Frothy Monkey, a hip cafe and eatery, opens in Choo Choo Hotel

Food + Coffee + Wine.

That’s one way Frothy Monkey, a Nashville-based eatery that opened Monday in the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel, brands itself.

Jumbo-sized cookies, baked goods – even a small humidor full of cigars – were some of the goods on the marble front counter as lunchtime customers lined up Monday in Frothy Monkey’s refurbished, 4,500-square-foot space next to the Choo Choo’s main lobby.

“I think it’s a great addition to Chattanooga,” said Tim Piersant, the co-founder of the Tennessee Stillhouse microdistillery across the street, who stopped in for lunch. “I believe experiences like this are going to bring more people to downtown Chattanooga.”