For years, Chattanooga lived in the shadows of Tennessee’s more marquee destinations—Nashville’s Music City aura and Memphis with its legendary barbecue and blues. But that’s changing. Today, Chattanooga is carving out its own cultural rhythm, where award-winning chefs and culinary experiences converge with spectacular outdoor adventures, a vibrant arts scene and deep, musical roots.
For a city its size, Chattanooga’s culinary credentials are impressive. Calliope delivers a one-two punch of culinary recognition: it was named to The New York Times’ 2025 Top 50 Restaurants in the U.S. and is helmed by chef Khaled AlBanna, a 2026 James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast. Combining Middle Eastern and Mediterranean technique with Southern ingredients, the kitchen turns out acclaimed dishes such as braised collards with peanut dukkah and lamb andouille over muhammara.
Easy Bistro Dish by Heather Anne Thomas
Husband-and-wife team Erik and Amanda Niel have operated Michelin-listed Easy Bistro & Bar since 2005, where two-time James Beard nominee Erik draws inspiration from his Louisiana upbringing and classical French training. The sharing-focused menu features wood-fired oysters alongside a whiskey list of more than 300 selections. Meanwhile, Michelin-Recommended The Rosecomb, tucked inside a charming 1920s cottage, serves Appalachian-inspired fare, including slow-cooked pulled chicken with pepperoncini.
Chattanooga native Daniel Lindley, a six-time James Beard nominee and chef-owner of 2nd American, pays homage to his mother’s Sunday dinners, serving every entrée with a large communal bowl of creamy mashed potatoes. Don’t miss the tomato pie with Kenny’s Farmhouse fromage blanc or bacon-wrapped South Carolina quail. For another memorable dining experience, the Chattanooga Dinner Train serves a three-course meal aboard restored vintage railcars over a leisurely three-hour evening journey, while B&O Private Car 98 offers an intimate railcar experience for up to eight guests. Meanwhile, The Picnic Society creates all-inclusive luxury picnics at a location of your choice, complete with themed decor and optional add-ons like a flower bar, and outdoor cinema.
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2nd American Restaurant Tomato Pie by Jim Bamboulis
Zen in Chattanooga embraces the natural elements found in and around the city. Downtown, Ama Spa draws its name from the Cherokee tradition of “going to water” to wash away physical and spiritual ailments. Its Whiskey & Wellness treatment incorporates a Chattanooga Whiskey infused sugar scrub, while the Purification Ritual begins with a sage smudging and culminates with a full-body river rock massage. Nearby, at the base of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Salt Cavern offers halotherapy sessions inside an active cave, where guests recline in zero-gravity chairs as a halogenerator disperses micro-ionized, pure-grade sodium chloride into the air.
Ruby Falls by Jim Bamboulis
In the air, Chattanooga Helicopters offers a range of private flights with sweeping aerial views of the Tennessee River Gorge, while Lookout Mountain Flight Park is America’s No. 1 USHPA-certified free-flight resort. Both tandem hang-gliding and paragliding experiences launch from Lookout Mountain, soaring to heights of up to 3,000 feet. On land, High Point Climbing provides private and customized half – and full-day climbs with American Mountain Guides Association certified guides, while at the Chattanooga Zoo, ‘Keeper Encounters’ allow guests to go inside the habitat, meet the keepers and hand-feed red pandas, spider monkeys, and meerkats. Underground, Ruby Falls’ Gentle Walking Tours run before opening hours, while Lantern Tours take guests through the cave after-hours by the glow of handheld lanterns.
Jim Bamboulis
A visit to Chattanooga’s cultural past starts on Ninth Street, or “The Big 9.” Deeply rooted in African American history, the district was once a vibrant hub of the city’s music and entertainment scene. It was here that Bessie Smith, the “Empress of the Blues,” got her start; today, her legacy lives on at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center along present-day MLK Boulevard. That spirit of performance extends to the stage, from the revitalized Tivoli Theatre, the city’s celebrated “Jewel of the South”, to the century-old Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium, which continues to host Broadway productions and legendary concerts.
This October, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) returns to Chattanooga, bringing the city’s musical energy to life across town. Its Bluegrass Ramble showcases artists in intimate venues throughout Chattanooga, giving audiences a more up-close and personal way to experience the music. A two-day VIP Weekend Pass includes presale access to the Late Night Jam at Barrelhouse Ballroom, happy-hour sets with live bands and complimentary whiskey tastings, priority seating at the Chattanooga Convention Center and mezzanine access at The Signal.
The Read House Hotel Exterior by Jim Bamboulis
Stays are destinations in their own right, and in Chattanooga, there’s no shortage of exceptional properties. Downtown, The Edwin, a luxury boutique hotel, overlooks the Bluff View Art District and is home to Whiskey Thief, its popular rooftop lounge with more than 100 whiskies behind the bar. The Waymark, housed inside a masterfully restored 1927 Art Deco bank, retains its Roaring ‘20s grandeur. Sip a cocktail at Iris Rooftop, Chattanooga’s highest rooftop bar with Lookout Mountain views, or descend to The Vault, the subterranean speakeasy located inside the bank’s original vault. Nearby, The Read House Hotel, a National Register of Historic Places property, dates to 1872 and has been restored to its celebrated Jazz Age splendour. It has welcomed several notable guests, including Winston Churchill and Elvis Presley. For a deeper dive into the hotel’s colorful past, book a tour that explores the ghost said to haunt Room 311, as well as the story of Al Capone, who reportedly spent a night at the hotel.
Lobby of Hotel Chalet by Trestle Studio.
Minutes south of downtown, The Hotel Chalet at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo is a Michelin One Key property where guests can sleep inside a restored Pullman rail carriage—a fitting nod to the city’s storied transportation history. Beyond downtown, The Glamping Collective features glass cabins, geodesic domes, and a cliff-edge infinity pool, not to mention a sunset summit hiking trail on site, while Bolt Farm Treehouse sits on 55 private, mountaintop acres, combining luxury treehouses and mirror cabins. Guests can unwind at LVV Couples Spa & Wellness, a stunning cliffside retreat featuring cascading thermal pools and a sauna experience carved into the mountainside with dramatic views of the Southern Appalachian landscape.
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