South End is Charlotte’s booming activity hub and generally caters to a younger population jammed into apartments throughout the neighborhood. There is a plethora of restaurants, bars, breweries, and shops to entertain and Uptown is just a hop skip and a jump up the road. The Lynx Light Rail also runs through South End conveniently connecting it to other neighborhoods of the Charlotte-metro area.
ADVENTURES AND ALES TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
Resident Culture: The second location of my favorite and the best brewery in Charlotte is in the heart of South End. They partner with El Toro Bruto for delicious food and Mostra Coffee will be coming soon.
Pop The Top: A craft beer bar with 24 taps and a wide selection of cans and bottles. It’s one of my favorite craft beer bars! Check out the full blog here.
Girl Tribe: A fun store with accessories, clothing, and more!
Triple C Brewing: Great beers, indoor and outdoor seating, and frequent food trucks.
Wooden Robot: Self-described as an urban farmhouse brewery, Wooden Robot makes some delicious Sours and Saisons in particular.
Suffolk Punch: A brewery and restaurant with a nice outdoor patio (covered in the winter) and $3 select beers on Thursdays and Sundays!
Lenny Boy Brewing: Homemade beers and kombucha with a small food menu in this fun taproom. A little off the main strip of South End but still easily walkable.
Common Market: Deli, taproom, and market in one!
Explore the Rail Trail: A 3.5 mile trail along the Lynx Light Rail with numerous restaurants, bars and breweries, and shops along it. Generally the Rail Trail is full of people running, walking, biking, and rollerblading!
OTHER IDEAS: Food
Poppy’s Bagels: Fresh-made bagels and schmear!
Bang Bang Burgers: Great burgers on Brioche buns with yummy side options.
Lincoln's Haberdashery: A deli-style restaurant with a market as well. A plethora of soups, salads, and sandwiches to choose from!
Hawkers: Asian street food with outdoor seating and fancy cocktails.
Pepperbox Doughnuts: Upscale doughnut and coffee joint.
Barcelona Wine Bar: Tapas-style menu with a wide variety of wines. They’ve also got a nice patio to enjoy when the weather allows!
Superica: Upscale Tex-Mex menu, also offering brunch!
Fuel Pizza: Solid New York style pizza.
Jeni’s Ice Cream: Expect a line out the door at this location of the popular ice cream chain, but it’s delicious!
Sabor: Counter-service delicious Latin Street food!
Eight + Sand: Casual bakery and cafe with fresh and locally sourced sandwiches, salads, and more!
O-Ku: Fancy sushi! Make a reservation.
Leroy Fox: Southern comfort food and cocktails specializing in fried chicken.
Futa Buta: Ramen house with limited seating so get there early!
Flower Child: Healthy food in a colorful setting with a large outdoor patio.
Midnight Diner: Popular late night diner!
Price’s Chicken Coop: Some say the best fried chicken in Charlotte! Cash only.
The Dunavant: Upscale dining with brunch options and a $25 steak and unlimited fries deal.
SouthBound: Tasty tacos and Mexican street food in a relaxed setting with a nice patio.
Mac’s Speed Shop: BBQ restaurant with outside seating options.
The Waterman: Seafood restaurant with a rooftop bar and cocktails.
OTHER IDEAS: Drink
Pins Mechanical Company: A game bar with duck-pin bowling, free arcade games, free skee-ball, and a full bar. Dog friendly too!
Hoppin’: A self-pour taproom with craft beer, wine, and a nice outdoor space.
Stable Hand: Coffee shop x beer bar x small bites! Chill vibes and a solid tap list.
QC Pour House: The perfect spot to catch a sports game on TV! They’ve got a small food menu and a variety of drinks to choose from.
Charlotte Beer Garden: Boasting the world’s largest draft selection, CBG is new on the scene and super packed. Download the Untappd app before you order.
Rosemont Bar: Adult Capri-Suns and solid drink specials!
Sycamore Brewing: A huge outdoor beer garden with two bars offering wine, beer, seltzer, and cider. Expect a crowd of 20-somethings, families with young children, and a plethora of dogs.
Paddywax Candle Bar: A make-your-own candle spot that is BYOB.
Bulldog Beer and Wine: Dog-friendly dive bar, if you’re lucky you’ll get to meet the two resident bulldogs as well. Frequent live music!
Tyber Creek Pub: Irish pub with a large patio with a full food menu.
Red Clay Ciderworks: Tasty cidery, off the beaten path from other South End establishments but they’ve got solid options to choose from.
HopFly Brewing
THE GOLD DISTRICT:
An up and coming area of South End close to Bank of America Stadium and Uptown Charlotte.
HopFly Brewing: A great brewery with excellent beers, a rooftop patio, and Katsu Kart onsite for food.
Craft: A craft beer bar with 36 taps and a wide variety of bottles. They’ve got a small food menu (go for the cheese board!) and a nice outdoor patio.
Seoul Food Meat Company: Meats, a huge variety of sides, kim bap, wings, and tacos!
Lost and Found: Highly instagrammable and popular bar.
Olde Meck
LoSo:
Lower South End or LoSo is a small hub of several breweries in walking distance of each other. It is just over a mile from the edge of South End. Though you can’t walk the Light Rail Trail all the way to LoSo, there is a sidewalk the whole way if you’re looking to walk/run/bike between the two areas.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery: Charlotte’s original brewery with German-style beers and a spacious beer garden to frolic in!
Brewers at 4001 Yancey: Sixpoint, Victory, Southern Tier, and Bold Rock all in one! They’ve got a large space and a great food menu!
Sugar Creek Brewing: Belgian-style beers from one of the few Master Cicerones in the world!
Good Road Ciderworks: A spacious cidery and meadery!
Queen Park Social: A game bar with bowling and other activities—great for groups!
Lower Left Brewing: A smaller brewery with outdoor seating, board games, and yummy beers! Slightly removed from the above recommendations but still very close and walkable!
