The Mayors Mansion is marketed as the top historic bed and breakfast in Chattanooga and a AAA 4 diamond property, located in the historic Fort Wood section of Chattanooga. So, with that in mind, my review is contrasted against that intention. (As Kurt Russell's Wyatt Earp says, "you called down the thunder..."). But it's three stars, so it's not bad, there's definitely room for improvement. I recommend staying here, it is a comfortable good value, just not "nex-level." The good - The rooms are nice, we had a good seating area in the Cumberland Suite and the bathroom was spacious. Everything was clean, we had triple sheeted bedding, with comfortable beds. Being on the third floor, we thought hot water might take a while to reach our shower, but it arrived quickly. The front porch is an excellent place to enjoy reading, visiting, a glass of wine and relaxing. The library is also comfortable and complimentary soft drinks and water are provided in a refrigerator easily accessed near the kitchen. The mansion is truly a grand old dame with high ceilings and detailed ornate woodwork (some mismatching though), a nice large dining area and an even larger annex for their dinner cruises. The coffee is very good. The constructive criticism: With some attention to detail and tweaks, the experience could improve substantially. The check in process was strange. We had been contacted the morning of arrival to determine our arrival time, which was approximately 4PM and we were punctual. The door was locked and no one was in sight, so we called and we were soon let into the side door. The front door area off the big main porch would have set the first impression much higher. The overall area is safe but sketchy, especially later in the evening. We didn't interact with the same staff person at any time during in our stay. I found that to be unusual, since hospitality is personal. The first impression is an office area is in the main foyer, which takes away from the overall first impression of the manor. The staff did wear a uniform, but they were basic monogramed scrubs. The four course gourmet breakfast was far from our expectations or as advertised, but the service was prompt. For example, he first breakfast course both days was vanilla yogurt with one solitary blueberry in the middle. It was a lonely blueberry that begged for some company of granola or other berries or even a drizzle of honey or a sauce. It's not gourmet, it's a scoop of vanilla yogurt and one blueberry. The main courseielbasa medallions were fried almost to a crisp, but they were fancifully arranged in a semi-circle of a smiley face below two egg muffins and two slices of raw squash? We really did want breakfast to shine based on their marketing, but while good, it was ordinary. I could go on, but Yelp limits to 5000 words. I hoped to provide some constructive feedback as I think this is a worthy property and could improve a lot with some attention to detail. One example being the coffee from a local roaster was very good, so serve it as a highlight with real cream instead of artificial creamer. Sounds nit-picky, but a lot of small details would add up if someone had a passion or vision for the manor. FYI, there is no elevator, so third floor guests are hoofing it, which is great if you are in shape, we were fine with it, but be advised. They are very upfront about this during the reservation process. We enjoyed our stay and would recommend the Inn, its just that sometimes when you are close to something, you sometimes become blind as to how to make improvements. Small details. read more

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This place is amazing. Like you are in another era. Staff was so friendly & attentive. We were planning to leave bright & early, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to leave for a couple more hours in the morning read more

The building is historic and lovely. The staff were exceptional. The breakfast part of "bed and breakfast" was unremarkable. We stayed here for 4 days. Pancakes the first day , great! The other 3 days were mini quiche (eggs) only in that format. Couldn't get scrambled, etc. Fixed breakfast. No option. Not good. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 because of the staff. Each day we had different staff, all students from the university. They were great. read more

Definitely would not recommend eating there because the food was horrible. The mansion was nice to see but overall a waste of money.

Such an awesome place to stay!! Very clean, staff is amazing and the breakfast was delicious!! Highly recommend this beautiful bed & breakfast and look forward to staying there again! read more

So... yes the house is cool. The history was exciting to us but there is little info even about the house. I would recommend they have a book there about its history, or letters/stories from the house. Also be advised, the house is located in a "shady" part of town. Outside Doors stay locked at all times. Bed was comfortable. Now the BREAKFAST part lacked. If you are a bed and breakfast, you have to provide a better breakfast than the Holiday Inn's continental breakfast. We were promised a hot breakfast of at least one main course. There was none. All sweet and cold: yogurt, fruit, pancakes and muffin. And not even big portions. Nothing was from scratch. Which is crazy because they have such a big kitchen! So disappointed for the cost of the night. read more

