Words by Marianne Leek
Whether you visit for business or plan a leisurely sojourn in the Queen City with your partner or girl gang, Charlotte, North Carolina, has a lot to offer. Home to more than 15 museums encompassing art, history, and science, Charlotte is a well-established cultural hub. Visitors can explore more than 20 independent bookstores, catch a concert at a live music venue, or sip a cocktail at the city’s newest listening lounge. And regardless of the season, with the Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights, and NASCAR all in town, there’s always something sporty to enjoy. If you attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the early 1990s, you likely remember that the closest thing to haute cuisine getting you through that late-night study session was Sandwich Construction Company, once a popular hangout for NASCAR teams and drivers. Today, in addition to all the fun Charlotte has to offer, this urban oasis has quietly become a thriving, vibrant culinary destination.
Where to ‘Breakslow’ and Brunch
Whether you’re looking for breakfast or brunch, Charlotte has plenty of farm-fresh options to start your day off right. Conveniently located on South Tryon Street and recently named a must-visit, Black-owned eatery by Essence magazine, accolades abound for Uptown Yolk, where chef Greg Collier blends his Memphis, Tennessee, roots with down-home Southern hospitality. Collier encourages breakfast patrons to, instead, “breakslow” because “sometimes you need to slow down and smell the pancakes.” You can’t leave Uptown Yolk without trying the mojo hash or the “WWIII”—classic chicken and waffles with a Chef Greg spin.
The Salted Melon Market & Eatery’s South End location is another brunch favorite. In addition to a variety of coffee options, they serve mimosas by the carafe and encourage guests to build their own margaritas. The farmhouse breakfast, the sweet potato pancakes, and the Notorious B.E.C. are can’t-miss dishes. For those looking for a more savory brunch option, try their Freebird bowl or hot honey chicken.
Where to Lunch and Linger
Built in 1892, Optimist Hall was once Charlotte’s largest textile mill and third-largest producer of gingham before becoming a hosiery mill, where in 2000, Sara Blakely would famously convince Highland Mills owner Samuel Kaplan to help her launch Spanx. It’s since been beautifully repurposed into a place the entire family can enjoy. Whether you’re craving Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Ethiopian, or Indian cuisine, with 25 food stalls and counting, as well as three dine-in restaurants, Optimist Hall has something to satisfy the pickiest palate. Marina’s Tapas, featuring the traditional flavors of Spain, is one of the newest food stalls in the Optimist Hall melting pot and is where co-owner Andres Kaifer shares his mother’s treasured recipes with patrons. With well-appointed patio spaces, it’s easy to engage in some retail therapy, sip a craft cocktail from Spindle Bar, or grab a beer from Fonta Flora while the kids or the young at heart play in the sunshine.
Located just steps away, you’ll find Bird Pizzeria, where they offer both white and plain pies and make one of arguably the best vegan pizzas in Charlotte. While you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to enjoy a pint in the atmospheric outdoor space of Birdsong Brewing Company.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast or brunch, Charlotte has plenty of farm-fresh options to start your day off right.
For lunch on the run, visit the Cuzzo’s Cuisine food truck. Budget-friendly $2 Taco Tuesdays make this a popular grab-and-go option; however, consider indulging in chef Andarrio Johnson’s world-famous lobster macaroni and cheese or shrimp and grits.
If Southern-style barbecue is on your menu, check out Midwood Smokehouse, where every dish has been slowly smoked over hickory hardwood, imbuing locally sourced, succulent meats with complex, savory flavors.
Where to Sip
With more than 40 craft breweries, Charlotte is a beer lover’s dream. Consider getting a Charlotte Brewery Pass (and a ride-sharing service) to while away the afternoon hours brewery-hopping. Established in 2009, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Biergarten is Charlotte’s oldest brewery and was seminal to establishing Charlotte’s thriving beer district. With expansive indoor and outdoor dog-friendly spaces and regular live music, what makes this brewery unique is its celebration of German beer culture and strict adherence to “Reinheitsgebot,” the 500-year-old German beer purity law that mandated beer must be made with only four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. For Belgium-inspired ales, walk across the street to Sugar Creek Brewing Company. Be sure to try “The Big O” blood orange India pale ale. Women-owned and -brewed, Pilot Brewing is Charlotte’s small-batch hidden gem, regularly rotating seasonal, gluten-reduced brews. NoDa Brewing Company has two locations: one at the airport and a North End taproom that includes a beer garden and on-site food trucks.
