The D.E.A.L

Kinley Hotel

DINING

The “Scenic City’s” Culinary Scene is as Scrumptious as its Scenery

by Jeanne Brei & Symeria Palmer

Chattanooga may be overshadowed by its popular big brother, Nashville, but the Scenic City is less crowded, packed with Southern charm and one of the most affordable vacation destinations in the country. Recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards as one of its “Top 10 Small Cities in the U.S.,” it’s most notably known as an outdoor mecca, while currently enjoying a culinary boom. Chefs are creating memorable meals with meat and produce sourced from local farms, and chocolatiers turn out desserts reminiscent of European cafes. No wonder Chattanooga is recognized as one of the “Best New Food Cities in America” by Thrillist.

ECN readers know how partial I am to everything vintage and historical, and Company at Kinley Hotel is a modern, hidden speakeasy that combines the spirit of a bygone age with a warm, contemporary vibe. Company offers innovative cocktails and delicious food in an eclectic atmosphere. The name is derived from the 1880s speakeasy in which frequenters became a community or “company” of those “in the know.”

Chattanooga’s most acclaimed restaurant, St. John’s Restaurant, serves inventive Regional American cuisine from Chef Patrick Sawyer in the former St. John’s Hotel building, an elegant, historic setting. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the flatiron building evolved from hotel to brothel to abandoned and condemned in the ‘90s. Fortunately, it was rescued and restored and today, diners rave that every dish surpasses their high expectations as the restaurant uses only local vegetables picked on the day of service and seafood caught within the previous 24 hours.

Another highly acclaimed restaurant is the Bridgeman’s Chophouse, located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga in the historic Read House Hotel. This upscale chophouse offers distinctive private dining experiences for groups and features not only USDA Prime beef and chops with an extensive steak selection, but also offers the freshest seafood in Chattanooga, including a grand seafood tower, raw oysters and a variety of fresh fish as well as one of the city’s largest and most diverse wine lists.

Housed in Chattanooga’s newest luxury boutique hotel, The Edwin, Whitebird is an upscale restaurant that has partnered with local producers and artisans to serve innovative, organic Southern fare. Its menu features delicious French Toast Bites and Sweet Potato Donuts for breakfast as well as more serious entrees like “The Whitebird,” a whole Poulet rouge chicken, honey and tea lacquered breast and leg, with a wild mushroom fricassee. Meanwhile, the hotel’s rooftop bar, Whiskey Thief, is named after the tool used to test whiskey throughout the barrel, and celebrates Tennessee's signature spirits with more than 100 whiskeys. The bar offers stunning views of the city with panoramic views of the mountains, the Tennessee River, Chattanooga’s North Shore, the historic Walnut Street Bridge and the Bluff View Arts District.

For those whose taste buds are more adventurous, PROOF Incubator is a new food and beverage incubator, kitchen, accelerator and bar. Chef Kenyatta, one of Chattanooga’s top chefs, recently opened Neutral Ground, a modern New Orleans-style Po-Boy and Yakamein restaurant there. Also in downtown Chattanooga’s sizzling Southside, State of Confusion features a variety of madefrom-scratch offerings ranging from Latin American cuisine to Peruvian cuisine prepared on traditional Argentine grills.

For the more budget conscious, there’s Market South—a neighborhood food hall anchored by Five Wits Brewing Company. Market South features Trunk Railroad (Indian street food), Chow Main (Asian inspired wok fare), Slow Rise (Roman-style pizza), The Green Room (craft coffee, cocktail and vinyl record shop) and more. Or you could stop by The Choo Choo and sample some of its restaurants, including Nic & Norman’s—a new restaurant concept from director Greg Nicotero and actor Norman Reedus of The Walking Dead.

No visit to Chattanooga is complete without a stop into Clumpies Ice Cream Co., and just across the street from the Choo Choo, you’ll find handmade chocolates, truffles and pastries at The Hot Chocolatier.

Lastly, the city’s first food truck park opened for weekends this spring downtown. With a rotation of six local vendors, there is always variety at Food Truck Alley.

ENTERTAINMENT

Chattanooga Choo Choo’s Station Street Is Where the Party Starts

by Jeanne Brei & Symeria Palmer

The Southside of Chattanooga downtown—home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo—is where art, culture and entertainment thrive and, according to locals, a night out on the town starts on Station Street.