Nice place but be prepared for little to no service. They are more interested in the meal guests for the local boat tour than the actual customers staying there. This is a place that could be a gem with little more attention but owner/management is absent read more

Spent a lovely weekend in the Cumberland Suite. It's on the 3rd floor so be prepared to walk up many stairs. The rooms were spacious and quiet. It's located on a fairly busy street right next to UTC campus, but it wasn't too loud. I'd recommended bringing an eye mask if lights bother you as the curtains are thin. There's an a/c and portable heater in the room for your comfort. The king bed is comfortable but kind of high. I had to hop up. Staff were friendly and we really enjoyed the breakfasts. Example: breakfast tacos with chorizo, yogurt, fruit, cinnamon roll. It was filling without being excessive. Overall, we will definitely visit again. So much nicer than a hotel and very convenient to everything. read more

The food was very bland. Filet mignon was tough and tasted store bought. Green beans tasted like they came from a can. If this wasn't a package with the river cruise, I would have not eaten it. Will not go back for food read more

The staff here was very friendly. We enjoyed a tour of the house with some history when we first arrived. My husband booked this for our 16 year anniversary talking up how it was in the top places to stay in Chattanooga. Room 34 apparently used to be where people lived that ran the B&B at one point. Instead of being a historical 1800s experience it was more of a poorly maintained 1990s apartment. That was pretty disappointing. I haven't found any marketing photos of this space, so be aware. The fire exit is through this room so you can not lock your door. Basically, there is a common area and then a small room where your bed is that does have a key for it, but the walls making this space are open at the ceiling. Basically, I worried anyone could come through at anytime. The staff did put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door that can't be locked and said people would stay out. No one encroached on our space, but I worried about it the entire time. When you are getting away for a couple's weekend you don't want to be worried about people walking in. I can get that experience at home for free. The bed does not have a headboard it's just a mattress and box doing on a metal frame. There is a built in bookshelf above the bed, so don't sit up to quickly or you will wack yourself. I have shared two photos of the bed and where the bed space is open to the public area at the ceiling. The shower water ran inconsistently. If you are a lady with thick hair, I recommend dry shampoo as your washing option. Little water pressure is present, but that my be part of the old house experience?? Morning breakfast was a fun experience. You get several courses and it's enjoyable to see the other guests. The food wasn't great. The second morning we went out for breakfast. If you are staying several nights, maybe try breakfast at the house one morning and try some other local places another morning. Overall, if you don't plan to spend a lot of time in room 34 and are okay with your space being a fire exit you can still spend time in the other parts of this historic building. The evening snacks my be enough to help you enjoy the space more. I'm pretty sure you would be happy with any other room in this place. read more

Mayor's Mansion - Here is where the wall is open at the ceiling. The space on the other side can't be locked from other guests. - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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This may be the grandest old home converted to a B&B I ever stayed. All the wallpaper and woodwork is original. The two seating rooms are beautiful. The front porch is really unusual with a round on one end for multiple chairs. The first floor doors are the tallest I ever seen. They must be at least 10' and solid wood. The morning breakfast is forgettable. The coffee, yogurt, and juice were fine. But the processed round egg thing was terrible. You go for the ambiance of the house not the food. Worth a stay. Service was very good. read more

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We visited this place with a group of 20 people for high tea, and it was a very disappointing experience. The service was poor, and they clearly were not prepared for a group of our size. The "high tea" they served was unlike any high tea we've experienced before, and honestly, I'm not sure what it was supposed to be. I requested English breakfast tea, but was told they only offered fruity peach tea, which is far from the traditional fare you would expect at a high tea. High tea typically includes more substantial foods like meat pies, cold meats, fish, eggs, cheese, and baked goods like bread, scones, and cakes. This was a joke. There was no tower of food, and the quantity and quality of what was served were both very disappointing. If you're looking for a proper high tea experience, this is definitely not the place to go. Very disappointed. read more

