Gatlinburg is known for having delicious restaurants, but it’s also full of delicious sweets! If you’ve been craving something sugary while you’re in Gatlinburg, then you’re in the right place. From local sweet shops that have been around for decades to ice cream shops where you can even get your a treat, there are plenty of places to get a sugar rush in town. Here are the 6 best shops in Gatlinburg that will satisfy your sweet tooth:
1. Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen
Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen is sure to catch your eye as you’re walking by! You’ll get to see the store’s famous saltwater taffy being made through the window. When you walk inside, you’ll be hit with the sight of hundreds of your favorite sweets. There is homemade fudge, chocolates, caramel apples, chocolate-covered cherries and so much more, making it one of the best sweet shops in Gatlinburg! Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen was founded in 1950, and since then has continued to serve tourists tasty, homemade candy.
2. Donut Friar
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 favorite among shops in Gatlinburg is located in The Village and opens at 5 a.m. daily. When you walk through The Village, you’ll be able to smell the aroma of doughnuts, cinnamon bread and pastries and know the Donut Friar must be near. For the perfect pairing with your sweet treat, grab a cup of coffee made to your liking.
3. Glades Soda Fountain
Glades Soda Fountain is located in the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community and serves up old-fashioned ice cream sodas, sundaes, malts, shakes and more! This old-fashioned soda shop gives visitors a taste of the past while providing you with the perfect treat to satisfy your craving. They are known to have the best shakes in town, but you can never go wrong with the root beer float!
4. Mad Dog’s Creamery & Donuts
You’ll have your choice of a variety of sweets at Mad Dog’s Creamery & Donuts! Mad Dog’s calls themselves your “one stop sweet shop!” With 24 different flavors of hand-dipped premium ice cream, a full selection of doughnuts, milkshakes and banana splits, you’ll have no trouble finding a tasty treat! But that’s not all: this shop in Gatlinburg has the best funnel cakes in town! And if you’re staying in one of our pet-friendly cabins in Gatlinburg, bring your furry friend along with you to Mad Dog’s! They have dog treats, toys and bowls of water for your dog.
5. Kilwins
As soon as you walk in the door at Kilwin’s of Gatlinburg, you’ll be hit with the sweet smell of chocolate, fudge and fresh, homemade waffle cones. Ice cream isn’t the only treat you’ll be able to find here. There are caramel apples, and chocolate-covered cherries, pretzels, oreos and more. You’ll even get to see the homemade products being made right in front of your eyes! Watch as fresh apples are dipped into their original caramel recipe, or as fudge is paddled the traditional way on marble tables. Grab a cone to go or sample some of the delicious fudge!
6. Aunt Mahalia's Candies
If you want a real taste of Gatlinburg tradition, you can't skip Aunt Mahalia's Candies! It's one of the oldest shops in Gatlinburg of any kind, having been around since 1939. Step inside and you'll get hit with the smell of fresh fudge, caramel bubbling, and crispy peanut brittle. Part of the charm is how they still make many of the options right here, the old-fashioned way. Kids in particular love watching candy and other treats being made! They have just about every type of sweet treat you can think of, so you're sure to find something that puts a smile on your face.
Stay Near the Best Shops in Gatlinburg on Your Vacation
No matter which one of these shops in Gatlinburg you choose to get your treat, you’re sure to satisfy your sweet tooth! Browse all our Gatlinburg cabin rentals and be just a short trip away from all of these amazing sweet treats.
