Downtown Chattanooga is blessed with artisan shops, start-ups and some of the best local restaurants anywhere in the city.
(Photo: Agave & Rye)
Set along the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Tennessee, Chattanooga is an outdoor lover’s paradise. But it is also a city brimming with urban appeal, including a bustling downtown district chock full of attractions. Among them is a wide choice of eateries ranging from casual ‘grab and go’ joints through to gourmet dining experiences. Here are five of the best restaurants that downtown Chattanooga has to offer.
Plan your trip: If you need a parking spot in downtown Chattanooga, check out this article.
Agave & Rye
With eye-catching custom artwork adorning the walls, Agave & Rye is the go-to choice for hungry Chattanooga patrons seeking Mexican-style tacos and handcrafted cocktails in a fun and funky setting. Located on Chestnut Street, close to the Chattanooga Aquarium, the eatery’s decorative side fuses the edgy grit of street art with the finesse of fine art to create the ultimate spot for getting down and dirty with tantalising tacos and their fiesta of flavours. The restaurant also takes pride in its community-focused approach that utilises fresh, locally-sourced ingredients to craft specialty tacos and drinks from a made-from-scratch kitchen.
185 Chestnut St
Easy Bistro & Bar
(Photo: Easy Bistro & Bar)
For a slightly more refined downtown dining experience, the family-run Easy Bistro & Bar won’t disappoint. Housed within a renovated bottling plant, also on Chestnut Street, this stylish but relaxed French bistro features a raw bar specialising in seafood and a long cocktail list that, together with an alluring menu of classic Francophile dishes with a Southern American twist, have gained a loyal following among local foodies since opening its doors back in 2005. Farm-fresh and peak-season produce is the name of the game here, all fused together by the talented kitchen’s penchant for creativity into delightfully presented fare.
801 Chestnut St
St. John’s
When it comes to special occasion restaurants, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything to match the award-winning St John’s, set within a historic flatiron building on – yep, you guessed it – Chestnut Street. Originally a luxury hotel, in its current guise St John’s continues to draw an upscale crowd with its seafood-themed fare served with a distinctly quirky but always gourmet spin. But it’s the setting, with its soft seating and equally soft lighting, that makes this downtown’s ultimate date night or even ‘pop the question’ dining destination. Fear not, however, because, for all the romantic vibes, the dress code remains casual.
729 Chestnut St
Whitebird
(Photo: Whitebird)
Hotel restaurants can so often be faceless, characterless places dolling out mediocre fare to a captive audience. Not so, Whitebird, a swanky fine dining establishment set within the Edwin Hotel at the foot of the historic Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge. Renowned for its warm Southern hospitality, the restaurant’s USP is the homage it pays to the indigenous cuisine of the Tennessee River Valley and surrounding Appalachian region. Priding themselves on working with local producers and artisans, their menu of Southern-themed dishes can be savoured while soaking up the river views outside, all adding up to an elevated dining experience in the heart of downtown.
102 Walnut St
Puckett’s
If you enjoy tucking into a hearty meal while tapping your toes to a backdrop of live music, then Puckett’s is the place to head in downtown Chattanooga. Situated directly next to the aquarium, the restaurant dates back to the 1960s when it began life as a humble grocery store. In the years since, the venue has evolved into a veritable community kitchen, a social stalwart that brings local people together in the spirit of good eating, good music and good times. But don’t be dissuaded; this is also somewhere that welcomes outsiders with open arms, with in-the-know visitors flocking here to seek out its authentic southern comfort food in one culinary and cultural melting pot.
2 W Aquarium Way