This inn is beautiful as well as the furnishings and decor inside. It's a step back in time. They had Christmas decorations up, and it looked like a Hallmark movie set. My third-floor room was very nice. It's actually split into two rooms-- the sitting room and the bedroom/bathroom. This is because the emergency exit is in the sitting room. As a result, the bedroom door does lock, but I was assured that no one would just walk in the main door unless there was an emergency. The bed was very comfortable (on the firmer side). The bathroom has a bidet (an after-market attachment to the toilet) that works well. There is a Keurig with all the necessary things for coffee and tea. There are two TVs (one in each room), and the furniture is very comfortable. Breakfast was an experience -- 3 or 4 courses brought out at just the right time. The servers are very attentive. I had egg and pepper "mini-quiches" with yogurt, a lemon muffin, and a small cup of fruit. Did I mention the servers are very attentive? Very personable and conversational as well. (Grace and Pilar stand out as servers.) As for the rest of the inn, there was a library with books and DVDs/VHS tapes to borrow, as well as a cabinet full of board games. There were complimentary soft drinks downstairs, and they have beer and spirits to purchase. I cannot recommend this BnB enough -- the cost of the room was much lower than many of the hotels you might find, and that makes this such a great value. This would be a wonderful place to stay for a romantic weekend, or you can use it as a cozy place to stay while you visit Chattanooga and its environs. read more

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If you are a history buff and you are in Chattanooga, treat yourself to a stay at The Mayor's Mansion Inn, Bed and Breakfast. Honestly you will feel spoiled and steeped in the rich history of this gorgeous Victorian style home. The inn keepers were knowledgeable and very helpful. They greet you with a tour of the main floor then show you to your suite. A four course Breakfast is served every morning and it was such a delightful change of pace form the typical Breakfast that we are used to today. We stayed 2 nights at the Mayor's Mansion and I wish we could have stayed longer. For me it was extra special as the land on which my 4 times Great-Grandparents lived and the Citizens Cemetery were only a tenth of a mile away. My only suggestion would be to replace the portable air conditioning unit in the Chickamauga Suite as it rattled non-stop but it would not stop us from returning to The Mayor's Mansion Inn again. read more

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what a gem the staff has always been awesome the Mansion is absolutely beautiful the elegant breakfast in the morning is always perfectly done we have stayed twice and will always make this our go to B&B when visiting Chattanooga read more

This is our second visit to Mayor's Mansion. Daniel and Sabrina are absolutely wonderful. We have truly enjoyed each stay here. They are very attentive and gracious hosts. read more

I love Chattanooga and I've stayed at the mayors mansion only one time (before Covid). It's like staying in the museum in the center of town. The food is great dining room elegant in the property. Just wonderful. Highly recommended. read more

We just love staying at the Mayors Mansion. Perfect location. Top of the line breakfast experience makes you feel like VIP's. 2nd time here and it keeps getting better. read more

Beautiful lodgings. Awful food & coffee. Old stairs... no lift. Schlep your suitcases up 3 stories. 3 rd floor no coffee/ tea / water etc. breakfast 1 grape cut in 1/2. 1/2 sliced strawberry, one blackberry and one raspberry in a glass...... no toast or biscuit, they are ski ping in food. Would go back for lodgings but breakfast was so bad, for the price- I won't return. read more

First class service and attention to detail. Staff were knowledgeable and offered many suggestions to make our stay more memorable. Was a bit disappointed with the breakfast because it was cold but enjoyed the luxury of being served multiple courses on sophisticated place settings. For a one of a kind experience, I highly recommend. read more

We stayed here at my wife's insitence as I did not get back from testifying in Jasper until after 6:00. I had dropped her off at around 10:00, and I drove onto Jasper. My wife has a service dog and she was told she was the first service dog who had stayed there. She was very well taken care of. When she ordered a lunch from a nearby restaurant, the price was too little to get delivery, so the manager picked it up for her. She choose room 11 on the first floor. It may be the best room, although I did not see any others. Right outside the room is the coffee area and the coffee was very good. We bring our own cream. Was Breakfast was served insuite. It was lovely. I was a little disappointed that the corned beef was not avaiable, but the bacon and eggs were vey good. This was served with fresh orange juice, it may have been frozen but I could not tell. Fresh fruit cuo was also served. Check out was a breeze, we also bought a robe. I cannot recommend Mayor's Mansion highly enough. It is in the Fort Wood neighborhood which is certainly lovely and very pleasant to strole around. read more

