Open-Air Dining in Uptown
With approximately 212 sunny days each year and an annual average temperature of 62 degrees, Charlotte’s moderate weather is just one reason why patio and rooftop dining is so popular in Uptown. Add beautiful skyline views, a buzzing energy, friendly people, and tasty and diverse culinary options, and you’ll understand why Charlotte is a foodie city with a patio obsession. Better yet, make a reservation at one of the popular patios in Uptown below and see for yourself!
Note: Each restaurant or bar may have adjusted hours due to COVID-19. Please contact each location to check hours before you go and practice safe dining protocol while out.
FIRST WARD
Uptown’s eastern quadrant
7th Restaurant & Lounge
Located at the intersection of North Caldwell and Seventh streets, 7th Restaurant serves up an eclectic menu of Low Country-inspired New American dishes, craft cocktails, wine, beer and flavorful hookahs. The front patio features a handful of tables underneath an awning where the same upscale yet cozy vibe extends.
7th Street Public Market
North Carolina’s first food hall, 7th Street Public Market is an urban food destination, nonprofit and small business incubator that helps entrepreneurs grow their business concepts while offering amazing food, drinks and local products to residents and visitors. Grab a bite to eat from food vendors, including Momo Station, Hazelnuts Crêperie, Orrman’s Cheese Shop, Zia Pia Importas + Italian Kitchen, Rico’s Acai, Pure Pizza and Uptown Yolk, and a drink from beverage tenants, like Not Just Coffee, Tank’s Tap, Assorted Table Wine Shoppe and Viva Raw, and head out to the umbrella-shaded patio tables on the north and east side of the Market. Watch the LYNX Blue Line light rail zoom by as you eat.
Luce Ristorante & Bar
Escape to Italy at this relaxed yet elegant eatery featuring sophisticated European decor and authentic Italian cuisine. The outdoor patio is located on the Hearst Tower Plaza near Bank of America Corporate Center, the tallest building in Charlotte at 60 stories with a crown-like design on the top of the building in honor of the city’s namesake, Queen Charlotte. When dining at night, look up to see if the top of the building has changed colors in honor of a special event or celebration.
Mert’s Heart and Soul
Since 1998, this husband-and-wife-owned soul food restaurant has been cooking up fan-favorite Southern, Low-Country and Gullah-inspired dishes. Grab one of the outdoor tables lining the restaurant on North College Street and try the Soul Roll (an egg roll stuffed with collard greens, black-eyed peas, seasoned rice and fried chicken), a dish that Food Network’s Guy Fieri ate when “Diner’s, Drive-ins and Dives” visited the restaurant.
Rí Rá Charlotte
One of Uptown’s most popular Irish pubs, Rí Rá opened in Uptown in 1997 and features meticulously restored bars and artifacts from pubs in Ireland. It also has a second-level rooftop patio that overlooks Hearst Tower Plaza. Grab a pint and some pub grub and head outside to enjoy this secret spot hidden underneath Charlotte’s tallest skyscrapers.
Sea Level
Fresh, local seafood and Southern favorites are a specialty at Sea Level. A special partnership with fishermen and other watermen in Sea Level, North Carolina, brings fresh farm-to-fork oysters to Uptown Charlotte. Sea Level has won “People’s Choice for Best Seafood” and “Best Oysters” from Charlotte magazine multiple times. Slurp on fresh oysters on their tucked-away patio just off of Fifth Street.
Honorable Mentions: Forchetta and 1st Ward Beverage Company
SECOND WARD
Uptown’s southern quadrant
Cloud Bar by David Burke at Le Méridien
This hotel rooftop situated on the edge of Second Ward is set back just far enough that it offers some of the most beautiful views of the Uptown skyline. An exclusive concept to Charlotte, Cloud Bar features signature cocktails and heavenly dishes designed by celebrity chef David Burke.
Coin Bar at Omni Hotel Charlotte
This rooftop bar features a heated pool with a giant screen for dive-in movies in the summer and viewing parties for sporting events in the fall. Coin Bar is the only rooftop pool and bar in Charlotte that is open to the public via the purchase of a day pass (or separate dive-in movie pass). The bar serves small bites and handcrafted cocktails.
