Where to Eat, Drink, and Play in Charlotte, North Carolina

by Amy C. Balfour

Charlotte looks buttoned-up at first glance. Sleek skyscrapers. A tight grid of uptown streets. Plus, it has that no-nonsense reputation as a major banking hub. But this serious facade hides a fun and fast-growing city, winning raves for its innovative museums, unique outdoor adventures, high-profile sports teams, and inviting neighborhoods. It might be time to take a closer look. 

The restaurant and brewery scene in Charlotte is hot, with multiple food halls opening their doors and new restaurants flexing their culinary prowess – usually with a photogenic backdrop. More than 60 craft breweries tout their latest creations, and rooftop bars galore serve up craft cocktails and fine skyline views. 

Beyond the downtown core, top neighborhoods to check out include easygoing Plaza Midwood, buzzy South End and trendy NoDa, which hugs North Davidson Street. With 26 stops across these neighborhoods, the LYNX Blue Line light rail is an efficient way to explore. 

Fun Facts

Charlotte is nicknamed the Queen City, which gives a nod to Queen Charlotte. She was married to King George III when the settlement was chartered in 1768. During the Revolutionary War a few years later, local patriots fired mercilessly at British General Cornwallis in the Battle of Charlotte and at Kings Mountain just north. According to legend, Cornwallis wrote that the place was “a hornet’s nest of rebellion” – and his words became the historic inspiration for the city’s NBA basketball team, the Charlotte Hornets. 

Uptown is Downtown.. and a Whole Lot More

The central business district is in downtown Charlotte, which is known as Uptown. Why Uptown? The city’s main drag, Tryon Street, follows a ridgeline that slants upward as it approaches the city core. This ridgeline doubled as a trade route for the Catawba and other Native American tribes. The intersection of Tryon and Trade Streets has been a crossroads for trade and travel since the early 1700s. Four striking statues, representing transportation, industry, commerce, and the future overlook the intersection.

Uptown is also the cultural heart of the city. Get acquainted with Charlotte at the compelling Levine Museum of the New South, where the interactive “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” exhibit delves into the complicated history of the Queen City and the central Piedmont region from the end of the Civil War to the present day.

Hold tight to the wheel on the stock-car simulator at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where you’ll race other drivers for high-speed glory. You can also practice your pit crew skills and learn about the origins of the sport, which trace back to Prohibition-era moonshine running. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in January 2022.

For a short break with a side of greenery and public art, take a seat at the pleasant Romare Bearden Park along Church Street. 

Outdoor Fun: Urban Trails & Whitewater

The 3.5-mile Rail Trail runs alongside the Blue Line in the South End neighborhood, southwest of Uptown. Highlights along this paved trail include the shop-filled Atherton Mill & Market, coffeehouses, craft breweries and public art – get your Instagram shot at the Confetti Hearts Wall at West Worthington Avenue. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a paved, multi-use path linking several parks along Little Sugar Creek just south of Uptown. 

The new Charlotte Trail Guide (www.charlottesgotalot.com/trails) provides an interactive overview of city trails. Prefer to pedal? Rent e-bikes at one of the Joy Rides bike stations dotting the Rail Trail and Uptown. 

Hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, kayaking and whitewater rafting are just a few of the recreational activities you’ll find in the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a regional hub for outdoor adventure. There’s a fee for most activities, but the hiking and biking trails are free with a small parking fee. Watch kayakers tackle rapids on the man-made river while you dig into burgers and beer at River’s Edge in the heart of the complex.

Where to Eat

Ease into your day with pastries, coffee and conversation at beloved Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe in NoDa, accessible by the Blue Line. In a hurry? Croissants and cream puffs are served to-go at Villani’s Bakery in Plaza Midwood. 

Charlotte loves its weekend brunches, and dapper Haberdish serves this breezy meal with delicious aplomb. This NoDa hotspot is famous for its excellent fried chicken. Tucked into a cute cottage in Dilworth, longtime favorite 300 East is another good spot for a midday meal, with salads and gourmet sandwiches served on weekdays and mouthwatering breakfast fare available on weekends.

At Haymaker in Uptown, dinners and weekend brunches are inspired by Appalachia, sourced from North Carolina, and served with Southern style. Ready to see and be seen? Then tuck into a gorgonzola-slathered lamb burger or pan-roasted filet at 5Church Charlotte, the brainchild of Top Chef alum Jamie Lynch. The contemporary art at this buzzy Uptown steakhouse packs a visual punch. 

Small plates take a tasty trip around the globe at sultry Soul Gastrolounge, a Plaza Midwood stalwart also known for its sushi and signature cocktails. For vegetarian-focused small plates and sandwiches, make your way to Alchemy in South End, where artfully presented food and cocktails are complemented by local artwork in an adjacent gallery. 

New food halls abound in Charlotte. Options are international at Optimist Hall, a historic textile mill between Uptown and NoDa. Take your pick of ramen, pizza, kebabs, tacos, fried chicken sandwiches and more. Camp North End is a mixed-use venue on the former campus of a Ford manufacturing site and a U.S. armory. The space holds food stalls, breweries, shops and galleries, plus hosts live music.

Cocktails, Beer & Coffee

You won’t have to walk far to find a craft cocktail in Uptown, but the neighborhood's many rooftop bars will have you soaring skyward as well. How to find them? Just head to the tops of Uptown’s trendiest hotels.  

For an intimate speakeasy vibe in Uptown, descend to the Cellar at Duckworth’s. Cocktails are carefully crafted at new-on-the-scene Supperland, which inhabits a former church and its annex in Plaza Midwood. Watch out – absinthe flows from a fountain here!

For an easy introduction to the city’s breweries, stroll the Rail Trail through the South End. Kick off with an innovative brew from Legion Brewing at the Trolley Barn Fermentory and Food Hall, which is housed in a former trolley car repair building at Atherton Mill. Walk north to the three-story Charlotte Beer Garden, which holds the unofficial world record for the most beers on tap in one restaurant. South of the Trolley Barn you’ll find beer gardens at Sycamore Brewing, home of the Mountain Candy IPA, and Wooden Robot Brewery, where ales and lagers are the focus.

If these options sound too new and trendy, don’t forget the Thirsty Beaver, the city’s favorite dive bar. Our sources say even Mick Jagger stopped by this Plaza Midwood mainstay recently for a cold beer the night before a Rolling Stones concert at Bank of America Stadium.

Recommended local coffee houses include Not Just Coffee and Undercurrent, and both have locations scattered across town. 

Slightly Farther Afield

With Chef Bill Greene and his wife Anita at the helm and a well-appointed backdrop featuring handmade lighting, commissioned sculptures, and high-end contemporary art from Shain Gallery, Peppervine in SouthPark is a destination dining experience. Greene, acclaimed for his eclectic creations at Artisanal in Banner Elk, whips up an innovative seasonal menu here with international touches, all complemented by the extensive wine list. 

Grapes are sourced internationally for the wines produced by Davidson Wine Co, an urban micro-winery in the Davidson historic district 20 miles north of Charlotte. Settle in for wine tasting, wine drinking, and bistro fare. 

Where to Stay

Art, opulence and a grand sense of fun collide at the Grand Bohemian, one of the newest hotels in Uptown. Step up your style for a cocktail at the Búho Bar on the hotel’s rooftop. The vibe is more intimate, but equally posh, at Ivey’s Hotel in Uptown. This boutique property, with exposed brick walls and Parisian sensibilities, inhabits a nearly century-old former department store. 

If You Go

Charlotte sits at the junction of interstates I-77 and I-85 in central North Carolina. Call ahead to restaurants and attractions to confirm opening hours, which may be reduced to ensure social distancing.