Niko & Kaitlyn’s Charlotte Guidebook
Markets
Italian market selling fresh pastas, prepared meals, meats, cheeses, wine, beer, & Italian goods. Serves prepared lunch (not dinner) & drinks. Perfect for cooking at home without having to get ingredients (10-minute walk).
Pasta & Provisions on Mint
1600 S Mint StItalian market selling fresh pastas, prepared meals, meats, cheeses, wine, beer, & Italian goods. Serves prepared lunch (not dinner) & drinks. Perfect for cooking at home without having to get ingredients (10-minute walk).
There’s a giant one, called the Charlotte Regional Farmers
Market, about a 10-minute drive away, but our favorite is the one that pops up on Saturdays from 8-1PM in Atherton mill (a 5 min drive or 20-minute walk). Pair it with coffee from Not Just Coffee, which is inside Atherton Mill, for a fun morning!
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Atherton Mill and Market
2000-2140 South BlvdThere’s a giant one, called the Charlotte Regional Farmers
Market, about a 10-minute drive away, but our favorite is the one that pops up on Saturdays from 8-1PM in Atherton mill (a 5 min drive or 20-minute walk). Pair it with coffee from Not Just Coffee, which is inside Atherton Mill, for a fun morning!
Food scene
Best Ramen in Charlotte, small local place off of the rail trail. Nice outdoor seating with a good view of the city (~25-minute walk, 7 minute drive).
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Futo Buta
222 E Bland StBest Ramen in Charlotte, small local place off of the rail trail. Nice outdoor seating with a good view of the city (~25-minute walk, 7 minute drive).
incredible food & great atmosphere (we think it’s the best food in Charlotte). Most of the food is cooked in a wood fire oven, and the menu is constantly changing. Has great ambiance. Great for date night (15-20-minute walk, 5 minute drive, but parking is difficult in that area).
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VANA
1440 South Tryon Streetincredible food & great atmosphere (we think it’s the best food in Charlotte). Most of the food is cooked in a wood fire oven, and the menu is constantly changing. Has great ambiance. Great for date night (15-20-minute walk, 5 minute drive, but parking is difficult in that area).
Optimist Hall – upscale food hall, similar to Ponce City Market (ATL) or Chelsea Market (NY). Lots of different options for food. Great for a group that can’t agree on what to eat. Easily accessible by the Light Rail, or a 10 minute drive.
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Optimist Hall
1115 N Brevard StOptimist Hall – upscale food hall, similar to Ponce City Market (ATL) or Chelsea Market (NY). Lots of different options for food. Great for a group that can’t agree on what to eat. Easily accessible by the Light Rail, or a 10 minute drive.
Our favorite sushi spot, and it's basically at the end of our street. It's a 10-minute walk or a 2 minute drive.
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YUME Ramen Sushi & Bar
1508 S Mint StOur favorite sushi spot, and it's basically at the end of our street. It's a 10-minute walk or a 2 minute drive.
Our favorite Italian spot – great pasta, pizza, & entrees. Good atmosphere, next
to Vin Master (wine bar) so it’s fun to pair the two for a night out (25-minute walk or 6 minute drive). This restaurant is in the heart of South End, so it's a great place to start the night. You may need reservations on weekends.
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Indaco
2046 South BlvdOur favorite Italian spot – great pasta, pizza, & entrees. Good atmosphere, next
to Vin Master (wine bar) so it’s fun to pair the two for a night out (25-minute walk or 6 minute drive). This restaurant is in the heart of South End, so it's a great place to start the night. You may need reservations on weekends.
Pizza cooked in a wood fired oven, lots of options and they’re all really good. (7 minute drive)
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Inizio Pizza Napoletana Dilworth
2230 Park RdPizza cooked in a wood fired oven, lots of options and they’re all really good. (7 minute drive)
Spanish tapas & wine (definitely get the jamon & manchego croquetas!). Great atmosphere. This restaurant is a really popular one in the heart of South End, so you will likely need reservations on weekends (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
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Barcelona Wine Bar
101 W Worthington AveSpanish tapas & wine (definitely get the jamon & manchego croquetas!). Great atmosphere. This restaurant is a really popular one in the heart of South End, so you will likely need reservations on weekends (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
Our favorite brunch spot. Good food, good coffee, cute place. Lots of outdoor seating along the rail trail. (7 minute drive, also very near a light rail stop.)
