Located in Gatlinburg’s old world-themed ‘Village’ complex, the Donut Friar has been baking breads, pastries and, of course, donuts for visitors to the city since 1969. Over more than 45 years of service, the bakery has been a staple of the area, responsible for the almost irresistible smell of cinnamon and fresh baking that permeates the area. As well as serving every kind of classic donut imaginable, they offer freshly brewed coffee, making the Donut Friar the ideal choice from a midday pick-me-up, and a first choice destination for anyone looking to overcome a sudden pastry craving.

Be sure to grab freshly pulled taffy from Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen and from-scratch Donut Friar doughnuts to snack on, too. After your hike, venture back to town and browse the European-style shops of The Village before sitting down to the house-smoked barbeque at Hungry Bear. Later, sample the legendary local spirits with apple-pie and peach moonshine tastings at “The Holler” Distillery, catch some toe-tapping live music, and then stroll back to your luxury hotel or rustic cabin under the star-studded Tennessee sky.

Recently named the best donut shop in Tennessee by Southern Living Magazine, the Donut Friar is a local staple and longtime bringer of sweet, fried goodness to the Gatlinburg community. This cash-only business doesn't even have a website (only a Facebook page), yet you'll be hard pressed to find anyone within 50 square miles who hasn't heard of (or visited) it. You might think that donuts don't constitute a full breakfast, but with 30 varieties to choose from, along with fresh loaves of cinnamon bread and other seasonal treats, you'll be anything but hungry when you exit their doors.

Breakfast is where the town's culinary prowess truly shines, with long-standing staples like Crockett's Breakfast Camp, Pancake Pantry and The Donut Friar serving up brunch favorites and sweet treats from sunrise into the afternoon. Recent visitors praised the breakfast platter at Crockett's Breakfast Camp, which comes served in a cast iron skillet, but others didn't find the food worth the sometimes long wait for a table. However, other travelers pointed out that the wait may be just as long at Pancake Pantry, though worth the delicious breakfast.

Open daily at 5 a.m., folks line up early for the delectable donuts, pastries, and cinnamon bread served at The Donut Friar. One six original stores at The Village Shoppes, a grouping of 27 unique businesses nestled together on Parkway, The Donut Friar opened in 1969 and is still owned by the same family today. Serving both cake and yeast donuts in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, the only problem you could possibly have once you smell these little bites of heaven is deciding how many to take home.

For one of the best views of the Smokies, check out the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park in the early evening before sunset for majestic mountain views. The SkyLift will take you up 500 vertical feet to the top of Crockett Mountain where you can hop off onto the SkyDeck to capture the moment. You can also walk across the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, before riding the lift back down the mountain to where you started.

Although there are other spots in town to grab your kids a donut, The Donut Friar is the best around. The Friar Favorite, a chocolate-frosted, cream-filled donut, will give your kids enough energy to hike up any trail, while the rainbow sprinkle donuts are a big hit with the toddler set. Hot cider, coffee and hot chocolate will keep the whole family warm on a crisp morning, or you can hop around the corner to Coffee & Co for one of the best lattes in town.

No trip to Gatlinburg is complete without a meal at legendary local restaurant Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, where Big Tennessee French Toast, hen fruit (eggs), candied apple waffles and thick griddle cakes are well worth the wait for a table. Pancake lovers don’t need to worry about running out of options: Gatlinburg is home to seven different pancake restaurants, including Pancake Pantry, which opened in 1960. Sit-down dining and takeout are available.

To get this brand-new year started off in the right direction, HeySmokies has compiled a list of the 17 Best Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains 2017 Winter Edition!. There are some things that you can only enjoy in the Smokies during winter, so don’t let this wondrous season pass you by. On the list, you’ll find some of our tried and true favorites along with a few new places that we’re looking forward to exploring and hope you will too!

If you are looking for a grab-and-go breakfast in Gatlinburg, or you simply want to start your day off with a sweet treat, then The Donut Friar is the best place to go. This tiny bakery is located inside The Village in Gatlinburg — which is practically a small town within the city of Gatlinburg itself. Inside this charming village that is modeled after an Appalachian town, you will find The Donut Friar serving fresh pastries on a daily basis.