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I'll start with the fact that the location is very convenient to the UTC campus. The Fort Wood neighborhood has some history and there are some architecturally historic gems dotting the area. It's worth getting out and walking around if you have the time. The only downside - and it's not much of one - is the area Is just a little off the path to restaurants and other attractions. Uber was our friend. The house has a lot of charm and is in good condition for its age. There are several sitting rooms and a porch on the main level that make great places to hang out with your own group or talk with other guests. We were in the Tennessee River room which was spacious, clean and comfortable. The morning breakfast service was really quite elegant. The food and atmosphere were terrific. The staff members were all very friendly and helpful with no hint of stuffiness that you might expect in a place like this. We really enjoyed our visit. read more

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Wonderful staff . Good breakfast . Quite neighbourhood. Close to the city . Clean rooms . Bathroom were old but very clean. read more

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We had a wonderful stay here @ the Mayor's Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn. We stayed in the Cumberland Room on the top floor. A very architecturally appealing room with angled dormer ceilings and coated with soothing greenish-gray & blue colors. Mayor's Mansion Inn is the only AAA 4 Diamond property in Chattanooga. The exterior is charming and the interior is filled with those turn of the century details that make staying at places like this so magical. Take the exquisite details of the open staircase for example. You'll have a very impressive vantage from the ground floor or looking down from the top floor. Either view is a craftsmanship master class in woodwork. Or perhaps you might fancy the gorgeous detail of the coffered ceilings in the grand foyer. Two features that will have your head tilted upwards every time you enter this stunning home. It was built in 1889 for Edmond Watkins using wood & stones from an old Union Army redoubt. Materials that once upon a time saw battle, but repurposed in a beautiful way. Watkins was eventually elected mayor in 1897, thus the current name. The Inn has several rooms & suites each with a coded push button entry. You are also given a key to the guest entrance to let yourself in and out after hours. Nice luxuries such as his and hers robes, vanities and rich linens greet you once inside your room. Other public areas include a magnificent dining room with fireplace, a library, ballroom, sitting room, grand foyer and lovely covered porch for an evening of relaxing. Truly an elegant setting for weddings, which was the reason for our visit. My bestie got married here this weekend. The husband/wife owner team are cheerful and accommodating proprietors. The husband also acted as the justice of the peace for the wedding while his wife was the coordinator and caterer. Breakfast in the mornings was delightful. Not ever having stayed at a B&B before I found the portions to be a tad dainty, but they had no problems bringing me a little extra so that I wouldn't walk away hungry. The proprietors also honored my request for hash browned potatoes. Wine and various liqueurs were available in a centralized cabinet and we were also invited to raid the refrigerator for waters and sodas anytime day or night. Each morning around 6am the second floor landing has fresh coffee brewing in an old world armoire with a lovely assortment of porcelain cups and fancy stirring spoons. Not that you would ever want to get out of the comfortable beds they provide in your room. Also part of the charm are the creaky floors and the leaning staircase. My only negative would be staying on the third floor. You will no doubt be a little winded by the time you reach the top. NOTES IN MY BRAIN: Everyone on staff here is so polite and courteous. It feels like I walked into the pages of the Gone with the Wind novel. Maybe my wife should do a curtsy or something while I tip my hat to passers by? FINAL THOUGHTS Overall, it was a wonderful stay worthy of being experienced at least once in life. Since this is our very first stay at a B&B, I have no basis of comparison. It is for that reason and that reason only that I will contain my excitement and keep my rating to 4 stars instead of 5. That being said, I'm not sure if we would come back anytime soon. Not because we didn't absolutely enjoy our stay mind you, but because we're just not bed & breakfast sort of people for two main reasons: A) Our middle school aged kids travel with us most of the time. B) I'm pretty frugal and generally happy with places like Comfort Inn or Embassy Suites where I can get a clean, modern looking room w/flat screen TV, comfy bed, pool and a relatively good [free] hot continental breakfast at a reasonable price. But occasionally it's nice to break from the norm and release the straps on the wallet. Besides, this place most certainly provided a great atmosphere for fanning 17 years of marital flames. The missus certainly liked being tended to so properly, especially since this weekend was also our anniversary :-) read more