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Eight + Sand Kitchen
Our favorite brunch spot. Good food, good coffee, cute place. Lots of outdoor seating along the rail trail. (7 minute drive, also very near a light rail stop.)
A Charlotte classic. No reservations, so put your name in and walk
around 4th ward to see houses from the 1800’s, or stand outside with a drink. Especially love this place at Christmas
time, because they put garland and lights all around and it's extra cozy. Get the spicy crab soup, what it is, or the 4th ward stroganoff. (7 minute drive)
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Alexander Michael's
401 W 9th StA Charlotte classic. No reservations, so put your name in and walk
around 4th ward to see houses from the 1800’s, or stand outside with a drink. Especially love this place at Christmas
time, because they put garland and lights all around and it's extra cozy. Get the spicy crab soup, what it is, or the 4th ward stroganoff. (7 minute drive)
Classic British fare, fun pub. Really good fish & chips. This is a fun place to watch a game. (8 minute drive)
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Big Ben
1535 Elizabeth AvenueClassic British fare, fun pub. Really good fish & chips. This is a fun place to watch a game. (8 minute drive)
One of the nicest restaurants in Charlotte. It's in a charming old house with amazing food. This is the type of place people get proposed to at. You will likely need a reservation. 10 minute drive with dedicated parking lot.
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The Fig Tree Restaurant
1601 E 7th StOne of the nicest restaurants in Charlotte. It's in a charming old house with amazing food. This is the type of place people get proposed to at. You will likely need a reservation. 10 minute drive with dedicated parking lot.
Pho Hoa Noodle Soup | Charlotte
3000 Central AveBest pho in town. Great local place.
Desserts
Incredible ice cream with inventive flavors. If you haven’t been to a Jeni’s yet, you have to go (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive - park in the Atherton Mill garage).
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1920 Camden RdIncredible ice cream with inventive flavors. If you haven’t been to a Jeni’s yet, you have to go (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive - park in the Atherton Mill garage).
Try the salted caramel brownies, they're famous for them. Amelie's macarons were also featured in the Hunger Games. This is a cute French cafe with a very eclectic vibe.
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Amélie's French Bakery & Café
136 N Davidson StTry the salted caramel brownies, they're famous for them. Amelie's macarons were also featured in the Hunger Games. This is a cute French cafe with a very eclectic vibe.
Really good & also have unique flavors (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
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Pepperbox Doughnuts
101 W Worthington AveReally good & also have unique flavors (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
Coffee
We think they make the best coffee drinks in town. (Atherton location is a 25-minute walk, 5 minute drive. Go into the Atherton mill building, and you'll find the coffee shop at the center.)
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Not Just Coffee
2230 Park RdWe think they make the best coffee drinks in town. (Atherton location is a 25-minute walk, 5 minute drive. Go into the Atherton mill building, and you'll find the coffee shop at the center.)
Best coffee beans in town, also make really good drinks. Good place to work for the day if needed.
Backdrop Coffee
919 Berryhill RoadBest coffee beans in town, also make really good drinks. Good place to work for the day if needed.
Drinks
Good wine with good prices, just off of the rail trail (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
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Vin Master
2000 South BlvdGood wine with good prices, just off of the rail trail (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
Quirky market, fun place to grab a drink or snacks (20-minute walk or 5 minute drive).
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Common Market SouthEnd
235 W Tremont AveQuirky market, fun place to grab a drink or snacks (20-minute walk or 5 minute drive).
Tiny, somewhat hidden, cocktail spot. Very intimate with good drinks (20 minute walk, 5 minute drive).
Elsewhere Cocktail Bar
101 West Worthington AvenueTiny, somewhat hidden, cocktail spot. Very intimate with good drinks (20 minute walk, 5 minute drive).
Lowkey place to grab drinks with good charcuterie
& cheese boards (20-minute walk, 5 minute drive but parking can be difficult sometimes).
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Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop
1320 S Church StLowkey place to grab drinks with good charcuterie
& cheese boards (20-minute walk, 5 minute drive but parking can be difficult sometimes).
Brewery just around the corner with good beers (20-minute walk, 4 minute drive).
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Wooden Robot Brewery
1440 S Tryon StBrewery just around the corner with good beers (20-minute walk, 4 minute drive).
One of the oldest & biggest breweries in Charlotte.
