We were in Gatlinburg for 4 days and I had at least 1 donut a day from here, sometimes 2! I've never had a better tasting donut. The staff were all extremely friendly and very inviting. I could not recommend this place more! read more

If heaven had a scent, it would smell like the warm, sugary air inside The Donut Friar. The donuts were absolutely incredible--fresh, soft, and perfectly sweet--and the prices were more than fair. What really made the experience unforgettable was the service. Justin was amazing--friendly, welcoming, and genuinely made the visit feel special. Honestly, it felt like a near-religious experience. I can't say enough good things--this place is a must-visit in Gatlinburg. read more

Donut Friar - Justin- great service - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

We waited in line for 30 minutes for one of these donuts! It's located inside of a small shop in "The Village" area off the main strip in Gatlinburg. Cash only. No ventilation....but those donuts....i could've easily eaten a whole dozen. I ordered the apple cinnamon and my partner ordered a glazed donut. My advice is to go hungry, and get some to go! One won't be enough! read more

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This donut shop absolutely lives up to the hype. From the moment you walk in, there's a welcoming atmosphere that's full of charm and character. The smell of fresh donuts and coffee instantly brings back fond memories and creates a nostalgic feeling that's hard to find these days. The donuts are consistently delicious--fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Paired with a great cup of coffee, it's the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and enjoy the moment. The vibe is relaxed, friendly, and authentic, which only adds to the experience. Some places become famous because of social media buzz, but this one has earned its reputation. Whether you're a longtime customer or visiting for the first time, it's easy to see why people keep coming back. A truly special spot that delivers both great food and great memories. read more

The Donut Friar is always a must-stop for us Everything is always fresh, and the smell alone when you walk in is worth it. I especially love their baklava, and this trip we picked up a loaf of their cinnamon bread that was still warm when we got it They have just about anything you could think of, and the apple pillows are absolutely delicious. Definitely one of those places you keep coming back to every trip! read more

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We live about an hour away and always stop at the Donut Friar when we are in the area. It is located in The Village Shops which is a nice shopping area with clean bathrooms. They only take cash but there is an atm inside. It can get a little cramped inside because it is small and popular but it is worth it. The donuts are delicious! Our favorites are the cinnamon twists and coconut. We always grab a few donuts, a cup of coffee and head upstairs to relax and eat. It's a nice treat and a must when in the area. read more

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Made a stop here when exploring the Village portion of Gatlinburg because my friend knew how much I love a yeast donut, though cake donut options were available as well. Cash only is displayed on the doorway with an ATM tucked around the corner inside. Very narrow entryway opens up once you see the display cases of options. Service was a little slow but still very much worth the wait. No seating inside so it's more of a grab and go situation but definitely would go back for more! My chocolate frosting donut was definitely one of the best I had, reminded me of a pink box donut. read more

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Delicious donuts and friendly service. I got the friar donut and the filling was the perfect amount. a nice stop before hiking read more

Donut Friar - blueberry - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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The village is such a cute place to walk through and stop at one or two places. We heard a lot about this place and decided to stop and split a donut even though it was a little later in the day. We got a cream filled chocolate donut and it was really good. Not overly sweet cream and fluffy donut exterior. They clearly have something good going here and the adorable atmosphere adds to it. read more

Tucked away in The Village shopping area is the small shop. Cash only. The service was good including recommendations. The doughnuts were excellent both fresh and when we ate the extra ones a morning later. read more

I'm usually not a huge fan of donut eater, but these were delicious so I would go back here for a nice treat if I'm ever visiting Gatlinburg again. The glazed yeast donut was so light and airy, perfectly fluffy, with a little bit of sweetness to the actual dough. I think they would be even better fresh and hot since we ordered towards the end of the day. I can't comment on the inside or the service since the donuts were brought home for me to taste. read more

Donut Friar - Cinnamon twist and plain glazed yeast donut - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I heard really great things about this donut shop and I was able to try the donuts. Kudos to the staff who helped us and provided an excellent service. The donuts had an excellent flavor, we ordered (3), a glazed donut, coconut and chocolate donut. All of them were SO delicious. I tried the glazed donut and I was delighted by the softness and sweet flavor. The shop is small but it has a lot to offer, there are a lot of cool items that included coffee cups, and souvenirs. There is an entrance and exit door, don't miss it and remember is a CASH only shop. read more

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Really great place with amazing doughnuts. We tried the apple cinnamon and cake glaze. The glaze was my personal favorite. The apple would have tasted better if warmed up or made fresh since there's apple filling in the center. But since it had been sitting a while it was just okay compared to the glaze in my opinion. Great staff and customer service as well. read more

