A Socialite’s Guide to the Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Nightlife

Through daily routines and focused discipline, you have what it takes to accomplish your highest dreams and goals! That said, taking time to let your brain rest is equally impactful to the process. Sometimes, when you’re in the thick of life and work, a hard reset is, in fact, the wisest next step. Block off a long weekend for a trip to the Smokies, and break free from your structures for a while. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg bars like these are like playgrounds for adults, offering unique games, live music, one-of-a-kind cocktails, and mouth-watering grub.

Unique Bars in Pigeon Forge

Are you tired of your same old neighborhood bar? If so, you’ll have plenty to look forward to among the bars in Pigeon Forge, where it’s not all just about drinking. Many local restaurants embrace unconventional themes to create a unique experience. Take your social escapades to a grill whose servers roast the guests, a bar where pizza and Viking weaponry are the perfect duo, or a craft brewery that feels like an island of Central America in the Smokies!

Dick’s Last Resort

At most restaurants, servers provide guests with an entertaining experience centered around delicious food and drink. At Dick’s Last Resort, the guests are entertainment for the servers! By the time you sit down and get comfortable, your server will have crowned you with a paper hat dishing a hilarious personalized roast about you.

As you order the Country Fry’d Steak, Half Baked Chicky, or Dick’s infamous 12-inch long wiener hot dog, expect to be met with nothing but sarcasm and drollery. Pair your top pick of Southern-inspired American pub fare with a moonshine cocktail, draught beer, or a glass of wine. Or, take the evening to the next level with a gigantic-sized margarita or a round of mixed shooters! If you’re looking for an energetic spot to pre-game the night, laugh until you’re crying into your burger, and catch some live music, bring your sense of humor and fun to Dick’s Last Resort!

Country Roads Axe Co.

Do you have what it takes to be a battle-ready Viking warrior or a ninja with enviable dexterity? At Country Roads Axe Co., you’ll put your ranged attack skills to the test in a competition with your friends. Grab a round of draft beers from the self-serve iPourIt system, and take up a set of real axes at the throwing arena! You and your friends will throw axes, ninja stars and knives to try to win at games like the Zombie Challenge, Axe-Tac-Toe, or traditional bullseye target practice. Plus, playtime makes waiting for your food a breeze. Order a large pizza to share with the group from West by God, a New Haven-style coal-fired pizzeria housed under the same roof. Who knew that pizza and beer could turn you into a true warrior?

Azul Mexican Cantina & Brewery

Take a vacation from your vacation, and escape to a little slice of Central America in the middle of Pigeon Forge! Set to open soon in spring 2022 at The Mountain Mile entertainment center, Azul Mexican Cantina & Brewery is going to be one of the most chic bars in Pigeon Forge, with vibrant multi-colored décor and stunning rooftop views of the mountains to match. Sit down for some authentic Mexican and scratch-made Tex-Mex cuisine in addition to a hand-crafted cocktail of your choice of top-shelf tequilas. Their original Agave spirits and home-brewed cerveza lagers will have you reminiscing about your favorite beach-side memories and gorgeous views of the Smokies.

Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Nightlife

Whether you call yourself a gregarious socialite or you’re looking to get wild tonight, the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg nightlife turns up the heat! Adults over age 21 are invited to splurge on thrilling casino games, rock out to live musical entertainment, and bar-crawl from the best Gatlinburg bars to the hottest Pigeon Forge watering holes. After a casual happy-hour pre-game, these venues will take your nighttime adventures to the next level!

Hard Rock Cafe

Unlike any other restaurant, the Hard Rock Cafe is also part museum and part live music venue. When you visit their Pigeon Forge location, you’ll be dining in good company. A vintage lace dress that belonged to Taylor Swift, a set of riding gloves and coat from Pricilla Presley, a rhinestone skirt worn by Tennessee’s very own Dolly Parton, and other memorabilia from music legends across the eras decorate the entire venue!