If your sweet tooth hits hard during the morning, feel free to stop by The Donut Friar, where you’ll find a variety of classics, along with cinnamon bread, pastries, and more. Conveniently situated within The Village Shops, this is the perfect spot to kick off an exciting day of shopping — or to take a break when you need to recharge. Opening bright and early at 5 am, this shop has what it takes to get you out of the bed in the morning.

Swing by The Donut Friar, located in The Village Shops in Gatlinburg, where the smell of freshly baked donuts and pastries practically pulls you in. Their cinnamon bread is legendary, and they fill their eclairs with creamy, sweet goodness that keeps folks coming back for more. After a long day hiking, there’s nothing like treating yourself to a little slice of heaven from a shop that’s been serving the area for more than 55 years.

One of 27 boutique shops and restaurants located in a Bavarian-themed shopping center known as The Village, The Donut Friar is renowned for its fluffy pastries and morning pick-me-ups. Offerings range from traditional yeast donuts to European-style sweets like eclairs, crullers, and danishes. Make sure to wash your donut down with a latte or cappuccino — the coffee here is every bit as tasty as the baked goods.

Sniff the air–smell the tempting aromas of cinnamon, sugar, and chocolate wafting out of this small coffee and pastry shop in The Village Shops!. The Donut Friar bakes a vast range of fresh donuts on-site daily, including glazed and cake donuts, crullers, and the Friar’s locally loved cinnamon bread. You’ll need a latte, cappuccino, drip coffee, or your favorite coffee drink to accompany your sweet indulgence.

Coffee and donuts are a combination that make us all happy just thinking about the popular food and drink. Also located in The Village, ​The Donut Friar​ opens every morning at 5, so you can get there before the rush of donut fans and get a hot cup of joe too!. Nothing warms the body and soul better than your favorite hot beverage getting dipped in by some of the best donuts in the entire Smoky Mountains!

With over 40 years of experience, this Gatlinburg institution has been making mouth watering doughnuts that are out of this world. Please Note: Cabins USA LLC's, hereinafter referred to as Cabins USA, area information, area events, and blog pages are provided as a public service. Cabins USA does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or businesses referenced in these web pages.

The Donut Friar is an unquestioned favorite bakery in Gatlinburg among both residents and visitors!. Located in The Village Shops in downtown Gatlinburg, The Donut Friar has been serving up delicious donuts, world-famous cinnamon bread, cinnamon rolls, crullers and eclairs since 1969!. The friendly staff here starts preparing these treats before the shop opens bright and early at 5 a.m.

If you’ve ever been to the Smokies then there’s a great chance that you’ve already been to the Donut Friar and fallen in love with both their coffee and pastries. Located in the heart of The Village Shops, this little shop is one of the most visited local businesses in town. However, in the early hours of the morning it’s a quiet and quaint location for embracing the start of your day.

The Donut Friar has been frying up amazing donuts since 1969. This is the only donut shop that made our list because it is by far the best one in town!. A quick, hot donut is one of our breakfast favorites because we are on the go when we are in town and don’t often sit down to eat a big meal at breakfast time, although usually on the morning we are headed home we will do that.

Hidden away in the Village Shopping Center in Downtown Gatlinburg, you’ll find this adorable little cafe that has been serving up fresh donuts to locals and tourists alike since 1969. Donut Friar is famous for offering these tasty treats at an unbelievably affordable price!. Their donuts range in price between $0.97 and $1.14, making them cheaper than corporate donut chains!

If you’re looking for a quick and delicious breakfast in Gatlinburg, you can’t beat The Donut Friar !. Tucked away in The Village Shops off of the Parkway, this amazing bakery is famous for its donuts, pastries, cinnamon bread, and excellent coffee. Open every day starting at 5 a.m., The Donut Friar is a favorite destination for shoppers and people watchers on The Strip.

Since most of the other breakfast spots on this list don’t open until 7 A.M. or later, that makes this charming little shop the perfect stop for tummies that start grumbling even before the sun rises. A breakfast bakery famous especially for its donuts, the shop serves fan-favorite flavors such as glazed, chocolate, rainbow, cinnamon, powdered, coconut, and eclair.