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Fantastic place. Everybody there is so friendly and helpful and patient. It was in the morning, and the donut I wanted wasn't yet in the display case, so the guy went back and asked the chefs how long it was going to be, and I was able to wait until they came out fresh and hot. It was the cinnamon twist, and was possibly the best I've ever had. It wasn't like a cake donut texture ... instead, a bit of a crispy outside and soft light fluffy inside. So good. I also got a coconut cake donut and their cinnamon bread loaf. All very tasty. Love this place. read more

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This little shop brings in the crowds. There was a pretty long line out the door, but it did move quickly. Staff were friendly. The donuts were good. They do not accept anything but cash so be prepared although they do have an ATM in the shop just in case. read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This is a very average donut shop; one that I don't understand why many people stand in line for it. Even when looking at the options in the case, you will see quickly that nothing stands out, all of thr look and flavors look similar to any donut you'll find in a grocery store. We tried two options, the coconut and a chocolate raspberry filled. Both tasted dry and greasy, without much flavor.. I assumed the coconut would have a coconut crème infused in the icing but I was wrong. It was obviously just a vanilla icing with just some flake coconut on it. I would rather spend the calories on a decadent dessert elsewhere. read more

We stopped by The Donut Friar while on vacation in Gatlinburg and grabbed a few donuts, partly because it's a local favorite and partly because... donuts. I tried the blueberry cruller and the apple-filled cinnamon sugar donut. Both were good, solid, fresh, enjoyable, but nothing that completely blew me away. I did ask for an apple fritter, since it's the obvious undisputed pinnacle of pure donut perfection, but apparently the Friar doesn't make fritters. While I respect a shop that knows its lane, that alone means I can't give it five stars. It's easy to see why The Donut Friar is popular with tourists. The shop is charming, the donuts are well-made, and it's a fun stop while walking through town. At the end of the day, though, the donuts are good... because let's face it, they're donuts. A worthwhile stop if you're nearby, just don't expect your life to change. read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

As we walked along the parkway, we saw this tiny donut shop and had to stop by! You enter from the side entrance which is very small. Wait in a short line for donuts, cookies, and drinks. It's a cash only store, so beware! We just opted for cookies $0.62 each, paid and continued on our way. Cute little store and line moved quickly. Kids were happy! read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg staple. I love the atmosphere in the village. Always a great place to stop and get a quick snack

I have been a fan of this place for many years and it's a must stop when visiting Gatlinburg. I like how nothing has changed inside since the first time I ever visited. The atmosphere is iconic. The quality of the food is incredible and the staff is a joy to be around. Sometimes the line is long, but don't make the mistake and not get on it. read more

Delicious! The service was quick and friendly. The place is tiny! I got a glazed croissant - so sweet and yummy. Cinnamon twist yummy and reminded me of elephant ear flavors. I took a date bar along as a mid-hike snack and it was great for that. I had a chocolate glazed I did t eat til breakfast the next day, and even a little stale it was still really good. Sometimes fried year donuts have a greasy taste or mouth feel but these were really great, none of that. read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Family owned and operated for over 55 years. Unique selection, delicious donuts, and cool atmosphere. There is seating on the main level and upstairs, with coloring pages and colored pencils for kids. The s read more

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Ambiance is cool, people are nice, and an amazing selection of coffee mugs. The donuts were okay.

Old school Gatlinburg donut shop. I come every time I am in Gatlinburg. Get there early and it is cash only. The eclairs are great.

This a cash only place(atm on site) . They had a bunch of donuts and some coffee to purchase. I ended up getting a cinnamon twist for two dollars. It was a good size for the cost. Staff were very friendly. read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Late post: PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THEY ONLY TAKE CASH. Nice little donut shop in the middle of Gatlinburg town area. Every shop in this area is seemingly like a eauropean village that you just can't get enough of. They are pricier than most donut shops but this place does come packed with some history. Solid fresh donut and iced coffee. read more

This is by far the best donut I've ever had. It has a nice crispness on the outside, pillowy inside, just sweet enough (not cloyingly sweet like most places). The variety of donuts was exciting. Everything combined led to a perfect donut shop experience. read more

Donut Friar - Coconut donut and blueberry cruller - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Excellent! Such good donuts! Would highly recommend. Nice people working inside. Also liked the location, slightly off from the main rd with lots of benches to sit. read more

I really wish I came here earlier in the day because coming at night meant they had run out of a good number of sweet treats! I got a cake donut and a Bavarian puff which had some cream inside a puff pastry. The cake donut was good and is even better if you heat it up. It wasn't too sweet and was a good size donut. The puff was even better and loved the flakiness of it and cream was absolutely delicious. I can see why this place attracts such a big crowd! One thing to note is that they are cash only and do have an atm inside. read more

