These underrated Charlotte spots prove that there’s more to the city than just banking and race cars.
To the hoi polloi saying that Charlotte is merely a “ banking capital , ” it ’s time to think again . The city ’s narrative is changing rapidly , with some of its most rich and compelling experiences tucked away in unexpected corners . mean : in an ice cold-blooded glass of beer from a dive , on the stage of a karaoke joint , or hiding in the racks of a thrift store . These 15 spots flying under the radio detection and ranging will show out - of - towners that the Queen City blend in beyond race cars and finance . Because beneath that one - dimensional opinion is a world brimming with originative entrepreneur , culinary forces , and some down - home classic establishment .
VisArt Video
Some people say that Charlotte has a limited art scene , but if they guide to Eastway Crossing and go in the door of VisArt Video , that belief will be challenged . This nonprofit , with an impressive archive of indie , fine art - house , and cult picture show on DVD and VHS , is one of the city ’s most eclectic artistry hubs . It ’s created a polish that contribute Charlotteans together — from a movie screening room and a listening area to a whole education limb dedicate to improving film literacy with kids ’ summertime camps or comedy and music workshops ( and even the periodic women ’s circle ) . Even better , VisArt sum up a tranquil , tucked - away coffee bar in its neighboring alleyway . This stone betray some of Charlotte ’s best empanadas and pour coffee from nearby Enderly Coffee Co.
Jeff’s Bucket Shop
Down the step of an retiring dive in Montford , lies this music venue . It ’s a magic small leg where Charlotteans showcase their very best at karaoke performances . Like any good dive , Jeff ’s is a bit weather , but it shimmers with discotheque ball reflections and a sprinkling of atomic number 10 signs . await to get hold the usuals on the bill of fare : noose and tonic , vodka soda , cans of beer , furrow - slash fries , and garlicky wings . If you want your lucky time in the limelight , get there too soon and compensate a few horse . slot fill up promptly .
Super Abari Game Bar
Super Abari Game Bar is , doubtless , the coolest bar in Charlotte . This plaza brims with ’ 90s nostalgia . The bar is adorned with retro play tech , including a vintage colonnade wonderland on the bottom floor . It ’s really a place for the people , host community start - up food market every few weeks and regular pinball game leagues on Tuesdays and Wednesdays . As for drinks , try a pickleback shot made with Molly Poe ’s company pickles ( a.k.a . local pickle seawater ) . There ’s a plethora of craft beer to choose from , which will suit easily in the drinkable holders next to the games . Also , the made - to - rescript hot pockets are top - sellers , so let that speak for itself .
Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary
One of Charlotte ’s big draw play are its restrained , but distinguishable four time of year . The Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary , locate in a quaint Myers Park pace , is a stage for Charlotte ’s seasons , showcasing the orange - hue parting in the autumn or the awakening songbirds in the spring . With chairs and tables circularise across the garden for conversation ( or solo observation ) and a neighboring children ’s garden that host storytime and crafts , the focus here is but delight and pleasure . The 40 - plus horticulture instruction event , dinner , and societal gatherings provide a refreshing , slower reprise in a chop-chop uprise city .
Beef ‘N Bottle
Go to Beef ‘ N Bottle and take yourself back in meter . beef cattle ‘ N Bottle does n’t adhere to the Queen City ’s newer , smart - er esthetics . It rock livid tablecloths , older - time melody , oyster Rockefeller , and vintage black and white photos with pride — a nod to its 1958 opening . The steak — unornamented , elementary , and butter - basted — are a fixture in this introduction . They can derive ladled with mushroom gravy , blue cheeseflower , or horseradish , and beg to be paired with an Old Fashioned , a unclean martini , or a bottleful of a cryptic , crimson - imbue wine .
Curio, Craft and Conjure
This Black- and women - owned shop is a capricious , witchy boutique on the second floor of NoDa ’s main strip . The oblation here , from chakra taper and personalized reading to grim lotus herbs and tarot decks , have an underlying timber of ego - authorisation and inclusivity . The innate light pools right into this upstairs shop , flattering the array of crystal and jars of dry out herb . Whether metaphysics is your electronic jamming or not , Curio is an oasis from established shopping , and is handily locate next door to a cat coffee shop , so it ’s absolutely deserving a stop .
McGill Rose Garden
McGill Rose Garden is two land of a fairytale - esque naturescape — turn out Dubya and canopying tree drape in string Christ Within . Walk the winding paths and maybe even snag one of the many pre - planted herbs for sale . This garden is play along by a quaint wine and burnt umber barroom called Rosie ’s that ’s perfect for many scenarios , whether it ’s a first date , girls night , or a solo journaling session near the firepit . Here , client can BYOF ( bring your own food ) and love Rosie ’s weekly evening specials , like Tuesday ’s $ 5 glasses of vino and Wednesday ’s half - off blue-ribbon bottle .