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WOW what a wonderful place to stay, And staff is so attentive to your every need. Reasonably priced near the collage and very close to the downtown area nestled in the Fort Woods neighborhood "Quite and safe" Can't wait to come back in the fall. read more

The staff was very friendly and attentive. I was given a tour of the downstairs and informed about breakfast menu. Because my boyfriend and I are gluten free she said an omelet wouldn't be a problem. Room was nice and old fashioned. It was hot when we came in for night but after calling innkeeper they adjusted it. We opted for the inn suite breakfast for just a little more. Unfortunately I was very disappointed with the quality of breakfast. Omelettes must have been made with one egg, bacon was overly crispy and the fruit cup was only a third full. For a place specializing in breakfast and offering many nutritional choices we were hungry and dissapointed afterwards. Also, after we checked out and got to the car we discovered our car had been broken into and an electronic that was a gift was taken from trunk. Pretty sure car was locked, maybe not, but perhaps gating on premises would be wise. Car did not have anything of value visible. read more

Mayor's Mansion - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Amazing beautiful old Victorian home. We loved every minute of our stay! We were greeted and given a quick tour. Our room was elegant and had an amazing view. The front desk staff was very nice and pleasant. Being able to enjoy the parlor and verandas made it the perfect evening. Everything worked fine. It's an older historic home so it's not perfect but we didn't expect perfection. Complimentary soft drinks and water are available and cookies are put in the halls in the evening along w coffee in the morning. We would highly recommend this B and B and come back again! read more

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My husband and I stayed here for our anniversary/Valentine's Day trip to Chattanooga... and we were so glad we did! To say the B&B is stunning, doesn't do it justice. It's as impressive inside as it is outside. We stayed in the "Rising Fawn" suite and it was nice and spacious! The bathroom had a huge tub for two and a spacious walk-in shower (my favorite). We also ordered the "Forever Yours" package and everything was fulfilled to the tee! Mark and Cindy (the caretakers) are the sweetest folks you'll ever meet and they go above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your stay. We plan to go back thanks to their customer service alone! The entire B&B has a historically luxurious charm, but there are a few things to keep in mind. 1. It is a beautiful building, but a bit dated and you will see some cracks in the walls that give the place character. 2. The television is a bit small and far from the bed, couch and dining table, so you may have trouble seeing the screen if your vision isn't the best. 3. There isn't an elevator and only one floor on the ground level (which would be inconvenient for those that have trouble with stairs). All in all, you will not regret staying at this beautiful B&B. With an amazing location (close to practically everything), hardworking staff and just a beautiful building, the Mayor's Mansion Inn is definitely worth 5 stars! :) read more

Almost as bad as a Days In. In terms of cleanliness, everything was great. The history and beauty of the Mansion was incomparable to a Days In but the hospitality and breakfast was almost the same. We didn't even stay the night. The bed moved causing the lights to go out. Barely any light to begin with. Bath was nice. We didn't stay the night and I was told I would be contacted in regards to a refund. They told me "We can't do refunds because we don't make alot of money and we can't move you because we are completely booked". Worst Bed and Breakfast experience ever. One of the ladies there told me that I should have looked at the Yelp reviews as the room we chose was "talked about alot". Do not attempt to go here. Hospitality at the Chatanooga Marriott Downtown was amazing. The lady reduced our rate because of our frustration with the Mayor's mansion. I would definitely go with Marriott read more

My boyfriend booked this place for Valentine's Day. Kind of a bummer because the house, in general, is cool but that's the extent of it. Customer service was blah. Breakfast was not worth the calories. It was delivered cold and appeared to be pre-packaged food that had been warmed up. Overall, blah! read more

The Mayor's Mansion was a definite treat! Our family of five stayed at the mansion for our first stop on our road trip vacation from Chicago to our final destination of Charleston, SC. The Mansion itself is beautiful and filled with history dating back to the Civil War. It is within minutes of the lovely Bluff View District and downtown. Our room was large (two queen sized beds plus one roll-away was brought in for my son) and meticulously kept. Melanie, one of the staff members, couldn't have been more gracious and helpful. A true southern belle. Cookies were always out for munching and appetizers in the early evening were an added plus. Coffee was always available, freshly ground and brewed. The best part of staying at the Mansion was breakfast! In fact, the kids were amazed that Moonpie Banana Split came as dessert! Will we return? Absolutely! Chattanooga has won our hearts and so has the Mayor's Mansion. read more

