Knoxville residents have relied on Fly by Night for good bites and even better drinks since the 1970s-style cocktail bar opened along Sevier Avenue in 2023. It’s a go-to spot in South Knoxville, but its reputation as a local favorite extends across the Scruffy City.
Ryan Shanley and Jocelyn Morin’s boozy business earned wider recognition July 29 when it was named one of the 38 USA TODAY Bars of the Year for 2026, the same honor received by Knoxville bars Brother Wolf in 2025 and Preservation Pub in 2024.
“We want to be kind of transportive, so it doesn’t feel like other places you’ve gone,” Shanley said. “Or maybe it feels like you’re in a different time.”…