Not every bar can be as famous as the setting of “Cheers,” the NBC sitcom that ran for 11 seasons from September 1982 to May 1993. (Not even the real bar could — the show’s inspiration, Boston’s Bull & Finch Pub, eventually changed its name to Cheers.)
But it’s possible to be just as beloved by the patrons.
If you’re looking for a place where they’re always glad you came, here are five Chattanooga taverns that go the extra mile to turn would-be bar-hoppers into regulars.
North Shore: Basecamp Bar & Restaurant
346 Frazier Ave., 423-803-5251, basecampcha.com
— Serving: Craft beer and comfort food.
— The vibe: Cozy, comfortable and outdoorsy, with plenty of natural wood elements inside the building. Outside, Basecamp has views of the Walnut Street Bridge and Coolidge Park.
— Who comes in: “It’s a mix,” says co-owner Brett Allen. “We do have a lot of regulars who live in the neighborhood, but the North Shore has quite a bit of tourists, so we get regulars and people just kind of passing through.
“We have people who will just go on walks on a nice day and end up here. If you come here even a second time, we’re pretty good at remembering who you are and what you ordered. We go out of our way to make it feel really comfortable and like you’re at home.”
— Notable: Allen says Basecamp has a full menu of food, despite the building’s tiny kitchen. “We didn’t want anybody to leave here hungry,” he says. “We wanted big portions of comfort food. It’s not just a liquor bar.”
(READ MORE: Restaurant Scene: Wing Wednesday at Basecamp should be a citywide holiday)
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Basecamp Bar and RestaurantRed Bank: Clever Alehouse
2122 Dayton Blvd., 423-654-3509, cleveralehouse.com
— Serving: Beer, cocktails, sandwiches, salads, noodle bowls.
General manager Tiffany Mitchell says the business opened with a 75-square-foot kitchen that had been a utility closet. Now, orders are filled from a food truck parked outside.
“We’re still trying to find what’s right for us,” she says. “Our chef is from Philly, so right now, we’re slinging out some good cheesesteaks.”
— The vibe: Cool, calm and family-friendly, with an arcade in the basement and board games to play. “Everyone can come in here to chill and hang out, have a good beer and good food,” Mitchell says. “We’re big on supporting an environment that welcomes all of your family, including your doggie.”
— Who comes in: Like Norm on “Cheers,” Clever Alehouse has a regular who gets a call-out (“Dave!”) when he enters. Other regulars include nearby residents and business owners.
“We know a lot of people’s names and faces,” Mitchell says. “We also know if you’re brand new. As soon as you walk in the door, we try to greet you and make you feel welcome.”
— Notable: There’s a selection of cocktails, mocktails and house wines, but Mitchell believes beer is the big draw.
“We have a rotating draft, so we never have the same thing,” she says. That means “you get to try new beers you wouldn’t necessarily have tried before. We try to keep everything as local as possible (including Chattanooga’s Hutton & Smith and Oddstory). If there’s something you’ve never heard of but want to try, we’ll give you a sample.”
(READ MORE: Red Bank embracing Clever Alehouse)
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Clever AlehouseSouthside: Whiskey Cowgirl
1819 Broad St., Suite 111, 423-654-7665, whiskeycowgirltn.com
— Serving: Beer, wine, cocktails and liquor, along with soups, salads, sandwiches and “supper” food such as meatloaf and shrimp and grits.
— The vibe: Rowdy fun. Billed as a cowgirl’s favorite night out, this Southside bar is “where the neon glows and the twang flows,” with indoor and outdoor bars, a mechanical bull and an outdoor pool and courtyard.
The walls are filled with beer signs, lasso ropes, bull horns, taxidermy and murals of country music singers — everyone from the old guard (Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton) to the new (Kane Brown).
— Who comes in: “Bachelorette parties are huge, and we’re a big stop on [the pedal-bike bar crawl] circuit. And we get a lot of college kids who like to party,” says manager Nathan Hoodenpyle. “It’s just a fun, late-night spot to be. People love to ride the bull.”
Karaoke and line dancing bring out different groups of regulars, as does Sunday brunch.
— Notable: The outdoor swimming pool is open May through September and other times for scheduled parties.
“We don’t heat it all the time,” says Hoodenpyle. “People can get in, but they might be disappointed. It’s more like an ice bath.”
(READ MORE: Barrelhouse Ballroom, Whiskey Cowgirl bring larger venues to town)
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ The bar at Whiskey CowgirlDowntown: Unknown Caller
715 Cherry St., 423-541-3199, unknowncallerbar.com
— Serving: An ever-changing array of themed cocktails, plus small bites, including ramen noodles and Kraft microwaveable macaroni and cheese.
“We’re always coming up with craft cocktails, depending on the season,” Hassell says. “But we tailor drinks for every guest, with a whole mocktail menu. We want to be as inclusive as possible.”
— The vibe: Disco energy, achieved with lighted disco balls and bubble machines. “It’s really the experience people come here for,” says manager Kelsey Hassell. I feel like we bring an energy into Chattanooga with the pink neon, the old 2000s R&B and disco [music], the bright atmosphere.”
— Who comes in: “This is a celebration destination for people,” Hassell says. “Our customers are typically celebrating a birthday or anniversary, and some are celebrating divorce parties.”
In addition to locals, Hassell says the bar draws “a ton of people who hear about us on TikTok in surrounding cities. People frequently travel from far away — Atlanta, Nashville, Huntsville — to come specifically here.”
— Notable: “The hospitality factor is my favorite thing,” Hassell says. “We’ll sit and play card games with everybody. You can have an amazing drink anywhere, but you don’t get the hospitality everywhere.”
(READ MORE: A tiki-inspired cocktail from Unknown Caller)
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / The WoodshopSt. Elmo: The Woodshop
5500 St. Elmo Ave., 423-803-6165, thewoodshoplisteningroom.com
— Serving: Curated craft beer, craft wine and a small seasonal menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options. Stone-fired pizza was recently added.
— The vibe: Intimate ambiance. During shows, musicians perform in what could pass as a living room with audiences seated feet away at scattered tables with mismatched chairs and stools, a small sofa and a church pew.
“It’s an organic, eclectic, earthy sort of vibe,” says co-owner Pete Russell. “Nothing austere. Nothing pretentious or stuffy. We’re targeting anyone who wants a good drink, anyone who wants good food and wants to enjoy live music while they’re doing that.”
— Who comes in: “Our regulars are definitely our neighbors,” Russell says. “We have a ton of people who can walk and ride their bikes here. And we have plenty of people who make the drive from Red Bank, the North Shore, some folks from Hixson. A lot of people ride their bikes here from downtown.”
— Notable: Russell says customers often gravitate to the beer garden. “We spent a lot of time altering the whole campus, but what’s really come to life is the outdoor area,” he says. “There’s a covered patio, so people are out there rain or shine.”
(READ MORE: The Woodshop is striving to build a community in St. Elmo)
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / The Woodshop patio