The Waymark Hotel: Review of Chattanooga’s Newest Timeless Downtown Stay
Chattanooga has no shortage of great places to stay, but every once in a while, a hotel opens that feels like part of the destination.
Enter The Waymark Hotel, one of downtown Chattanooga’s newest stays and a thoughtful revival of a historic building.
It’s not a shiny, soulless new hotel plopped into the heart of the city. It’s a carefully restored 1920s neoclassical, Art Deco bank building that lets its history shine while still delivering all the modern comforts travelers actually care about. Think original architectural details, stylish spaces you want to linger in, and a few surprises that make staying here feel special.
I spent a night at The Waymark Hotel on my most recent trip to Chattanooga and I’m excited to share my takeaways with you, so you know if it’s the right stay for you.
🛎️ Already convinced? Book your stay here
First Impressions
When I first arrived at The Waymark Hotel, I had no idea of the building’s history and the hotel’s story, but soon discovered how rich this hotel’s restoration realy was.
I was greeted with a beautiful open lobby with beautiful, bright lounge furniture, perfect for waiting for check-in or getting some work done.
Soon, I started noticing all the little details that told a deeper story of the building.
Above me were plaster ceilings and all around were brass details like the original sliding elevator doors.
Turns out this building was constructed in 1927 by a local Chattanooga architect, RH Hunt. It served as the Chattanooga Bank and Trust building for decades and was recently restored preserving many of the original features.
Now, you can stay in this historic building that makes you feel like stepping back in time, but with the comforts of modern amenities.
Let me take you inside!
Location and Parking
But first, getting here.
You’ll find The Waymark Hotel on the corner of W 8th Street and Broad Street in the heart of downtown.
It’s walkable to many of Chattanooga’s main attractions on Broad Street like the Tennessee Aquarium.
Along W 8th Street, there’s valet parking.
They’re connected to an app that allows for SUPER easy car retrieval with text tracking, so you don’t need to wait aimlessly for your vehicle.
It costs $30 per night for parking.
Food and Drink
The Market
If you need a quick grab-and-go breakfast in the morning, the hotel lobby has a small café called The Market with a surprisingly large menu of espresso and coffee drinks, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, yogurt and granola, fruit, and bagels.
It was so easy and convenient to grab a croissant upon checking out to take on the road.
They’re open 6 am to 4 pm daily.
Iris
The must-visit restaurant and bar on site is Iris. Located on the 11th floor, it’s actually Chattanooga’s highest rooftop bar!
They have a full food menu of shareables (although, who says you can’t order them solo) with options like wagyu sliders, chicken lettuce wraps, and roasted cauliflower caesar. My favorite? The s’mores dip with dark chocolate ganache, toasted marshmallow fluff and served with graham crackers and warm baked pretzels.
The space inside is fresh and welcoming, but the star of the show is certainly the outdoor patio space which circles the interior space. There are comfortable couches, fire pits, and beautiful views of downtown!
The Vault
On the opposite end of the hotel in the basement, you’ll find The Vault, a speakeasy that you enter via the bank building’s original vault.
It’s discrete and intimate with delicious cocktails, perfect for ending your night.
Amenities
Internet
We had no problems with the internet during our stay. The connection was fast, easy, and capable of all our streaming needs.
Accessibility
There are several hearing and mobility accessible rooms available. There are no steps to enter or exit the hotel and there are four elevators with wide doors that I noticed. I’d give them a call to ensure they’re able to meet all of your needs.
Pets
Per the hotel’s policies, pets under 45 lbs are allowed for a $75 non-refundable fee.
Room Review
We had the most lovely stay in our king room! We were lucky to get a corner room, so the surrounding windows had some beautiful views of Chattanooga.
The decor was stylish and tasteful and the amenities in the room were perfect.
With two TVs, a Lavazza coffee maker, water bottles, seating area, mini fridge, steamer, safe, luggage rack, and toiletries from Five Wits, we were living it up!
Plus our bathroom had the most spectacular layout where there was an entire “wet room” with an open shower and a soaking bathtub in the same room. Note that this was the king room with spa bathroom, so if you want the wet room luxuries, be sure to book that room type.
Sleep Quality and Noise
We slept very well. The bed was super comfy and we were able to adjust the temperature as needed, so we were pleasantly climate-controlled.
There’s no ambient noise, so if you sleep with a fan or white noise, I’d bring something with you.
Otherwise it was quiet except for the occasional motorcycle that would rush through downtown.
Who The Waymark Hotel is best for
I’d highly recommend The Waymark Hotel for solo travelers, couples, staycationers, and girls trips! It’s a luxurious stay without the luxury price tag.
Plus with the on-site rooftop bar and speakeasy, you can really enjoy the space to the fullest.
Thank you to The Waymark Hotel for hosting my stay and sponsoring this blog post. As always, all opinions are my own.
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