The Oliver Hotel

Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Knoxville, TN: (2024 Updated)

Search and book Lesbian and Gay friendly hotels Knoxville, TN.

Lesbiangaybisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the United States have evolved in recent decades. However, LGBT Americans may still face some legal and many social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, particularly in states with large conservative populations, such as in the Deep South; in rural areas; and in some Native American tribal nations.

U.S. federal law does not explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are included under “sex” as a prohibited ground of employment discrimination in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Florida may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity became legal in the state after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas on June 26, 2003, and same-sex marriage has been legal in the state since January 6, 2015.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Tennesseans face some legal challenges that non-LGBT Tennesseans do not. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in the state. Marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples in Tennessee since the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.
Knoxville has a long history of being a  gay friendly town and in downtown we can find a few gay friendly bars as well as The Edge or Club XYZ  are the most famous gay bars in Knoxville, TN.
Knoxville is a city on the Tennessee River in eastern Tennessee. Downtown, the Market Square district has 19th-century buildings with shops and restaurants. The Museum of East Tennessee History has interactive exhibits plus regional art, textiles and Civil War artifacts. James White’s Fort, built by the Revolutionary War captain, includes the reconstructed 1786 log cabin that was Knoxville’s first permanent building.

Top attractions to visit in Knoxville

1. The Oliver Hotel 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville

The Oliver Hotel
The Oliver Hotel

Located in Knoxville, a few steps from Market Square, The Oliver Hotel provides accommodations with a restaurant, private parking, a fitness center and a bar. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and a business center, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can have a drink at the snack bar.

At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All units will provide guests with a fridge.

Set in a restored 1876 property overlooking Market Square, this sophisticated boutique hotel is 5 minutes’ walk from the Knoxville Convention Center.

The elegant rooms feature handcrafted furniture, local artwork, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini fridges, and organic coffee and teas. Suites offering separate sitting rooms with pull-out sofas are also available.

An on-site restaurant with open terrace seating serves innovative Southern cuisine and craft cocktails. There’s also a Prohibition-themed bar.

Situated in the heart of Knoxville just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Market Square, The Oliver Hotel is an original expression of the city. Originally built in 1876 as the Peter Kern Bakery, the building had hosted everything from the Kern’s candy counter and soda fountain to a drugstore, and dancing hall. In 2011, the property was renovated into what is now Knoxville’s best boutique hotel with a style that plays tribute to the buildings history, while offering guests rooms with charm, sophistication, and modern amenities.
The property features the Peter Kern Library Bar, a craft cocktail lounge; Tupelo Honey Cafe, an award winning restaurant; and Oliver Royale Restaurant, featuring a chef driven menu and bar.
This was our 2nd stay at the Oliver and both times we were met with excellent service and facilities. Superbly placed just around the corner from Knoxville’s busy Market Square and a block from vibrant Gay Street, The Oliver has a European feel of quaintness and comfort.
Stayed here for a Wednesday & Thursday. Newly refurbished hotel in the old style. On Union Avenue in the old town, a stone’s throw from Market & Gay Streets with their stores and restos. About a half hour walk from the University of Tennessee campus.
Staff were super helpful. Bikes available. Nice intimate bar on premises. Craft brew place next door.

The Oliver is the pinnacle of the boutique hotel experience. From the moment you open the door, you know you are in for a treat. Not only are the staff friendly and helpful, but go above and beyond to make sure your stay is perfect. The Library Bar is a great place to go after hours, albeit a little cramped when it gets busy.

The rooms are pristine and scream “Knoxville”. The beds are very comfortable and cozy, and the lighting is very subtle and easy on the eyes. Room service is great and very convenient.

The hotel is in an incredible location, being downtown in the heart of Knoxville. With inside access to Tupelo Honey and The Oliver Royale, the Oliver is an incredible hub for socializing and eating.

The Market Square is located just outside, and has an abundance of restaurants and bars; not to mention the Regal and Tennessee theaters just down Gay Street.

With everything the Oliver has to offer, from impeccable room service to fantastic location, it is well worth the price. Not to mention a free cocktail at the Royale upon check-in.

If you like city getaways, or just the convenience of being in the middle of all the action, you will love the Oliver. It is my favorite hotel in Knoxville! Large rooms, attentive staff, comfortable beds, roomy seating, luxury from the blinds to the linens and everything in between and all with the charm of a well kept architectural gem.
Personally I recommend 3 things 1 – Make sure to get stop by the speakeasy (the Peter Kern Library) for the best and brightest of local color. Now it is a little cozy, so feel free to expand your roaming to the bars and restaurants on the Square or further out and down Gay Street to catch a movie or a show!
Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville
Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville

How much does a room costs at The Oliver Hotel?

