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Old City Java
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Old City Java
Review Highlights
"Great Iced Coffee and they sell great items from the Plum..."
(in 1 review)
"Love the local art work on the walls."
(in 4 reviews)
"...you check out some of the other local coffee shops."
(in 3 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from T C.
Knoxville, TN
10/23/2011
Great location and coffee.
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Review from Austin K.
Knoxville, TN
10/15/2011
A LOX AND CREAM CHEESE BAGEL SANDWICH I LIKE IN KNOXVILLE--YIPPEE!!!
Seriously though, this bagel sandwich rules. Delicious bagel, perfect lox, tomato, red onion, and some kind of herb cream cheese that rocks my socks off. As a New York native, I can certify here that this bagel sandwich passes muster. Hubband says great coffee and scones, too. -
Review from jennie b.
Knoxville, TN
9/3/2011
Cool place but the specialty coffee prices are insane. Kinda.
If it weren't for Starbucks spoiling me with their super drinks & horrifyingly high prices I would have nothing to compare it to.
The ambiance is warm & inviting. I can imagine spending a few hours here with my laptop or a friend on a cold, Winter's day. -
Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
7/16/2011
I dropped in on before the farmer's market, and I ordered up a cup of drip. Sadly, it was not hand-poured, but it was still a solid cup of joe. The people are nice, and the prices are better than most.
The seating is comfortable, and it is located on a historic strip on the outskirts of downtown, so it offers good people watching as well as a good place to sit down for reading or other work that happens better with caffeine.
My scone was not bad, but that was all they had out at the moment (45 minutes after they opened). There was a ton of cranberries in my cranberry-oat scone, so that was a plus.
OCJ is a good buzz establishment, but I would also recommend you check out some of the other local coffee shops. The location is convenient, and parking is not too bad on weekend mornings. -
Review from Amber W.
Knoxville, TN
7/9/2011
Good coffee.
Good vibes.
Alternative music.
Cool art.
Major win.
I they had more snacks, that would get the 5 stars. I had a brownie. It was good, but it wasn't amazing. -
Review from Channa P.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
People really like this place, but frankly I feel like I get serious 'tude every time I am there. I can't account for the coffee because I am a tea drinker, but I will say I've had better tea around town (and around the corner). People in Knoxville love this place, so I say check it out and judge for yourself. It's always filled with cool people studying or chatting and it's open on Sundays.
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Review from Scott M.
Brooklyn, NY
11/27/2010
As I sit here, sipping a delicious soy mocha and listening to the glorious Boards of Canada over the speaker system, I can't help but write a quick review about the wonderful OCJ.
Easily the best interior decor and overall vibe I've experienced since moving to Knoxville. There are seats for one, two or more. They have a solid couch for chilling out on a coffee date or catching up with old friends. Power outlets galore. OCJ has two distinct rooms - one where the bar is located with pretty good (morning) light and another that is darker. Both rooms do a good job of setting a nice mood in their respective ways. The exposed brick interior has aged well and the walls include a good collection of art that compliments the atmosphere very well, not to mention looks interesting, itself. As noted above, they definitely know how to kick out the jams.
The coffee has a good taste. I wish the portions were a little larger and that they did not charge $1 for refills, but they keep tabs and seem pretty agreeable. The staff appear very nice. Fair trade coffee? Why, of course!
For better and worse, its uniqueness sets it apart from most other places around town, meaning that there is more pressure for it to be "perfect" in its coolness while it also gets a pass in some respects for being one of the few coffee shops (nay, establishments) in Kx that appears to have true stylish counterculture sensibilities.
OCJ might become a haven for me, which may be as much a subtle statement of responsibility as it is a compliment. -
Review from Liz B.
Cement City, MI
2/9/2011
Wonderful fresh drinks!!
Had to come back twice while on vacation!
I got totally hooked on the espresso here.. It looked just like the picture on here so pretty :)
Great staff -
Review from Jen J.
6/30/2010
My coworkers and I are from out of town. We grabbed dinner down the street at the Urban Cafe and swung by the Old City Java for some desserts.
What a mistake...my cupcake had WAY too much sugar and according to my coworker, her cookie was completely bland and hard and seemed to be missing key ingredients.
Based on our collectively meh experience (on a perhaps off day?), I would say come for the coffee and don't stay for the snacks. -
Review from Patrick B.
Roanoke, VA
1/31/2009
Old City Java is Knoxville's best coffee shop.
It's located in the heart of Old City in downtown Knoxville. Parking is occasionally an issue.
The shop itself is very hip, and features art from local artists. The scene is anything but pretentious -- you can always strike up a conversation with the next table over.
But the real joy is the coffee and treats.
OCJ is the only shop I've come across in Knoxville that actually cares about the coffee. They measure everything correctly, which means you're going to get a great tasting cup of coffee.