Where to Dine
In 2023, after 10 years, the beloved Dogwood Southern Table & Bar in SouthPark closed. However, in 2025, the updated and reimagined Dogwood Southern Table & Bar reopened at its newest location, The Westin Charlotte, to rave reviews. The duck and dumplings, baked pimento cheese with tomato jam, Carolina catfish, and shrimp and grits, along with a la carte steaks, pork chops, and sides, highlight this Southern-inspired menu.
While in Charlotte, dining at Supperland is a must. Situated in a thoughtfully restored, gorgeous mid-century church, there’s a lot to experience at Supperland, where “Southern steakhouse meets church potluck.” This is located in the expansive main dining room, while guests can enjoy appetizers, broader cocktail offerings, and a more intimate atmosphere at The Bar at Supperland. The property also includes stunning garden and patio areas, a private wine room, and a speakeasy located below the bar. On Saturdays and Sundays, guests can enjoy a brunch buffet. Everything about Supperland encourages you to bring your appetite and stay for the company.
L’Ostrica offers an elevated yet approachable and relaxed dining experience. Everything is as pretty as it is delicious, with rotating seasonal tasting menus that showcase the bountiful harvests of the Carolina Piedmont. Grab-and-go provisions are available from their chef’s market, “stocked with an assortment of dips, salads, pastas, entrées, and more for you to take away and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Many items are ready to eat. All are designed to help you easily create a restaurant-quality meal—without all the work.”
Stagioni is an authentic Italian restaurant located in “the Villa,” which the restaurant identifies as the historic former home of the eccentric “world traveler and legendary hostess Blanche Reynolds Gormajenko.” Since 1926, people have gathered at “the Villa” for good food, wine, and company. Since opening in 2014, Stagioni has continued that tradition—according to the restaurant’s website, paying “homage to her inspired standard of hospitality, good times, and grand theatrics with an interior awash in the auburn glow of wooden lampshades and red leather, the char of wood-fired pizza, and fresh, seasonal takes on traditional Italian dishes. A season for everything, and everything with a twist—just as Blanche would have wanted it.”
Where to Grab Coffee and Dessert
While Yelp lists 240 bakeries in Charlotte, we’ve done the heavy lifting and found our three favorites for grabbing a cup of espresso and a pastry. With their claim to fame being the “world’s first made-to-order cupcake shop,” Swirl Dessert Bar is a delightful throwback, serving up hand-spun milkshakes, sundaes, and gourmet cookies. With her philosophy of “people first, cake second,” Cristina Rojas of The Batchmaker has poured her heart into creating beautiful custom cakes for all occasions. From tasty tortes to cookies, cheesecakes, and more, whether you score a slice of her Snickers cheesecake or a coveted oatmeal creme pie, your sweet tooth will thank you. Amelie’s French Bakery and Cafe is iconic, and this gorgeous space is the perfect last stop on your Queen City itinerary to grab an after-dinner tiramisu latte or a slice of the fall favorite, caramel apple cheesecake.
With more than 40 craft breweries, Charlotte is a beer lover’s dream.
Why is Charlotte called Queen City?
Famously known as the Queen City, Charlotte was founded in 1768 and named in honor of the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Widely reported to be a lover of music and animals, well-educated, cheerful, and kind, Charlotte seems like the kind of strong, independent woman you’d enjoy grabbing brunch with. However, as an involved mother to 15 children and a devoted wife to King George, Charlotte likely had little time to hang with the girls.
Look for these royal references when you visit:
You’ll find plenty of royal nods to Queen Charlotte throughout the city, beginning with the statue “Queen Charlotte Walks in Her Garden” located at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Places that celebrate the queen’s passion for botany and wildlife include the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary. Charlotte’s love of the arts is reflected through the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Visitors can learn more about Queen Charlotte’s history by exploring the Charlotte Museum of History or experiencing the Queen’s City Black Legacy Walking Tour, Charlotte’s Premier Historical City Tours, or Queen City Rides. Ultimate royal fans should set their alarms to score tickets to the annual Queen Charlotte’s Ball & Banquet, inspired by the Bridgerton series and sponsored by the Charlotte Museum of History.
