Charlotte, North Carolina

NCAA Tournament - Greensboro, NC

This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting NCAA tournaments, especially at the Greensboro Site. Currently, Wake Forest, Duke, and UNC are all ranked in the top 5 and fighting to be the top seed at this site. The Greensboro Area is one that has been the traditional host of ACC tournaments in the past and is a great venue for watching a basketball game. For more information on what to do in the greensboro area, check Greensboro, NC hotspots.

North Carolina at Duke February 11th

Tyler Hansbrough leads the Tar Heels into Cameron Indoor stadium who attempt to go for their 4th straight victory in Durham. Due to Cameron's small size, tickets are generally hard to come by.

Doubletree Hotel

Doubletree Hotel
6300 Morrison Boulevard
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 9' 18.0684" N, 80° 50' 0.6396" W

Located in the trendy South Park area, the Doubletree is about a 10-15 minute cab ride to uptown. However, there are a lot of restaurants within walking distance as well as the South Park Mall for all you shop-a-holics.

Blake Hotel

Blake Hotel
555 S Mcdowell St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 0.516" N, 80° 50' 17.7612" W

Located on the outskirts of uptown, Blake Hotel is just far enough away that a cab, though not required, would be nice to get to the uptown area.

Omni Charlotte Hotel

Omni Charlotte Hotel
132 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 34.5612" N, 80° 50' 33.288" W

Nice hotel that is typically pretty expensive. The Omni is literally located at the heart of the city. The lobby is basically connected to two large shopping and eating malls. If you are not traveling on your own dime, I suggest staying here. You can walk to any downtown bar.

Morehead Street Tavern

Morehead Street Tavern
300 E Morehead St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 9.3936" N, 80° 50' 59.0388" W

This tavern is located just on the outskirts of uptown. It is a huge two-story bar. The upstairs has several pool tables and the downstairs is a big dance club. Why is this bar cool? There are multiple bars so you rarely have to wait for a drink. In addition, the patio out back may be the coolest in the city. Why is this bar not cool? Well there are certain nights in which you REALLY don’t want to be here. Take my word for it.

Thomas Street Tavern

Thomas Street Tavern
1218 Thomas Ave
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 10.0704" N, 80° 48' 42.93" W

Located in the more trendy area of town, it is a pretty cool place to drink a flying dog and wear trendy glasses. There is a cool deck out back. One highlight is that there are ping pong tables available for drunk people to embarrass themselves.  An even bigger highlight is that this tavern is located beside the Penguin Restaurant, which is fantastic.

Nolen's Kitchen

Nolen's Kitchen
2839 Selwyn Ave
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 10' 26.6196" N, 80° 50' 23.424" W

Not really for the college-aged crowd but good for a hot date or wearing a pink shirt and sockless loafers.  Also, not great for letting loose with the boys. However, there is a cool little patio where there are usually young women out drinking wine.  A little older crowd.  Checkout:  Nolen's


Selwyn Pub

Selwyn Pub
2801 Selwyn Ave
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 10' 28.7004" N, 80° 50' 20.4468" W

Young, uppity, expensive. Selwyn is one of those places that is “cool” because of its large patio area and plethora of cougars in the making. However, the beers are expense, the bartenders generally think they are above you, the inside is cramped, and the bathroom line is usually long. Despite that, it can be fun on a good night. Don’t go on a night when you have to be inside due to the weather.

Angry Ales

Angry Ales
1518 Montford Dr
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 10' 13.0476" N, 80° 51' 0.072" W

You know your local college bar where you go spend too much money, have memorized all the writing on the bathroom wall, and are surprised to see a bartender that you don’t recognize?  Well that is Angry Ales. It is located on Montford Drive (near Park Road Shopping Center) and is a place to get a beer in the afternoon sitting out on the large deck, or go at night and hang out with friends. Why is this place great? Well they specialize in serving Big A$$ cans.

*****************MYERS PARK/SOUTH PARK*****************

Uptown Charlotte not your cup of tea?  Well there are a lot of other fun areas that are more frequented by Charlotte locals.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club
225 N Caldwell St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 31.0764" N, 80° 50' 13.9668" W

You want to go dancing? Do you love the 80’s? If you just answered yes to both of those questions then this is the place for you. The Breakfast Club is a three-story 80’s dance club. It has wall-to-wall black lights, neon from floor to ceiling, and a Billy Idol impersonator (I don’t know if this is his job or just a creepy hobby). It is only open Thursday through Saturday. A couple of notes: There is a larger than usual cover on most nights but they usually have cheap drinks to make up for it.

