What's New This Year in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Find all the new spots to check out in Chattanooga! 

• New to Do
• New Food to Find
• New Places to Stay
• New Developments Popping Up
• Anniversaries and Milestones

NEW TO DO  

• New & Upcoming Experiences:  

  • Scuttlebutt Reef Exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium | Downtown -- The Aquarium's newest permanent gallery in the Ocean Journey building features 11 exhibits showcasing nearly two dozen saltwater species - including Green Moray Eels, a Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Frogfish, Garden Eels, and Comb Jellies. Interactive elements let visitors separate marine fact from fiction, and the centerpiece is a 6,000-gallon living coral reef and with a wheelchair-accessible pop-in viewing area.

  • Wildwood Playscape at Enterprise South Nature Park | Enterprise South -- A nature-inspired play environment designed to spark imagination and connect children and families to the outdoors. Built with organic materials and integrated into the surrounding landscape, the community-named playscape opens as part of Earth Week 2026.

  • Erlanger Park: First Lookouts Season in New Stadium | South Bread District -- This new unique multi-use venue and future home of Minor League Baseball's Chattanooga Lookouts. Blends Chattanooga's industrial legacy with state-of-the-art amenities, social experiences, family-friendly spaces, and the Tennessee Riverwalk greenway running through the venue.

  • Chattanooga Renaissance Faire | Coolidge Park -- Chattanooga's first-ever Renaissance Faire, presented by Verre Noir of Joli Jardin Company. A full day of old-world revelry with two live stages, 150+ artisan vendors, roaming characters, craft demonstrations, costume contests, kids' activities, and themed food and drinks. Free and open to the public, May 30, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

NEW FOOD TO FIND  

• New Restaurants, Breweries & Bars: 

  • Petal and Pour | Downtown -- A floral atelier and cafe combining artisanal beverages with floral artistry. Also offers mobile ordering and build-your-own-bouquet bars for events.

  • Oui Oui Boulangerie | Southside -- An authentic French bakery from Parisian baker Johann Tremor, selling fresh baguettes, croissants, and pastries made with ingredients shipped directly from France. Shares its space at 338 E. Main St. with Casa Cool, an art and lifestyle concept. 

  • Understory Tea House | Southside -- A tea house and herbal apothecary at 400 E. Main St. fusing traditional gongfu tea practices with Appalachian folk herbalism. Manu teas are prepared in small, intentional steeps. No public Wi-Fi - the goal is presence, not productivity. Small bites by Southern Squeeze, tea ware by a local artist. 

  • Iris Rooftop Bar | Downtown -- Chattanooga's highest rooftop bar, perched on the 11th floor of The Waymark Hotel. Craft cocktails, beer, wine, and small bites with panoramic city views. Weekend brunch features a tableside Bloody Mary cart Saturdays and Sundays. 

  • The Vault Speakeasy Bar | Downtown -- A subterranean speakeasy beneath The Waymark Hotel, occupying the actual basement vault of the historic 1927 Chattanooga Savings Bank and Trust Company building. Guests enter through the original vault door for an intimate, atmospheric cocktail experience. 

  • Mumashika | City Center -- A higher-end Japanese yakitori restaurant from the team behind Attack of the Tatsu at 818 Georgia Ave. Chefs cook over a charcoal yakitori grill in front of guests. The name draws from Japanese folklore. 

  • Wayward Pastry Co. | St. Elmo -- A bakery and coffee shop in a former fire hall at 4501 St. Elmo Ave. serving freshly made pastries, espresso, and locally sourced coffee in a warm, rustic setting at the base of of Lookout Mountain.

  • 2nd American | Southside – Enjoy a menu tailored towards an homage of the classic American family meal, inspired by Sunday dinners from Chef Daniel Lindley’s childhood. 

  • Scoop Around Ice Cream Bar | Southside – Visit this specialty ice cream shop for unique and Instagram worthy treats! 

  • Blackstone Grille | Lookout Valley – Blackstone Grille is your go-to spot for top-notch steaks, chops, and a great selection of wine and cocktails, all served in a laid-back American tavern vibe.

  • Fond Dos Mil | Southside – Located across from Pizza Bros Southside, try this authentic and affordable Latin food.

  • Riverport Grille | Downtown – Swing by Riverport Grille, now serving up delicious brunch, lunch, and dinner at the former Big River Grille downtown location!

  • 50/50 Wine Bar | Southside – Enjoy wines, martinis, and snacks on a cozy couch or patio overlooking Station Street.

  • HOME Bar | Downtown - From the vibrant design to the elevated Southern cuisine with a modern twist, step into a world where art and dining converge.

  • Camilla's | Southside - Sister restaurant to local favorite, Taqueria Jalisco, is a European style bistro in the old location of Slick's Burgers. 

  • Studio Ours | Southside - This unique spot inside the Turnbull offers several places to get a treat including The Matcha Spot, Oui Oui Boulangerie, and Summer Sun Coffee as well as some local shopping. 

  • The Reading Room | East Ridge - This brand new unique bar combines a traditional bar with a bookstore with all the cozy vibes. 

  • Riverdance | Guild, TN - This brand new upscale restaurant, Riverdance, offers modern Southern cuisine, craft cocktails, and one of the best views in the South.

