Charlotte Specials

Happy Hour may be illegal in North Carolina, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t specials to save here and there! Check out some of our favorites from around the Queen City:

Rhino Market & Deli

Any deli sandwich + a pint of beer for $11.50 on Mondays

Kid Cashew

$6 Craft cocktails on Thursdays

Taco Boy

$5 Casa Margaritas on Tuesdays

Sea Level

$1.50 Oysters from 2-6pm on weekdays

Salud Beer Shop

Choice of cheese, tomato, or margherita pizza + 4 wings for $15 Monday-Friday 11am-5pm

State of Confusion

$3 Double Mimosas & $5 Bloody Mary’s Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2:30pm

O-Ku

Half off sushi on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-7pm

Craft Tasting Room

$6 cheese and charcuterie plates on Wednesdays

What are your favorite specials in Charlotte? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

City Brew Tour Charlotte Experience

City Brew Tour Charlotte just launched in the summer of 2021, providing all-inclusive tours of breweries in Charlotte! They let us join a tour to see what it is all about and share our experience with you!

Your ride for the day!

What is City Brew Tour Charlotte?

“You drink…we drive, guide, and educate.” —sound pretty good to me! City Brew Tour Charlotte is a way to experience multiple breweries with a designated driver and learn more about both the brewing process and the breweries themselves in Charlotte. You get to go behind the scenes at breweries, learn about the history of beer on your journey, and taste a variety of local beers.

City Brew Tour Charlotte has both public and private tours for events such as bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, and corporate functions. The tour starts and ends in front of The Westin in Uptown, Charlotte.

Things to know:

• You need to wear closed toed shoes, as you’ll be going into the brewing space at breweries.

• The breweries change for each tour, so what we experienced may be different than what you experience! City Brew Tour Charlotte partners with several breweries in the city so it’s not the same set stops each time.

• The van has a cooler in the back, so if you purchase any beer to-go you can keep it cold for the rest of the tour.

• The beers are selected for you by the guide, but if you want to try something different you’re welcome to buy it separately.

Overall we enjoyed our experience and it would be great for people visiting Charlotte or new to the CLT beer scene. My one critique would be that we did feel quite rushed at stops 2 & 3, but overall I would recommend it!

The brewery dog at Armored Cow

Stop 1: Armored Cow Brewing

Armored Cow Brewing was the first stop on our brew tour! They opened in 2019 in the University City neighborhood in North Charlotte. They have multiple gluten-free beers which is pretty unique for a brewery! We tried four beers at Armored Cow and got to go into the brewhouse to see where the magic happens. We also got to meet their adorable brewery dog and learn about the first half of the brewing process.

Delicious Juicy IPAs at Resident Culture

Stop 2: Resident Culture Brewing Company

Resident Culture was the second stop for us on City Brew Tour Charlotte! Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte so I was super excited it was included on the tour. They opened in 2017 and are located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte. Resident Culture is known for their IPAs, but their Lagers and Stouts are not to be overlooked either! At Resident Culture we went behind the scenes to see and learn about the second half of the brewing process and tried three beers.

Lunch flight at Midwood Smokehouse with local brews

Stop 3: Lunch at Midwood Smokehouse

Our third stop on the brew tour was Midwood Smokehouse for lunch. We visited the location in Park Road Shopping Center, and their original location is in Plaza Midwood. City Brew Tour Charlotte orders ahead for everyone, so be sure to mention on your reservation if you have any dietary restrictions. The menu included their famous BBQ and a few side dishes. There is also a preset beer flight of local brews. Our flight included beers from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Wooden Robot Brewery, NoDa Brewing Company, and Catawba Brewing Company.

Behind the scenes at Lower Left Brewing

Stop 4: Lower Left Brewing Co.

Our final stop of the tour was Lower Left Brewing Company. Lower Left opened in 2019 and they are located in the Lower Southend (LoSo) neighborhood of Charlotte. They always have a good variety of beers on tap and a nice patio. Here we sampled a few more beers and went behind the scenes to see their small brew space. From Lower Left we headed back to Uptown to be dropped off at City Brew Tour Charlotte’s hotel partner, The Westin.

