Chattanooga’s coffee culture is as bold and scenic as the city itself: riverfront views, industrial-chic spaces, and small-batch roasters crafting every cup with care. It’s the kind of place where I can hike in the morning, and by noon, be sipping a nitro cold brew in a converted warehouse filled with local art.
I’m cozied up by a window, steam curling from a fresh cappuccino, while the Tennessee River glimmers just a few blocks away—all in downtown Chattanooga. Who knew this Southern city brewed such serious coffee?
My first stop? "Mountain views, rich brews, and that laid-back Tennessee tempo? This is Chattanooga coffee!"
Unique Chattanooga Coffee Shops:
1. Fuel Your Day With Local Flavor and Friendly Vibes at Cadence Coffee Company
Cadence Coffee Company was opened in October of 2011 on Chattanooga's Patten Parkway and moved to its current location in June of 2014 on the city's Seventh Street. Today, the cafe strives to be Chattanooga's ideal coffee shop, creating a welcoming, laid-back community gathering space atmosphere where baristas know regular customers' favorite orders. Community outreach programming sponsored by the cafe strives to help end homelessness, poverty, and human trafficking in the Tennessee region. Diners can select from a wide variety of specialty coffee beverages, ranging from trendy preparations like Chemex and pourover coffees to flavored lattes, mochas, and cold brews. An assortment of light cafe fare ranges from vegetarian quiches and breakfast sandwiches to sweet breads, pastries, and energy bars.
11 E 7th St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, Phone: 423-521-7686
2. Sip Smooth Brews and Chill With a View at Goodman Coffee
Goodman Coffee has been owned and operated by the Goodman family since 1995, founded as one of Chattanooga's first specialty coffee shops. The company, which began roasting its own beans under the Goodman Coffee Roasters label in 2016, serves up delicious drip coffees and espresso beverages at its Market Street cafe location, just minutes from its St. Elmo roastery. A warm, inviting atmosphere creates a community gathering space within the city's Warehouse Row development, located on the building's ground floor. The cafe's barista bar serves up classic espresso beverages alongside chai and matcha lattes, looseleaf and flower teas, and locally-made kombuchas. Protein-packed breakfast sandwiches and plates pair with sweet and savory pastries sourced from Niedlov's Breadworks.
1110 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, Phone: 423-498-4881
3. If Fresh Roasts and Laid-Back Atmosphere Call You, Drift Into MayFly Coffee
MayFly Coffee is the vision of married duo Atley and Katie Davidson, opened to the public on Chattanooga's Mississippi Avenue in 2015. The company has paired with regional and international farmers to source high-quality beans for all its roasts, which are crafted at its mountaintop roasting facility high atop Signal Mountain. Delicious drip coffees and espresso beverages pair with a selection of craft beers from local microbreweries, including OddStory, Hutton and Smith, and Heaven and Ale. Wines are also served throughout the week, paired with in-house-baked pastries and a selection of made-to-order paninis. An outdoor patio offers al fresco seating throughout the year, while a charming bar area hosts social events like live music performances and game nights.
708 Mississippi Ave, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, Phone: 423-619-9434
4. Savor Hearty Breakfasts and Cozy Coffee Moments at Mean Mug Coffeehouse
Mean Mug Coffeehouse North was opened in 2011 by Monica Smith and Matt Lewis, located in Chattanooga's bustling Southside district. Since 2017, the company has also operated a second location on the city's North Shore, serving up a list of guest roasters at both locations throughout the year. Locally-roasted favorites include espresso from Velo Boneshaker and nitro cold brew from Velvet Robot. Diners can choose from cafe favorites like Americanos, cortados, cappuccinos, and flavored lattes, served up alongside a selection of craft beverages like matcha and turmeric tea lattes. The company's delicious apple butter cinnamon rolls have been featured on the Food Network and in USA Today, complemented by a selection of cafe comfort food available at breakfast and lunch.