SOCO Gallery
SOCO is a low art gallery tucked in the back of The Bungalow on Providence Road . The charming 1920s cottage building itself is a obscure gem — part coffee shop ( Not Just Coffee ) , part upscale men ’s wearable store ( Tabor ) , and part contemporaneous , woman - owned artistic production gallery ( SOCO ) with an annex next - room access as well . It ’s all very fancy and lavish and fun . Enjoy the mix of emerge local and ball-shaped art as you stroll through with a caffe latte in hand . Accompanying the heading is a bookshop featuring rarefied art , food , travel , and coffee tree table books . With each young art show every few month , SOCO also host a free community of interests opening , featuring artist lectures .
Sleepy Poet Antique Mall
Strolling and sifting through this vintage storage warehouse off of South Boulevard is one direction to properly spend a Saturday . But good portion spending less than an hour here — the seemingly endless booths and aisles lure shopper in and suspend time as they know it . The space is straggle , wedge full of old magazines , retro frock , hand-crafted furniture , and nostalgic trinkets galore . It ’s nearly unimaginable to leave Sleepy Poet without buying some variety of treasure , whether out of necessity or for pure pleasure . ( Either reason is totally valid . ) The hodge - podge of goody here could decorate a home , dress someone up for prom , kickstart a vinyl collection , and ultimately , make a place or person a skosh more interesting . Sleepy Poet ’s motto state it best : “ No rhyme or reason , just coolheaded clobber . ”
Thrift Pony
If someone is walking around the metropolis with cowboy boot and a kinky babe tee , they ’ve likely been to Thrift Pony . The memory board ’s founder , Hellen Moffit , turn the sometimes wearing activity of thrifting into a fun experience . The spot sell both human race ’s and women ’s wearing apparel , with a dramatic batting order of jeans and noisome graphic teeing ground with a fair share of jewellery , bag , and horseshoe , all price lower than a distinctive vintage depot . Thrift Pony server engaged monthly markets in its Plaza Midwood parking lot , ask round vintage dad - ups , tarot readers , and local bakers to hang out and stay awhile . The Pony Bus ( an unmissable , hot pink autobus ) pops up and parks at other vicinity Charlotte institutions , like The Coterie yoga studio apartment or Camp North End .
Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte
When streaming decision fatigue has set in , front no further than the Comedy Arts Theatre of Charlotte for evening amusement . For usually only $ 10 to $ 15 , guest can just baby-sit back , perhaps give a suggestion or two , and enjoy a completely improvised show performed by Charlotte ’s wittiest on - the - spot mind in a quaint , unostentatious , black - boxwood theater . Whether you ’re spark by the brusk - form improv game night or one of the long - signifier team record , the laughter is transmissible .
The Green Room
Despite what one may think , there are still share of Charlotte ’s South oddment neighborhood that remain undiscovered , and The Green Room is one of them . Pass through a sliding door behind the host at Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails , and enter a moody , high-pitched - closing bar . The limited tables and experience - centrical cocktail fare make the whole experience quite decadent . Take the late in high spirits Tea motif with a chai tea leaf - instill Bourbon dynasty deglutition . Or the former “ That ’s Amore”-themed menu served a mouth-watering cocktail with raging honey , Basil the Great , and marjoram to provoke pizza on the palate . Despite shifting themes , the throughline is mixologist Amanda Britton ’s cocktail , which display case creativeness at its finest and put Charlotte ’s beverage conniption on the map — so sequester any opportunity to try her beverage .
Independent Picture House
Not only is this non-profit-making indie cinema a obscure muffin , but the film it plays are , too . The lowly crew curates a rotating mint of local short motion-picture show , foreign film , and adored classic . IPH , primed for a showery day or nonchalant even outing , also hosts theme showings that often take institute a special invitee for a public lecture and Q&A , or showcasing time space capsule films that altered the industry . The three theater are cozy , but will before long become four with a new 145 - seat auditorium expansion to host improv , theater of operations , and educational shop as well . For a bit of nostalgic fun , discontinue by Saturday morning for free toon exhibit .
Tacos El Nevado
This modest taco spot is nothing of the trendy sort . Tacos El Nevado ’s Central Avenue location serves up some delightful quesabirria that ’ll put others to catch one’s breath . Enjoy melty tacos , patiently waiting to be dip in the beef consome , alongside crisp radishes , fresh limes , and a caramelized onion bulb . Sip the horchata while you ’re at it . The street - fashion tacos are $ 3 each — with a selection of al pastor , lengua , asada , and a handful of other heart blanket with chopped lily-white onion plant and coriander inside a smart corn tortilla . Litzy , the girl in this kinsfolk - black market business organization , says immix the housemade salsa verde with the guacamole and a convinced squeeze of lime is the ideal accoutrement to their tacos .
The Culture Shop
This niche market place in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte has shelves of specialty larder provisions , from tinned Pisces and local honey to concentrated - to - discover , biodynamic wines . Get a nice bottle of a vermouth or aperitif and you ’re already en route to a tonic , summer cocktail . The faculty ’s cheesemonger craftsmanship first-class charcuterie circuit card for pre - order , adorned with Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya , crackers , and jam . Or just pop in for lunch and grab a $ 10 food shop sandwich .
To discover more hidden jewel in Charlotte and commence planning your trip , click here .
Claire Lucas
VisArt Video
Brock Atwell
Samantha Inglis
Image courtesy of SOCO Gallery and Christina Hussey
Claire Lucas
Katey Shehan
Javier Morales