Formerly an alleyway, Station Street was renovated to become pedestrian friendly, provide patio access to the restaurants and entertainment venues, and provide an outdoor space for special events. It recently became the 11th street nationwide to allow on-street consumption of alcohol (only from businesses adjacent to the street). So you can take your drink down the street with you as you check out the Comedy Catch for some stand-up, Regan’s Place to do some retro dance moves to music from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Westbound Bar for some country line dances and two-stepping, Songbirds (14,000 sq. ft. of music bliss with great sound quality), Terminal Brewhouse, Gate 11 Distillery, Frothy Monkey, Backstage Bar, American Draft, Refinery 423, Sweetly Southern and the amazing STIR, where every bite and every sip is crafted daily from scratch, using ingredients predominately from farms and vendors within 100 miles of Chattanooga—including its oysters and seafood cold bar. There’s even an Escape Experience at the Choo Choo where you’re trapped inside an armored transport rail car and the runaway train is bound for destruction. With help from Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the inside mimics the sights, sounds and feel of being inside of an out-of-control train. Your only chance is to make it to the back of the train and jump.

Originally built in 1909 as the Terminal Station, it was transformed into the cornerstone of Chattanooga’s emerging entertainment district as the Chattanooga Choo Choo in 2016 (after renovations in 1973 and 1989 to restore its grandeur). The Beaux-Arts-style station was one of the grandest buildings in town, featuring an arched main entrance and an 82-foot-high ceiling dome with a skylight in the center section. The arched main entrance was said to be the “largest arch in the world” with lighting provided by large brass chandeliers. The iconic Choo Choo recently underwent major renovations including upgrades to the 112-year-old Terminal Station lobby, Glenn Miller Gardens, and Building One, and conversion of Buildings Two & Three into apartments.

Just down the street, the Terminal Brewhouse became the first brewpub in Chattanooga in 2006. Now it serves excellent food and award-winning beers made on-site by the master brewers. Based in the Strong building of 1910 that was originally built to house a hotel for passengers using the nearby Terminal station, in later years it was used as a speakeasy and illegal casino during Prohibition. Visitors can enjoy traditional fare such as nachos, steaks, lasagna, salmon and a wide range of pizzas to go with one of the Brewhouse beers. Brewmaster Steve Purdie produces ales, including Oatmeal stout, Maibock, Belgian White, American Copper Ale and West Coast IPA.

Fortunately, getting around couldn’t be easier or greener. Electric buses run daily about every 5-15 minutes from the Choo Choo to the Tennessee Aquarium with stops every block in between, giving convenient access to the downtown attractions, convention center, shopping and hotels. Since 1992, the quiet, environmentally-friendly, electric buses have run more than 1.9 million miles, saving an estimated 65 tons of pollutants.

Of course, they also have the bicycles you can rent for your touristing. Or Pints and Pedals is Chattanooga’s Ultimate Pub Crawl on Wheels. You can leisurely pedal and drink with your friends or make new ones while visiting the hottest spots in town on tours that are usually two hours long and visit three to four bars.

For the more culturally refined, like nearly every major city, Chattanooga has its share of performing arts spaces, including the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, the Tivoli Theatre, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium and more. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Fine Arts Center has rotating displays of fine art. From Station Street to the ballet and the symphony, Chattanooga has it all.

Pints and Pedals, Chattanooga’s Ultimate Pub Crawl on Wheels

The Glenn Miller Gardens at the Chattanooga Choo Choo

ATTRACTIONS

Enjoying Both Chattanooga’s Great Outdoors & Museums

By Jeanne Brei & Symeria Palmer

Chattanooga is known for its beautiful natural surroundings—after all, its very name derives from a Creek word for nearby Lookout Mtn., meaning “rock rising to a point.” Outdoorsy folks will find no shortage of world-class climbing, hiking loops, kayak routes and mountain biking trails, but there are also wonderful museums, the country’s top-rated aquarium and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum— which allows you to experience the romance of the rails with its full-sized train ride tours.

The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, “America’s Most Amazing Mile,” climbs the mountain at a breathtaking 72.7 percent grade near the top—which gives the incline the distinction of being the world’s steepest passenger railway. Established in 1895, the trolley-style railcars are now fully accessible with air-conditioning as they carry you cloud-high. At Lookout Mtn. Station, the free observation deck is the highest overlook on the mountain.

Located atop Lookout Mountain, just six miles from downtown Chattanooga, Rock City is a true marvel of nature featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with 400+ native plant species and breathtaking “See Seven States” panoramic views. Visitors may cast their wish upon the 140-foot high falls, visit the world-famous Lover’s Leap or wend their way through massive rock boulders and caverns to Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village. Or you can go inside Lookout Mountain where you’ll see the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the U.S.—Ruby Falls. Visitors descend 26 stories by elevator and then walk 60-80 minutes during a guided tour to the breathtaking waterfall, 1,120 feet underground.

