147Be sure to request a tour of Room 311—
it’s allegedly haunted by the ghost of An-
nalisa Netherly, a guest who was murdered
there in the 1920s. The room is designed
to look as it would have back then, and the
story of the murder casts an eery charm.
Perhaps the fl agship of the hotel is the
restaurant, Bridgeman’s Chophouse. Art
Deco detailing and a soundtrack from the
Rat Pack era (60s music, sure, but still a per-
fect fi t for the room) and the stage is set for
a magical meal. Wet-Aged Beef in a variety
of cuts, and Prime Dry Aged NY Strip and
Ribeye are specialties of the house, along
with classics like Oysters on the Half Shell,
Chilled Seafood Tower and a succulent Pis-
tachio and Herb Crusted New Zealand Rack
of Lamb. Calling all foodies: The restaurant
is superb.
The city offers a very accommodating
transit system, but Chattanooga is really
a walking city. Plan to get your steps in
and get some culture, too, by walking from
The Read House to the Hunter Museum
of American Art, then up a gentle hill to
Bluff View Art District. Sip artisan coffees
and teas at Rembrandt’s Coffee House
and pop in for lunch at the famous Tony’s
Pasta Shop. Before heading back, visit the
celebrated two-acre River Gallery Sculpture
Garden which overlooks the Tennessee
River. thereadhousehotel.com
clockwise, from left The
hotel’s side entrance,
fl anked by the fi ne din-
ing restaurant Bridge-
man’s Chophouse
on one side, and the
resident Starbuck’s on
the other. The historic
Bridgeman’s, where
wet- and dry-aged beef
reigns today. From the
menu, Steak Tartare
(the best version of this
dish on the planet). A
guestroom’s en suite
bathroom—an elegant
throwback to the 20s.
opposite The hotel’s
warm-but-opulent
lobby appears both
vintage 1920s and
modern at once.GETTING AROUND
DOWNTOWN
It’s super easy to get anywhere
from The Read House. Nearly all
of the city’s attractions are within
a comfortable walkable distance
from the hotel, or you can catch
a ride—one of the transit stops for
Chattanooga’s effi cient CARTA
Downtown Electric Shuttle is just
steps from The Read House. The
buses off er a free, fi xed-route, hop-
on, hop-off ride, and they pick up
every fi ve minutes.
For a list of all the attractions
and activities in town, visit
chattanoogafun.com.