The Coffee Syndicate: Espresso and Pastries With a Speakeasy Inside

About

The Coffee Syndicate is a small coffee bar in Elks Plaza, near the south end of the Gatlinburg Parkway, that leans into a Prohibition-era theme. By day it is a straightforward and welcoming stop for a well-made espresso drink and something from the pastry case before a morning in town or a drive into the national park. By night the same building hides Alibi, a cocktail lounge you enter only after finding the red rope out front.

The counter serves espresso drinks along with a rotating display of croissants, donuts, cupcakes, cheesecakes and other desserts. It suits a slow breakfast, a mid-morning break between shops, or a sweet stop in the early afternoon. In the evening, Alibi takes over as a 21-and-over lounge, open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 PM until late. Guests join the line at the red rope in front of The Coffee Syndicate, and the doorman handles entry from there.

The Coffee Syndicate is at 968 Parkway in Elks Plaza, and the shop notes that on-site parking is available in the plaza. The coffee bar keeps short daytime hours, 8 AM to 2:30 PM daily, so plan it as a morning or lunchtime stop. Alibi is strictly for guests 21 and over, and it posts a calendar online for public events and private closures, which is worth checking before you head out for a night visit.

Photo: The Coffee Syndicate

Did You Know

• The coffee bar is open every day from 8 AM to 2:30 PM (The Coffee Syndicate).
• Alibi, a cocktail lounge, operates inside The Coffee Syndicate and shares its address (Alibi Gatlinburg).
• To enter Alibi, guests look for a red rope in front of The Coffee Syndicate and wait for the doorman (Alibi Gatlinburg).
• Alibi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 PM until late and admits guests 21 and over only (Alibi Gatlinburg).