With made-fresh-daily donuts and some of the best coffee in Downtown Gatlinburg, Donut Friar has been pleasing crowds since 1969. Grab-and-go or savor the morning – and the sweet treats – with your little ones in the courtyard of this gem nestled in The Village Shops. Cash only (but priced right and always delicious) this stop is worth putting on repeat.

Let’s face it, a vacation of fun-filled adventure and good eats in Gatlinburg (or anywhere else) is no vacation at all if it doesn’t conclude with a well-deserved treat at the end of the day. What could be more perfect than a freshly made donut?. The aromas of donuts, cinnamon bread, and pastries drifting from Donut Friar are impossible to resist.

Donut Fair, owned by Carolyn and James Ryan is the perfect place for treating your tastebuds to delightful goodies. Tucked away in the middle of Downtown Gatlinburg, the family-owned donut business has been serving freshly baked donuts to locals and tourists since 1969. In fact, it is among the oldest family-owned donut businesses in Tennessee.

Address: 634 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738Hours: Open daily 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Located in the heart of Gatlinburg, just steps from the main strip, the Donut Friar is a beloved local bakery that's been serving up sweet treats since 1969. This family-owned gem is tucked away in The Village shopping area, creating a cozy, old-world atmosphere.

For all you early risers, The Donut Friar is the place for you. As early as 5 a.m., you’ll be able to smell the sweet aroma of handmade donuts, breads, and coffee throughout the streets of downtown Gatlinburg. Located in The Village Shops, The Donut Friar is the perfect place to stop while you’re exploring all that Gatlinburg has to offer.

If you want to experience a unique restaurant with local flair but don’t want to travel too far, the Donut Friar is an excellent choice. This tiny local donut shop is nestled in The Village Shops, right off the Parkway. Despite its proximity to attractions, this restaurant is beloved by locals and tourists who found it over the years.

For a truly phenomenal, fresh made donut you can’t find anywhere else, the Donut Friar is a must do during your Smoky Mountain vacation. This one-of-a-kind shop located in The Villages Shops of downtown Gatlinburg offers the best in made from scratch donuts, cinnamon bread, and pastries daily. They open at 5 am, for you early risers.

The Donut Friar is tucked away on the parkway in Gatlinburg, TN. They are known for their donuts- which have been rated on Yelp as the best donuts in Tennesee- but they also have awesome coffee. This little shop will keep you coming back time and time again for a sweet treat and a yummy caffeine boost!. Think we missed something?

Take time to relax by the fountain or pick up breakfast at The Donut Friar and chat with friends as you take in the morning at one of the cafe tables. During the spring months, you’ll find stunning rhododendron blooms around every corner and during the holiday season, you’ll be convinced that you’ve walked into a Hallmark movie.

The Donut Friar has been an institution in Gatlinburg since 1970!. Located in The Village shopping complex behind the Pancake Pantry, this legendary bakery is famous for its irresistible donuts. Made fresh each morning, the Friar’s donuts are melt-in-your-mouth good and come in a variety of flavors, including Bavarian cream ...

We will have to apply some flexibility to the term ‘restaurant’ to fit this one in the list, but it is definitely a place you should know about. The Donut Friar is engrained into the culture of this town, as it has been since opening in 1969. Not much else to say here, except the donuts are some of the best you will ever find.

Donut Friar not only offers scrumptious donuts with sprinkles and icing, but also cinnamon rolls, French crullers, and cinnamon twists. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee while the kids quench their thirsts with milk or juice while dining at Donut Friar, located in Gatlinburg, just minutes from your Smoky Mountain vacation rental.

Located in The Village, this amazing donut shop serves a variety of melt in your mouth pastries. Visitors come from far and wide to taste The Friar’s Bavarian cream donuts, eclairs, chocolate crullers, apple pillows, and freshly baked cinnamon bread. Perfect for early risers, The Donut Friar opens each morning at 5 a.m.

The Donut Friar—Also in The Village Shops, you can find The Donut Friar, a small shop with irresistible aromas spilling out its door. Freshly made donuts, cinnamon bread, and pastries are the perfect companions to your fresh-brewed cup of coffee. You might also try a cappuccino or latte made just the way you like it.

