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Woo woo! Chattanooga offers plenty of history, nature, art and fun to keep a family happy
The North Shore neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Valerie Schremp Hahn/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

16 Essential Bars and Restaurants in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Head south of Nashville and find a treasure trove of sandwiches stuffed with house-cured meats, carousels of fried chicken, and Levantine-inspired dishes

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The North Shore neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
| Valerie Schremp Hahn/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Chattanooga may not have a Graceland for Elvis enthusiasts to flock to or a beloved style of barbecue like Memphis. And unlike Nashville, hot chicken wasn’t invented here nor are there many honky-tonk or pedal tavern shenanigans to indulge in.

No, Chattanooga jigs and bops to the rhythm of its own fiddle. The city has cultivated its very own brand of eclectic, outdoorsy panache and has slowly but surely nudged its gastro-identity past Moon Pies and Little Debbie snacks. Now, there are plenty of excellent dining options around every bend of this gorgeous city, from quirky cocktail dens to soul food classics. And if you ask the right local, some good, stiff moonshine, too.

If you’re looking for more restaurants worth leaving Nashville for, here are 18 within driving distance.

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The Rosecomb

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At this Riverview staple, find excellent cocktails and modern versions of Southern cookout classics like pulled chicken sandwiches and fried catfish and grits. Set in a 1920s cottage, the Rosecomb’s vibe is intimate and homey, with walls and surfaces dotted with antique, quirky touches. Outside, it feels more like a friend’s summer backyard party than a restaurant, in a good way. The restaurant is 21-plus, even during Sunday brunch.

Zaya 1943 Korean Steakhouse

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Over in Northshore is where you’ll find Zaya, a fine-dining (re: special occasion) steakhouse with a predilection for Korean barbecue. You’ll find a smokeless built-in grill at every table where servers deliver, grill, and cut your choice of meat(s) — including Omaha dry-aged rib-eye, A5 Japanese Miyazaki wagyu, and tomahawk steak — alongside unlimited servings of various banchan like kimchi and cold vegetable salads.

Whitebird

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The feeling is light and airy, easy and breezy, but the mission here is serious: Whitebird aims to elevate Appalachian cuisine from its often misunderstood “podunk” status to something a little more polished and pretty. Think trout but butter-basted with wilted dandelion and charred sweet red pepper salsa, or pork with bacon jam and roasted rosemary-apple compote — all sourced from the Tennessee River Valley and enjoyed at tables overlooking the river.

Inside Whitebird.
Whitebird

Lil Mama's Chicago Style Hoagy

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No, you didn't fall asleep and wake up in the intro of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but that’s exactly the nostalgic swagger owner Tiffany Pauldon-Banks has curated at Lil Mama’s, with its loud pink-and-green graffiti and gold thrones. Undoubtedly the last thing you imagined you’d be eating in Chattanooga would be a Chicago-style hoagie, but it’s one of best things between two slices of bread in the 423.

Community Pie

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This pizzeria in Miller Plaza is essential as essential gets. Community Pie’s Neapolitan-style pizza is super light with crispy, bubbly edges, as it should be. Set your mouth on fire with the Spicy Bianca topped with fresh mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino Romano, olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chiles, then put that fire out with a scoop or two of house-made pistachio gelato. You’ll also find a second location in Hamilton Place.

Pickle Barrel

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Pickle Barrel is arguably Chattanooga’s most iconic pub, located in a historic flatiron building smack in the middle of City Center. Despite the dive bar vibe, don’t overlook the food — it’s extremely solid. With surprisingly clean bathrooms and a great roof deck for people-watching, Pickle Barrel hasn’t changed much over the years except for becoming non-smoking, and that’s a good thing.

Calliope Restaurant & Bar

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The story of Calliope starts in Amman, Jordan, where Khaled Albanna spent his childhood alongside his mother who was a chef and passionate home cook. Fast forward to 2020, and Chef Khaled’s unleashed Calliope on Chattanooga, a warm dining nook mixing his traditional Levantine roots with Southern influences. Case in point: falafel biscuits with preserved lemons and a slow-cooked lamb prepared with hawaij (Yemeni spices) and peach barbecue.  

Champy's

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Where can you find fresh tamales, crawfish (in season), and some of the best crispy fried chicken Earth has to offer — all under one roof? Champy’s is the answer. The regional chain’s aesthetics take diners back to the back roads of the Mississippi Delta, and the restaurant even has koozies to keep that 40-ounce bottle of Miller High Life nice and chilly.

Uncle Larry's

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Larry Torrence said it himself: He’s the “designated fish fryer” at his family reunions, and that should tell you everything you need to know. Uncle Larry’s first location on MLK Boulevard couldn’t handle the demand for Torrence’s perfectly seasoned, breaded, and fried catfish, tilapia, and whiting, so he opened three additional locations throughout the city for easy fried-fish access for all his fans.

