First time in Chattanooga? Don’t skip the Bluff View Art District

The Bluff View Art District isn’t just for art lovers.  This quiet cozy neighborhood in Chattanooga has great food, and some of the best views in the city.

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Why you should visit the Bluff View Art District

The Bluff View Art District is a very small historic neighborhood in Chattanooga east of the Riverfront District.  This is a quiet and peaceful area of the city overlooking the Tennessee River.  This district only encompasses a few blocks, but there is a lot to enjoy in a small area.  It’s the perfect area to slow down and spend an hour, or an afternoon. 

Things to do in Bluff View Art District

As the name suggests, the Chattanooga Bluff View Art District is a hub for art in the city.  It has art galleries, museums and sculpture parks.

Art Museums

It might be surprising to hear, but there are two art museums in this small neighborhood.  There is the Hunter Museum of American Art, and the Anna Safley Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. 

The Hunter has been a staple in Chattanooga for over 60 years, and has views over the bluff that rival its impressive collection of around 3000 works of art. If you do plan to visit, they are open every day except Tuesday. 

The Houston Museum is located in a historic home from the end of the 19th century, and features a collection of over 15,000 decorative arts objects.   This museum is currently closed for renovation work, with plans to reopen in the fall of 2026. 

Galleries

No arts district would be complete without an art gallery.  The River Gallery is an open to the public gallery that represents local and national artists of all mediums.  They are open daily.

The gallery has rotating artist exhibits every month.  Check their website to see what is on display for the rest of the year.  

Sculpture Parks

This small area has sculptures scattered just about everywhere.  While many of them are part of a permanent collection, there are some for sale as well.  There are close to 30 sculptures just within the 1 square block of buildings in the neighborhood as part of the River Gallery Sculpture Garden. 

East of 2nd street is the Bluff View Sculpture Garden.  Here you’ll find a winding path that is home to another 30 (+/-) sculptures.  Most of the sculptures are visible up close along the path, while others are inaccessible along the hillside.  

Lastly, you’ll find another dozen or so sculptures outside the Hunter Museum of American Art.  Be sure to continue along the Tennessee Riverwalk down towards the river to make sure you see the entire collection, and the great river views.  

If you love art sculptures, don’t miss Sculpture Fields at Montague Park. This 33 acre park is southeast of the Southside Historic District and is home to over 50 large scale sculptures. 

Amazing food

The Bluff View Art District might be small, but it is not lacking in good food.  There are two Bluff View Art District restaurants to get a bite to eat, Rembrandt’s Coffee House and Tony’s Pasta Shop & Trattoria. 

Rembrandt’s is a cozy coffee house and cafe that is open daily from 8am to 9pm. Aside from coffee they have a large menu of pastries and baked goods, plus soups, sandwiches, and even all day breakfast.  If you only need a light bite, get the biscuit and jam.  I couldn’t tell you exactly what kind of jam it is, other than addictive. 

Tony’s is a favorite in Chattanooga, winning “Best Italian Restaurant in Chattanooga” from the Chattanooga Times Free Press 5 years in a row.  They are open for lunch and dinner.  If the weather is nice, ask for a table on their large outdoor patio to enjoy the scenic bluff views.

If you smell scents of fresh baked bread while walking around, that is from Bluff View Bakery.  

Unfortunately, this Bluff View Art District bakery is a wholesale only facility.   But, you can find all their breads and baked goods at Rembrandt’s, or as complimentary bread at Tony’s. 

Where to stay in the Chattanooga TN art district

This small enclave for arts in Chattanooga TN is the perfect area in the city to enjoy a quiet weekend stay.  There is one accommodation within the Bluff View Art District, which is the Bluff View Inn. 

The Bluff View Inn is a bed and breakfast set across three historic homes.  There is the Maclellan House, a Tudor style home from 1889.  The T.C. Thompson House, a 1908 Victorian, and former mayor’s residence.  And Martin House, a 1927 house built in the Colonial Revival style. 

While technically *just* outside the art district, The Edwin Hotel is only a 2 minute walk away on the other side of Riverfront Parkway.  This is one of the premier luxury hotels in Chattanooga.  This hotel has just about everything, so you need to never leave the hotel if you don’t want to.  There is a rooftop pool and bar, spa, and top rated restaurant. 

How to get here

This small Chattanooga art district is not the most accessible part of town.  There are no public transit stops nearby.  There are two close(ish) stops nearby.  The first is on the free Chattanooga shuttle, which stops at Shuttle Park North near the aquarium.  From here you will need to walk 15 minutes east.  The other nearby stop is number 10 bus, but that stop is still a 12 minute walk north. 

Read more on The Chattanooga Shuttle: the Easiest Way to Get Around Downtown

Having walked here myself, I can say it is an easy and fairly flat walk.  I recommend if you do walk, that at least one way, either there or back, should be along the Tennessee Riverwalk. 

If you are car free, there are also bike stands throughout town, as well as scooters from Bike Chattanooga that you can rent by the minute. 

Have a car? You will find there is plenty of Bluff View Art District parking available.  Since this neighborhood is essentially a cul de sac, there isn’t any through traffic.  This means, only people that are visiting this area will be driving and parking here.  There is free street parking, as well as a lot between restaurants, and on the south end of the district.

There is also a paid parking lot, adjacent to the Hunter, on the off chance that you can’t find free parking. 

Bluff View Art District Map