If you’re staying in a Chattanooga hotel, odds are that you don’t have to go far to find some of the best drinks the city has to offer. In fact, your new favorite beer or cocktail might be mere steps away.
The Company at Kinley Chattanooga
Mysterious and elegant, The Company is the type of place you’ll only find if you know exactly where to look. With plush chairs and shelves of books, this Southside speakeasy is a nod to a bygone era, with a Chattanooga twist. If you find your way to this hidden spot, may we suggest the “Spiced Brown Derby?” The classic drink is made with Four Roses bourbon, grapefruit juice, and a cinnamon triple syrup.
W XYZ Bar at Aloft Hamilton Place
W XYZ is one of the newest rooftop bars to grace the Scenic City and the first for the Hamilton Place area. Soak in the views and eclectic vibes while sipping on the “Viva.” This fruity, fun, and floral cocktail features Beefeater, ginger ale, raspberry, lemon, and rosé, served up in a tin can (don’t knock it ‘til you try it).
Whiskey Thief at The Edwin Hotel
With over 100 whiskeys to choose from—it is the official drink of Tennessee, after all—this is the place to sip our very own Chattanooga Whiskey Old Fashioned while taking in the expansive views of the Tennessee River, scenic Walnut Street Bridge, Bluffview Art District, and mountains from Whiskey Thief’s rooftop bar. Go all-out with the Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned, featuring Edwin single barrel Davidson Reserve rye, demerara syrup, and aged for seven days.
Old Fashioneds not your thing? No problem. Their mixologists craft specialty cocktails from an ever-changing seasonal menu.
Bar & Billiards Room at The Read House
At the swanky, historic Read House hotel, you will find a sophisticated cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe, where servers and bartenders are decked out in dazzling flapper finery as they serve you classic libations. Their signature cocktails include the Rye Society, Grandhattan, Chattanooga Twisted Old Fashioned, and The Death of Annalisa. Who? Annalisa Netherly, The Read House’s resident spirit, was a guest who was allegedly beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover in 1927.
American Draft at the Chattanooga Choo Choo
Grab a local draft beer or cider and some snacks in an old train car at American Draft. Stay inside the car and sip on your cold one sitting in one of their iconic red booths, or step outside to the deck with views of the Glen Miller Gardens and enjoy some yard games. The twinkling bistro lights and nearby burbling fountain set the vibe for a laid-back evening sip.
Chattanooga Travel Inspiration Magazine
A version of this story was previously published in the 2023 Fall & Winter edition of our Travel Inspiration Magazine.
