The Vault

📍 Gay bars in Knoxville

7.3

The Vault stands out as a speakeasy-style gem in Knoxville, offering an intimate and stylish atmosphere perfect for a night out. The bar's creative cocktail menu and attentive service make it a top choice for date nights or gatherings with friends. The food menu, featuring shareable plates, complements the drinks well, though spice levels may be milder than expected. The interior design, with its dark, glamorous aesthetic, adds to the overall appeal.

While the experience can vary, The Vault consistently delivers a classy, tucked-away vibe that sets it apart. The mixologists are knowledgeable and helpful, ensuring that guests find drinks tailored to their preferences. The outdoor space is nice, but the interior's allure is hard to resist. Overall, The Vault is a worthwhile destination for those seeking a sophisticated and enjoyable night out.

Features and services of The Vault

Service options

  • On-site services
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Food
  • Food at bar
  • Spirits
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Seating
  • Table service

Amenities

  • Toilet

Atmosphere

  • Cosy
  • Trendy
  • Upmarket

Crowd

  • Groups
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Parking

  • Free of charge street parking
  • Paid parking lot
  • Paid street parking

The Vault is in position 5 out of 12 in gay bars in Knoxville

Customer Reviews

★★★★★
★★★★★

The Vault has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on over 244 reviews on Google

Robyn Watts

The Vault was our second stop on our cocktail hop night, and I'm so glad we found it! First off, the interior is chef's kiss. The dark, glamorous aesthetic is stunning--perfect for date night or for impressing out-of-town guests. I loved the gold accents, layered textures, and thoughtful lighting. Everything worked together beautifully. We chose to sit at the bar to watch the mixologists work their magic. They were incredibly helpful in guiding us toward drinks that matched our preferences. I absolutely loved my cocktail--even if I can't recall the name--because it delivered the spicy kick they promised. We also ordered several shareable plates, all of which were delicious. We tried the Carnitas Tamales (shredded pork, ancho mole, fresh corn, masa, cilantro, yuzu arbequina oil), the Vegetable Empanadas (house-made pastry, wilted kale, roasted sweet potato, Oaxaca and cotija cheese, black bean purée, and adobo & chile-lime aioli), and a salad. I'd happily order any of them again. I did find myself wishing for a bit more heat, but I've learned that's hard to come by in Tennessee. At least the staff gave us a heads-up that the spice level is toned down. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more of the menu. The vibe is fantastic--and while they have a nice outdoor space, the interior is so eye-catching I'm not sure I'd want to sit anywhere else.

Robyn Watts ☆ 5/5
Jeffery Garrison, Jr

Came for dinner. They had a limited menu for Valentine’s Day. They had 4 drinks and 6 small plates. The crab dip was great and the drinks were good. Everything seemed a bit rushed but not a bad experience overall. The ambiance was great.

Jeffery Garrison, Jr ☆ 4/5
Lana Brown

Had our company party at the Vault. It's kinda dark and homey with several alcoves but the coolest was the vault door! The bartenders were making tasty drinks, vodka dirty martini, porn star and old fashion were very popular. Cool place. The tuna ceviche and crispy shrimp appetizer were a perfect start! Broccolini, beef tenderloin medallions and brussel sprouts were great too!

Lana Brown ☆ 5/5
Anitha

Excellent cocktail bar in Knoxville! I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality, variety and creativity of the menu. The snacks were good too. Our waiter was very helpful in our selection based on preference, highly recommend this place!

Anitha ☆ 5/5
Alex Ayres

If you love a moody, speakeasy-style ambiance, this place is a must. The atmosphere is intimate, stylish, and perfect for a night out that feels a little elevated. The dirty martinis are excellent — easily some of the best in town — and the service is truly top tier. Attentive, knowledgeable, and welcoming without being overbearing. Highly recommend The Vault for date nights, cocktails with friends, or anytime you want a classy, tucked-away experience 🍸✨

Alex Ayres ☆ 5/5
Sid K. Phillips

Although we weren´t that amazed by the drinks and food themselves, I think it´s still worth checking out. The place has its own uniqueness and originality, especially with the drink menu and its interesting storytelling touch. And the girl who served us was just too nice.

Sid K. Phillips ☆ 3/5
Gabby Stidham

We came tonight to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We had a reservation right at open, so we are the only table there yet. We waited 20 minutes for a server. When she finally came to our table, we ordered right away 3 small plates and 2 drinks. We got 2 of our small plates, finished both, without having our 3rd small plate (which was only a dip), or our drinks (which was an espresso martini and a canned beer). We ask our server for our dip and she finally brings it out. We finish our dip, still without even receiving our alcoholic drinks yet. We finished all of our food before we even received our drinks, being 1/3 tables at this point. We were very disappointed.

Gabby Stidham ☆ 1/5
View all reviews

Information about The Vault

Address

The Vault is located at 531 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902, United States

Phone

The phone number of The Vault is +1 865-544-8564

Website

The website of The Vault is: thevaultknoxville.com

Business Hours

Monday: 17:00–23:00
Tuesday: 17:00–23:00
Wednesday: 17:00–23:00
Thursday: 17:00–23:00
Friday: 16:00–01:00
Saturday: 16:00–01:00
Sunday: 16:00–23:00

Contact The Vault

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