Jonathan Huffman

Best of Charlotte: a guide to a city fit for a Queen

Posted: May 28, 2025

This is by no means an exhaustive list of everything great about Charlotte, just some places I've appreciated in my nearly 20 years living in the Queen City.

Charlotte city logo at the Green Park in Uptown

Best hang-out spots

  • VisArt Video - Non-profit video store dedicated to movie preservation. VisArt, at it's original location on 7th street was a major selling point for me wanting to move to Charlotte. It's always been an incredible tribute to cinema with a collection of movies you wouldn't find in most rental stores, an certainly not on any streaming platform.
  • Super Abari Game Bar - video game bar with classic arcade games and an impressive pinball collection.
  • Independent Picture House - Charlotte's only independent movie theater.
  • Park Road Shopping Center - Park Road Shopping Center has a little bit of everything. Great restaurants. The Park Terrace independent theater was run by Regal, closed, then reopened by AMC, with updated interiors, but less independent films showing. Park Road Books is Charlotte's best independent book store.
  • Optimist Hall - formally a textile mill, this modern venue has dining retail and is home to Fonta Flora brewery mentioned below.
  • Camp North End - another former industrial area transformed into a mix or unique retail and restaurants. See note below about Good Postage.

Museums

Expressionist art at the Mint Museum in Uptown

  • The Mint Museum - Charlotte is famous for having one of the nation's first mints, which has now become two incredible art museums. The Randolph location, site or the original mint, is adjacent to the Briar Creek Greenway. Tip: it's free to visit on Wednesdays after 5.
  • Bechtler Museum of Modern Art - Tip: also free to visit on Wednesdays after 5.
  • Levine Museum of the New South - tells the story of the region.
  • Sullenberger Aviation Museum (formally Carolinas Aviation Museum, renamed for it's main attraction: the salvaged plane from the Miracle on the Hudson) - features an interesting collection of aircraft and regional history.

Outdoor adventures

Briar Creek Greenway

  • Greenways - Charlotte is blessed with MILES of beautiful greenways spanning the heart of the city, and connecting with lots of amazing city parks. A walk around the lake at Freedom Park is especially nice, but nothing beats a sunset at Cordelia Park.
  • US National Whitewater Center - a place filled with many forms of adventure on the water, land, and even climbing ropes high in the air! Lots of great mountain biking trails, and generally a fun place to be.
  • Ann Springs Close Greenway - a quick drive down to Fort Mill takes you to a vast beautiful area with miles of trails and ponds to explore. Great place to connect with nature!
  • UNC Charlotte Botanical Garden - accessible a short walk from the https://www.charlottenc.gov/CATS/Ride/Rail/Rail-Routes-and-Schedules, the Botanical Garden's at UNC Charlotte are a hidden gem!
  • Within a few hours drive from Charlotte are MANY incredible State parks, parkways, hiking trails, and other scenic destinations. Some of our favorites are South Mountain State Park, Linville Gorge, Blowing Rock. North Carolina is certainly one of the most beautiful states to explore!

Festivals and events

There are lots of Festivals and Events in and near Charlotte, such as:

Noteworthy nearby festivals and events

Interesting shops

Charlotte has plenty of mega retail attractions, like SouthPark Mall, Concord Mills, and the Sleepy Poet, but below are some of the unique merchants I appreciate.

  • Parker Banner Kent and Wayne - as the name might suggest, they feature a decent collection of comic books, but the best thing there is the HUGE selection of board games. You'll find all the popular one, and may discover new games.
  • Heros Aren't Hard to Find - Charlotte's best independent comic book store, and organizer of the annual Heros Comic Convention.
  • Good Postage is Charlotte's most unique stationary store, where you'll find Travelers notebooks, Kaweco, Lami, and Esterbrook fountain pens, fountain pen ink, Midori notebooks, and a lot more.
  • Park Road Books - Charlotte's favorite independent book store.

Breweries

Since I've lived here Charlotte the brewery industry has exploded, much like a guest room in my friend's house when they tried fermenting their own hops.

Brews from nearby

In addition to its own original breweries, Charlotte has taprooms from many of North Carolinas' other premier breweries, including:

For the foodies

One-of-a-kind culinary gems

  • Lang Van 3019 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215. Incredible Vietnamese food, and always a wonderful experience. I once ran into a family from Seattle who came all the way to Charlotte to try Lang Van.
  • Ru-Sans - is a very fun experience. Lots of exciting sushi dishes, and a big selection of tempura and yakitori.
  • Thai Taste - My favorite Thai restaurant
  • Mert's Heart and Soul - Some of the best soul food in the city.
  • Beef and Bottle - Ron Swanson would drive from Pawnee to Charlotte just for a steak from Beef and Bottle. Ranked as one of the best steak houses in the US; its a great spot for special occasions. Make a reservation.
  • The Fig Tree - upscale dining in a beautiful home converted into top-tier restaurant.
  • The Peach Stand, this amazing gas station in Fort Mill, SC is your one stop for a local butcher, bakery, ice cream; and tucked inside is an awesome deli if you're looking for lunch.

Burger joints

  • Brooks Sandwich House 2710 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28205 - Very unique burger spot. As minimal as it gets when you eat your burger at a standing-height table in their gravel parking lot. Get a Cheeseburger "all the way", and don't ask questions.
  • Bang Bang Burger - consistently delicious. My personal favorite.
  • The Diamond
  • Lupie's Cafe

Italian and pizza places

  • Zio's - Wonderful Italian restaurant with my favorite pizza in the city.
  • The Exchange Pizza Depot, in nearby Mathews, NC - this tiny little building serves personal size pies that are unique in their formulation and their impeccable quality. My 2nd favorite place for za!
  • Bird Pizza - rated by The New York Times as one of the best pizza places in the nation (Note: typically you need to order on their website a day or two ahead of time).
  • Tuscany - A northern Italian style Italian restaurant. Great for special occasions!
  • Portofino's - Lots of classic Italian dinner options. The most New York style in the Queen City.
  • Sals Pizza Factory - the most New Jersey style pizza in the city (according to my neighbor from New Jersey).
  • Hawthorn's - another NY style pizza place; contender for best wings in the city.

Bakeries

  • Villani's Bakery - incredible Italian bakery; try their pistachio croissant.
  • Amelie's - known for a wide range of French deserts and a very interesting atmosphere (each location is quite unique); I suggest trying their Salted Carmel Brownie.
  • Sunflower Baking Company - great place to get a sandwich and a desert!

Coffee roasters/cafes

  • Charlotte has a large independent coffee community. One of my favorite local roasters, Pure Intentions, is available in several bakeries I also like, such as Sunflower and Amelie's mentioned above.
  • Smelly Cat - Serving their own craft roasted coffee for decades in the heart of NoDa. Their signature cold brew is dark and unique.
  • Summit Coffee - it began in Davidson, NC and has spread to several spots in Charlotte, and around the South East.
  • Giddy Goat - located in Plaza Midwood. This coffee roastery also has an assortment of empanadas and a bakery.
  • Central Coffee, and Undercurrent Coffee - great places to enjoy a coffee and work remote in Plaza Midwood neighborhood.