Chattanooga, Tennessee
City Guide
Riverfront energy, outdoor adventure, and a downtown that’s easy to enjoy.
Set along the Tennessee River and surrounded by ridges, trails, and scenic overlooks, Chattanooga blends an active outdoor lifestyle with a lively, walkable downtown. The city is home to locally owned restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, music venues, public art, and a growing creative scene, all within easy reach of the riverfront.
Beyond downtown, hiking, biking, climbing, and mountain views are never far away. Whether you’re planning a weekend of food and live music, working remotely for a few days, or using Chattanooga as a base for exploring southeastern Tennessee, the city offers an easy mix of urban convenience and outdoor escape.
From morning coffee and riverfront walks to sunset views and evenings downtown, Chattanooga makes it easy to build a stay around whatever pace suits you.
Stay in Chattanooga
The Highmark Chattanooga
Stay in a reimagined 1915 landmark in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, where exposed brick and historic character meet a colorful, thoughtfully designed loft. Two queen bedrooms, two full baths, and a sofa bed comfortably sleep six, with a full kitchen, in-unit laundry, gigabit Wi-Fi, and a dedicated workspace. Walk to the Tennessee Aquarium, Riverwalk, Bluff View Art District, restaurants, and cafés—then come home, put on a record, and settle in for the night.
WIFI & Work Area
[Gigabit fiber WiFi, tested at 1,300 Mbps] — fast, reliable connectivity paired with The Workaround: a dedicated desk, ergonomic chair, and a quiet corner built for a real workday in Chattanooga.
Local co-working spaces, if you want a change of scenery:
SpaceWorks
100 W M.L.K. Blvd, 7th Floor (about 0.3 miles)
(423) 933-9731
Downtown, month-to-month, no long-term commitment
e|spaces Chattanooga
651 E 4th St #200 (about 0.4 miles)
(615) 777-8514
Strong WiFi reputation, free parking, quiet
Society of Work – Downtown
1100 Market St Ste 600 (about 0.35 miles)
(423) 449-9112
High-speed internet, private call booths, community events
Society of Work – Northshore
110 Somerville Ave Ste 266 (about 1.1 miles, across the river)
(423) 449-9112
Worth it if guests want a Northshore coffee-and-work loop
Local Favorites
Downtown Chattanooga, near 117 East 7th Street. The riverfront, Lookout Mountain and the Southside food scene.
1. Tennessee Aquarium
Landmark
Two buildings on the riverfront, River Journey and Ocean Journey, cover freshwater and saltwater life. It's walkable from downtown and Chattanooga's signature attraction.
2. Walnut Street Bridge & Coolidge Park
Outdoors
Walk the historic 1891 pedestrian bridge across the Tennessee River to Coolidge Park and the North Shore shops. Best at sunset, when the bridge is one of the city's most photographed spots.
3. Bluff View Art District & Hunter Museum
Arts
A cluster of galleries, a sculpture garden and cafés perched on a bluff over the river. The Hunter Museum of American Art anchors it with a striking building and views to match.
4. Rock City
Outdoors
Gardens and rock formations atop Lookout Mountain, with the famous “See Seven States” overlook at Lover's Leap. A classic for first-time visitors.
5. Ruby Falls
Landmark
A guided cave walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to an underground waterfall, lit in color. Pairs easily with Rock City on the same day.
6. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Experience
One of the steepest passenger railways in the world, climbing Lookout Mountain from the St. Elmo neighborhood. It reopened in July 2025 after a 2024 fire.
7. Chattanooga Choo Choo & Station Street
Nightlife
The restored 1909 Terminal Station, home of the famous song, now houses a hotel, restaurants and live music. Station Street next door is one of the city's livelier evening blocks.
8. Tennessee Riverwalk
Outdoors
Miles of paved riverside path for walking, running or biking. Easy to reach from downtown, and good for a morning reset.
9. St. John's Restaurant
Restaurant
Long regarded as one of Chattanooga's top fine-dining rooms, serving seasonal Southern cooking. A special-occasion pick.
10. Alleia
Restaurant
Rustic Italian cooking with house-made pasta and wood-fired dishes in a warm Southside setting. A favorite for date nights.
11. Main Street Meats
Restaurant
A butcher shop and restaurant on the Southside known for its burger, steaks and charcuterie. Casual but serious about its food.
12. Easy Bistro & Bar
Restaurant
A downtown bistro with seasonal Southern-European cooking and a raw bar, in a historic building. A polished but relaxed choice.
13. The Playlist
Dinner & Show
Dinner and a show in one: your servers take the stage between courses and perform pop hits from the last 40 years under concert lights. Guests vote on the songs and can join in. Dinner is scratch-made Italian, including garlic knots and a family-style salad, and the show runs about 75 minutes. It's at 100 Market Street near the Tennessee Aquarium, open Thursday through Sunday evenings, and you buy tickets in advance online. A fun, unexpected night out for groups and girlfriend getaways.
Our View on Chattanooga
Game Day in the Scenic City: Plan a Chattanooga Mocs Football Weekend
There’s something special about college football on a crisp fall Saturday. In Chattanooga, you get it with a downtown stadium, a mountain skyline and a whole weekend of things to do before and after kickoff.
Cool-Weather Chattanooga: The Best Things to Do This Fall and Winter
Summer in Chattanooga is all about the river. But when the air turns crisp, the Scenic City shows off a different side – mountain overlooks blazing with color, cozy museums, lights on Lookout Mountain and some of the best patio-with-a-heater dining in the South.
Thanksgiving in Chattanooga: A Holiday Weekend Worth the Trip
Thanksgiving is about gathering – and Chattanooga might be the easiest place in the Southeast to do it. It’s roughly two hours from Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville and Birmingham, so everyone can meet in the middle. And by Thanksgiving week, the city is just beginning to…
Chattanooga in the News
News articles coming soon!