We spent 4 days here in early August. We make a point to stay at architecturally interesting B & B's which was what attracted us to the Mansion. The house itself is indeed grand and handsome with most original detailing intact. But it is deteriorating and now seems clear that their maintenance restoration budget isn't close to what is needed. There was so much visible amateurish work that it made me nervous that the electrical system might be the same. Often it was freezing inside while 80 degrees outside. Breakfasts were ok but nothing special. Calls to the manager were never returned. The staff, on the other hand, could not have been more friendly and helpful. The owners do not deserve such good employees. Also the Mansion requires full payment well in advance, with limited refunds. What guarantee does any quest have that they will have paid but the Mansion will no longer be in business by the time they arrive. The owners own a number of other tourist related businesses in Chattanooga and it seems clear they are spread too thin. Even a two star rating seems generous. read more

Very nice quaint friendly inn. Clean and comfortable rooms, wonderful bedding and loved the robes. Even though we stayed on the ground floor, it was very, very quiet and I had a wonderful nights sleep. Staff was very attentive to all our needs and we greatly enjoyed the wonderful breakfast. The peach cobbler with vanilla whipped cream was incredible. Portions for food were excellent, but not the huge portions average Americans expect. read more

This was the first time to go to a bed and breakfast. We went with friend who had stayed here before. We opted for the suite. Room was very spacious and king bed was nice but I have slept on better. One thing to note is that the suites are on the 3rd floor and only accessible by stairs so be prepared for a hike with luggage. Inn owner got onto us and another couple who were on the porch for being too loud. May have been some laughter but for what we paid per night I think it would be overlooked. Breakfast quiche was not overly warm for our first breakfast. The next breakfast was French toast with fruit. He was good but almost too hot. You can order eggs and pancakes which are not on the menu. I would probably do that next time. It was fun but I would like to try another for comparison. read more

Absolutely breathtaking! I'm not going to leave a long review this time because this place speaks for itself honestly. The staff are so friendly & informative. The atmosphere alone is worth the stay here. The three course breakfast was elegant yet simple. If you have diatary restrictions of any kind the kitchen will make sure you are taken care of. The furniture and art work were so beautiful. The room was huge!!!! Everything was so clean & smelled great. This will be our place to stay every time we come back to Chattanooga. Thanks so much for the wonderful experience! read more

My new wife and I stayed here the first night of our honeymoon tour of the Appalachian mountains and had a wonderful stay. We booked the honeymoon suite and it was a beautiful room! It was like we were staying in a palace! The Inn keeper was very nice and helped us pick a restaurant for dinner that night. We enjoyed our breakfast in our suite and the meal was delicious. This was our second time to stay in a historic bed and breakfast, but easily our best experience. We hope to return in the future for a longer stay during the spring so we can enjoy more of the Inn's charm. It was a little to cold during our visit, but we would love to be able to enjoy our coffee on the stunning front porch and a glass of wine in the library. This is definitely the type of place where you can stay a long weekend and hardly ever leave the property. I should also say that their wine list is very affordably priced. We shared a bottle of champagne and it was very well balanced: perfectly crisp, but not too dry. On our next trip we will aim to sample more of the options. They also keep craft beer and a pretty satisfying liquor selection in stock as well. One final compliment would be how pleasant the temperature was kept. In our first bed and breakfast experience in Alabama, we found that the thermostat was set unbearably high, but here, we were perfectly comfortable. Our room included an oscillating tower fan and kept our room very pleasant. read more

The place is awesome, but don't let them put you in the Chattanooga Room #34. It's the maid's quarters! They charge the same for that sub-standard room and it is not like all the rest. And it seems it is the only room that doesn't get a goodbye gift bag. read more

Great stay. Great staff. Wonderful historic home. For a B&B price excellent. Located in historic & University Area. Nice and safe area to walk. read more

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A wonderful place for many occasions. We really appreciated the owners and staff for a perfectly beautiful event. read more

Mayor's Mansion - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

A great place to stay in Chattanooga. We visited while moving our daughter to UTC. Beautiful historic neighborhood. Quite place to stay and close to campus. read more

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