My insider's guide to Charlotte
Eats, activities, and many honorable mentions
I’ve traveled the world over.
Lived and worked overseas. Written city guides for boatloads of destinations.
But then I realized I haven’t done a proper city guide for my very own hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, where I’ve been splitting time with Miami since 2022.
In a recent conversation, an acquaintance and resident said something that stuck: “Charlotte wins on points.”
It’s true; it’s never at the top of any lists for anything in particular, but always considered and included for this and that, like coming in #5 out of 150 for “Best Places to Live” according to U.S. News & World Report, or #10 in a list of “best performing cities” for quality of life and high wages.
Being my hometown, it’s been a total surprise and pleasure to rediscover the city after being away for roughly 20 years.
And, it’s nice to see your hometown making progress instead of going the other way: Property has steadily appreciated 120% in the last decade and 64% alone in the last 5 years.
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I’ve written before about how Charlotte shaped me before leaving for college.
After that, I only came back to visit my family and didn’t really make time for anything else.
I was usually in and out, and with no real close friends in the city, there was no one to explore or cruise around town with.
By now however, I’ve seen how old neighborhoods have transformed, found new ones, witnessed gentrification in action, and best of all, realized that the city’s an emerging foodie, fitness, and sporting destination.
So next time you or a family member have a weekend to spend in Charlotte, here’s my recommended itinerary:
Friday
Activity:
Cruise around the gorgeous, leafy old neighborhood of Myers Park.
This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Charlotte, and the canopy has remained largely unchanged since I was a young girl driving through to get to Charlotte Youth Symphony rehearsals across town.
Though the facades of many classic and traditional homes have been repainted or refaced, the large trees and formidable homes are what make it magical.
Eat:
I’d go for dinner at Custom Shop. It’s a wonderful, cozy restaurant with a romantic, dimly-lit atmosphere and easygoing vibes.
Though the menu changes seasonally, try the hamachi starter or lamb ragu and scallops mains, if they’re on offer. And end with the flan.
Activity:
Depending on your pleasure, you can go to South End for line dancing at The Rose honky tonk. (Heads up: The crowd skews from younger and rowdy, to completely mixed, depending on the night).
Or, head for a casual drink at the very trendy Workman’s Friend, or try something different at Super Abari gamebar, a ‘barcade’ where you can sip on Delta-8 drinks and play retro Japanese arcade games and classic American pinball machines.
Saturday
I’d head to Plaza Midwood for a morning coffee at Undercurrent Coffee.
Eat + Activity:
Then I’d get a breakfast sammie at Common Market across the street, eat outside, and linger for the people watching.
You can also head to the Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte depending on “what’s on,” as I find the permanent exhibit underwhelming; out of town-ers used to bigger galleries may concur.
More eats:
If you do go to the museum, then Albertine can be a good drinks or dinner option. I covered it for Eater Carolinas and can best describe it as elevated Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, with a twist of the south.
Or, you can go to a different neighborhood for Good Food on Montford.
This is my tried and true place to show visitors and also revisit for a delicious meal. The dining room is vibrant, and you decide how dressed up or down you want to be.
For something on the fancier side, consider the impressive dining room at Supperland, and I hear the bar is also a rather sexy experience, too.
Bars and live music:
There are endless dive-ish bars like the legendary Thirsty Beaver, but also bars that offer live music…check out what’s on at Two Buck or the Comet Grill.
Nighttime sweet treats:
Earlier side: Pop in to Rada, sit at the bar and try the gelato on custard. Divine!
Late night: Try Haraz or Qahwah House for Yemeni and middle eastern coffee and cakes, respectively. You’ll be sure to see and taste things you won’t find anywhere else in Charlotte.
Fitness honorable mention
If you’re prioritizing outdoor activity and fitness, then head west of Charlotte for the day at the Whitewater Center.
Learn how to go whitewater rafting in a simulated river experience, mountain bike on miles of trails, do some ropes, or free solo a climbing wall—this may occupy your whole day but there are usually live music events in the summer and restaurants to keep you going.
Antiquing honorable mention
If you’re looking for that one thing you won’t find anywhere else, and you’re into design, home decor, antiques, and thrifting, then head to Sleepy Poet.
It’s a huge warehouse of consignment vendors and stalls offering everything from funky wall art, tchotchkes, and dish sets, to crystal chandeliers and furniture. I love this place and have found plenty of one-of-a-kind treasures for my home.
Sunday
I’d hit any of the city’s lush, mostly shaded greenways for a morning run.
Then, I’d grab a coffee at Backyard Brew in Dilworth, and walk 5 minutes to grab a croissant, muffin, or sammie at Sunflour Bakery.
Or a salad at Yafo (a local favorite, with many healthy and cooked protein options, too) and head to Freedom Park for al fresco enjoyment, or take a spin around the lake for a quintessentially Charlotte experience.
If you’re just feeling lazy and day drinky, then you can also just grab a glass of wine from Substrate, sit in the sun, and while the day away.
Picky eaters honorable mentions
If you are picky, or with people who are just hard to please, then just go to a food hall where everyone can get what they want or at least try from hundreds of different flavors:
Optimist Hall is a great place for parents and dates alike, and offers barbecue (Noble Smoke), tapas (Marina’s), chinese baos, buns, and dumplings (The Dumpling Lady), just plain delish burgers (Harriet’s), and Indian (Botiwalla). And of course save room for dessert from Suarez Bakery.
Alley 51 in Pineville, south of Charlotte, is the ultimate Asian food hall with Thai (Rai Lay), Japanese (Yume), Chinese (Great Wall), Taiwanese (Honeybuns II) and Vietnamese pho, and a little of everything else, even a mini-arcade and outdoors cornhole, in a wide open, family-friendly space and plenty of seating.
Camp North End offers Hex Coffee, yummy sourdough pizza from Gravity, and you can even play pickleball and grab a beer at Tipsy Pickle. Or lounge, thrift (Thrift Pony), and check out the small book shop (That’s Novel).
Church honorable mention
If you're a churchgoer (or honestly, even if you’re not) then try to hit Elevation Church in Ballantyne to watch one of megapastor Steven Furtick’s sermons. At the very least you’ll get a live music concert and then inspiring words for the week. Get there early between 8:30 to 9am for parking, and to ensure a seat in the auditorium.
Book store honorable mentions
I love visiting book shops in both new and familiar places. Lucky for me I love to read and always support local bookstores.
Head to trope, a female-owned bookshop selling mostly new romantasy.
Or go to Book Buyers for a large cache of used and unique books.
Did I cover the bases? I hope so!
Of course, this list is exhaustive, and you won’t be able to fit it all into one weekend.
But hopefully you won’t be bored in a city that’s got a lot to offer, promise.
Tell me, do you have a favorite place to go back to in your hometown?
I’d love to know.
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Until next time,
Shindy
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