The 8 Best New Bar and Restaurant Openings in Charlotte

Charlotte is growing, fast. New developments are lighting up the city skyline and with that comes new places to eat and drink. From New York transplants hawking fine wine to small patisseries and neighborly watering holes, here are the eight latest and greatest bar and restaurant openings in town. 

Plaza Midwood
You might think that you ambled into a pub in the Irish countryside, except the Workman’s Friend is located in Plaza Midwood’s heart of hearts, on the corner of Thomas Street and Central Avenue. Inspired by a Flann O’Brien poem, an excerpt of which you can find hand-painted on the pub’s outer brick wall, the Workman’s Friend is an Irish pub aimed at cozy gatherings and plenty of pints. Regaled in reclaimed wood and Old World decor, the pub features 18 beers on tap, traditional Irish fare, and bartenders who know how to pour a Guinness.

Courtesy of Corkbuzz

South Park
Oenophiles rejoice! Manhattan meets the Queen City in this elegant wine studio led by young master sommelier Laura Maniec who eats, sleeps, and breathes grape juice. Corkbuzz is part wine bar, part restaurant, and part wine education hub. Maniec wanted a place where all levels could commiserate, without pretense, and have a buzzy good time while doing it. Corkbuzz offers brunch, lunch, and dinner along with Sunday suppers, special events, and educational classes.
 

NoDa
Benny Pennello’s quietly opened inside the former textile mill in NoDa that also houses Heist Brewery. The Blacksburg, Virginia-based concept is a fine complement to the copious pints of beer to be had in the neighborhood. Benny’s boasts 28” pies with slices that warrant not one, but two plates, to carry a single piece. And, with late-night service (until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays), you can feast into the wee hours of the morning.

Courtesy of Eric Gaddy, Casting Shadows Photography

NoDa
Brothers Jeff and Jason Alexander finally unlocked the doors to their long-awaited microbrewery in NoDa. Small batch is the name of their game and with a family-friendly vibe and farm-to-glass ingredients, these boys just might be the sweethearts of the brew community in no time. Cold brew and farm-fresh sodas are on tap along with a selection of rotating brews like Jenny Bought a Farm, named after the Alexanders’ beloved grandmother, and a high-gravity IPA (9.5%) that goes by the name My Fair Lady.

Courtesy of Remy Thurston

South End
Charlotte, we have ramen! Futo Buta Ramen opened directly on the light-rail trail near the Bland Street Station stop with a minimalist interior and piping-hot bowls of ramen. House-made noodles, properly steeped broths glistening with golden droplets of fat, and vegetarian options cover all your noodle bowl needs and then some. Sit at the communal table, order some sake, and slurp the night away.

courtesy of PSH

South Charlotte
Piedmont Social House is a 23,000sqft adult playground. This massive facility, outfitted in Carolina memorabilia, features three bars, one of the largest outdoor patios in the city, a restaurant with on-point fried chicken, bowling lanes, and games galore. There’s ping-pong, foosball, darts, cornhole, shuffleboard, pool tables, and an old-school arcade featuring classics like Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga. It’s like reliving your childhood, except with beer.

Courtesy of Justin Driscoll

Uptown
Perched atop the 15th floor of the Ritz Carlton in Uptown Charlotte, the Punch Room offers throwback luxury so glamorous, it’ll make you feel like breaking out the long cigarette holders and white gloves, except you definitely cannot smoke inside the Ritz. Cocktail magician Bob Peters is at the helm of this intimate experience overlooking Uptown Charlotte, mixing up handcrafted potions and daily punches ladled out from a vintage punch bowl by the Beyonce-shaped service staff.
 

South End
If I were French, I would tell you to go to this small patisserie on South Boulevard because the guy in charge of the impossibly flaky creations is French. By default, Chef Sylvain Rivet knows what he's doing because he's a Frenchman, but he is also classically trained, backed by years of experience and world travel, and has served the likes of Oprah Winfrey. How’s that for street cred? Napoleons, tarts, and croissants on fleek.

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