Home Away from Home: Exploring Bode Chattanooga

Experience the best of both worlds at Bode Chattanooga, where the charm of Airbnb meets the convenience of a hotel! Nestled in the heart of downtown West Village, this unique hotel offers spacious rooms and home-like amenities that make every guest feel right at home. Join us as we share our review of this one-of-a-kind accommodation and discover the magic of Bode Chattanooga!

Bode occupies the former Clemons building which was built in 1920 as the headquarters for Clemons Brother Furniture Company.  In 2015, the building was renovated into an apartment complex with 55 units.  Though it has changed purposes, some of the original elements are still there such as exposed original brick, floors, and columns.

Today, there are 54 units in the hotel ranging from 1- to 3 bedrooms. Each unit has a kitchen and living room.

Rooms

This post is based upon our experience in room 504, a 2-bedroom unit. One room had its own private bathroom and the other bed and bathroom were adjacent to each other.

Bode rooms are decorated with an eclectic mix of modern and vintage pieces. The overall effect is stylish and inviting. We loved the bright, airy feel of our room. It was nice to be able to relax in the living area and sleep in an actual bedroom, as opposed to doing everything in one tiny hotel room.

The full kitchen was appointed with a full-size refrigerator, a microwave, an oven/stove, a dishwasher, and a coffee pot. Bode also provides guests with complimentary tea and their special coffee blend.

Bonus Amenity – We booked a “premium” room and it came furnished with a ping-pong table. For those who don’t book a premium room, you can still play a game or two of ping-pong on one of the tables on the ground floor.

The beds were comfortable, and the linens were good quality. There were plenty of blankets to keep us warm.

Room 504 also had two full baths, though, unlike the rest of the unit, the shower stall and bathtub were not roomy.

Each bathroom was stocked with Bode’s signature toiletries and three sets of towels.

Around the Property

There is a small restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel called Dawn where customers can purchase breakfast items like pastries, avocado toast, and coffee.  There is also a limited lunch menu for the eatery that is open from 7 am until 3 pm.

In the evening, guests can unwind at Dusk, Bode’s bar. The casual environment is perfect for enjoying a cocktail or local beer. Thursdays are Trivia Nights at the bar (it’s free to play and prizes are awarded!). You can even get a drink and enjoy it in your unit.

The Negatives

While there were a LOT of positive things about BODE, we would be amiss if we did not point out some of the negatives. We feel like the more you know about the place, the better your overall experience will be. So below are a couple of things that we feel like you might want to know before you go:

• The tall ceilings in our room were super cool, but they made it difficult at times to hear one another while we were watching television. High ceilings + bare floors = poor acoustics.
• The toiletries and hand soap had an earthy, masculine scent. While it was pleasant, not everybody wants to smell like a man. If you prefer something more on the floral side, bring your own.
• I had planned on enjoying breakfast at Dawn one day so that we could see what it was like. I went down to get breakfast when it was supposed to open. The doors to the lobby were closed and I had to go elsewhere to get something to eat. I returned once it had opened to find out that it opened late because the employee got stuck in traffic.

Animals

Guests are permitted one pet per room for a $50 non-refundable fee.

Check-In/Check-Out

Check-in was relatively easy using a smartphone.  All contact with staff was via text, which is great for those who like their personal space and privacy.

On the day of arrival, the primary guest is required to scan his/her driver’s license and credit card to the provided link. (For those who don’t use smartphones, this would be problematic.)

Check-out is at 11:00 and guests receive a text with a link to complete checking-out.

Parking

Bode does not have a parking lot, but there is a Citipark parking garage diagonally across the street. (We parked there on a Thursday evening and did not move our vehicle out until Sunday before noon.  It cost us $45 for three nights.) 

Location

Bode is located in Chattanooga’s historic downtown area. It’s within walking distance to many great restaurants and shops, as well as to the Tennessee Aquarium, Tivoli Theatre, and High Point Climbing & Fitness. We were also able to walk to the Chattanooga Choo Choo and catch a ride on the free electric shuttle to St. Elmo.

BODE is just a short 2-minute walk from Umbrella Alley, located across the street from the Citipark parking garage.

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Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it to others looking for a unique lodging experience in Chattanooga. Be sure to read our post about Things To Do In Chattanooga before you head to Tennessee’s Scenic City.

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