We recently celebrated our 18th anniversary in style at the brand new Dwell Hotel in Chattanooga. The Dwell Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Chattanooga inhabiting the former Stone Fort Inn built in 1909.
The hand painted hotel sign on the weathered brick and limestone façade is just a hint of the retro elegance and fun that awaits you inside 🙂
The entire lobby carries off a wonderful mix of antique pressed tin ceiling, pop art style wallpaper and 70’s inspired glitz.
Taking a page out of the Justina Blakeney handbook this Pink and Palm interior has a decidedly “Jungalow” vibe.
Also more than a touch of Dorothy Draper style pizzaz!
Each floor includes various seating areas to enjoy. All with a distinct MCM appeal. The large globe lights emit a fantastic soft glow.
We travel to Chattanooga often and enjoy the walkability of the city. We have a few standards that we always try to visit while in town. One is Rembrandt’s Coffee House in the Bluff View Arts District. Their Breakfast and Lunch menu is creative and enticing and the food lives up to the inspired combinations. Just check out this entry for French Toast:
The Bee’s Knees $6.95 – challah French toast – sweet creamed vanilla brie rosemary-orange honey – strawberries – whipped cream
It’s a good thing we love to hike so much! The hike around Raccoon Mountain is a perfect point of contrast to a few nights in downtown Chattanooga. It offers quiet wooded paths with ample opportunities to enjoy open vistas of the Reservoir or the Tennessee River, depending on the trail you take.
After we left Rembrandt’s we stumbled upon Rock/Creek Outfitters and heard the wonderful news that they would soon be opening a location in Cool Springs! If you love the outdoors and you have never been you should really check them out. I wouldn’t be me though if I didn’t encourage you to stop in the store while in Chattanooga – it is excellently designed 🙂
We happened upon a new (to us) coffee shop while in the ‘Noog that impressed me with its interior design. Just over the John Ross Bridge on the corner of Frazier Ave. is Revelator Coffee Company. The arched windows draw you in with an immediate bright, open, airy appeal…
Long counters with industrial style stools for the coffee lover who likes to chat with the Barista and laid back cushy seating in front of huge arched windows for chatting with a friend.
The back of the space offer cozy two tops and another loooooong bar. The whole place boasted a great mix of rustic touches and warm finishes fused with clean modern lines.
Looking at these pictures makes me want to head back and sit for a while.
We rounded out our stay at The Dwell Hotel with a delicious dinner at the Hotel Restaurant TerraMae.
The walls are covered with contemporary, modern, and pop art as well as gold framed plant displays that lend a touch of nature to all the MCM kitschy appeal.
Take a look at the marvelous wallpaper!
Our dinner was lovely. I ordered the healthy, Mediterranean inspired Farro Salad featuring marinated vegetables, preserved lemon yogurt, and a balsamic honey reduction. YUM! We topped off the meal with a decadent Buttermilk Panna Cotta dusted with black chocolate and chili threads.
Once the feasting was over we to a short walk over to the bar Matilda Midnight – we were in for a treat! Not only is the drink menu designed by a 2014 finalist in the Most Imaginative Bartender contest held right here in Nashville but the interior design is killer. You will feel like you just stepped into the 1963 thriller Charade with Audrey Hepburn!
The turquoise and yellow/gold theme is carried on in the bar space and the ceiling looks like a star filled sky.
The wallpaper sets the mood and the super comfortable booths will make you want to sit a while. With the enticing drink menu sporting such selections as:
Pentacles: Plum Sake, Lime, Ginger-Hop Syrup, Watermelon Ice Cube and Sparkling Water
As well as a sweet little Tapas menu to round out the drinks – I can promise you won’t be bored. Too bad we were already stuffed!
I’ll leave you with a picture of David enjoying the view of one of his favorite Chattanooga buildings the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building and Post Office.
If I’ve inspired you to make a trip of your own to Chattanooga – I’ve started a Pinterest board just for you with links to all the places we have talked about here and a few more for good measure.
–marcelle