Behind the scenes at Resident Culture

Want to check out City Brew Tour Charlotte? Book your Tour here!

Charlotte Breweries with Heated Outdoor Patio Options

COVID-19 has certainly shifted the way that we’re able to enjoy breweries, but winter adds a whole new layer of complication. Now more than ever it is important to support your local breweries and to do so safely. Grab some cans or bottles to-go, buy gift cards for later, pick up some swag to represent them, or enjoy some beers outdoors!

Below is a list of Charlotte breweries with heated outdoor patio options so you can enjoy your favorite breweries while staying outdoors and warm during the cold months ahead:

• Divine Barrel: heaters

• Resident Culture: heaters

• Triple C: firepit

• Blue Blaze: firepit

• Birdsong: firepit

• Lenny Boy: firepit

• NoDa: firepit

• Petty Thieves: firepit

• Suffolk Punch: heaters on the patio, heated tent

• Wooden Robot: heaters on the patio at their South End location and fire pits at The Chamber in NoDa Thursday-Sunday

• Unknown: firepits and heaters

• Protagonist LoSo: firepits and heaters

• Salud: heaters

• Legion SouthPark: heaters

I will update this list as others add heated options or anything above changes!

Cheers to cozy beers outdoors,
Alexis

The Best Hikes Near Charlotte

There’s nothing better than morning hikes followed by afternoon beers! I live in Charlotte and I’ve put together my favorite hikes that are close to the city—anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours driving distance away.

AllTrails is my favorite website and app to look up hikes and use as a map when on the trail! The distance of the hike always seems to be a bit longer than what AllTrails says though as a heads up!

Views of the Linville Gorge from the summit of Shortoff Mountain

Shortoff Mountain

This is a fantastic hike in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The trail is 5.7 miles long with 1200 feet of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are incredible views of Lake James and the gorge throughout. Plus it is only 15 mins to Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm location, so be sure to swing by for a beer afterwards!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes

Lake James and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains from Fonta Flora State Trail

Fonta Flora State Trail

This is a lovely trail around Lake James. It was about 4 miles long and mostly shaded. It is a new trail and they are continuing to expand it so you have options to do longer hikes here if you’d like to as well! It is very well marked and a nice loop. There is lake access about halfway through on the right you will see a trail that goes down to the water. Not long after this there is a great viewpoint of the lake and surrounding mountains. This trail is very close to Shortoff Mountain, and both are great choices. This one is much easier than Shortoff, so it just depends on what you’re looking for. Either way swing by Fonta Flora afterwards!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes

Views from Mount Morrow overlooking the Uwharrie Forest

Mount Morrow Trail

I did this trail paired with the Loop Trail at the top of the mountain to add a bit more and get some better views. It was around 6.5 miles and 90 flights up, so be prepared for a steep climb at the end! The views are awesome at the top, but there is also a parking lot at the top so be prepared to share your views. I was lucky that the parking lot was closed on our visit due to COVID-19, so it was very quiet and relaxing!

Fall Mountain Trail is in this park as well, which is a 4.1 mile loop in a different area of the park. You start off walking along the Yadkin River which is quite nice and then you get into some moderate elevation. There are not very great views here it is still nice overall.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 15 minutes

Mountain views at South Mountains State Park

South Mountains State Park

This is a really nice park with lots of different trails of various lengths and difficulty. We did the High Shoals Waterfall and H.Q. Loop Trail. This one had a gorgeous waterfall and mountain views and I would highly recommend it! It was quite steep at parts and had a lot of man-made steps near the waterfall, but it was worth it! The trail was a little over 5 miles total.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 20 minutes

Haw Creek Overlook

Mountains to Sea Trail: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook

The Mountains-to-Sea trail stretches 1175 miles across the state of North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. There are a ton of different segments of this trail you can do in various places around the state. This particular section starts at the Folk Art Center near Asheville to the Haw Creek Overlook. It is about 5.5 miles round trip out and back. The overlook is gorgeous! This trail is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway so sometimes you can hear some car noise, but overall it didn’t bother us. This one is super close to Asheville, so be sure to head into the city to grab some beers afterward! If you’re looking to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding area more, check out my blog here.

Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours

Stone Mountain State Park

Stone Mountain has both an awesome peak and a great waterfall, something you don’t see too often in North Carolina. AllTrails says this trail is 4.5 miles but it actually ended up being almost 6 miles, as a heads up. I would recommend starting the loop going to the right (the signs towards the peak) first, as the back half of the mountain is a lot of manmade steps that are easier to go down than up. The trail was relatively busy but in no way crowded, just know that you won’t have it all to yourself like some of the others on this list. If you are looking for something shorter/easier the waterfall and one lookout point are both close to the trailhead so you could just go to one or both without doing the full loop.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes

Along the river on Mason’s Bend Trail

Mason’s Bend Trail

This is a nice and easy 3.5 mile long trail right along the Catawba River. It is mostly shaded by tree cover as well which is a nice protection from the sun. The entrance to the trail is in a subdivision neighborhood but don’t fret, it is actually incredible peaceful and you’ll quickly forget that you parked next to someone’s house. There is also a launch area where you can get in the river for dogs or yourself to cool off but be cautious of the fast moving water.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Hazy views from Crowder’s Mountain

Crowder’s Mountain State Park

Crowder’s is easily the most popular trail in the Charlotte area. There are a few different options to get to the top where you can see the Charlotte skyline and surrounding area. The Pinnacle Trail is the most popular trail and right around 4 miles. The Backside Trail is quicker and less crowded and around 2 miles. Crowder’s in general is usually quite crowded and the trails are quite steep, especially as you get closer to the peak.

Time from central Charlotte: 35 minutes

Lake Norman State Park with Oskar Blues & Sophie

Lake Norman Lakeshore Trail

Lake Norman’s Lakeshore Trail is on the north end of the lake and 5.9 miles long. It takes about two and a half hours to do the full loop. There are several beaches you can stop at along the trail to enjoy the view or cool off in. The trail is pretty crowded during peak times but still relaxing and generally quiet. As a note, I would not recommend Monbo Loop at Lake Norman State Park. It is mainly for cycling and provides very little to look at.

Time from central Charlotte: 50 minutes

Vertical Mile Challenge to Hollow Rock Loop

Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area is home to the Vertical Mile Challenge, which is not as intimidating as it sounds. The full loop up to Hollow Rock is just under 4 miles and takes a little under 2 hours to complete. If you start the trailhead to the left you will encounter a few switchbacks early on and then two nice viewpoints before walking straight down the mountain face. If you start the trail to the right from the parking lot you will climb straight up the mountain face first. This is also a popular area for bouldering and rock climbing if that peaks your interest.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 10 minutes

Near the lake at Latta Plantation

Latta Plantation Park

Latta is a nice, mostly flat park with a lake. There are lots of trail options here so you can make your hike as short or long as you want. I like the Hill Trail, Cove Trail, Split Rock Trail Loop which is about 5.5 miles long and takes about 2 hours. It has good lake views though there is gravel in some areas that takes away from nature vibes. Conveniently very close to the city!

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Seven Oaks Preserve Trail

This is an easy but pretty trail along Lake Wylie near Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. AllTrails has it at 4.6 miles but it ended up being closer to 5 miles. It is a well-shaded trail that doesn’t have too much traffic for being so close to Charlotte.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

McDowell Nature Preserve

This 4 mile loop meanders through McDowell Nature Preserve out to Lake Wylie. It connects multiple trails in the preserve so if you want a shorter distance there are several options as well. This is a relatively flat and easy trail that is pretty heavily trafficked.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Fall colors at Lake Haigler

Lake Haigler Loop

This easy trail is part of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. There are a few different trails here with a section near the parking lot with historical markers. This loop from the parking lot around the lake is around 3.5 miles and mostly flat. You need to pay to park so be sure to bring cash with you. The Greenway Gateway is a restaurant on the Greenway you can stop at for a snack or drink!

Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes

Pump House Biergarden in the Whitewater Center

U.S. National Whitewater Center

The Whitewater Center has several trails of various lengths, most of which are geared towards mountain bikes. I hiked the East Main Loop, which is about 7 miles. There is not too much to see, but there was a variety of landscapes and not too many bikers. It is $6 to park at the center so be sure to bring cash or card. Grab a beer at the Pump House Biergarden in the center afterwards and watch the rafters go by!

Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes

The well marked Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve

Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve Inner and Outer Loop

It is a little under 4 miles to do every trail in this park in one hike. You can also make it a shorter hike and do one section or one loop, as they all to come together. This trail is nothing too special, but it is super close to the city and nice and quiet.

Time from central Charlotte: 15 minutes

King’s Mountain State Park

I did part of the King’s Mountain National Recreation Trail which overall is more than 15 miles long. There was little signage and little to look at, but it was nice to get out and get onto such a long trail. At the park there is also a really nicely maintained soft path that leads up to a monument that is a one mile loop that you can do with kids/an injury/casually. You are potentially supposed to pay a $3 entrance fee at the park, but somehow I skipped that, so bring some cash with you if you’re going!

Time from central Charlotte: 45 minutes

Recommendations further away from Charlotte:

• Asheville, NC

• Greenville, SC

• Gatlinburg, TN
  
  

Pearson’s Falls near Saluda, NC

Where is your favorite place to hike?! Let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries to Drink Outside at in Charlotte

Warm weather is here and so is patio season! Here are the best breweries in Charlotte to enjoy your brewski outdoors at:

Wooden Robot Brewery

Both the South End and NoDa locations for Wooden Robot have great outdoor seating options. At The Chamber in NoDa there is a nice outdoor patio plus there is a rooftop bar! At the original location in South End they have a large patio and garage doors that roll up when the weather allows.

Resident Culture Brewing

Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte and you can enjoy their delicious beers on their an expansive outdoor area. You can choose to go for the deck option or the lawn option, depending on availability and whether you’re looking for sun or shade.

Edge City Brewery

Edge City is located in the MoRa neighborhood and has a beautifully designed patio space! They also have massive fans for the warmer days to keep you comfortable.

Petty Thieves Brewing Co.

An eclectic brewery in northwest Charlotte with a great patio! They have a large pergola, a fire pit, and plenty of seating options.

The Suffolk Punch

Ample outdoor options between their patio and the courtyard area. They’ve got an outdoor bar and $3 beers on Thursdays and Sundays!

NoDa Brewing

NoDa has a plethora of outdoor space with fire pits, yard games, and a walk-up bar. Their menu always boasts a variety of beers to choose from for any palate. They’ve got frequent events as well!

Blue Blaze Brewing

All of Blue Blaze is outdoorsy, so it’s no surprise that they’ve got a great outdoor space! Their nature-y outdoor area is along the trees and has fire pits and rustic vibes.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Olde Meck has a huge beer garden with ample seating, fire pits, multiple outdoor bars, and even a playground! Plenty of space to enjoy their traditional German beers!

Devil’s Logic Brewing

Devil’s Logic has a fantastic rooftop patio with views of the Charlotte skyline! It is a great place to hang out on a beautiful day.

Birdsong Brewing

Birdsong has a strong environmental focus as a solar powered brewery and many green practices, so it is no surprise that they value their outdoor space! Choose whether you’re feeling picnic table vibes or relaxing in an Adirondack chair.

Town Brewing

Town has a relaxed outdoor area to enjoy their beers and full food menu. Get the pretzel, you won’t regret it!

Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts

A huge outdoor space that even includes an outdoor stage! Get yourself a Hazy IPA and soak up some Vitamin D. They also have great pizza from their partner Livy’s!

Sycamore Brewing

For many Sycamore is probably the first brewery that comes to mind when thinking about drinking a beer outside—they have a large outdoor beer garden! Expect to find it packed when the weather is nice.

What’s your favorite brewery to drink outside at in charlotte? let me know in the comments!

Your Guide to the NoDa Neighborhood of Charlotte

What does Noda mean?