Essex Bar & Bistro
Located at the bustling intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, Essex’s covered patio puts you in the middle of the action in Uptown. This gastropub, lounge and bar serves up internationally inspired cuisine (think Meditteranean and Asian) accompanied by swanky craft cocktails.
Fahrenheit Charlotte
Adorned with modern, eye-catching firepits, rooftop gardens and a spectacular skyline backdrop, taking a picture on Fahrenheit’s 21st floor open-air rooftop has become a rite of passage for newcomers to the city. Fahrenheit’s menu features inventive New American fare with Asian accents and is the brainchild of popular chef Rocco Whalen. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to connect the bar area to the rooftop, and almost every table inside offers a stunning view.
JP Charlotte at The Westin Charlotte
With a spacious, shaded patio on the ground level of The Westin Charlotte neighboring Uptown’s Whole Foods, JP Charlotte serves up diverse New American cuisine with a Southern flair.
Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo at the AC Hotel/Residence Inn
The name says it all: it’s located in the “clouds” (nuvole in Italian) on the 22nd floor of the AC Hotel and Residence Inn at the Epicentre. This indoor-outdoor chic rooftop bar and lounge features small plates, craft cocktails, patio seating with fire tables and amazing views of the city.
Mimosa Grill
A Charlotte institution since 1995, Mimosa Grill features an expansive covered patio that overlooks Wells Fargo Plaza. Featuring a chef-driven menu with global cuisine, Southern flair and local ingredients, Mimosa Grill offers a dining experience distinctive to the Queen City.
Tupelo Honey
Originating from Asheville, North Carolina, Tupelo Honey is a beloved Southern kitchen and bar serving up scratch-made dishes, handcrafted cocktails and Southern hospitality. Grab a spot on their dog-friendly, cozy patio (ask about their dog menu) on Tryon Street and savor their to-die-for biscuits and honey.
Honorable Mentions: Fuel Pizza, Vapiano, Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina
THIRD WARD
Uptown’s western quadrant
Angeline’s and Merchant and Trade at Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel
Located next to the Third Street Linear Park, Angeline’s is Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel’s in-house restaurant. The comfortable yet swanky spot offers locally sourced Italian fare and a locally focused drink menu. On the hotel’s 19th floor, Merchant and Trade is a chic and swanky rooftop bar (with an enforced dress code) overlooking Romare Bearden Park and Truist Field. Featuring an indoor/outdoor open-air lounge with a retractable covering, comfortable outdoor furniture and fire pits, this hot spot is a top locale for a night on the town with the added benefit of delicious light bites and curated cocktails.
Búho and The Bohemian Garden at Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection
With an exterior architecture inspired by the Vienna Secession art movement and interior decor with Argentinian influences, this luxury boutique hotel features two rooftop dining locations. Located on the 16th floor, the top level of the hotel, Búho is an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar featuring lounge seating, fire pits, tapas dishes and luxury-level cocktails. On a lower level rooftop, The Bohemian Garden features a walk-up window for ordering grab-and-go bites and drinks that can be enjoyed in various sitting areas in the garden.
Brevard Court
Opened in 1915, this hidden-away historic courtyard is attached to Latta Arcade, one of Charlotte’s most significant early 20th century commercial landmarks still in place. The two-level arcade features contiguous rows of retail shops, a skylit roof that was originally designed to provide natural light for grading cotton, and a pedestrian passageway from Tryon Street through the building that leads out to Brevard Court, which extends to Church Street and Romare Bearden Park. The courtyard, often referred to as the French Quarter (the name of one of the courtyard’s anchor restaurants) features a variety of culinary options with outdoor seating along the light-covered pathway.
Fin and Fino
Located on the Levine Avenue of the Arts, this social seafood house crafts quality seafood dishes and a diverse oyster selection as well as inventive American cuisine. Grab a table on the patio outside the front entrance and enjoy the fresh catch and a cocktail.
Graham Street Pub & Patio
With not one but two patios, Graham Street Pub’s prime location provides views of both Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field as well as the Uptown skyline. Arrive early for a spot on the rooftop terrace and enjoy their street food style menu, delicious cocktails and local beer.