Prices start 183$/night for Deluxe Queen Room. The Presidential Suite is  333$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This suite features a tea/coffee maker, air conditioning and tile/marble floor.

Where to book online – The Oliver Hotel –  Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville – you can find the best hotels deals in Knoxville during Vestival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Knoxville on Booking.com  or   Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

2. The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel 4* – Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville

The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel
The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel

Just 3 blocks away from the fine dining, local shops and entertainment of downtown Knoxville, this hotel offers traditional southern hospitality with contemporary amenities, including an on-site restaurant and bar. Free WiFi is available.

Every room at The Tennessean Hotel provides a 55-inch flat-screen HDTV with premium cable channels and a radio with Bluetooth connectivity. A small refrigerator and coffee machine are also included.

The Drawing Room offers a rotating seasonal menu featuring fresh farm-to-table fare. Guests can enjoy a European breakfast in the morning or hand-crafted cocktails, fine liquor and small plates in the evening.

The 24-hour front desk concierge service is available to assist in providing insights and resources for experiencing all the city has to offer.

In a building dating from the 1982 World’s Fair, this polished, modern hotel is a 7-minute walk from restaurants and shops in Market Square, 1 mile from Interstate 40 and 37 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The unfussy rooms provide flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, in addition to coffeemakers, mini fridges and pillow-top mattresses. Some offer city views. Suites add sofabeds; 1-bedroom suites have separate living rooms. An upgraded suite features a fireplace, a piano and butler service. Room service is available 24 hours.

There’s an elegant restaurant/bar with an old-world vibe, plus an indoor pool and a gym.

Luxuriant guest rooms are appointed with plush amenities and authentic East Tennessee furnishings. Within walking distance of over 75 restaurants and bars, downtown, and the University of Tennessee.

THE TENNESSEAN Personal Luxury Hotel is East Tennessee’s first personal luxury hotel, recently opened in April 2017. Butler-trained servers and concierge agents anticipate the guest’s every need. Our 82 luxuriant guest rooms are appointed with plush amenities and authentic East Tennessee furnishings. Within walking distance of over 75 restaurants and bars, downtown, and the University of Tennessee.

Beautiful boutique hotel with staff that is friendly and knowledgeable. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed. The drawing room is a beautiful place to have breakfast, a casual dinner or a night cap. It’s an easy walk to Gay street / marketplace.

This hotel truly offers 5 star excellence. The service is impeccable. The highest level of professionalism and hospitality was displayed throughout our stay consistently- from the valet to the concierge to the front desk staff to housekeeping- especially housekeeping.

For those planning a visit, there is lots to do near and around the hotel. A complimentary shuttle service runs periodically and will take you within a 3 mile radius. The market square area offers a variety of restaurants and stores- a short 7 minute walk! There is also an interesting sculpture garden near Market Square with creative and contemporary works of art. I recommend the French Market Patisserie for a yummy breakfast. Nearby Gay street is a beautiful backdrop for dinner and shopping.

The hotel is about two blocks or so from the market and Gay street with many restaurants. We did the Knoxville music walking tour (interesting) learning about the musical history of the city. Stop by the visitor center and see the WDVX radio station, great Americana! Also checked out the history museum and the Mountain Dew exhibit.

What truly gives this review the 5th star is the staff. Genuinely friendly and a few of them impacted our stay going above expectations.

The hotel also provides a free shuttle to anywhere within a three mile radius which is a nice touch and was readily available whenever we needed it. The decor and room are well appointed and the TV includes streaming services. The location is good in that Knoxville is a small town so everything is walkable. However, it is not as central as other comparable hotels as it is a 10-15 minute walk to market square and Gay Street.

We love the Tennessean Hotel in Knoxville. It is the perfect location and close to the UT campus, Market Square, Gay Street, etc. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the Drawing room. The rooms are very nice with great amenities. The bathrooms are nice and have real shower doors and not shower curtains! The hotel is really new and you can tell! It’s wonderful. We will definitely stay here every time we visit.

Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville
Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville

How much does a room costs at The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel?

Prices start 167$/night for King Room. The One-Bedroom Suite with City View is  418$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

Featuring panoramic views of downtown Knoxville, this spacious suite includes a separate living room area with a sofa bed and complimentary WiFi.

