Chattanooga has become one of the Southeast's favorite weekend escapes, and it's easy to see why. The city tucks scenic mountain views, a walkable riverfront, and a genuinely character-filled downtown into one compact destination, making it just as good for a quiet couple's getaway as it is for a long weekend with friends. Part of the charm comes down to where you stay. Whether you're looking for hotels near Chattanooga in the middle of the action or a quieter place up on Lookout Mountain, the city's lodging runs from bed and breakfasts to boutique hotels tucked into historic buildings. Here are five of our favorite places to stay in Chattanooga, starting with the one we know best.
Chanticleer Inn Bed & Breakfast
Chanticleer Inn has welcomed guests since 1927 from its spot on Lookout Mountain, a short ten-minute drive from downtown. With stone buildings and gardens spread over two acres, it's a family-owned property, and that shows in the details: each of the inn's 17 rooms has its own layout and personality, and every one comes with complimentary Wi-Fi, an in-room Keurig, a private patio, and signature bathrobes, with some rooms adding a living area, a fireplace, or Whirlpool tubs. Groups and wedding parties often opt for the Watkins House, a separate four-bedroom home, complete with its own kitchen and living space, plus a terrace overlooking the grounds. Children 12 and older are welcome in the main inn, while the Watkins House is reserved for guests 18 and up.
Chanticleer is a quick walk from Rock City and a short drive from hiking trails like Lula Lake Land Trust and Glen Falls, with downtown Chattanooga's restaurants and the Tivoli Theatre only minutes away. There's plenty to do without leaving the property, as well. Guests can cool off in the seasonal pool, pull up a chair at the fire pit, or start a friendly cornhole or bocce match on the lawn. Coffee, tea, and cookies are set out all day, with a light savory bite in the mid-afternoon and something sweet arriving by early evening.
Breakfast is part of the draw, too, prepared fresh in-house each morning and served in the inn's sunny dining room. Anyone looking to make their stay even more memorable can choose from one of our add-ons, including the Spa Package for extra pampering.
Book your stay at Chanticleer Inn
Dwell Hotel
Downtown on East 10th Street, the Dwell Hotel takes a different approach entirely: retro-reimagined rooms inside a building with a genuinely long history, from a Civil War-era stone fort on the site to the 1909 Colonial Hotel, and later, the Stone Fort Inn. Today's mid-century-modern redesign keeps the original character but adds color, pattern, and a glamorous, old-movie-star flair throughout its 16 rooms, which range from executive suites like The Mod and The Tiki up through king suites such as The Europa and The Flamingo. Every room includes a soaking tub paired with a separate rain shower, upgraded bath products, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The hotel's Matilda Midnight bar serves craft cocktails Wednesday through Sunday evenings. For weddings and corporate events, Dwell requires guests to buy out the entire building (all sixteen rooms), with the Solarium serving as the venue for the main celebration and Matilda Midnight open as a private bar throughout the stay.
Bluff View Inn
Bluff View Inn is made up of three restored historic homes set above the Tennessee River in downtown's Bluff View Art District. The Maclellan House, an 1889 English Tudor-style mansion, holds the property's honeymoon suite; the T.C. Thompson House holds four guest rooms plus a pair of apartment-style suites, with rocking chairs on the porch facing Signal Mountain; and the Martin House rounds things out with three antique-furnished rooms in a 1927 Colonial Revival.
Because the inn sits inside the art district itself, guests can walk to Rembrandt's Coffee House, Tony's Pasta Shop, Bluff View Bakery, and River Gallery Sculpture Garden. A short stroll away are Hunter Museum of American Art, Tennessee Aquarium, Coolidge Park, and Walnut Street Bridge.
Read House Hotel
No list of Chattanooga hotels would be complete without the Read House, a downtown landmark since the Jazz Age and one of the city's most recognizable addresses. A $25 million renovation in 2018 restored much of its original glamour, from the soaring lobby ceilings to the checkered floors, without losing the sense that you've stepped into another decade.
Rooms range from double queens up through premier suites and the penthouse suite, which has room for six at its dining table, plus its own wet bar. Guests have access to an indoor pool and a fitness center that includes a Peloton bike, plus dinner at Bridgeman's Chophouse or drinks in the speakeasy-style Bar & Billiards Room. Like Bluff View Inn, the Read House puts guests within easy walking distance of Tennessee Aquarium, Hunter Museum, and the Chattanooga RiverWalk.
Treetop Hideaways
For something a little more adventurous, Treetop Hideaways is tucked into a forest of old-growth trees in Flintstone, Georgia, on Lookout Mountain's lower flank. The concept is simple: treehouses built for grown-ups, not kids. The Elements Treehouse leans fully into luxury, with heated floors, a rain-head shower built around a live tree, a stocked mini-fridge and bar, and gigabit internet. The Luna Loft Treehouse is just as well-equipped, with full climate control and its own kitchenette, but it’s built from reclaimed 1860s barn wood, with salvaged sixteen-foot warehouse windows.
Guests can add on e-bike rentals or join the property's Adventure Club for early access to open-house tours and bonfire nights. Because the treehouses sit so close to the city, it's an easy drive into Chattanooga for hiking, caving, kayaking, or a night out.
Book Your Stay Upon Lookout Mountain
Whether you’re looking for mountaintop quiet, treehouse adventure, retro-cool downtown, or historic grandeur, Chattanooga has a place to stay that fits your needs. And if a slower, garden-shaded getaway sounds exactly your style, we'd love to have you at Chanticleer Inn.
