fries and Eggs Cooked to Order
- Country Sausage or Bacon and Eggs Cooked to Order
- Buckhorn Home-Mixed Muesli with Fresh Fruit
Sample Menu Two
- Wild Blueberry Sourdough Pancakes and Bacon or Sausage
- Huevos Rancheros: Flour Tortilla Topped with Eggs, Cheeses, Salsa and Sour Cream
- Pork Tenderloin, Sausage or Bacon with Eggs Cooked to Order
- Hot Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar
Breakfast is complimentary for guests of The Buckhorn Inn, but you may be able to get in, even if you’re not staying there with them. Give them a call at (866) 941-0460 | Local Phone: (865) 436-4668. If they have seating available, they’ll squeeze you in!
- Location – 2140 Tudor Mountain Rd, a bit over 6 miles east of Gatlinburg
- Hours – 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Daily
- Cost – Breakfast is complimentary for guests; $15 per person for non-guests
- Reservations – Required
- Website – buckhorninn.com
- Google Rating – 4.8 Stars
If You’re Just Hungry for a Donut…
Sometimes you just want a donut – am I right? (Actually, I always want a donut!) We have two recommendations for you…
The Donut Friar
The Donut Friar was established in 1969 and has been serving delicious, warm donuts ever since. There are two things you should know before your visit to the shop…
First, the shop is tiny, and there is no seating inside. However, the shop faces a beautiful outdoor, dog-friendly courtyard in the middle of The Village Shops, with several shaded tables where you can enjoy your donuts. The courtyard has a large fountain surrounded by colorful flowers, which is so relaxing and peaceful.
Second, The Donut Friar is a “cash-only” establishment. This may cause some momentary panic when you learn that at the cash register. But no worries – there is an ATM available in the shop.
- Location – 634 Parkway, Gatlinburg, located in The Village Shops
- Hours – Opens 5:00 AM-9:00 PM Daily
- Cost – $1-$10 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://thevillageshops.com
- Google Rating – 4.6 Stars
Mad Dog’s Creamery & Donuts
How can you not love an ice cream and donut shop with a name like “Mad Dog’s”?!?! We stop here every time we visit Gatlinburg.
And why not! They have…
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Fritters
- Donuts
- Funnel Cakes
- Ice Cream
…and more!
And what’s more, the cinnamon rolls and apple fritters are as big as my face!
- Location – 731 East Parkway, Gatlinburg, located in The Village Shops
- Hours – Opens 7:00 AM-11:00 PM Daily
- Cost – $1-$10 per person
- Reservations – No
- Website – https://maddogscreamery.com
- Google Rating – 4.6 Stars
The Bottom Line – The Best Breakfast in Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg is a breakfast lover’s dream! There are so many good restaurants, no matter what you are hungry for.
And you know what they say – “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”!
Happy Dining!
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