• Coming Soon:  

  • Sully's Crepe Co. | Northshore -- Sweet and Savory crepe creations bringing French-inspired comfort to Chattanooga's growing brunch scene.

  • Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams | St. Elmo -- The beloved artisan ice cream brand's first Chattanooga scoop shop at the foot of the Incline Railway in the former Clumpies space. Founded by James Beard Award winner Jeni Britton Bauer, this marks Jeni's first-ever franchise location, operated by the Reinert Group.

  • The Spritzeria | Northshore -- Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar at 3912 Dayton Blvd. specializing in spritz cocktails, flatbreads, and small plates.

  • Lost in Transit | Southside 

  • Bad Motive | Southside 

NEW PLACES TO STAY  

• New Accommodations:  

  • The Drury Plaza Hotel | Hamilton Place – Located off I-75, the Drury Plaza Hotel is near Hamilton Place Mall and only four miles from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA). 

  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Chattanooga | East Ridge – Within minutes of the city’s top attractions, enjoy restaurants, shopping, and entertainment within walking distance of the hotel.

  • Cloudland at McLemore Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton | Lookout Mountain - A stay at Cloudland gives you a luxurious front-row seat to McLemore Resort and offers an elegant getaway in a mountaintop golf course setting, complete with extensive meeting and event space.

  • The Waymark, Tapestry Collection by Hilton | Downtown - Nestled in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, The Waymark occupies the historic 1927 Chattanooga Savings Bank and Trust Company building. This beautifully revitalized landmark blends timeless grandeur with a fresh, contemporary spirit.

  • Embassy Suites | Downtown - The 7 story, 184-room hotel is located in the riverfront district and is also home to a rooftop restaurant & bar, a street-level restaurant, an indoor pool, and meeting spaces. 

• Upcoming Accommodations Opening:

  • Caption by Hyatt | Southside (Coming early 2026!)

  • The Drury Plaza Hotel | Downtown 

NEW DEVELOPMENTS POPPING UP  

• New Developments: 

  • Chattanooga Airport had added new gates, enlarged the security checkpoint, and bolstered new amenities for travelers, completed in 2024.

  • Head of the Crow State Park & Fiery Gizzard State Park are two brand new (as of October 2025) state parks that were formerly a part of the rapidly growing South Cumberland State Park (it grew to protect more than 30,000 acres!) that since been split up to ensure each area of the park receives the dedicated management, resources, and conservation it deserves. 

  • Riverview Park Playground | North Chattanooga – This redeveloped area will be a recreational space for children of different abilities, ages, and communities. The design incorporated nature and sensory music, features observation areas, and accommodates mobility devices. Opened September 2024

• Upcoming Developments: 

  • EPB Quantum Computing℠ is expected to launch in early 2026. The new IonQ Forte Enterprise Quantum Computer will run inside the EPB Quantum NetworkⓇ. This means the EPB Quantum Center will become the first place in the U.S. where businesses can access both a quantum computer and a quantum network in the same commercial facility. To help more people experiment with quantum technology, EPB will let companies and researchers purchase time to use the quantum computer.

  • Tivoli Theatre is under a major renovation and expansion to turn the theatre into a performing arts center. The Tivoli Performing Arts Center, under construction next door to the theatre, was acquired and will add space for more bathrooms, ADA access, and space for educational opportunities. (Opens Mid 2026) 

  • Chattanooga Airport and Blue Cross Blue Shield are working together to build a new 4.5-acre aviation themed park and observation deck named Chattanooga Airport Blue Cross Healthy Place Park. It is set to open mid to late 2026.

  • The Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge restoration is projected to be complete in September 2026. 

  • The Anna Safley Houston Museum of Decorative Arts should be re-opening sometime in 2026 after some much needed renovations to improve accessibility and gallery/event space. 

  • The Chattanooga Football Club (CFC) is building a new headquarters within walking distance from home field, Finley Stadium, and will include office space for the club's staff and coaches, apartments for the player, a training facility, retail space, restaurant, and a rooftop bar. It is projected to be completed in January 2026. 

  • Ruby Falls is in the process of constructing a sustainable new corporate office featuring spaces for focused tasks, collaboration, and wellness as well as honor the park's 96 year legacy of inspiring connections with nature. It is projected to be completed August 2026. 

  • The vision for Montague Park, located in the heart of the city, is to make use of Chattanooga's largest park (45 acres) in a more dynamic unified way. The new Montague Park will connect Sculpture Fields to the soccer fields as well as bring the rest of the land back to life so locals and visitors alike can have a nature escape in the middle of our urban landscape. 

  • The Bend, Chattanooga’s next great experience will transform an old industrial site to a vibrant community that blends commercial and residential space with entertainment and green spaces anchored by the bend in the Tennessee River. They began breaking ground in April 2024 however this is slated to be at least a 10 year project. 

  • One Westside will revitalize one of Chattanooga’s most historic neighborhoods, the Westside. The plan prioritizes updating and replacing current housing while introducing retail, services, and economic development to connect residents to amenities near their homes as a part of The Bend development. 

2026 ANNIVERSARIES & MILESTONES  

• Significant Anniversaries:  

  • July 4th, 2026 will be America's 250th birthday and will bring lots of great celebrations and events. 

  • 4 Bridges Art Festival - 25th Anniversary 

  • Girls Inc. of Chattanooga - 65th Anniversary