8 Fun Foodie Experiences & Places to Eat in Charlotte
The Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina has quickly started booming as a modern metropolis that offers countless culinary destinations, craft breweries, outdoor experiences, and interesting museums, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
We visited Charlotte for a weekend with friends while Logan and another friend were taking a board exam for part of one day. Thus, we decided to find some foodie spots in Charlotte so we could eat and drink our way through the city. These places to eat in Charlotte were some of our favorites!
1. Grab Brunch at Dandelion Market
Dandelion Market was named after a famous outdoor market in Dublin. The man responsible was named Eamon “Sheepskin” Cannon who sold sheepskin coats on the doorstep. Later, other patrons began selling goods there too and it expanded to become a market with small food stands, artisans, and poets. People from all around flocked here for the nostalgia and thus, Dandelion Market in Charlotte was born.
We visited Dandelion Market for brunch one morning and were impressed with the number of options including eggs benedict, freshly made quiche, yummy waffles, a fabulous Monte Crisco sandwich, and even a create-your-own bloody mary bar.
If you happen to get lunch or dinner here they also have over 20 beers on tap and on weekends there is a DJ for some added entertainment.
Location: 118 W 5th St.
Brunch Hours: Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm
2. Try “Burgushi” at The Cowfish
First off, you might be wondering… what’s “burgushi”? Well, to put it simply, burgushi is sushi but in burger form, and The Cowfish specializes in it! I know, I know, it seems completely sacrilegious. I wasn’t sure how this would be, but the fusion of the two foods definitely blew my mind!
The bun was made out of crab, rice, and spring roll wrappers and the inside had seared ahi tuna, wasabi, lettuce, and jalapenos to keep things as interesting as possible.
Location: 4310 Sharon Rd.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm, Friday & Saturday: 11am-11pm
3. Try Small Bites & Shop at the 7th Street Public Market
The 7th Street Public Market showcases local food stands in the Carolinas and a number of other artisans. If you want to try some small bites or get something quick to eat then this is one of the best places to eat in Charlotte.
Of the vendors that are located here, we enjoyed Not Just Coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up and Pure Pizza. If we had the ability to, I would have bought some cheese from Orrman’s because it looked fantastic!
Location: 224 E 7th St.
Hours: Sunday: 8:30am-7pm, Monday-Thursday: 7am-7pm, Friday: 7am-8pm, Saturday: 8:30am-8pm
4. Go on a Mystery Brewery Tour with Brewed Clues
There has been a mysterious murder and you and your crew have to solve it! Brewed Clues is a two-hour self-guided brewery tour where you’ll be led across downtown Charlotte following some clues to get to each location and hopefully solve a mystery. At each of the breweries, you’ll get to enjoy 3 mystery half-pints of North Carolina craft beer.
We did this tour with some friends and at the last location, we decided to enjoy a few more drafts and relax for a little while in the nice outdoor space of one of the breweries on the list!
Location: Charlotte area. Your first location will be disclosed after you book.
Cost: $25/person
5. Relish Charlotte’s Food Truck Friday Event
Every Friday night at Sycamore Brewing you’ll find numerous award-winning food trucks offering a variety of cuisines that you can try while enjoying some craft beer. While the food trucks rotate we tried bites from a few different ones and all were very good. One of my favorites was a taco food truck that even had vegan options and we also enjoyed a gourmet grilled cheese!
Location: 2161 Hawkins St.
Hours: Fridays, 5pm-9:30pm
6. Get A Home Cooked Meal at Alexander Michael’s
Alexander Michael’s is a cozy, tavern restaurant located in the historic 4th ward district of Charlotte. It is known for its American fare featuring many comfort foods. One of their most popular items is the spicy crab soup which is perfect for a cool day and pairs well with one of the sandwiches on the menu like the 3 cheese melt or the Rueben.
Location: 401 W 9th St.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, Closed Sundays
7. Check-out the Nightlife at the EPICENTRE
The EPICENTRE is a shopping area that is also one of the most popular entertainment and nightlife in Charlotte. It’s so popular that it’s even nicknamed “where the Queen let’s loose!” The open-air design makes this dining, shopping, and entertainment area quite unique.
Location: 210 E Trade St
Hours: Open 24 hours
8. Visit A Rooftop Bar
While these rooftop bars aren’t places to eat in Charlotte, they are the perfect place to get a cocktail while also getting a fabulous view of the city. Check out one of the many rooftop bars in Downtown Charlotte to see the skyline views!
Fahrenheit
At Fahrenheit, you can experience a 360-degree city view from 21 stories up in the sky. Lounge on one of the comfortable couches while sipping the drink of your choice and sit by the fire.
Location: 222 S Caldwell St.
Hours: Sunday 11am-2:30pm, 4pm-9pm, Monday-Thursday 4pm-11pm, Friday & Saturday 4pm-2am
Rooftop 210
Rooftop 210 is at the top of EPICENTRE and has a gorgeous cityscape view and live music.
Location: Inside the Epicentre, 210 E Trade St B320
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 5pm-12am, Thursday-Saturday 5pm-2am, Closed Sundays
City Lights Rooftop
City Lights Rooftop is the largest rooftop bar in Charlotte, North Carolina located on the 19th floor of Le Méridien Charlotte Hotel. It features a fantastic expansive view of Uptown Charlotte.
Location: Le Meridien Charlotte, 555 S McDowell St
Hours: Sunday 2pm-11pm, Monday-Thursday 4pm-12am, Friday & Saturday 4pm-1am
Are you ready to visit fun foodie spots and places to eat in Charlotte, North Carolina?
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