Where to book online – The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel-  Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville TN – you can find the best hotels deals in Knoxville during Vestival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Knoxville on Booking.com  or   Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

3. Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown 3* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Knoxville

Hyatt Place Knoxville:Downtown
Hyatt Place Knoxville:Downtown

Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown has a restaurant, fitness centre, a bar and shared lounge in Knoxville. Boasting family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation features evening entertainment and a 24-hour front desk.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a microwave, a coffee machine, a bath or shower, a hairdryer and a desk. At the hotel, the rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries.

Guests at Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown can enjoy an American breakfast.

Offering views of the Great Smoky Mountains, this modern hotel on a buzzy downtown street is adjacent to the Tennessee Theater, an 8-minute walk from the Sunsphere observation tower and 1 mile from Interstate 40.

The bright rooms come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, along with microwaves, mini fridges and coffeemakers. All have sofa beds. Suites add separate living rooms. Upgraded rooms feature mountain views.

Amenities include a chic cafe/bar, a 24-hour diner/deli and a Starbucks coffee shop with a terrace, along with gym. There are also event spaces and a rooftop terrace with mountain views.

Explore Knoxville’s bustling downtown from this historic hotel. Start the day with a beverage from our onsite Starbucks and breakfast options in our Gallery Kitchen. Maintain your routine on-the-go with the 24/7 StayFit Gym – complete with a yoga room. Stay productive with free Wi-Fi and keep your energy up with 24/7 on-site dining.

Explore Knoxville’s bustling downtown from this historic hotel. Start the day with a beverage from our onsite Starbucks and breakfast options in our Gallery Kitchen. Maintain your routine on-the-go with the 24/7 StayFit Gym – complete with a yoga room. Stay productive with free Wi-Fi and keep your energy up with 24/7 on-site dining.

Hotel was easy to find and had convenient valet or self parking options that were reasonable prices for the area. Lots of dining and shopping within walking distance. I was greeted promptly and everyone was friendly and helpful. I was informed of hotel amenities. Room was spacious, clean, and had everything you could need in a stay. One of the most comfortable beds I’ve experienced at hotel in a while. I liked the large walk-in shower and ample amount of towels. Breakfast was a nice perk.

Extremely satisfied. Rooms were spacious and clean. All the staff were courteous went above and beyond to please. Lobby and lounge area were welcoming and comfortable. Centrally located in the downtown area, within walking distance to many attractions and restaurants. Room rates were reasonable considering the central location. Very pleasant experience. Would definitely stay again.

Lovely “boutique-style” property in a renovated historic building. Outdoor rooftop bar with fire tables and lounge-style seating (weather permitting), as well as a casually elegant inside lounge on the same level. Nice lobby bar and lobby seating also. Location is wonderful with many nice restaurants and bars within a few blocks. Theaters within a few blocks also, when they open again.

This hotel is very convenient to everything downtown. Great restaurants within walking distance. Fabulous rooftop bar. Friendly, helpful employees. Very secure building. Large rooms and very reasonable price.

The location to downtown restaurants and the Market Square area could not be beat. Very short and easy walk. Hotel was very quiet when we checked in. Rooms appeared to be very clean and were spacious (we had two queens with the couch). The AC in the room was kind of loud as well as noises from hallway or other rooms, but that seems pretty typical of most hotels these days.

Beautiful new hotel, perfect location in downtown Knoxville. Very spacious king size room, nice bar/lounge area. Convenient attached Starbucks. Great staff, clean rooms.

Our room was on the 8th floor. Very quiet and clean. The bed was so comfortable!

You are right in the middle of the action by Market Square and the famous Tennessee Theater, but you won’t hear anything from the room. It was an easy walk to dinner and breakfast. They actually had a pretty good breakfast bar, but we felt like having a cajun meal at the Ruby Sunshine cafe.

This one exceeds expectations. It’s beautiful inside – the lobby and the rooms. Breakfast is free and fancier than most hotels where breakfast is included. The oatmeal has quite a few things you can add to it if you like. And the fruit was amazing – pineapples, blueberries, strawberries. Super friendly staff at the front desk.

Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville Tennessee
Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville Tennessee

How much does a room costs at Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown?

Prices start 125$/night for King Room. The King Room with View is  133$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This family room features a microwave, flat-screen TV and air conditioning.

Where to book online – Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown –  Gay Friendly Hotels Knoxville Tennessee  – you can find the best hotels deals in Knoxville during Vestival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Knoxville on Booking.com  or   Agoda.com  or Hotelscombined.com  and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

by Sorin

Sorin is a freelance travel writer. He is an experienced travel writer and traveller. Since 2012 he explored more than 60 countries on 4 continents: Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Currently is based in Romania after spending the last 7 years in Myanmar.