Where is it?
As the name would suggest, this TGR is in Marble City. For those of you that are highway-inclined, it is in the little swath of land bounded on 3 sides by 40 to the north, 129 to the east and 11 to the south. Those that prefer landmarks, if you are coming towards downtown Knoxville from the west (on Sutherland Ave) it is down the street past Albright Grove Brewing, but if you hit Tyson Park you’ve gone too far.
It is visible from the road, but parking is a little tricky – there is a sign that will direct you down Seamen St and back behind the building, where there is a parking lot.
When is it open?
They are open 7a-7p Monday through Friday, 8a-7p Saturday and Sunday, making them one of the popular Sunday spots as not many are open in the area. They are open for indoor seating, but you can order to go items from their site here. For updates, check out their Instagram (@thegoldenroastcoffee).
The Menu - What Are They Known For?
This shop is a strong contender for “most unique” drinks around. We have been a few times, but overall I have to say they are about 2 things: 1. Of course, their custom drip coffee roasts, and 2. Aesthetic lattes. Our highlights were the candy corn latte (yes, topped with real candy corn, see the first picture in this post), the Rudolph’s Ruby (white chocolate, cinnamon, and cherry), and Christmas Vacation (eggnog latte with holiday blend espresso). Can you tell we enjoy holiday drinks?
I know all coffee roasts can be considered subjective to your taste, but don’t sleep on the chance to take home some of their ground coffee – they have tons of options.
They also have food options for breakfast AND lunch: yogurt, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and more. We would recommend their cheddar bacon biscuit. For those who like the looks of the shop, but not necessarily coffee, they have tea options.
What's the space like?
The Golden Roast definitely has a sense of style. The inside has unique stone floors, wood and marble work surfaces as well as wooden support beams, a mix of leather, plush and metal seating areas. The main features of the space (walls, ceiling, coffee bar) are black and white, with teal accents in furniture throughout. It leaves the area feeling large enough and yet “home-y”, the kind of place where I want to shrug off my work and grab a good book.
Inside, there is room for about 30. Outside, there is an ample patio in front, complete with fire pit, with seating for about 20. This is an ideal place for chilly fall coffee chats with friends.
Is it a good work space?
HUGE UPDATE: this is a resounding “yes” now! They found the wifi issue below and fixed it, congrats to them on their persistence. I’m going the leave the following sentences for a little while, so that those who have had issues in the past know they aren’t crazy and also know it has been FIXED: Let me say yes, but with one important caveat: something is up with their internet connection. This is a great coffee shop and we have had many a work session here, but on multiple occasions and even at their other location (The Golden Roast Melrose) the same issue presents itself (I am only a moderately techy person, but I couldn’t fix it after a solid hour of trying). So just as a friendly warning, some websites will randomly not load, giving errors like “IP address could not be found”. I am guessing this is some issue with their internet provider, but I though it important to include because we have seen UT students unable to access certain content they needed before.That being said, I would estimate 80% of the sites I tried to visit had no problem.
The wifi is strong, and there are some perimeter outlets available. Seating options are plenty – bar-style seating, plush chairs, tables large and small. They are typically playing alternative music.
Our Experience
As I stated earlier, we keep coming back for both the space, the fact that they have good Sunday hours, and above all, the creativity in coffee drinks. Two of the most out-there drinks we have had are their Kookaburra (Bavarian chocolate cold brew, Ghiradelli chocolate sauce, coconut syrup, and half-n-half) and the Seaside Sunrise (pineapple juice, blue curacao, and espresso) and if you’re curious, you should try both.
Other things to do in the area
If you’re digging The Golden Roast’s brews, but want to be closer to campus, check out The Golden Roast – Melrose.
Need less pumpkin spice and more suds? Albright Grove Brewing Company is just down the road.
Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
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