North Davidson is the main street of the neighborhood, so the abbreviation of that is NoDa! It is in the northern section of the city and one of my favorite neighborhoods! The main area of NoDa is walkable but parking can be a headache so prepare yourself to either pay to park or hunt for a free spot for awhile on the weekends.

NoDa is a very artsy neighborhood with hipster vibes and several murals. The neighborhood has changed a lot over time but has still maintained a lot of its character. Previously it was home to the largest concentration of textile mills in the US and now many of those factories are apartments. The Lynx rail line connects NoDa to Uptown, Southend, and other popular areas of Charlotte now as well.

Adventures and Ales Top Recommendations:

Salud Cerveceria and Salud Beer Shop: Brewery upstairs, beer bar and bottle shop downstairs. Each floor has a distinct atmosphere so be sure to check out both!

Idlewild: A unique cocktail bar with no menu—you tell them the types of things you like and they craft something for you. This is a fantastic spot with great vibes. Reservations recommended.

Fairweather: A cute little bar for cocktails with a small food menu. They are the sister restaurant to Idlewild. Oysters are a large menu focus and they are just $1 on Mondays! Reservations recommended.

Ever Andalo: A delicious Italian restaurant! I highly recommend reservations but you can also throw your name on the list and grab a drink from somewhere nearby.

NoDa Company Store: This bar has a great outdoor patio and delicious sangria to enjoy on it.

The Chamber by Wooden Robot: The NoDa location of the popular Southend brewery. They have more farmhouse-style ales and a rooftop deck.

Divine Barrel Brewing: Another great brewery, they are slightly up the road from the main hustle and bustle of NoDa but still walkable. They host frequent events as well!

Heist Brewery: Delicious brewery food and great beers!

Sabor: Counter-service delicious Latin Street food!

NoDa Brewing: NoDa’s Tryon Street is not walkable from the central NoDa area but definitely worth checking out! They’ve got a large outdoor space and a wide variety of brews.

The OG NoDa

Other ideas:

Protagonist Clubhouse: A nano-brewery with lots of guest taps and sleek vibes.

Haberdish: A popular Southern-style restaurant with a lively atmosphere. Reservations are limited so plan ahead! Do note they offer brunch on weekdays, but not on weekends.

Billy Jack’s Shack: A dive bar with tasty bar food like fried mac nuggs and sliders, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cabo Fish Taco: Mexican-style restaurant with solid tacos

Figo36: An Italian restaurant and wine bar. They have a very pretty space and tasty eats.  

The Dog Bar: Exactly as it sounds! A bar where you can bring your dog to run around off-leash. There is an annual membership of $10 and you need to fill out registration forms for your pup, then you can hit the bar while they make new friends!

Reigning Doughnuts: A little doughnut window behind Growler’s with a variety of flavors

Growler's Pourhouse: A beer bar with 14 taps and an accompanying food menu.

Jeni’s Ice Cream: Located next to Wooden Robot, the ever-popular ice cream chain never disappoints

Popbar: Another dessert option, Popbar offers gelato on a stick!

Neighborhood Theater: Local music venue

Goodyear House: A great restaurant with a killer outdoor patio. Reservations recommended.

Bar a Vins: A wine bar with a small snack menu. As a forewarning if you get a bottle they will charge you an additional $10 to drink it onsite even though you are buying it from them.

NoDa Company Store

The Belmont Area

Belmont and Noda are super close together and easily walk or bike-able between the two areas. Be sure to check out these spots in Belmont while you’re exploring NoDa:

The OG NoDa Brewing: NoDa’s original location specializing in sour and barrel aged beers. A smaller, funkier taproom than their newer location on Tryon.

Free Range Brewing: A farmhouse-style brewery with a large event space and chill vibes.

Rhino Market & Deli: A great spot to grab breakfast or lunch with a variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups. They’ve also got beer and coffee.

Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe: Eventually this ever-popular bakery will be relocating from their original location, but Amelie’s produces some of the best baked goods in North Carolina!

The Hobbyist: A coffee shop, bottle shop, and beer bar combo. Especially nice when the weather is nice and the garage door is open!

