
2017 was a hot year for Charlotte’s food and drink scene with nearly 50 new bars and restaurants on our opening radar.
These are some of our favorites.
Dot Dot Dot
Sophisticated members-only cocktail lounge in an old storage unit behind Park Road Shopping Center created by master mixologist Stefan Huebner and Foxcroft Wine owner Conrad Hunter.
Can’t find it? You’re looking for the signature triple dot ellipsis (…) over three brown doors.
Address: 4237 Park Road, Unit B, Charlotte NC 28209
Dilworth Tasting Room
Inviting wine bar and bottle shop in the former home of 35-year neighborhood favorite Dilworth Billiards.
Don’t miss the enchanting “secret garden” patio and koi pond out back.
Address: 300 E. Tremont Street, Charlotte NC 28203
Merchant & Trade
Stunning 19th-floor rooftop bar and open air sky lawn at the new Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel. The floor-to-ceiling windows and observation decks offer sweeping views of the skyline and Romare Bearden Park.
Look for the yellow Merchant & Trade sign on 3rd Street for the line to the elevator. (Yes, expect a line.)
Address: 303 S. Church Street, Charlotte NC 28202
The Suffolk Punch at Hyde Brewing
Coffee bar, taphouse and culinary cafe located on site at at a craft brewery on the Rail Trail. A brewery where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner? Yes, please.
Address: 2911 Griffith Street, Charlotte NC 28203
Hello Sailor
Owners are Joe and Katy Kindred, the family behind the hit restaurant Kindred in Davidson.
Hello Sailor seats about 90 inside with another 3,500 square feet of waterfront deck space out back that will include year-round seating in a heated patio as well as seasonal outdoor seating.
That deck along with its forthcoming tiki bar and the restaurant’s 20 dedicated boat slips will no doubt be slammed once the weather is right.
The horseshoe-shaped bar is a main focal point in the dining room featuring beach-worthy cocktails like Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni Slushies and no-frills 40-ounce Miller High Life bottles.
Address: 20210 Henderson Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031
Hoppin’
Hoppin’, the new self-serve wine and craft beer bar in South End, served more than 130,000 ounces to 4,000 customers in its first eight days of operation.
That includes a record-smashing 35,000 ounces poured over their first 24 hours. The previous record for places using the iPourIt dispense technology was 25,000 ounces in 24 hours.
Address: 1402 Winnifred St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Queen Park Social
Bar, restaurant and social house featuring bowling lanes, shuffleboard, giant Jenga and more.
Queen Park is a nice change of pace and complement to Charlotte’s brewery/distillery row already home to Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Sugar Creek Brewing, Doc Porter’s, Great Wagon Road and GoodRoad CiderWorks.
Address: 4125 Yancey Road, Charlotte NC 28217
Topgolf
Massive 65,000-square-foot facility with 102 swanky, climate-controlled bays, a full-service restaurant and bars on each level.
In terms of size, hype and wait times to get in, this was hands down the biggest opening of the year.
Address: 8024 Savoy Corporate Drive, Charlotte NC 28273
The People’s Market
Brand new urban market (just opened yesterday) with a coffee shop, food counter, bar and bottle shop all rolled into one. Located on the highly trafficked corner of East Boulevard and Scott Avenue in the former 131 Main space.
Address: 1315 East Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28203
Catawba Brewing
The 10,000-square-foot brewery and taproom is located in the old Kellogg’s factory in the Belmont neighborhood. The Morganton-based brand is the first non-Charlotte craft brewer to enter the scene here, which is significant.
Address: 933 Louise Avenue, Charlotte NC 28204
Oak Steakhouse
Award-winning upscale steakhouse from the same Charleston-based restaurant group that brought O-Ku Sushi to South End.
Address: 4777 Sharon Road, Suite 125, Charlotte NC 28210
Angeline’s
Italian-inspired modern American restaurant adjacent to the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel.
The entrees will distract you from the pizza offerings so get a pizza as an appetizer to cover all your bases.
Address: 303 S. Church Street, Charlotte NC 28202
Resident Culture
New Plaza Midwood brewery featuring hop-forward IPAs along with funky, barrel-aged wild beers made with locally-sourced yeast.
Address: 2101 Central Avenue, Charlotte NC 28205
Sophia’s Lounge
Swanky cocktail lounge at the newly renovated historic Ivey’s Hotel from the team behind Uptown nightlife powerhouse 5Church.
Address: 127 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte NC 28202
The Packhouse
The newest concept from the creator of The Mayobird and The Summit Room is an ode to North Carolina with a tobacco leaf bar and wood paneling from an old tobacco barn.
Address: 500 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte NC 28202
Trade & Lore / Salud Cerveceria
The upstairs expansion of NoDa’s Salud Beer Shop brought with it a gorgeous dual-use space that functions as a coffee shop and craft brewery.
Address: 3306 N. Davidson Street, Charlotte NC 28205
Southbound
The SoCal-inspired taco join opened to rocky food reviews this fall but while they work out the kinks, the bar and breezy, indoor/outdoor atmosphere are picking up the slack.
Address: 2433 South Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28203
Opening very soon
Exciting concepts still to come by the end of the year:
Zeppelin – Small plates and cocktails coming to South End’s Gold District
Hello Sailor – Highly anticipated lakeside restaurant from Joe and Katy Kindred opening December 3
Lincoln’s Haberdashery – South End urban market from Futo Buta chef Michael Shortino
Reigning Doughnuts – Tiny doughnut window behind Growlers Pourhouse in NoDa
Hoppin’ – 100% self-serve beer bar in South End
Queen City Grounds – Coffee shop coming to Skyhouse in Fourth Ward

Reigning Doughnuts will open up shop in a former storage closet behind Growlers Pourhouse
2017 expansions for existing Charlotte brands we love
Established Charlotte favorites that opened additional locations this year:
Common Market Oakwold – 4420 Monroe Road
Inizio Pizza Dilworth – 2230 Park Road
Not Just Coffee Dilworth – 2230 Park Road
Amelie’s Park Road – 4321 Park Road
Midwood Smokehouse Park Road – 540-C Brandywine Road
Leroy Fox South End – 1616 Camden Road
Cantina 1511 Uptown – 206 N. College Street
Sabor SouthPark – 3920 Sharon Road
Local Loaf NoDa – 800 E. 35th Street
Living Kitchen SouthPark – 4521 Sharon Road
Coaltrane’s Plaza Midwood – 1518 Central Avenue
Roasting Company Plaza Midwood – 1332-B Central Avenue
JJ’s Red Hots Uptown – 400 S. Tryon
Rhino Market Uptown – 400 S. Tryon

Not Just Coffee’s new Dilworth location features an expanded food menu and new cocktail program
Honorable mentions
Bold Missy Brewery – Woman-owned brewery that names beers in honor of impactful women of history, like Annie Oakley and Amelia Earhart
Pop the Top – Casual neighborhood bottle shop and bar that really loves dogs
Roots Cafe – The popular food truck’s new brick and mortar location
South End Grind – Hip espresso bar at Urban MVMNT, a huge multi-purpose fitness facility
Recess – Adult playground with interactive games and cocktail buckets
Loft & Cellar – 3-level concept with private dining in the cellar, a restaurant on the main floor and a lounge on the top floor
Wu’s Cajun Seafood – Funky new restaurant featuring Cajun-Asian fusion cuisine
Bulgogi Box – Cozy Korean restaurant in South End
The Rogue – Irish pub in Dilworth
Joe & Nosh – Coffee shop honoring the Coffee Cup, a historic Charlotte soda shop
Palmer St. Game Bar – Bar and arcade for grown ups