Charlotte City - An All-Inclusive Guide
Updated: Aug 7
What to Explore and Where to Party
The city of Charlotte in North Carolina is popularly known as a major financial hub in the United States.
But it isn’t all business. This city is also known for its rich history, modern facilities, great music, and food.
Named in honor of the German Princess Charlotte, yet widely considered as Britain’s first queen of African descent, the city has several nicknames including the Queen City and The Hornet’s Nest. It played a big role in America’s history during the American Civil War and was the epicenter of the United States' first gold rush.
In this guide, you’ll learn many such facts about this city. And if you’re planning a trip to Queen City, then this will be your ultimate guide to exploring top attractions, restaurants, neighborhoods, bars, shopping complexes, and other local favorites.
This guide is also designed in honor of an upcoming festival we are hosting called “Queen City Weekend” which is focused on bringing more attention to the city and all the nice things it has to offer. Register for your spots at http://www.qcweekend.com/
Where to stay in Charlotte?
The city has a wide range of accommodation options depending on your preference and budget. Some of our top picks for hotels in Charlotte include:
Grand Bohemian Hotel
The Ivey's Hotel
The Westin
Hyatt House City Center
The Hilton Uptown
Hyatt Place Downtown
Kimpton Tryon Park
JW Marriott
Marriott City Center
Main Neighborhoods to Explore
NoDa
North Davidson or NoDa is a popular arts district in Charlotte. It serves as a center for arts featuring an eclectic and playful community atmosphere. You’ll find many musical events, restaurants, and art galleries in this neighborhood.
Uptown
Downtown Charlotte is called “Uptown” by the Charlotteans. It is the heart of Charlotte - previously known for its nightlife, now a popular, energetic area for great rooftop bars and restaurants.
Plaza Midwood
Located east of Uptown, Plaza-Midwood is a quirky, free-spirited, and vibrant neighborhood. It’s known for great restaurants, bars, tattoo shops, and exciting culture.
South End
South End has the most lively nightlife in Charlotte. You’ll find plenty of breweries, bars, and restaurants. Plus it’s heavily populated with young professionals that make a vibrant crowd.
South Park
South Park is an affluent neighborhood that features many high-end eateries, boutiques, and shopping complexes. It’s also home to the famous upscale SouthPark Mall, the largest shopping mall in all of Charlotte and North Carolina.
Visit Museums to Enjoy Art & Culture
The Queen City has a rich history, from being the epicenter of the United States' first gold rush to NASCAR running its first Strictly Stock car race here. The museums in the city proudly display everything including music, art, history, and science.
Levine Museum of the New South
Location: Uptown This is a history museum that exhibits life after the American Civil War. The permanent exhibit here is called "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South".
Harvey B Gant African American Museum
Location: Uptown
Formerly known as the “Afro-American Cultural Center”, this museum is named after Harvey Gantt, the city's first African-American mayor. The museum displays a collection of African-American art and is known to celebrate black history, art, and culture
The Mint Museum
Location: Uptown
This is a cultural institution that showcases art and design from around the globe. Their permanent collections include American Art, North Carolina Pottery, contemporary sculpture, African Art, Asian Art, historic maps, photography, etc.
Bletcher Museum of Modern Art
Location: Uptown
As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to displaying mid-20th century modern art. It reflects upon important art movements and schools from the 20th century.
Fun Activities To Do In Charlotte
Charlotte has something for everyone. From day tours to outdoor activities you’ll have plenty of options to spend your time and enjoy in the Queen City. Our top recommendations are:
Boozy Games
Drinks and games are a great way to socialize. Head to Queen Park Social for casual bites, creative drinks, and games including bowling, shuffleboard, Ping Pong, Skee Ball, Pop-A-Shot, etc. If you’re a fan of the traditional arcade games with food and drinks, you should visit the Lucky's Bar & Arcade.
Another popular place for boozy games is the Pins Mechanical Bar. This bar is known for its massive venue full of interactive games, musical entertain-ment, and cocktails.
Laughter Therapy
If you'd like to de-stress during your trip, visit Comedy Zone. Here you can watch performances of top touring stand-up comedians or celebrity performers with some great food and drinks.
Another way to enjoy a comedy show in Charlotte is by boarding the Funny Bus Comedy City Tour. If you’re traveling in a group, you can also get their private bus tours that are great for team-building and social events.