Helping Chattanooga get the nickname “The Scenic City,” the Tennessee Riverpark includes more than 150 acres along the Tennessee River with playgrounds, public art, recreational areas, fishing piers, historical sites, facility rentals and more. One of its most popular amenities is the Chattanooga Riverwalk, which offers a 13mile, family-friendly, paved multi-use greenway. Beginning at TVA’s Chickamauga Dam and stretching south along the river through downtown and extending to the base of Lookout Mountain, the landscaped and lighted concrete Riverwalk is used for bicycling, in-line skating, walking and jogging and has canoe and kayaking launches, too. Since opening in 1987, the Tennessee Riverwalk continues to be recognized as one of the region’s premier greenways. In 2016, a $16 million expansion added three miles and includes the Amphitheater at Blue Goose Hollow (site of Bessie Smith’s first home and where she began singing for coins as a young girl), Chattanooga Bike Share station, a pavilion and more.

Within walking distance of downtown Chattanooga, Bluff View Art District specializes in the visual, culinary and landscape arts. The historic neighborhood sits high atop a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River. For more walking, the Walnut St. Bridge, erected in 1891, is one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges, connecting downtown to the north shore.

The Hunter Museum of American Art is built on a 90foot limestone bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and is comprised of a 1905 classical revival mansion, a low-slung 1970s building and a 2005 contemporary structure that showcase 100 years of architecture and houses one of the finest collections of American art in the Southeast. The collection spans the history of American art from the colonial period to the present day, and includes painting, sculpture, contemporary studio glass and crafts.

Art lovers will also enjoy the 33-acre Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, curated and designed by world-renowned artist John Henry. The non-profit outdoor museum has 27 large-scale sculptures by artists from around the world.

One of the nation’s top children’s museums, the Creative Discovery Museum, inspires children’s passion for learning through play. And for more family fun, AT&T Field is home to the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

And, finally, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center is undergoing renovations in 2021.

All Aboard the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel Luxury Sleeper Car!

By Jeanne Brei & Symeria Palmer

Chattanooga hotels are part of the reason the city is quickly becoming a top vacation destination. Nowhere else can you find the unique choices of staying in a historic railroad sleeper car or atop a bluff overlooking the river or on a mountain overlooking all of Chattanooga.

The iconic Chattanooga Choo Choo complex will soon unveil its latest facelift—a complete overhaul of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Led by design-centric hotel brand Life House, the project will convert the 132-room hotel into a four-star boutique property featuring luxury Pullman Train Car suites. Guests can step back in time by staying in a beautifully restored authentic sleeper car, once reserved for only the wealthiest of passengers during the railroad era. Celebrating Chattanooga’s locomotive history and the soul of musicians who visited during the 1920s Jazz Era, the revamped hotel will also feature a 40-seat cinema, recording studio, a 1970s-style lounge and restaurant.

The Choo Choo Complex began as Terminal Station, designed in the famous Beaux Arts style, and opened in 1909 as the first railway station in the South. It closed its doors when the last train departed in 1970. After nearly being demolished (as the nearby 115-yearold Union Station was) in 1973, it was rescued and converted into a hotel and entertainment complex. In 1974, the Choo Choo Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of the city’s first historic preservation projects. With history and hospitality at its heart, the 24-acre complex boasts a convention center, hotel and resort with restaurants, shops, the Glenn Miller Formal Gardens (named after the world-famous musician who recorded the Chattanooga Choo Choo song in 1941) and more. The Gardens sit on two acres where the 14 tracks and seven platforms served millions of train passengers.

Another time-traveling gem is the Gatsby-themed Read House Hotel, a unique historic getaway where modern-day, luxurious comfort meets timeless Chattanooga charm. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, it’s walking distance to the city’s greatest attractions. And The Edwin Hotel, Autograph Collection, is a new upscale boutique hotel also in the heart of Chattanooga with elegant, dog-friendly hotel rooms and suites, large desks, free wi-fi, generous living areas and impressive Tennessee River views. Whether you want to explore Ruby Falls, visit the Convention Center, tour the Tennessee Aquarium or walk the historic Walnut Street Bridge, you can do it easily from this riverfront hotel. The rooftop pool has great views of Lookout Mountain and the downtown scenery.

Other new and renovated hotels include Aloft by Marriott, BODE, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hotel Indigo, Home2 Suites Chattanooga, Kinely Hotel, Tru by Hilton and Westin Chattanooga.

But for something completely different, The Crash Pad: An Uncommon Hostel, provides a base camp and community hub for adventurous travelers that combines the affordability and camaraderie of a traditional hostel with the charm and cleanliness of a boutique hotel. They’re the first LEED Platinum certified hostel in the world and the fifth such project in Chattanooga, thanks to their highly efficient wall system, green roof, solar array, heavy use of reclaimed materials in their furniture and fixtures, and other highly visible green initiatives. And they’ll help you plan your climbing, biking, running, kayaking and other outdoor adventures.

Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel