If you’re headed into town for a meeting or event at the Chattanooga Convention Center, you might be surprised at just how many Scenic City staples are located just steps away. Whether you’re heading out for lunch, an afternoon break, or evening entertainment, here’s what’s walkable–no car needed.
West Village
Anchored by the towering golden reflections of the Westin Chattanooga, West Village is a Chattanooga urban hotspot for live music, coffee, and cuisine. You can stop for a selfie in Umbrella Alley; shop for high end handbags and clothing at Antibes; then pop into 423 Taco for the mango guacamole, pork belly tacos, or birrias. While you’re in town, keep an eye on West Village social media for specialty events like cocktail making classes at Old Gilman Grill, live music at Hotel Indigo and Paloma Bar de Tapas (10th floor of the Westin), pop-up food festivals, and mixers. West Village also recently partnered with THEATRICO, a new theater company in Chattanooga dedicated to outdoor performances and casting opportunities for the city’s best talent.
7 minute walk (0.3 miles)
The Coker Museum
Featured in the Travel Channel’s reality show “Backroad Gold,” Corky Coker got his start in antique autos when he took over the family business and set out to make tires that were no longer being manufactured. He’s also at the helm of The Coker Museum, located inside Honest Charley’s Speedshop, a garage that restores vintage hot rods, motorcycles, trucks, and more. Corky’s collection is more than 100 items large and includes vintage signage, engines, and other memorabilia. Guest favorites include the 1909 Lozier model J, roadsters by Austin-Healey and Jaguar, and the 1926 Super X. A self guided tour takes between 45 and 90 minutes.
4 minute walk (0.2 miles)
Moxy Chattanooga Downtown
One of the best places for a late-night drink in downtown Chattanooga is Moxy Chattanooga Downtown, a boutique hotel with a bar and community space built right into the lobby. (The bartender is, in fact, the front desk clerk.) Popular among the locals, the first thing you’ll notice when you walk in the door is the retro railway station split-flap display. Every few minutes, the flaps will rotate to display a new brassy message: a nod to a fun night out, a compliment to someone’s shoes, or a feel-good mantra like “Whatever makes you weird is probably your best asset.” Behind the bar, the Lounge includes a 17-foot leather couch, billiards, tabletop shuffleboard, and glass accordion doors that fold open to expose a large outdoor patio with a bright yellow container bar. Around the corner by the elevators, you’ll find a collection of lockers where you can store your bag and jacket for the night–each locker named after a different Samuel L. Jackson movie. At The Moxy, there’s always some sort of nightlife brewing. Keep an eye on the hotel’s social media for announcements about live music, patio roller skating, dog-friendly paw-ties, and more.
9 minute walk (0.4 miles)
Finley Stadium
Home to the Chattanooga Football Club and UTC Chattanooga Mocs, Davenport Field at Finley Stadium is the perfect stop for sports fans. Known for the enthusiasm of local cheering squad The Chattahooligans, Chattanooga Football Club rounds out their soccer season this year with matches against the Los Angeles Force on September 1 and Gold Star on October 1. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football faces off against Kennesaw State on September 9, The Citadel on September 16, Western Carolina on October 7, East Tennessee State University on October 21, and Furman on November 4. The stadium’s First Horizon Pavilion is also the hub for Pickleball Open Play and The Chattanooga Market on Sundays through November. September 21 at The Chattanooga Market is the Bacon and Barrel Festival, celebrating “bacon, bbq, and all the good things that come from old oak barrels.”
13 minute walk (0.6 miles)
The Hot Chocolatier
Founded by Wendy and Brandon Buckner after meeting chocolatiers in France and Belgium, The Hot Chocolatier is Chattanooga’s gourmet chocolate and desserts shop. Located across the street from The Chattanooga Choo Choo, here you’ll find truffles, bonbons, and other treats such as dark chocolate ganache infused with champagne, peanut butter bark, biscotti, cakes, brownies, marzipan stuffed dates, double dipped cherries, macarons, and more. At The Hot Chocolatier, you can also purchase take-home items like hot chocolate mix, mugs, coffee, and treats to go.
12 minute walk (0.6 miles)
Sculpture Fields at Montague Park
Keep an eye out for unique architecture, murals, and street art as you make your way through the Southside Historic District down Main Street to this 33-acre outdoor museum. “Lucille,” a bronzed copper patina dress by John Petrey stands outside Petrey Studios at 559 East Main Street. A giant angel wing mural by Kelsey Montague (who painted a similar mural in Nashville for Taylor Swift) is located at 1501 Long Street near Hi-Fi Clyde’s. At the Sculpture Fields, you’ll find free access to more than 50 large scale sculptures on grassy land donated to the city in 1911. While walking amongst the structures, download the app Otocast to hear each artist speak about their work.
35 minute walk (1.3 miles)
Warehouse Row
For high-end shopping just up Market Street from the Tennessee Aquarium, take Chestnut Street to 11th Street and head a block east. Warehouse Row is a community retail center where you’ll find Anthropologie, J. Crew, Lululemon Athletics, Yves Delorme, men’s clothing and accessory shop Onward Reserve, and antiques and home furnishings retailer Revival. Inside, the atmosphere is sophisticated: dark wood finishes, brick, dim lighting, and industrial fixtures. Food on site includes southern fare at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar and Japanese-inspired ramen house Two Ten Jack.
6 minute walk (0.3 miles)