Abari: A retro game bar with 9 craft beer taps, cocktails, and spirits.

Optimist Hall: A large food hall with a plethora of options to choose from. Papi Queso and The Dumpling Lady are my favorites!

Fonta Flora’s Charlotte taproom is located in Optimist Hall and definitely worth checking out! They’ve got fantastic wild ales in particular.

Birdsong Brewery: A bit further south but it is still easily walkable from other spots in NoDa! They are solar-powered, make some really tasty beers, and offer free peanuts!

The Chamber by Wooden Robot

What’s your favorite spot in Noda? Let me know in the comments!

Your Guide to South End, Charlotte

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!

What are your favorite spots in south end?! Let me know in the comments:

Your Guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte

Charlotte has several distinctive neighborhood to explore, but Plaza Midwood is one of my favorites! It is full of great breweries, bars, and restaurants with a hipster-esque and local vibe. Plaza Midwood is just north of Uptown Charlotte with Central Avenue serving as the main launching off point. It is a very walkable neighborhood, taking about 25 minutes to get from one end of the neighborhood to the other.

Resident Culture Brewing Co.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations

Resident Culture Brewing Company: My favorite brewery in Charlotte! They have delicious beers, a fun atmosphere, and frequent food trucks.

Burial Beer: A fantastic taproom of the Asheville based brewery. They have a rooftop patio and some of the best beer in North Carolina.

Common Market: Deli, beer and wine shop, bar, and market—everything you need! Their breakfast sandwiches are particularly super delicious. It is a popular local hangout with laid-back vibes.

Legion Brewing: Another brewery option in Plaza with a nice patio and great bar snacks.

Workman’s Friend: Irish pub and restaurant with patio-style seating thanks to their garage door.

Whiskey Warehouse: A bar with a rooftop perfect when the weather is nice. On Sundays they’ve got great deals on mimosas and Bloody Marys!

Undercurrent Coffee: A cozy coffee shop with outdoor seating and a small food menu.

Charlotte Collective: Multiple small local vendors in one store.

Midwood Smokehouse: Award-winning BBQ! One of the most popular restaurants in the area.

Moo & Brew

Other Ideas: Food

Yafo Kitchen: Tasty Mediterranean counter-service restaurant, one of my favorite spots to grab food to-go from.

Moo & Brew: Burgers and beers with a nice patio. They’ve also got a Large Marge, a 20oz Bloody Mary that is essentially a meal in a glass.

Two Scoops Creamery: Local ice cream shop with a wide variety of flavors.

Soul Gastrolounge: Plaza’s fancier restaurant, be sure to make reservations! Downstairs they’ve also opened up Sister, an all-day cafe.

Snooze AM Eatery: The ever-popular brunch spot, expect a long wait but super tasty food! Pancake flights, multiple types of Benedicts, and creative twists on classic breakfast foods.

Fuel Pizza: A great spot for late night pizza! Quick, cheap, and tasty.

Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe: A homey spot for breakfast and brunch with a large menu to choose from and an outdoor patio. Eventually the space will also be a tasting room for Cavendish Brewing!

Cilantro Noodle: Vietnamese bowls!

Central Coffee: Your neighborhood coffee shop!

Legion Brewing

Other Ideas: Bars and Breweries

Pilot Brewing: A solid brewery with small-batch brews and a weekly Cask Ale.

Thirsty Beaver: A classic, tiny dive bar.

The Bohemian: A wine bar with cheese plates and sleek vibes.

Thomas Street Tavern: Another classic dive bar with a large outdoor patio and pool and ping-pong tables.

Stroke: A putt-putt and cocktail lounge.

Pour Taproom: A chain bar with pour your own beer and wine by the ounce.

Worth Noting

These two spots are technically in the Belmont neighborhood but they are still very close to Plaza Midwood and worth checking out!

Catawba Brewing: A wide variety of beers in a spacious taproom. They’ve also opened an in-house restaurant called Blue Fork!

White Duck Tacos: Super delicious tacos!

What are your favorite spots in Plaza Midwood?!