205 Manufacturers Rd Suite 109, Chattanooga, TN 37405, Phone: 423-498-1557
5. Indulge in Artisanal Coffee, Gelato, and Sweet Treats at Milk and Honey
Milk and Honey was originally opened in 2013 as a spin-off business from popular local Chattanooga pub Community Pie, located on the city's North Market Street adjacent to popular eatery Taco Mamacita. The company serves up delicious coffees and espressos from national favorite Stumptown Roasters, paired with authentic homemade gelato, house-baked pastries, and a full menu of breakfast and lunch cafe fare. Diners can enjoy rotating daily coffee selections or choose from signature latte flavors like Nutella, lavender, or horchata. Housemade cold brew is also served up, along with tea lattes and a selection of national craft beers like Left Hand Milk Stout and Blue Moon witbier. Breakfast options include steel-cut oatmeal bowls and homemade granola, while lunch favorites range from quinoa and fried rice bowls to vegan and vegetarian sandwich options.
135 N Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37405, Phone: 423-521-3123
6. Enjoy Craft Coffee and Fresh-Baked Goodness at Niedlov’s Breadworks
Niedlov's Breadworks is a family-owned bakery and cafe that has been a staple on the Chattanooga bakery scene since 2002, known for its organic whole grain breads and pastries crafted with natural leavening and no added sugars or preservatives. The wholesale bakery and cafe crafts all of its products from scratch by hand using century-old European baking techniques. Delicious cafe fare served up at the company's public cafe includes breakfast croissant sandwiches, pancake platters, and an assortment of croissants, muffins, and other cafe pastries. Coffee shop beverages range from traditional Americanos and Cubanos to iced lattes, mochas, and tea lattes.
215 E Main St, Chattanooga, TN 37408, Phone: 423-756-0303
7. Relax by the River With Great Coffee and Local Art at Stone Cup Cafe
Stone Cup Cafe opened its first coffee shop location in Chattanooga's Riverview district in 1997 and is now located on the city's North Shore, serving high-quality, fresh coffee beverages throughout the week. Coffees from local roasters Stone Cup Roasting Company are crafted with the best green coffee beans sourced from around the world, always served within a week of roasting to ensure freshness and flavor. Diners can choose from a wide variety of cafe beverages on the cafe's menu, ranging from trendy drip and pourover coffee preparations to nitro cold brews, Dalmatians, Americanos, and cortados. Specialty beverage flavors include raspberry mochas, butterscotch lattes, and honey cinnamon Cubanos. At breakfast, diners can enjoy favorites like Belgian waffles, stone-cut oatmeal, everything bagels, and yogurt bowls, served up alongside fresh-fruit smoothies with superfood ingredients.
208 Frazier Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37405, Phone: 423-521-3977
8. If Creative Spaces and Craft Coffees Inspire You, Gather at The Camp House
The Camp House is a charming coffeeshop in Chattanooga's Southside Innovation District, known as a popular city commons gathering space attracting creative types, university students, and freelance entrepreneurs. The cafe, which was opened in 2009, serves up delicious coffee beverages at its manual brew bar, ranging from traditional drip coffees to macchiatos, cortados, Americanos, and cappuccinos. Lattes feature housemade flavor syrups in traditional flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. Diners can choose from light cafe fare like quiches, sandwiches, and house-baked pastries, served up at breakfast and lunch each day. After closing, the cafe frequently transforms into an event venue for local concerts and private special events.
149 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37402, Phone: 423-702-8081
9. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth With Artisanal Chocolate and Coffee at The Hot Chocolatier
The Hot Chocolatier was founded in 2008 by married duo Wendy and Brandon Bucknery, located on Chattanooga's charming South Side. The combination coffee shop, patisserie, and chocolate shop is inspired by the couple's international travels and is an extension of the duo's artisanal chocolate company, which creates one-of-a-kind chocolate sculptures, showpieces, and wedding and corporate confections. It is located adjacent to the historic Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, a favorite for local tourists looking to sample the region's most unique local cuisine offerings. More than 20 flavors of hot chocolate are served up throughout the day, along with espresso-infused cafe beverages. Housemade gelato floats are also served up in hot chocolate and espresso bases.
1437 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, Phone: 423-266-3066
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
- Q: Where can tourists fuel up for exploring Chattanooga?
- A: Tourists can fuel up at favorite coffee shops and cafes known for their locally-roasted beans and high-quality espresso beverages.
- Q: What local baked goods can visitors enjoy in Chattanooga?
- A: Many cafes serve up local favorite baked goods, including breads and pastries from the renowned Niedlov's Breadworks and unique chocolate confections from The Hot Chocolatier.
Plan Your Trip