The Attic

The Attic
200 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 40.8108" N, 80° 50' 30.9588" W

This bar is connected to Madison's. The Attic is on the second floor and has a balcony that overlooks Tryon Street. It is also more geared towards young professionals. 

Madison’s

Madison’s
115 E. 5th St.
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 39.4464" N, 80° 50' 29.472" W

A great spot that is a little classier than the average bar. Don’t expect drink specials, but it is a fun spot. Madison's is typically a young professional crowd and is arranged in more of a lounge setting.

Cans

Cans
500 W 5th St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 54.3432" N, 80° 50' 44.6352" W

Short skirts and muscle bound dudes in a huge warehouse with cheap beer (in cans, hence the name) is the best way to describe this place. Cans opened several years ago and quickly became a go-to place. It can be a really fun time if you have pre-gamed adequately, want to check out some beautiful ladies, and don’t get nauseated by massive amounts of cologne.

Connolly’s on Fifth

Connolly’s on Fifth
115 E 5th St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 39.4464" N, 80° 50' 29.472" W

While we are on the subject of Irish pubs, Connolly’s is a little more relaxed take on the Emerald Isle. There is typically an older crowd, but it is a great place to go drink a Guinness or seven.

Ri-Ra’s

Ri-Ra’s
208 N. Tryon St
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 13' 41.5308" N, 80° 50' 29.9292" W

This bar is styled after an Irish pub, though you would never know it. Ri-Ra's is packed almost every night and has become a local favorite of the former and current frat-monsters. The bar is popular because of its two-story layout and large 2nd floor patio area that is open during the temperate months. The downstairs is ok, but the real action happens upstairs. There is a band here almost every weekend night and the whole upstairs turns into one large dance floor.

Vinnie’s Raw Bar

1714 South Blvd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 12' 45.0756" N, 80° 51' 27.5004" W

A great place, fun atmosphere, waitresses dressed in skimpy clothing, great seafood, and often has good beer specials. Are you convinced yet?  This is great for a few dudes to go drink and get some good food before heading uptown. Checkout: Vinnie's

Charlotte Café

4127 Park Rd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 10' 31.944" N, 80° 50' 59.5716" W

This little café is located in the Park Road Shopping Center. The menu is home cooking and is a good place to go get meat and vegetables. Do not be alarmed by the large numbers of old people who frequent the establishment as it has been around forever. A great place to go eat something that is cheap and will not make you feel terrible.  

Portofino's Italian Restaurant

5126 Park Rd # 1C
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 9' 38.376" N, 80° 50' 56.1552" W

An Italian restaurant located on Park Road that has the best cheese steak in Charlotte. Trust me.

Village Tavern

4201 Congress St
Charlotte
United States
35° 9' 17.1" N, 80° 50' 12.7968" W

This is a restaurant that has several locations around North Carolina. The Village Tavern is very good. It is located at the Rotunda building, a nice office complex in South Park, and has a great back patio. It is a good spot to either go get dinner or drinks. If you go there, get the homemade potato chips appetizer. They are thinly sliced, served with ranch, and worth every penny.

Manzetti's

6401 Morrison Blvd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 9' 19.6056" N, 80° 49' 55.5384" W

Good Italian food, but it is not cheap.  Manzetti's does have a pretty good salad but the cheapest you can get out of there is the $9 burger. Any Italian food will run you $15+. 

M5

4300 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 9' 9.6336" N, 80° 49' 36.948" W

M5 is a new trendy restaurant at South Park. A good place to go get a glass of wine and some fancier food. It is pricey.

Big Daddy's Burger Bar

1626 East Blvd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 11' 56.1516" N, 80° 50' 27.3264" W

Great hamburger place. My personal favorite is the hamburger topped with a fried egg…awesome. Not a very wide menu; the name basically tells you what they do best.

East Boulevard Bar and Grill

1601 East Blvd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 11' 58.5276" N, 80° 50' 27.4056" W

For my money, the best bar food in Charlotte. The fries are fantastic and the chicken fingers or philly cheese steak are guaranteed not to disappoint.

Ed’s Tavern

2200 Park Rd
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 12' 1.512" N, 80° 51' 9.1152" W

Ed's is a good bar and food place. It has recently become a hot spot among locals not looking to go downtown. The food is pretty good, especially the wings. There are pool tables and a deck out back for nice days.

Cantina 1511

1511 East Boulevard
Charlotte, NC
United States
35° 12' 0.828" N, 80° 50' 30.8184" W

This Mexican restaurant is considered a trendy hang out area. There are always good looking people at the bar. The food is a little over priced but it is pretty good. Tuesdays they have margarita specials. There is also a small bar area that occasionally has live music. This is a good place for a co-ed group, little weird if just a bunch of dudes go here together.