Family Friendly. 8 minute drive.
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Old Mecklenburg Brewery
4150 Yancey RdOne of the oldest & biggest breweries in Charlotte.
Family Friendly. 8 minute drive.
Very lively brewery, usually has a younger crowd there (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
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Sycamore Brewing
2151 Hawkins StVery lively brewery, usually has a younger crowd there (25-minute walk, 5 minute drive).
NoDa Brewing Company
150 West 32nd StreetOur favorite beers in town. 10 minute drive.
Activities
Outdoor activities that change depending on the time of the year. Kayaking, SUP, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, ropes courses, mountain biking, ice skating, yoga, trails. Lots of free concerts in the spring-fall. Fun place to hang out and grab a drink too. 20 minute drive.
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U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center PkwyOutdoor activities that change depending on the time of the year. Kayaking, SUP, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, ropes courses, mountain biking, ice skating, yoga, trails. Lots of free concerts in the spring-fall. Fun place to hang out and grab a drink too. 20 minute drive.
BYOB & make some candles. It's in South End next to a lot of restaurants and dessert places, so it's an easy addition to the day. 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive.
Paddywax Candle Bar
1930 Camden RdBYOB & make some candles. It's in South End next to a lot of restaurants and dessert places, so it's an easy addition to the day. 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive.
Just about a mile away from the house, the BOA Stadium hosts Panthers games (football), Charlotte FC games (soccer), & major concerts!
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Bank Of America Stadium
Just about a mile away from the house, the BOA Stadium hosts Panthers games (football), Charlotte FC games (soccer), & major concerts!
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Tickets are usually very affordable and the skyline view is great.
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Charlotte Knights Baseball Club
324 S Mint StThe Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Tickets are usually very affordable and the skyline view is great.
Spectrum Center
333 E Trade StHosts the Hornets games (basketball), concerts, & events!
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
420 S Tryon StGreat art museum in uptown!
Mint Museum Uptown
500 S Tryon StAwesome art museum in Uptown!
Closest place to Charlotte for a good hike. You can see Charlotte in the distance from the top. 35 minute drive.
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Parcul de stat Crowders Mountain
522 Park Office LnClosest place to Charlotte for a good hike. You can see Charlotte in the distance from the top. 35 minute drive.
Nice trails around a lake. You can also swim here. 20 minute drive.
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Centrul de natură Latta
6345 Sample RdNice trails around a lake. You can also swim here. 20 minute drive.
Our favorite park to take a walk around. It's in Uptown, so you have great views of the city. Feel free to pack a picnic and hang out here. Pro tip - look up the fireworks schedule for the Charlotte Knights games and hang out in the park until after the game when the fireworks go off.
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Romare Bearden Park
300 S Church StOur favorite park to take a walk around. It's in Uptown, so you have great views of the city. Feel free to pack a picnic and hang out here. Pro tip - look up the fireworks schedule for the Charlotte Knights games and hang out in the park until after the game when the fireworks go off.
Good place to hang out, go for a run, or take the kids (the playground is awesome).
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Parcul Libertății
1908 East BlvdGood place to hang out, go for a run, or take the kids (the playground is awesome).
Duckpin bowling, pinball, & other arcade games in a bar atmosphere.
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Pins Mechanical Co
307 W Tremont AveDuckpin bowling, pinball, & other arcade games in a bar atmosphere.
Neighborhoods
A very young area of town. There's always a lot of people out and about. Tons of great restaurants & places to grab drinks.
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South End
A very young area of town. There's always a lot of people out and about. Tons of great restaurants & places to grab drinks.
NoDa
Very artsy area of town. Lots of great restaurants & some local shops.
Cool area of town. Tons of hole-in-the-wall restaurants with food from all over the world. Our favorite is Pho Hoa!
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Plaza Midwood
Cool area of town. Tons of hole-in-the-wall restaurants with food from all over the world. Our favorite is Pho Hoa!
We call our downtown, "Uptown". So anytime anyone says "Uptown" they mean "downtown". We don't have an area called "downtown". It's kind of confusing, but you'll catch on quickly.
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Charlotte center city
We call our downtown, "Uptown". So anytime anyone says "Uptown" they mean "downtown". We don't have an area called "downtown". It's kind of confusing, but you'll catch on quickly.