Carowinds Amusement Park
Who said amusement parks are just for kids? You can visit the Carowinds Amusement Park to enjoy more than 60 world-class rides, the Carolinas’ best waterpark, live entertainment, and downhome Carolina cuisine.
The National White Water Center
This place is designed and operated as an outdoor center that offers more than 30 recreational activities including rafting, canoeing, rappelling, kayaking, rock climbing, and more.
Watch a Sports Game
If you’re a sports enthusiast, book your tickets to watch the Hornets Game, Panthers Game, Knights Baseball Game with beautiful uptown scenery, or watch our newly founded 2022 Soccer team, the Charlotte Football Club in the Queen City.
Freedom Park
Freedom Park is another fun and popular tourist attraction that has paved trails, beautiful ponds, tennis/volleyball courts, sports fields, and playground equipment. You’ll also get to watch free films and musical performances in the park pavilion throughout the summer.
Camp North End
Once used to be a car factory and military depot, Camp North End is now transformed into a hub. You can visit and explore their food stalls, public art, parks, shops, and other festivals.
Treehouse Vineyards
Treehouse Vineyards offers a fun mini-getaway to their guests. It’s a winery with three treehouses available for hourly or overnight rentals. The rooms are well equipped and comfortable for your stay but if you prefer you can just visit the place to taste great wine and meet new people.
Lake Norman
Lake Norman is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. You can go on mountain bike trails and swim on beaches, or rent yachts, jet skis, pedal boats, paddleboards, and canoes. There are also private and party cruises options around the lake.
You can also spend time exploring the surrounding towns for some live music or a quick pint at a brewery.
Grab A Drink at The Best Bars and Lounges
Tired of exploring the city? Head to a bar to catch a break and relax. Although you’ll find many spots that serve up cold beers and refreshing cocktails in Charlotte, our best recommendations are:
15th Street Social
Location: NoDa
This is a vintage theme bar that’ll take you back to the '70s. Here you can enjoy the retro vibes while sipping on delicious drinks and snacks.
Slate
Location: South-End
Fancy a game of pool? Head to Slate bar offering American pub grub with a variety of bar games and karaoke.
Broken Promises
Location: South-End
Unlike a typical bar, Broken Promises has a sleek, dark aesthetic with neon signs. They have a unique concept of rotating DJs from Thursdays through Sundays. It’s also a 25+ lounge, so if you're looking for a more mature vibe this could be a great choice.
Royal Tot
Location: NoDa
This is a tropical-themed bar with a bright and lively ambiance. Here you’ll get mouth-watering seafood, signature tropical cocktails, and some rare and vintage rum.
Bocao
Location: Uptown
Craving sushi? Bocao offers an exciting collect-ion of exotic flavored cocktails, fresh hookah flavors, vibrant lounge, and fusion sushi. The lounge also features some of the top Reggaeton DJs.
Cloud
Location: South-End
Enjoy the perfect bar and nightclub experience with specialty cocktails, signature dishes, hookah, and live music at Cloud.
Upscale Bars
If you want to take things up a notch, try our favorite upscale bars in Charlotte:
Fahrenheit
Location: Uptown
Situated on a 21st-floor space with a patio and fire pits, Fahrenheit serves Asian-accented New American plates. This food is made using only the finest and freshest, locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
PARA
Location: South-End
PARA is an innovative restaurant and bar that serves globally influenced creative cocktails and small plates. It’s definitely a must-try.
Novelty House
Location: Uptown
Novelty House is all decked out in a floral theme with Insta-worthy backdrops. You can enjoy craft cocktails, assorted champagnes, and local beers here.
Buho Bar
Location: Uptown
Situated 16 floors above the city at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Buho Bar offers crafted cocktails with an urban view and an open-air lounge.
Brighten Your Nightlife in the Best Clubs
Queen City is known for its lively nightlife. If you’re looking to spend an unforgettable evening, head over to these top Charlotte spots:
Lost & Found
Location: South-End
This is a bar and lounge where you can grab a cold pint or a martini, watch sports, enjoy live music, and meet some amazing people.
Tequila House
Location: Uptown
Tequila House is the ultimate Latin party destination featuring 3 dance floors and multiple live DJs
Explict
Location: Uptown
This is the place you need to visit if you appreciate an elegant and classy atmosphere with best-in-class VIP services and great hip-hop mixes.
Safaree Lounge
Location: South Charlotte
unge is an upscale Afro-Caribbean lounge that offers special dishes, grilled meat, and classic drinks that you can enjoy during their special happy hours.
