Jordan W.
Yelp
Every once in a while you come across a cocktail bar that is so fun, so chic, and so unexpected that it changes everything. Half-tiki bar, half-cocktail lounge, Tern Club did that for me on my recent visit, and I find myself wanting to plan my next trip to Knoxville as soon as possible simply to visit this spot again. We visited on a recent Sunday evening, and felt immediately at home surrounded by this spot's lavishly decorated interior and quaint but well-curated collection of retro tchotchkes and knick-knacks. Their humorous and expertly assembled menu reads like a book- a really, really good book. I went with the Melonaire Matchmaker, a watermelon tequila punch with a kick, whereas she had the Blue Hotel, this spot's take on the classic pornstar martini. Whereas mine was great, hers was the main attraction- a light turquoise, passionfruit and vanilla blend that tasted as creamy as it looked, and served elegantly with a sidecar of Prosecco. It is one of the best drinks I've tasted all year and literally beats any tiki drink I've had in New York, Atlanta, or dare I say, Honolulu. Tiki bars seem a dime a dozen nowadays, but Tern Club is an entirely unexpected Knoxville treat, and worth a trip all on its own.