Why Chattanooga’s Hotel Chalet gets honors from Michelin, Condé Nast

The Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo keeps getting national and international recognition from travelers, but the general manager says the hotel is not just for tourists.

The Chattanooga hotel offers a Tennessee and Georgia resident discount, occasional day passes to the Alpine pool and dining at Elsie’s Daughter, the attached Appalachian bistro under the same owners. It’s a great “staycation” option for locals looking for a weekend spent inside a piece of the city’s history, said Alan Rae, the general manager.

The hotel’s 127 rooms include 25 suites aboard renovated Pullman passenger train cars parked behind the world-famous Chattanooga Choo Choo terminal.

The Hotel Chalet was named earlier this month on the Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, landing at the No. 22 spot in the South and the only Chattanooga hotel on the list.

Why Chattanooga’s Hotel Chalet gets honors from Michelin, Condé Nast