Chow down on a signature steakburger, chicken sandwich, or smokehouse BBQ baby back ribs, and keep the beverages flowing with fruity cocktails served in a collectible glass. Once you’re finished digging into deliciousness and nerding out over music history, remember that the party is just about to begin! Hard Rock Cafe always hosts live music events featuring local and touring artists. Check their website to see who’s playing while you’re in town!

The Island in Pigeon Forge

The Island in Pigeon Forge consists of 23 acres of entertainment of all kinds. You could easily spend all day exploring The Island’s shops, rides and attractions, restaurants, and special events. Come nighttime, however, the excitement doesn’t stop!

If margarita-flavored moonshine got your ears to perk up, you’re going to love Margaritaville, where Jimmy Buffet’s fantasy comes to life! The Island is only too appropriate a location for this island-themed restaurant and bar, whose menu features irresistible seafood entrées like crispy coconut shrimp, crab cakes, Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya, fish tacos and jerk salmon. Alternatively, Jimmy himself would be too delighted to share a cheeseburger in paradise with you, such as the cheddar BBQ burger or garlic bacon burger. No matter what, you cannot skimp on the drinks! Only at Margaritaville are there 18 unique margaritas, 17 boat drinks, 5 moonshine cocktails, and even several blended and frozen concoctions awaiting your taste buds.

Ole Smoky Moonshine & Whiskey Distillery

As the sun sets, let your wandering at The Island lead you to Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery at The Barn to relax over a boozy cocktail. If your adventures have taken you to Gatlinburg, then find Ole Smoky Whiskey at The Barrelhouse or go on a distillery tour at The Holler. Ole Smoky Distillery is the first legal distillery in Tennessee, yet their distilling methods and recipes date back over a hundred years. Stop by any day of the week for a moonshine sampling of original Appalachian flavors like Butter Pecan, Shine Nog, Apple Pie, Sour Watermelon, and Strawberry Mango Margarita. You might also catch some live bluegrass music from local musicians!

Gatlinburg Brewing Company

If you’re an aficionado of craft beer, consider getting your evening shenanigans started at a local brewery. Gatlinburg Brewing Company is as local as it gets! Owner and head brewer Steve Wilson was born and raised in Sevier County and proudly continues to provide his hometown with innovative mountain-born flavors. Stay for a dinner of sizzling hot craft pizza at either the Gatlinburg or Sevierville location, and pair it with a carefully selected flight of beers. You’ll definitely want to try the Don’t Feed the Bears English-style brown ale, the A-monk Friends Belgian Strong Dark Ale, and the Mountain Merman Margarita Gose.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

It’s worth the hour’s drive from Gatlinburg in Cherokee, NC, to spend a lively night or two at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. At this Vegas-style entertainment complex, players of all skill levels are welcome to get lucky at games like video slots and fast-paced video poker. More advanced players will find plenty of winnings to go ’round at table games as well, from Blackjack to Craps to Roulette. For a unique experience, immerse yourself in the Asian-inspired “Le Fu Men” gaming space, where Baccarat and Blackjack dominate the floor alongside steaming bowls of noodles from the Noodle Bar.

When you stay at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, you’ll have convenient access to the gaming floor, plus dozens of other amenities. Take a break from gaming for dinner at any of 15 casual to upscale restaurants, or make an appointment at the Mandara Spa to release some tension. Catch live music at the Myst Bar, or take a mini excursion around the shops. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino offers so much entertainment that it could be an entire self-contained vacation!

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When was the last time you felt young and adventurous again? How long has it been since you called your babysitter and went out with friends for a night of shenanigans? It can be so easy to get swept up in the responsibilities and fast pace of everyday life. However, when you give yourself the opportunity and permission to completely let loose for a while, you open the doors to benefits you didn’t know you needed. You’ll make lifelong memories with your best friends, explore new and exciting venues, and get outside your head and immersed in live music. After a weekend-long dance among the bars in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, you’ll return feeling more ready than ever to tackle your goals with a fresh sense of creativity and fun.

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