Have gone here a couple times! Love their donuts and this is a must when visiting Gatlinburg! Located in The Village and very cute and interesting spot read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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When I was visiting Gatlinburg, TN I asked my followers what places I should check out and a lot of people said I should try The Donut Friar. So gues what I did. I made the long walk down to this place and let me say it was worth the walk. I love a good dough not but I hate cake donuts. This was a really good yeast glazed donut. Very light glazed well and soft. My only gripe was it was a bit oily almost as if it sat in the grease too long. However it was still good. Is this a top 5 donut? Not to me. Would I eat it again? Absolutely! Do I recommend this place? Of course. You want an easy sweet treat this is definitely the place to go. In my opinion after spending 3 days in Gatlinburg I didn't find any food that was WOW to me. Everything was just mid to okay. Gatlinburg I'd definitely a tourist trap and there is better food outside of it. read more

Donut Friar - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

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If you visit downtown Gatlinburg, visiting The Village's Donut Friar is a must! Be sure to bring cash, as it's cash only (they do have an ATM too), and it's also advisable to go early for the most selection (or see the photo of the "Estimated Donut Completion Times" sheet for your particular favorites to plan accordingly). We ended up arriving in the afternoon. Even at just before 3pm, there were still plenty of donuts and other delectables available in the case to choose from, and all the donuts we chose were still delicious and fresh. My husband ordered the raspberry filled donut and loved it. I also loved their french cruller, which was one of the fluffiest I've ever had. They also have a chocolate cruller (a cake based donut), which was also very good and a new favorite of mine (thanks Ethan for the kindness and great recommendations- you really rock!). The kind young lady behind the counter (I wish I would have asked her name) also shared a tip to take your chocolate cruller experience to the next level... pair it with a cup of their hot cocoa, dip the donut in, and enjoy! Our visit was great! Top-notch, friendly, and helpful customer service that's been rare to find these days, delicious and fresh donuts, AND extremely affordable donuts that are priced more than fair, especially for being in a tourist area. Donut Friar is a must visit. Thanks again, Ethan and all the other wonderful staff members! read more

Donut Friar - Estimated Donut Completion Time Chart - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

One of the most iconic places in Gatlinburg. Great donuts and cool 70's vibe inside make this a must stop on a trip to Gatlinburg.

This place is already a tradition during our visits to Gatlinburg. Great donuts - and we've tried so many of them :-) - and coffee. It's a small space with a few tables inside, but there are tables in the courtyard outside. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Based on the reviews we were expecting the best donuts ever but that wasn't the case. We only got the blueberry cruller so maybe we picked the wrong flavor? Hardly any blueberry taste because it was overpowered by the fried flavor. They do have a very large collection of coffee cups to purchase. read more

Yes yes yes !!! I got 3 donuts: Apple cinnamon, chocolate glazed and the most important original glazed !!! All 3 for only 6$!!! These donuts were so so delicious and we will definitely be back. read more

Donut Friar - Original Glazed - Donuts Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

What a great addition to The Villlage Shops! Before anything, very important tip I wish I knew:  yes, it is cash only...BUT...there is an ATM inside (in May we passed it by because the ATM at our hotel wasn't working).  We visited a second time in October with CASH IN HAND (yes, I took out cash specifically for this in NY!!!) only to find the ATM inside.  I can't speak for now, but Oct 23' they had a sign over the machine offering a FREE cup of coffee if you need to use it (to cover the withdrawl fee). Now to the donuts, they were really delicious! They are made fresh in shop and have a nice selection of flavors.  Make sure to get there early (open at 5am) to get your choice.  We went around 10am and did not have much of a selection as they were busy.  We ordered the cinnamon twist, white cream pillow(i recommend this one for those with a real sweet tooth), cake donut, and a coconut... We were not disappointed though!  The latte I ordered was good, you can add flavored syrups to it as well! By the way, they have upstairs seating and a few spots outside during the warmer days. read more

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When you see a line out the door in the middle of the afternoon, you know it's a good donut shop! They don't have a huge variety but what they have.....is darn good! Make sure you take cash as it is cash only but they do have an ATM inside. read more

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5 stars for a great spot that we loved so much we visited twice while visiting Gatlinburg! The staff was super friendly and offered us a large pup cup for free. It seemed like homemade whipped cream, I totally tried it before giving it to my pup. We tried a few different flavors, the special donut with cream filling, the cinnamon curler, raspberry filled and cinnamon old fashioned. All were good and fresh. I also feel like they could charge more for these donuts, I appreciate when places don't overcharge. They offer other things like coffee and souvenirs. Great spot if you're craving sweets! read more

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It's a tiny little shop located in a cute brick alley of shops. There is a line out the door. Pro tip...don't order a drink. There are only a couple people working the register so lattes really slow them down and backs up the line. You're there for the donuts anyway! We pretty much got one of everything. Unlike every other shop within 10 miles, the prices were normal and reasonable. Everything was fresh. The Bavarian crème filling in the pillow and eclair was delicious!! Not too sweet. The basic glazed donut was so good. Recommend it all!!! PS.. Cash only but there is an ATM in the shop. read more