Best Burgers in Gatlinburg with a Side of Amazing Views

Published Jul 28, 2025 Best Burgers in Gatlinburg with a Side of Amazing Views

Gatlinburg takes burgers seriously — and several of its best spots pair a great burger with a view worth sitting for. Here are four worth seeking out, each with a different setting and a different reason to linger.

1. Cliff Top Grill & Bar at Anakeesta

Getting to Cliff Top requires an Anakeesta ticket — you ride the gondola or open-air chairlift from the base on the Parkway up to the ridgeline, then walk through the park to the restaurant. That's the point. What you're buying is a burger with a clear sightline to Mt. LeConte and the Smoky Mountains ridgeline, eaten at elevation above the downtown noise. For guests already spending a day at the park, it's a natural anchor for lunch or an early dinner.

The signature burger is The Smoky — caramelized onions, smoked gouda, and smoky bacon jam on a hand-crafted patty. The Blue Ridge is a fried chicken breast with buffalo sauce and blue cheese for guests who want something on the spicier side. The full menu also runs ribs, salmon, mac and cheese, and a selection of entrees. The bar stocks local craft beers and signature cocktails alongside the standard selections — the Smokies ridgeline is a good backdrop for either. On hot summer days, the indoor seating is the cooler choice; spring and fall, the outdoor tables earn their view.

2. Howard's Restaurant

Howard's has been Gatlinburg's oldest restaurant since 1946 — a claim that holds up across eight decades of the town changing around it. The building is a renovated century-old structure on the Parkway, with one of the better patios in the Smokies: a creekside deck where the water runs clearly around the rocks a few feet below your table. Ask for a patio table. On a warm evening with the creek going and the mountains behind the treeline, it earns the wait.

The burgers are hand-crafted from steak trimmings — ribeye and choice cuts ground in-house rather than standard ground beef — and the menu earns its "voted best steaks and burgers in the Smokies" reputation across both categories. Beyond burgers, Howard's runs hand-cut steaks, fresh mountain trout, chicken, and traditional Southern entrees. The saloon upstairs is a quieter option if the main dining room has a wait. Reservations aren't required but calling ahead on peak summer and fall weekends is worth it.

3. Smoky Mountain Brewery

Smoky Mountain Brewery opened on the Gatlinburg Parkway in 1996 — the oldest craft brewery in eastern Tennessee — and the Gatlinburg location combines a Bavarian beer hall aesthetic with a mountain ski lodge interior. The enclosed deck overlooks the Smoky Mountains and the surrounding hillside, and it's one of the better late-night options in town given the 1 AM close.

The Thunder Road Burger is the signature: freshly ground beef, blue cheese, bacon, and the brewery's own Thunder Road Sauce — a sweet-spicy house condiment that shows up on multiple menu items and is worth tasting on its own. Beer pairings are taken seriously here; the staff will match your burger to the current tap lineup, which rotates through the house ales, IPAs, and lagers brewed on-site. Beyond burgers, the menu runs hand-tossed pizzas, sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and a Brewery Ale steak marinated in Cherokee Red Ale. Events — live music, team trivia, karaoke — rotate through the week and make it a good call for a longer evening rather than just dinner.

4. Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar

644 Parkway, Gatlinburg | jasonaldeansbar.com/gatlinburg | Mon–Thu & Sun 11 AM–10 PM, Fri–Sat 10 AM–10 PM | Reservations accepted | Rooftop bar with live music

The rooftop bar at Jason Aldean's is the largest in Gatlinburg — an open-air platform above the Parkway with views over the downtown corridor toward the Smokies foothills. Local singers and bands perform regularly, which makes this one of the louder and more energetic dinner options in town. The vibe leans country and comfortable rather than quiet and intimate — go for the energy as much as the food.

The burger is a brisket-and-steak blend, double-stacked, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and the house smash sauce — a cut above the standard ground beef patty and consistent with the Southern comfort food ethos running through the rest of the menu. The Southern Nachos (pulled pork, smoked bacon, queso, cheddar, and bourbon BBQ over kettle chips) are the right starter for this room. Beyond burgers, the menu runs Grandma's Pot Roast, mac and cheese, fried chicken and waffles, and the Tommy Hawk bone-in ribeye for groups who want something more substantial. The craft cocktail and local beer list holds up alongside the food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the oldest restaurant in Gatlinburg?

Howard's Restaurant, established in 1946, is Gatlinburg's oldest restaurant. It's been serving hand-crafted steak burgers and hand-cut steaks from the same creekside location for nearly 80 years.

Do I need a ticket to eat at Cliff Top Grill & Bar?

Yes — Cliff Top Grill & Bar is located inside Anakeesta, so Anakeesta admission is required. The restaurant is accessible via the gondola or chairlift from 576 Parkway. For guests already spending a day at Anakeesta, it's the most scenically situated dining option in Gatlinburg.

What is the oldest craft brewery in eastern Tennessee?

Smoky Mountain Brewery, which opened on the Gatlinburg Parkway in 1996. The Gatlinburg location is open daily until 1 AM with the kitchen closing at midnight — one of the later options in town.

Does Jason Aldean's Kitchen have live music?

Yes — local singers and bands perform regularly at Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar in Gatlinburg. The rooftop bar is the largest in Gatlinburg, with views over the downtown Parkway toward the Smoky Mountain foothills. Check jasonaldeansbar.com/gatlinburg for the current entertainment schedule.

Which of these restaurants has outdoor creekside seating?

Howard's Restaurant has a patio that sits directly over a mountain stream — the creek runs a few feet below the tables. Ask for a patio seat when you arrive. The patio is also pet-friendly.

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