Old City Java

There are several coffee shops downtown, but early on weekend mornings, I always tend to gravitate toward Old City Java. It has such a nice and relaxing atmosphere. There is plenty of space if you want to post up for a while and read or get some work done. Big storefront windows provide lots and lots of natural light, too, which I am always a huge fan of. The lattes are simply amazing. If you’re feeling frisky, try the croissant. You will not regret it. In my experience, the folks that work here aren’t overly friendly. It doesn’t necessarily bother me, as long as they aren’t blatantly rude (which has never happened). It’s not personal thing, and at least they are consistent. Occasionally someone will surprise you with a smile! Friendly service is always nice but a delicious and frothy latte is most important! I can’t really speak to the parking situation since I typically walk or bike, but there is plenty of bike parking available!

The coffee is not the best I’ve had but still good. The environment is what will bring me back. Quite and relaxed.

Stopped by on my way out of Knoxville. This was one of the best lattes I’ve ever had in my life. The milk they used made a huge difference. Wish I lived closer to this place.

While visiting Tennessee over the New Year weekend we happened upon this area and the Old City Java coffee shop. You may have to a wait a bit for a cappuccino, but I can tell you it was WELL worth it! thanks for the great cup!!!

OCJ (Old City Java) is a hipster paradise that can be enjoyed by all. The interior is rustic repurposed hipster chic, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, their latte is delectable, and the atmosphere is great for working and studying. You should definitely check out OCJ!

Let me keep it simple– best coffee shop in town! The owners, Shaun & Meg, are truly passionate about their coffee. I love how much they care about the products they deliver (coffee and bakery items) and their customers. Whether you are going to stop in to meet a friend, bang out some work away from home or just chill out the place is perfect. I would also say if your waistline can handle it, don’t miss Meg’s croissant. No doubt they are the best in Knoxville!

A small menu with a big atmosphere in an even smaller place. Really neat spot with all the trappings of a downtown coffee house.
One of the better features is their alley patio area; see pic.

I want to like this place so much more! They have such a cozy environment and excellent location. Their Chai is so yummy. The thing that keeps me from really making this place regular is that their coffee is terrible. I’ve tried several different kinds and they are really bad. Considering that is what I usually want, this place doesn’t work for me at all.
If you are more interested in teas and lattes I would recommend this place.
Their pastries and such are really hit and miss for me. I had a delicious muffin today, but have had really dry scones here too.

Had a latte and an apple pastry, both items were absolutely delicious. The service was friendly and I received my drink in a timely manner. The café was limited in seating but that would not prevent me from visiting again.

Great little street and vibe!
I ordered a cortado and my husband got just an espresso. They were both great! His was served with carbonated water and a little cookie but mine was not. We loved sitting outside next to all the wall murals in the alley. The baristas were very quiet and not too friendly – could’ve been the gloomy weather! Overall, good coffee shop we will visit again next time we are in town.

They use some of the best ingredients in the city, and their staff is always friendly and clearly happy to be working there. I am no coffee-​snob, but persons often say the coffee tends towards that deeply dark, burn quality that some love and others not-​so-​much. I’ve always found it to be tasty.
It doesn’t have as much space nor is it as cozy as, say, Remedy, but it makes up for it by being more artsy. Also, the vibe in general is a lot more hip and laid-​back. Also, you can’t do much better than having a fun outdoor patio that looks upon all the local graffiti art of the city painted in their alleyway.
The owners clearly care about their city, take care of their staff, and they serve some great locally sourced product– a good choice for the more socially-​conscious consumer.

Best indie café in town. Strong coffee, various pastries, nice atmosphere, funky art.

Probably the best coffee in town. I love the fresh coffee and espresso drinks. I love that they use Cruze Farm milk and have local pastries. The baristas can be

I’ve traveled. A LOT. I’ve had coffee in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Mexico, and just about every state from here to Washington. THIS IS GOOD COFFEE. The latte is phenomenal, as they use Cruze Farm milk.
While your there, eat some of the best pastries you’ll ever have the pleasure of chomping.
The service is spectacular. The wi-​fi is good, and the atmosphere is spot on.

Excellent quality espresso drinks including latte art.
Quiet place usually occupied by people with laptop computers.

This place is great! I love the atmosphere is very hipster, and is a great place to sit with your Macbook and just chill.
The Coffee itself is great, some of the best in the city, and they are very speedy and accurate with every order I’ve ever placed! All in all it is a fantastic coffee joint! I ssuggest going! You won’t regreat it!

Functioning as the office of many Knoxvillians, Old City Java is spacious, well lit, old city charm. Study, meetup, or people watch, they really have a stethoscope on the old ticker of our fair city here.
With a large bicycle parking area out front that is constantly in use, you’ll also see impromptu motorcycle meetups, and the odd scooter. Everyone in town will cruise past around once a day more or less. The alley even holds a few wire tables for the nice days. Sit, watch, wait for the next moment in time.
The coffee aspect escapes me sometimes as I don’t know my way around a latte. But I can order a medium coffee and not be blasted away by the price thankfully. There’s delightful in-​house made cookies and pastries. Cruze Dairy chocolate milks for the littles. Mexican Coca-Cola’s, the only ones I drink, so I’ll pick up one on a hot day. Expensive bars of chocolate that tempt me everytime. One day, I think. You will be mine.
The only thing I’ll mark them down on is seating. The long bench style seats, while very accommodating to having a quick meetup, are hard wood, with hard plastic, and metal seats outside that are much firmer than I can handle for more than a half hour. The one couch here is kinda beat up and saggy, but we all still will grab it. I think some cushions, pillows, or soft chairs, would let people relax more and help diffuse the «classroom» aspect of Java. I want to sit and stay a spell too.
I have always been treated okay here every time too. Very cool, even though I always sound silly trying to order a coffee.

There’s something about this place that draws me in every week.
Oh, I know what it is. The place is amazing.
The coffee is all really good, and they make a mean dirty chai latte, but the highlight of any visit is the pastries.
The cookies are good, as are the baked goods, but get a pastry. They’re absolutely astounding. The last one I got was an apricot pastry. Fruity, sweet, not too overbearing, and with a moist, yet flaky outside that made it absolutely perfect.

Every now and then, I’ll find something new about Knoxville that I like. Old City Java is one them. I’m really big into finding rustic, brick coffee shops and my friend recommended this place.
It’s a perfect place to go if you want to get some work done or catch up with an old friend, which applied to me that day. So the environment and space was on point. I ventured out to try one of their lattes.
I ordered their Chai Latte. I liked the cup it came in but the latte wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be. Tasted a little plain and wasn’t as warm… I was just slightly disappointed with that.
I really love the environment and that’s why I gave it such a high rating, but I’m hoping that was just an off day with their latte… They also have other drinks and sweets and cookies so I’ll definitely give something else a try when I go back to visit.

Perfection in Knoxville.
My husband always likes to stop at new local coffee shops when we’re traveling, so we drove 10 minutes out of our way to come here after it popped up on Unilocal.Glad we made the stop.
The atmosphere here is great. The perfect blend of cute, hipster and masculine so that all feel welcome. The service was friendly, the coffee got rave reviews and I enjoyed sampling some of their Tennessee made chocolates. For one coffee and two chocolate bars our bill was over $ 20 so I will not be satisfying my chocolate craving here again any time soon. We will stick with the coffee!