St. John's Restaurant

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St. John’s radiates sophistication. Expect a mix of moguls cutting through flat iron wagyu as they finalize power moves, folks celebrating an anniversary or graduation from law school with cocktails crafted with local whiskey and creme de violette, and you, should you choose to get fancy, adhere to the dress code, and indulge in Chattanooga’s go-to example of fine dining.

Hello Monty

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Local brothers Rob and Clay Gentry opened this cozy ode to wood-fired fare and freshly brewed beer in a historic brick building on Main Street in Southside. Here, they’re churning out plates like cast iron cheese dip, charcoal-roasted bone-in rib-eye, and cast-iron caramel apple crisp that warm the belly and fill the soul. Outside, guests banter with neighborly ease in the open-air yard while sipping on cocktails and IPAs.

Brick façades, stacks of heavy wood, and the warm glow of candles set the vibey scene at Alleia, a wonderland of rustic Italian fare from the mind of local chef Daniel Lindley. The restaurant produces seven types of house-made pasta and uses a custom brick oven that reaches 750 degrees for its perfectly blistered pies. Don’t skip the silky gelato for dessert — they’re made in-house daily.

Bluegrass Grill

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Since 2007, this homespun family-owned joint on Main Street has made a name for itself among locals as one of the best breakfast experiences in the city. Housemade biscuits, honey wheat pancakes, and a variety of hashes are flanked by a powerhouse lineup of fresh-baked pastries — including a few gluten-free options — that have made regulars out of Chattanoogans and visitors alike.

Main Street Meats

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In 2013, chef Erik Niel created a carnivore’s paradise in the Southside neighborhood featuring house-cured meats, skillet cornbread, and gruyere-topped beef burgers. This is Tennessee, so dabble in Main Street Meats’ mile-long whiskey list (with literally hundreds of options), and don’t forget to ask the butcher for a few beautifully marbled rib-eyes to bring home and show off at your next cookout. Niel also owns East Street Bistro, a West Village staple with a strong charcuterie game and an impeccable oyster selection that puts any raw bar to shame.

Taqueria Jalisco Ania

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Maria and Jose Parra started out slinging tacos from a food truck throughout the streets of the Southside in 2005. Now, their chic storefront Taco Jalisco Ania is one of the swankiest taquerias to ever serve tostadas de lomo (pulled pork shoulder) and huevos rancheros for brunch. The taqueria also has the most stellar cache of mezcal.

Taqueria Jalisco Ania.
Taqueria Jalisco Ania

Herman's Soul Food & Catering

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Just about every Southern city has its quintessential soul food spot, and Herman’s is Chattanooga’s. Here, the smoked ham hocks are the size of a heavyweight boxer’s fist, while the rest of the menu is filled with dishes that hearken back to those Sunday dinners at your Granny’s house after church.

The Rosecomb

At this Riverview staple, find excellent cocktails and modern versions of Southern cookout classics like pulled chicken sandwiches and fried catfish and grits. Set in a 1920s cottage, the Rosecomb’s vibe is intimate and homey, with walls and surfaces dotted with antique, quirky touches. Outside, it feels more like a friend’s summer backyard party than a restaurant, in a good way. The restaurant is 21-plus, even during Sunday brunch.

Zaya 1943 Korean Steakhouse

Over in Northshore is where you’ll find Zaya, a fine-dining (re: special occasion) steakhouse with a predilection for Korean barbecue. You’ll find a smokeless built-in grill at every table where servers deliver, grill, and cut your choice of meat(s) — including Omaha dry-aged rib-eye, A5 Japanese Miyazaki wagyu, and tomahawk steak — alongside unlimited servings of various banchan like kimchi and cold vegetable salads.

Whitebird

The feeling is light and airy, easy and breezy, but the mission here is serious: Whitebird aims to elevate Appalachian cuisine from its often misunderstood “podunk” status to something a little more polished and pretty. Think trout but butter-basted with wilted dandelion and charred sweet red pepper salsa, or pork with bacon jam and roasted rosemary-apple compote — all sourced from the Tennessee River Valley and enjoyed at tables overlooking the river.

Inside Whitebird.
Whitebird

Lil Mama's Chicago Style Hoagy

No, you didn't fall asleep and wake up in the intro of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but that’s exactly the nostalgic swagger owner Tiffany Pauldon-Banks has curated at Lil Mama’s, with its loud pink-and-green graffiti and gold thrones. Undoubtedly the last thing you imagined you’d be eating in Chattanooga would be a Chicago-style hoagie, but it’s one of best things between two slices of bread in the 423.