This café and dessert shop will leave you with feelings of nostalgia. They prepare their donuts right in front of your eyes and many people have said that the donuts they create are “old fashioned” and that is why they return year after year. Their featured donut, The Cinnamon Cake Donut has received rave reviews!.

Although the Donut Friar isn’t a traditional sit-down restaurant, it is one of the most popular places to get breakfast in the Smokies. This shop is renowned for its melt-in-your-mouth donuts, freshly baked cinnamon bread, and delicious coffee. Be sure to bring cash, as the Donut Friar does not accept credit cards.

The sweet scent of cooking donuts wafts out the door of the Donut Friar, a small shop with a big reputation for Gatlinburg’s freshest donuts and pastries. With more than 30 varieties, heaped with cinnamon, coconut, chocolate and more, everyone in your family will find a favorite. Enjoy them on your cabin’s deck.

Last, and CERTAINLY not least, a MUST visit is The Donut Friar. I started going there daily at the age of 14 when I got my first job. I’m only 21 now (just disregard any pictures of me you see on the internet.) The Donut Friar is not only one of the best craft donut shops in East Tennessee, but in the Southeast.

If you want to start your morning with a sweet treat, visit The Donut Friar in The Village for breakfast in Gatlinburg. Donuts aren’t the most traditional breakfast meal, but they are very tasty and a great way to start your day!. Plus, you can take them with you on the go to get an earlier start to your day!

The Donut Friar is absolutely one of the best places to eat in Gatlinburg TN when it comes to sweets. Whether you want a classic glazed donut, one filled with cream or jelly, or another type of pastry, you’ll find it here!. Pair your sweet of choice with coffee, hot chocolate, or tea, and you’re ready to go!

Donut Friar - This is a good spot when you’ve already eaten an early breakfast at your Gatlinburg cabin, but want a breakfast time treat. Noted for donuts that are not too sweet, they are a local favorite. Made from scratch each day, they do not come in a dizzying variety but are instead made to perfection.

Donut Friar serves up more than just delicious donuts but specialty coffee as well!. Their coffee menu is not as large as some of the other coffee shops in Gatlinburg TN, but still offers tasty options. The coffee menu includes lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos which pairs well with one of their pastries.

You’ll feel like you’re strolling through a European village when you visit The Village Shops in Gatlinburg. This charming collection of 27 shops will have unique gift items not found in every shop back home. You’ll find everything from trekking poles to candles to monogrammed items to Celtic gifts.

For a quick grab-and-go breakfast, try out the Donut Friar for some delicious donuts and coffee. Especially for those early rise-and-shiners, the Donut Friar opens at 5 am every day. As well as donuts, try the delicious cinnamon bread or one of the pastries available such as the chocolate eclair.

The Village Shops in downtown Gatlinburg are a great place to go shopping. The area is also home to one of the city’s most recognized bakeries: The Donut Friar. If you’re walking around in the Village you won’t be able to resist the wafting aromas of fresh doughnuts, cinnamon bread and pastries.

If you’re a donut fanatic, there’s no better place to go for breakfast than the Donut Friar. This popular shop is located in The Village Shops in Gatlinburg and is known for having the sweetest treats in town. The smells from chocolate glazed donuts to cinnamon twists are impossible to resist.

A beloved bakery and iconic spot in Gatlinburg, The Donut Friar offers fresh homemade donuts and delicious coffee beverages. Classic favorites include their glaze, chocolate-iced, and powdered sugar donuts. They also serve specialty flavors like cinnamon sugar and jelly-filled donuts.

The Donut Friar, Gatlinburg – I will forgo food just to eat one of two of these donuts. The shop is darling and nestled into a tiny shopping area. Follow the brick road, off the main street in touristy Gatlinburg, to get to this cozy shop where the donuts are freshly prepared.

The Donut Friar features a coffee bar with coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino, and other coffee drinks!. The quality of the coffee makes this coffee shop in Gatlinburg TN one of the best around!. That aroma you’ve been sensing is that of delicious baked goods made fresh daily!

The Donut Friar might be known for its donuts, but they have a good selection of specialty drinks as well. They offer mochas, cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos. They tend to be on the sweet side, but it’s a delicious pairing with their sweet treats and famous cinnamon bread.

