Looking for a hot, fresh breakfast? Stop by The Atrium in Gatlinburg before you spend the day exploring. The Atrium has been a Gatlinburg staple for upwards of 20 years, and it’s a favorite local breakfast spot. Serving up a good variety of breakfast favorites from a kitchen that still believes in home cooking, The Atrium has something for everyone – but their specialty is pancakes. Portions here are huge – come hungry or with a crew.
Images courtesy of The Atrium
The Food
Breakfast at The Atrium is served every day until 2 pm (from 7:30 am), so even if you sleep in you won’t miss the window for the breakfast you’ve been craving. Whether you order up the baked apple pancakes or the M&M pancakes, you won’t be disappointed by the fluffy, golden discs that arrive at your table piping hot; in fact, you’ll find such a wide array of pancake options on the menu that you might find yourself coming back again and again to sample more of their offerings.
Expect very generous serving sizes; sharing isn’t out of the question here. If you’re more interested in protein than loading up on pure pancakes, the Atrium also offers the full spectrum of eggs, including eggs Benedict, breakfast meats, omelets and more. One of the most-requested combo plates, the Happy Hiker, features eggs, bacon or sausage, and either pancakes or waffles to round out the plate. The kitchen here knows about bacon and doesn’t skimp on the meat portion. But you can also get vegetarian and vegan here.
Balance out your pancakes with home fries or grits, and you’ll be in breakfast heaven. Is it a lot of carbs? Yes. Is it worth it? Again, yes. It’s hard to go wrong with the offerings here. No matter what you choose, you’ll be set for a first meal of the day before exploring all that the Gatlinburg area has to offer.
Though the breakfast is consistently good, The Atrium’s lunch menu offers an excellent variety of familiar options as well. From chicken strips to BLT’s to burgers, you’ll find it here–served up promptly, with a smile. You won’t find any out-of-this-world dishes; this isn’t a specialty brunch destination. But you will find a quick, casual meal, good cup of coffee, and reasonable prices – an excellent combination.
The Place
The friendly and authentic atmosphere adds to the appeal of The Atrium, already impressive for its food. This diner-style cafe is located right beside a (man-made) waterfall. If you’re lucky enough to score a window seat, you can enjoy the view along with your mouthful of pancakes and syrup. Don’t hesitate to ask if they have window seating available when you walk up.
The Atrium is fairly small and with limited parking, but there’s free parking next door at the motor lodge and paid parking across the street. It’s well known and regarded in town, and isn’t as easy to spot as many of the other attractions on Parkway unless you’re looking for it, but sometimes you’ll find yourself waiting for a table if you visit during peak breakfast hours on the weekend. It’s worth the wait.
Useful Information
The Atrium Gatlinburg
432 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Tel: (865) 430-3684
Web: theatriumgatlinburg.com
Hours: 7:30 am – 2 pm (Breakfast all day, lunch from 11 am)
Dine in – Takeout – Curbside
