7 Most Charming Town Squares In Tennessee
Tennessee's small towns are quaint, more than anything else, and boast lovely town squares that will entice visitors to stick around. Red-brick sidewalks, turn-of-the-century buildings, and bustling local stores lend these downtowns some quintessential Southern charm. Whether you are antiquing, dining, or finding a spot to take a peaceful walk, these seven town squares will not disappoint. Each has just the right amount of personality and history, wrapped in people-friendly streets with a cozy atmosphere. The following are seven of Tennessee's most charming town squares to explore in 2025.
Bell Buckle
Near Bedford County is a little gem called Bell Buckle, with its storybook main street square that looks deliberately preserved. Downtown Bell Buckle is filled with history. There are just a handful of blocks, but each building is a jewel from the Victorian era. Stores like Bell Buckle Embroidery and Gifts, where you can get memorabilia stitched and embroidered to carry this secret treasure everywhere you go. Every third Saturday in June, the RC Cola & MoonPie Festival invades the square, turning it into an old-fashioned block party. Stop by Bell Buckle Country Store for homemade sauces and warm greetings. Gingerbread-style buildings, brick sidewalks, and blooming planters make Bell Buckle's square look like a fairy tale come true.
Jonesborough
Tennessee's oldest town is far from charmless. The Jonesborough town square teems with history, restored storefronts, a red-brick courthouse, and flower-lined walks. Visit the International Storytelling Center in the heart of downtown, which has performances throughout the year. Close by is Main Street Café & Catering, a favorite for lunch in a historic bank building. Antique stores such as Gabriel's Christmas and galleries line the strip, and the Chester Inn Museum gives some insight into Jonesborough's past. Everything is within walking distance, and the residents are more than willing to strike up a conversation This urban square is not only lovely—it's charming, and you can settle right in at home in an instant.
Columbia
Downtown Columbia centers on a large, serious courthouse with small stores, murals, and coffeehouses, giving it a youthful, artsy vibe. Get lunch at Puckett's Grocery or a latte at Muletown Coffee, a local favorite with brick walls and comfortable couches. The President James K. Polk Home & Museum is only a few blocks down and adds a dash of national history to the mix. Stores like Smith & York Co. and Gather Kitchen Mercantile have anything from housewares to cool novelty items as gifts. But what really makes this square special is the atmosphere—there's always something happening but is never too wild. Columbia blends old Southern charm with trendy, just right.
Paris
Paris, Tennessee, has not only a town square but a mini Eiffel Tower replica. But the magic is in its historic downtown. Ringed by an old-time courthouse, the square is accessible, appealing, and riddled with personality. Drop by Jack's Java for a town-sized cup of coffee, or get a table at Perry's BBQ, where the smiles are as large as the plates. Shoplifters can dig through bargains at Hidden Treasures Flea Markets and Antiques, and just opposite that, the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center gives some history about the place. Summer places the square squarely in the middle of outdoor concerts and civic events, and gives it a sense of being an actual community center—the kind of square invites you to sit and stay a while.
Maryville
The city square in Maryville is charmingly beautiful, but not drowsy. Framed by the Blount County Courthouse, this neatly manicured, tree-covered square is chock-full of surprises. You may walk into Southland Books & Café, a combination bookstore, record store, and café, or drive on over to Parkway Drive-In Theatre, a short drive from the square, for a blast from the past. Culture vultures will enjoy the Clayton Center for the Arts, which features anything from ballet to jazz concerts. Maryville boasts a figured charm in the best possible way—clean, easy to navigate on foot, and full of small-town character without being too manufactured. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll or a walking tour on the weekend.
Greeneville
Greeneville's town square is one of those spots where history simply occurs in a manner that not many towns are able to make work. Sidewalks are lined with Civil War historical markers and memorials to President Andrew Johnson, whose home and tailor shop are located just off the square. The Greene County Courthouse occupies the middle ground, surrounded by brick buildings that contain coffee houses like Catalyst Coffee Company, and antique and craft shops. The General Morgan Inn, a historic bed and breakfast, is located at one end of Main Street and offers extra old-time charm. If you like your town squares imbued with a sense of place and history, Greeneville is the town you should go see. The people there are always happy to spin a yarn or two.
Winchester
Winchester's downtown square encircles a majestic courthouse and has an air of being dropped right out of a movie. The buildings themselves are vintage—bricked fronts, signboards from another era—and the stores are as inviting as it gets. Stop by Walnut Hill Coffee Company, a casual coffee house that locals favor, or grab a Southern lunch at The BBQ Shack. To spend a day of shopping, About Town Apparel and Winchester Antique Mall are great places to stop. Winchester's town square is the ultimate combination of small-town existence and vitality—it's home, like you've never been before. Small towns are not better done by anyone than by Tennessee, and these squares are the evidence.
They all have a personality to them—some lean more toward history, some toward art, but all are warm, lived-in, and inviting. If you're passing through antiques, locally roasted coffee, or just looking for a nice place to walk, these town squares give you a slower, more welcoming kind of experience. You don't need big cities to create great memories—just the right sidewalk and some Southern hospitality!