Halcyon, Flavors From The Earth
Halcyon’s open-air, elevated patio is situated in the facade of the Mint Museum Uptown. This locally focused, farm-to-table restaurant celebrates the region’s farm, cheese and wine purveyors on seasonal menus.
Haymaker
Asheville’s popular chef Willam Dissen is at the helm of this truly sustainable restaurant with a focus on locally grown heirloom ingredients. Its exterior seating overlooks Uptown’s Romare Bearden Park.
Ink N Ivy
Located across the street from Romare Bearden Park, Ink N Ivy’s sprawling patio offers a hip yet laid-back atmosphere to grab a tasty bite to eat along with an expertly crafted cocktail.
La Belle Helene
This breathtaking French brasserie located on Tryon Street near Latta Arcade features an authentically French interior design and menu. The quaint outdoor patio is located just outside the front entrance of the restaurant and the 25-story Barings Building.
The King’s Kitchen
A nonprofit restaurant serving meat-and-three style Southern dishes, The King’s Kitchen is dedicated to transforming lives by employing and training at-risk adults, supporting Charlotte’s homeless population and feeding the poor. In addition to their selfless mission of giving back to the community, this inspiring restaurant features Pottery Barn-style decor and a covered patio along Trade Street.
Honorable Mentions: American Burger Co., McCormick & Schmick’s, Murphy’s Kitchen & Tap, Que Ondo Tacos + Tequila Uptown
FOURTH WARD
Uptown’s northern quadrant
Cedar Street Tavern
This cozy neighborhood bar at the corner of Fifth and Cedar streets is a popular hangout spot for students at the nearby Johnson & Wales University Charlotte. Patrons are invited to enjoy American pub-style eats, live music, trivia nights and outdoor seating.
Pizzeria Sapienza CLT
Serving authentic New York City-style pizza and American/Italian eats, this Fourth Ward corner spot has outdoor seating lining the exterior.
Poplar Tapas Restaurant & Bar
You’ll be greeted by Poplar’s beautiful patio as soon as you arrive. While the patio alone is a showstopper, the charming interior of this historic home-turned-restaurant and mouth watering Peruivian-inspired tapas, wine and spirits will have you returning again and again.
The Capital Grille
One of Charlotte’s classic steakhouses (think dark mahogany wood decor, Art Deco chandeliers and dry-aged steaks), you can’t go wrong at this sophisticated and refined culinary destination featuring outdoor seating.
The Daily Tavern
A laid-back neighborhood watering hole, this old school American tavern with a patio features elevated bar food, brunch, an extensive beer menu and creative cocktails.
Honorable Mentions: The Asbury, The Corner Pub, Little Village Grill
UPTOWN’S NEARBY NEIGHBORS
AvidXchange Music Factory
Just outside of Fourth Ward, the Music Factory is one of the Uptown area’s hottest music and entertainment districts featuring multiple music venues, night clubs, restaurants and bars. Every culinary offering in the complex features a patio and outdoor seating, including VBGB Beer Hall & Garden (the largest patio with giant garden games and volleyball courts), 8.2.0, Small Bar, Bocao Sushi Fusion Kitchen, Explicit Bistro & Lounge, and La Revolución.
Optimist Hall
Located in the Optimist Park neighborhood between NoDa and Uptown, the 147,000-square-foot former 1900s textile mill is now a mix-used redevelopment featuring a food hall, restaurants, retail and office space. Featuring more than 20 tenants, the food and beverage options are diverse and the meticulously designed/redeveloped site features numerous outdoor seating.
Camp North End
One of the largest adaptive reuse projects in the country, this 76-acre historic site just 1 mile north of Uptown was once home to a Ford Factory, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Depot, the Charlotte Army Missile Plant (where the acronym C.A.M.P comes from) and an Eckerd/Rite Aid distribution plant. With plans to redevelop or develop more than 3 million square feet over 20 years, the mixed-use development is a hub for creativity and innovation featuring restaurants, retail, forward-thinking office space, public spaces and more. Current food and beverage options include Leah & Louise (from James Beard-nominated chef Greg Collier), Bleu Barn Bistro, La Caseta, SARU by Bow Ramen, Chop & Chisel, HEX Coffee, Black Moth Bars, Free Range Brewing, NoDa Company Canteen, Wentworth & Fenn, and Popbar.