As a valued member of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, this fairly new Gatlinburg coffee shop is now considered the top-rated coffee shop in the entire Gatlinburg area. Offering a rustic feel perfect for the area, the Painted Bear Coffee Co. is housed in a log-cabin building that pays homage to a Tennessee Mountain home from yesteryear with some modern accouterments.
Along with amazing coffee, there are homemade soaps, pine needle baskets, and an entire gift gallery with art, wooden furniture, immune support items, and much more available for purchase. Don’t forget about the delicious bakery treats that are also available for purchase at this quaint coffee shop. As well as a great deal of local knowledge about the area that guests can get from the owners and staff members, all of whom belong to the same family.
There are many shops, especially in the ultra-popular, often visited Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg areas. Painted Bear Coffee Co. is a favorite of locals and provides a cozy relaxing atmosphere and employs expert baristas. Therefore, this is a coffee shop that is beloved not just by those who come to visit the area as tourists but also by those who call it home.
In addition to scrumptious baked goods and crafts you can purchase, The Painted Bear Coffee Co. also offers Yerba Mate. It is a type of tea from South America from the jungles of Brazil. The owners of this coffee shop state that the Yerba Mate often becomes the favorite for regulars once they give it a try once. The tea creates an elevated level of energy without the huge swings or jitters that coffee can sometimes cause.
At The Painted Bear Coffee Co., guests can get all sorts of hot coffees. Including drip coffee, Americano, lattes with a choice of flavors, cappuccino, red eye, and caramel macchiato. Additionally, moocha in either a dark or white, flat white, steamer with a choice of flavor, along with hot chocolate, chai latte, and herbal tea. Cold drink options include the iced latte, iced coffee, iced matcha latte, iced chai latte, and the mocha frappe in either dark or white.
The specials rotate on a seasonal basis as do the baked goods that are available. Several guests mentioned the cute bear cake pops. Perfectly themed for the mountains, and the beloved black bear residing in the Smoky Mountains. Other bakery goods that you can expect when visiting include items like a danish, bagel, cinnamon roll, muffin, french croissant, and more.
Guests rave about the family-owned coffee shop and how helpful, and friendly they are to guests in the area along with those who call Gatlinburg home. They also mention the variety of coffees being unique with options that some guests said they had never tried before. On another interesting note, the wood used to construct this relaxing, welcoming coffee shop was previously used in the construction of the Gatlinburg Hotel.
In addition to the delicious coffee options that expand beyond the typical fare, especially for a coffee shop in a tourist area, the art that is on display throughout the shop and is available for purchase was painted by the coffee shop owner. The man and wife owners are immensely talented. Not only in creating superb drinks but in creating a relaxing space full of beautiful art.
When visiting The Painted Bear Coffee Co., come in and enjoy the rich aromas of baked goods and freshly brewed coffee. Enjoy the beautiful art and handmade crafts in the shop. Then take your drink outside and sit on the covered porch and watch the world go by while you relax and unwind.
Insider Tips:
-The owners lovingly built this shop, repurposing materials and creating a new space, rich with history and designed for relaxation.
-The large tea selection is one difference between this and other coffee shops.
-Many guests note that not only are the drinks and treats here wonderful, but they are also fairly priced.