Oakroom
Location: South-End
Oak Room is a 6,000 sqft dance club in the heart of South-End that offers resident and guest DJ's nightly with a rustic and contemporary feel.
Hookah Bars to Puff The Night Away
Fan of Hookah? The following hookah bars in Charlotte serve the smoothest and most flavourful hookahs in the world.
Infused
The Infused bar is known to infuse premium liquors with fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs to create unimaginable flavors. You can drop by to enjoy their specialty drinks and smoke some hookah.
Barreled at the Lift
This hookah bar offers delicious hand-crafted cocktails and smooth smoking hookahs in a wide variety of flavors.
Firehouse
Firehouse Bar & Lounge is equipped with multiple private VIP sections where you can enjoy craft cocktails and their premium hookah.
Crave Dessert & Hookah Bar
If you want to spend time in a cozy feel-at-home lounge smoking hookah, then this is the place for you. It is an art-filled, loftlike lounge where you can hang out with the locals.
Where to Eat in Charlotte?
Whether you’re looking for a healthy option, authentic Southern taste, or a fine dining experience, you’ll find plenty of options in Charlotte.
We’ve shortlisted and arranged the top places to eat in Charlotte according to their food specialty below:
American
Good Food on Montforts
Supperland
Coatrans Chargrill
Brunch
Ruby Sunshine
Famous Toastery
Snooze AM Eatery
Cuban
El Puro Cuban Restaurant
Korean
Seoul Food Meat Co
Moa Korean BBQ & Bar
Mediterranean
Kid Cashew
Essex Restaurant
BBQ
Midwood Smokehouse
Caribbean
Mamas Caribbean
Indian
Copper Indian Food
Sangam Indian Cuisine
New Orleans/Cajun
Cajun Queen
Mixed/Fusion
Optimist Hall
Barcelona Wine Bar
Bocao
Mexican
RuRu's Taco's & Tequila
Que Onda Tacos + Tequila
Sabor Latin Street Grill
Pizza/Italian
Bisonte Pizza
Benny Pennello's
Capishe Real Italian Kitchen
Soulfood
Merts
Haberdish
Cuzzos Cuisine
Thai
Thai Taste
Rai-Lay
Peruvian
Viva Chicken
Calle Sol Latin
Cafe & Cevicheria
Pio Pio
Seafood
Sea Level NC
Red Crab Juicy Seafood
Caroline's Oyster Bar
Sushi
O-Ku
Soul Gastrolounge
Konnichiwa
Upscale Restaurants
If you’re looking to splurge for a fine dining experience, then these 5 restaurants will be totally worth your money:
Our Recommendations
The Fig Tree
Bardo
Kindred
Halycon
Moa Korean BBQ & Bar
Where to Shop in Charlotte?
If shopping is on your travel list, you’ll certainly enjoy the malls in Charlotte. The city is filled with high-end retail districts, neighborhood boutiques, malls, antique stores, etc.
Malls in Charlotte
Some of the must-visit malls in Charlotte are:
Concord Mills
Concord Mills is a single-floor oval building that brings together more than 200 stores, restaurants, and various other entertainment options. This mall is also the largest single-site tourist attraction in North Carolina.
South Park Mall
South Park Mall is an upscale shopping mall with over 150 stores including luxury brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., etc.
Atherton Mill and Market
Locally known as the Atherton Market, this place is brimming with goods from local farmers and craftsmen. If you want to explore the local food, clothing, and other home goods, do pay a visit here.
Phillips Place
Phillips Place is an open-air luxury retail destination with over 26 upscale shops and restaurants. It’s a perfect place to spend your day shopping and exploring great dining options.
Shoppes at University Place
The Shoppes at University Place is another popular retail complex featuring more than 38 stores and eateries amongst the tranquil lake setting. Apart from spending your day shopping, you can also enjoy paddleboat rides here.
Shopping Complexes in Charlotte
Our top 4 recommendations for shopping complexes
Hickory Furniture Mall
Stonecrest at Piper Glen
Ballantyne Village
The Metropolitan
Start Exploring Charlotte!
Charlotte is the city you’ll fall in love with… It has everything from museums,
unique culinary experiences, music, breweries, shopping complexes, sports, and various outdoor adventures that you can enjoy alone or with your friends and family.
We have included most of these in this urban Charlotte guide.If you wish to know more about Queen City, then sign up for our festival “Queen City Weekend” which is focused on bringing more attention to the city and all the nice things it has to offer.
Check us out at www.qcweekend.com