The treats are all made by the owner, and I've yet to have anything I didn't like. They also feature great-tasting cookies made by my wife Lindsay (the oatmeal raisin are the best).
Coffee in the scrappy city doesn't get any better than OCJ. -
Review from Mary T.
Knoxville, TN
8/26/2009 1 photo
Good, unique little coffee shop! The coffee itself is quite good. I was a little disappointed when my double expresso ended up looking like a single expresso but it's all good. It wasn't overpriced like many coffee places. I will return to this little coffee shop. If you haven't been here, give it a shot.
Cheers and Enjoy! -
Review from Michael K.
Knoxville, TN
6/5/2011
Definitely a superior little shop. Coffee is great, staff are friendly, pastries are palatable if unremarkable. Chai latte is a little bit questionable, though. Atmosphere is relaxed in that shabby-chic kind of way good coffee shops always are, though there seems to be little interaction between clientele - not the kind of place you can expect people to approach you at random, for better or for worse. Internet is extremely unreliable, unfortunately, which is not a deal-breaker but it definitely bears mention. Bring a book rather than a laptop.
Overall a good place to become a regular. -
Review from Sarah W.
Knoxville, TN
6/7/2008
Atmosphere is fantastic--just grimy enough to let you know this isn't Starbucks, baby!
Coffee is great.
Staff is super nice and chatted it up while making my coffee.
Teas are exotic.
Nice and roomy.
I love it.
UPDATE: Dude! They sell food here! This makes the place rock a little harder! I'll let you know how it is when I order it. But I've got high expectations. I love this joint! -
Review from Jayson W.
Orlando, FL
1/25/2010
Cute.
I was there for a total of 5 minutes, so "Fast" too. -
Review from Troy B.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2010
Far better espresso than most places in town. They make an honest espresso-- rich and thick. Not bitter and oversized- (looking at you, Cafe 4 and Coffe and Chocolate).
Thank god we found this charming place in Old Knoxville. -
Review from Will H.
Knoxville, TN
7/10/2010
Best little coffee shop in town! Reminds me a lot of the Rue de la Courses in New Orleans, except the staff at OCJ is much nicer. :)
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Review from Cindy B.
Denver, CO
8/13/2008 1 Check-in Here
Awesome little coffee shop in the Old City of Knoxville - has the best Chai milkshake in town! My knitting group moved here from Panera a couple of months ago, and we love it. Nobody seems to mind that we're a little loud sometimes, and they even let us graffiti their doorknob! The sandwiches are pretty good, although it seems like they got their own menu a little confused a time or two. Love the local art work on the walls. The downside? The bathroom is a little grimy. And I think it gets a funny smell sometimes when someone flushes a toilet...but this definitely isn't Starbucks - it's better!
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Review from Joey D.
New York, NY
10/20/2010
Great coffee, great people, great wi-fi! What else is there, I ask? When I do have to camp out at a coffee shop to get some work done, Java tends to be my favorite. It's quiet and very spacious.
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Review from J B.
New York, NY
5/16/2008
One of my favorite coffee houses in Knoxville. Locally-owned, good coffee, and good atmosphere. Had live concerts at night here for a long time-- last I heard they had temporarily stopped, but hopefully they'll be back soon.
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Review from Holly Z.
Ferndale, MI
7/19/2009
Stopped in here tonight to work on a presentation. I'm from out of town, so I used the yelp reviews as a guide. First of all, it's the only coffee shop I could find that was actually OPEN at 5pm (even though many others claim that this is the case). The place was comfortably busy with lots of free tables, several outlets close by and free wi-fi. The coffee was very good and service was friendly (bonus: they guy serving coffee had a skull and cross-spoons "barrista" tee that reminded me of the Golden Harvest in Lansing, MI). Blueberry scone was just OK-- wouldn't order that again, but I will return to this coffee shop during my stay in Knoxville.
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Review from Elaine C.
Schaumburg, IL
3/17/2009
My favorite coffee shop yet. You dont have to pay for your drink until you leave, or whenever you want. :)
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Review from Shannon T.
New York, NY
8/9/2009
Excellent coffee. They have a minimal food menu and were out of granola, which put a kink in my yogurt/granola plan. Don't plan on having a meal here unless you're in the bagel/baked good mood. However, the staff was friendly and the decor was awesome - starry night painted on the ceiling, turquoise walls and retro furniture. Great chill spot.
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Review from Sherri C.
Knoxville, TN
4/6/2010
The coffee isn't the best in the world, and maybe not in Knoxville, but I love coming here and enjoying the surroundings and having conversations with friends and acquaintances and some people that I just met and now I'm getting to know them. I don't come here as often as I like, but as much as I can. I heart Old City Java.
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Review from Danielle A.
Knoxville, TN
7/30/2009
Great Iced Coffee and they sell great items from the Plum Baker.