The Donut Friar might be known for its donuts, but they have a good selection of specialty drinks as well. They offer mochas, cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos. They tend to be on the sweet side, but it's a delicious pairing with their sweet treats and famous cinnamon bread.

The Donut Friar is nestled in The Village Shops just off the Parkway in Downtown Gatlinburg. Not only do they have an incredible selection of donuts, but The Donut Friar also has cinnamon bread and other pastries to tempt you (as well as cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso).

Then head over to The Donut Friar, located in The Village Shops. This cozy bakery has been serving up handcrafted donuts, pastries, and coffee for over 50 years. Savor their melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon sugar donuts or indulge in their chocolate-dipped cream-filled éclairs.

Satisfy your sweet tooth and caffeine cravings at Donut Friar!. With locations in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, they offer a delightful combination of freshly made donuts and a variety of coffee drinks. It's the perfect stop for a delicious and satisfying coffee break.

As you’re strolling along the Gatlinburg Strip and that sweet craving hits, you’ll want to head to The Village Shops to The Donut Friar !. This is one of the most popular sweet shops in the area. They have all kinds of tasty donuts, from classic glazed to boston creams.

Carolyn and James Ryan moved to Gatlinburg in 1969 and opened The Donut Friar. A happy little donut-serving holy man was somehow perfect for The Village’s European sensibilities. For generations, the Ryans have served fresh donuts of all kinds.

While coffee isn’t in the name of The Donut Friar, this shop still serves delicious coffee!. You can get an espresso, cappuccino, or latte if you want a regular drink. They also have specialty drinks, including the cafe mocha and the snickers.

Nothing beats the smell of freshly made doughnuts and coffee in the morning. If you wake up craving something sweet, there is no better place to go than The Donut Friar . This shop is located in The Village in Gatlinburg and opens at 5 a.m.

For a quick on-the-go breakfast, you must go to the Donut Friar. They have the best donuts we’ve ever eaten – lightly crisp exterior with a soft, airy interior. If you have time for a more leisurely breakfast, don’t miss the Pancake Pantry.

Open at 5 am every morning in The Village in downtown Gatlinburg, this historic shop is in the touristy area but it is a historical staple in town. It has been slinging donuts since 1970. All donuts range from $0.97-$1.14 each.

There are three options when it comes to scenic gondola/chair lifts, in Downtown Gatlinburg. Which one is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. From our experience, Sky Lift Park is the most chill of the three.

When you visit The Village, you can admire artwork at the Lamplight Gallery or the Thomas Kinkade Gallery, pick up a sweet snack at The Village Cafe & Creamery or The Donut Friar, or simply sit for a spell on a bench.

Get some great desserts at The Donut Friar in The Village in Gatlinburg!. You will smell the shop before you see it!. The shop has a great variety of donuts, so everyone will be able to find something they love.

The Donut Friar in The Village is a local favorite (walking around the village is fun too). Other good eats include the Smoky Mountain Brewery, The Peddler & Pancake Pantry, and The Apple Barn.

If you have a sweet tooth, The Donut Friar in the downtown Village Shops has you covered. Their artisanal donuts are great for breakfast, brunch, or just a sugar rush as you shop.

Coffee & Co (in the Village, beside Donut Friar) is hands-down my favorite place. They brew Vienna Coffee Co coffee, which is locally roasted in Maryville. Highly recommend them!

If doughnuts are your jam, the Donut Friar is the place to go. Located in the The Village shops in Gatlinburg, the Donut Friar offers unique options daily starting at 5 a.m.

Come to The Village in Gatlinburg and get a sweet treat at The Donut Friar!. Get a glazed donut or one with chocolate frosting. If you can’t choose just one, get both!

Delicious donuts, pastries, and cinnamon bread made fresh daily on the premises. Exceptional cappuccino, Lattés and espresso. Located off the Parkway in The Village.

Another one of the local restaurants in Gatlinburg you will want to check out for breakfast is the Donut Friar , which is located in The Village.

Take the kids downtown Gatlinburg to The Donut Friar for glazed donuts, crullers, eclairs, cinnamon rolls, and their popular cinnamon bread.