Community Pie

This pizzeria in Miller Plaza is essential as essential gets. Community Pie’s Neapolitan-style pizza is super light with crispy, bubbly edges, as it should be. Set your mouth on fire with the Spicy Bianca topped with fresh mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino Romano, olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chiles, then put that fire out with a scoop or two of house-made pistachio gelato. You’ll also find a second location in Hamilton Place.

Pickle Barrel

Pickle Barrel is arguably Chattanooga’s most iconic pub, located in a historic flatiron building smack in the middle of City Center. Despite the dive bar vibe, don’t overlook the food — it’s extremely solid. With surprisingly clean bathrooms and a great roof deck for people-watching, Pickle Barrel hasn’t changed much over the years except for becoming non-smoking, and that’s a good thing.

Calliope Restaurant & Bar

The story of Calliope starts in Amman, Jordan, where Khaled Albanna spent his childhood alongside his mother who was a chef and passionate home cook. Fast forward to 2020, and Chef Khaled’s unleashed Calliope on Chattanooga, a warm dining nook mixing his traditional Levantine roots with Southern influences. Case in point: falafel biscuits with preserved lemons and a slow-cooked lamb prepared with hawaij (Yemeni spices) and peach barbecue.  

Champy's

Where can you find fresh tamales, crawfish (in season), and some of the best crispy fried chicken Earth has to offer — all under one roof? Champy’s is the answer. The regional chain’s aesthetics take diners back to the back roads of the Mississippi Delta, and the restaurant even has koozies to keep that 40-ounce bottle of Miller High Life nice and chilly.

Uncle Larry's

Larry Torrence said it himself: He’s the “designated fish fryer” at his family reunions, and that should tell you everything you need to know. Uncle Larry’s first location on MLK Boulevard couldn’t handle the demand for Torrence’s perfectly seasoned, breaded, and fried catfish, tilapia, and whiting, so he opened three additional locations throughout the city for easy fried-fish access for all his fans.

St. John's Restaurant

St. John’s radiates sophistication. Expect a mix of moguls cutting through flat iron wagyu as they finalize power moves, folks celebrating an anniversary or graduation from law school with cocktails crafted with local whiskey and creme de violette, and you, should you choose to get fancy, adhere to the dress code, and indulge in Chattanooga’s go-to example of fine dining.

Hello Monty

Local brothers Rob and Clay Gentry opened this cozy ode to wood-fired fare and freshly brewed beer in a historic brick building on Main Street in Southside. Here, they’re churning out plates like cast iron cheese dip, charcoal-roasted bone-in rib-eye, and cast-iron caramel apple crisp that warm the belly and fill the soul. Outside, guests banter with neighborly ease in the open-air yard while sipping on cocktails and IPAs.

Alleia

Brick façades, stacks of heavy wood, and the warm glow of candles set the vibey scene at Alleia, a wonderland of rustic Italian fare from the mind of local chef Daniel Lindley. The restaurant produces seven types of house-made pasta and uses a custom brick oven that reaches 750 degrees for its perfectly blistered pies. Don’t skip the silky gelato for dessert — they’re made in-house daily.

Bluegrass Grill

Since 2007, this homespun family-owned joint on Main Street has made a name for itself among locals as one of the best breakfast experiences in the city. Housemade biscuits, honey wheat pancakes, and a variety of hashes are flanked by a powerhouse lineup of fresh-baked pastries — including a few gluten-free options — that have made regulars out of Chattanoogans and visitors alike.

Main Street Meats

In 2013, chef Erik Niel created a carnivore’s paradise in the Southside neighborhood featuring house-cured meats, skillet cornbread, and gruyere-topped beef burgers. This is Tennessee, so dabble in Main Street Meats’ mile-long whiskey list (with literally hundreds of options), and don’t forget to ask the butcher for a few beautifully marbled rib-eyes to bring home and show off at your next cookout. Niel also owns East Street Bistro, a West Village staple with a strong charcuterie game and an impeccable oyster selection that puts any raw bar to shame.

Taqueria Jalisco Ania

Maria and Jose Parra started out slinging tacos from a food truck throughout the streets of the Southside in 2005. Now, their chic storefront Taco Jalisco Ania is one of the swankiest taquerias to ever serve tostadas de lomo (pulled pork shoulder) and huevos rancheros for brunch. The taqueria also has the most stellar cache of mezcal.

Taqueria Jalisco Ania.
Taqueria Jalisco Ania

Related Maps

Herman's Soul Food & Catering

Just about every Southern city has its quintessential soul food spot, and Herman’s is Chattanooga’s. Here, the smoked ham hocks are the size of a heavyweight boxer’s fist, while the rest of the menu is filled with dishes that hearken back to those Sunday dinners at your Granny’s house after church.

Related Maps