Alive After 5

During the summer and fall months, the Alive After 5 happens every Thursday. It is located at the Wachovia Atrium and is typically has a pretty solid band. Recent guests have included Zoso, Whose Bad, and Liquid Pleasure. If you want to see a myriad of attractive people, this is the event for you. Beers are expensive but the atmosphere is a good way to get a Thursday night started.

Charlotte Checkers Game

Minor league hockey is the best spectator sport in Charlotte. Tickets are cheap, beers are reasonable, and fights are frequent. The Charlotte Checkers play in the new Bobcats Arena located in downtown Charlotte. This is a good way to pass an otherwise slow night.

See a Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway

A 167,000 seat race track and host of several NASCAR and other racing events annually. It is not overly impressive from the outside, but if you can get in on race days it is an experience to behold.

Go to a Carolina Panthers Game

While seeing a Panthers NFL game is fun anywhere you are it is especially fun at Bank of America Stadium. The stadium is really nice and it is normally not too hard to scalp a ticket. With the young professional culture of Charlotte the games are really social and fun.

Charlotte Overview

Student Perspective

Wachovia Championship (Quail Hollow Championship)

It is hard to find an event as Fratty as the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, NC.

During the first weekend of May the town turns their attention to golf. The tournament is played at Quail Hollow Country Club which is ridiculously nice. The course is immaculate and is lined with mega-mansions.

Location Subsection

  • Student Perspective


    The city of Charlotte is quickly growing into a great town for college age kids as well as young professionals.  The uptown area has really increased its nightlife in recent years. Every Friday and Saturday the streets are filled with a plethora of students, mainly from UNC – Charlotte, as well as fresh out of college Charlotte imports. There is no shortage of beautiful ladies for the guys and future bankers for the girls. While there are too many bars to include in one write up, some of the best spots are listed here.

    Overview

    Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. As the 19th-largest city in the United States, Charlotte is also the largest city on the Eastern Seaboard between Philadelphia and Jacksonville.

    In 2007, the Charlotte metropolitan area had an estimated population of 1,651,568. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a wider thirteen-county labor market region or combined statistical area that has an estimated population (as of 2007) of 2,277,074. In 2008, Charlotte was chosen the "Best Place to Live in America" by relocate-america.com in its annual ranking, based on factors including employment opportunities, crime rates, and housing affordability. It was also Charlotte Sky Linenamed #8 of the 100 "Best Places to Live and Launch" by CNNMoney.com - cities picked for their vibrant lifestyles and opportunities for new businesses.

    Economy

    Charlotte has become a major U.S. financial center,Bank of America' headquarters, along with other regional banking and financial services companies, are located primarily in the uptown financial district. Thanks in large part to the expansion of the city's banking industry, the Charlotte skyline has mushroomed in the past two decades and boasts the Bank of America Corporate Center, the tallest skyscraper between Philadelphia and Atlanta. The 60-story postmodern gothic tower, designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, stands 871 feet tall and was completed in 1992. Content via Wikipedia

  • Go to a Carolina Panthers Game

    While seeing a Panthers NFL game is fun anywhere you are it is especially fun at Bank of America Stadium. The stadium is really nice and it is normally not too hard to scalp a ticket. With the young professional culture of Charlotte the games are really social and fun.

  • See a Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway

    A 167,000 seat race track and host of several NASCAR and other racing events annually. It is not overly impressive from the outside, but if you can get in on race days it is an experience to behold.

  • Charlotte Checkers Game

    Minor league hockey is the best spectator sport in Charlotte. Tickets are cheap, beers are reasonable, and fights are frequent. The Charlotte Checkers play in the new Bobcats Arena located in downtown Charlotte. This is a good way to pass an otherwise slow night.

  • Alive After 5

    During the summer and fall months, the Alive After 5 happens every Thursday. It is located at the Wachovia Atrium and is typically has a pretty solid band. Recent guests have included Zoso, Whose Bad, and Liquid Pleasure. If you want to see a myriad of attractive people, this is the event for you. Beers are expensive but the atmosphere is a good way to get a Thursday night started.

  • Wachovia Championship (Quail Hollow Championship)

    It is hard to find an event as Fratty as the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, NC.

    During the first weekend of May the town turns their attention to golf. The tournament is played at Quail Hollow Country Club which is ridiculously nice. The course is immaculate and is lined with mega-mansions.

  • North Carolina at Duke February 11th

    Tyler Hansbrough leads the Tar Heels into Cameron Indoor stadium who attempt to go for their 4th straight victory in Durham. Due to Cameron's small size, tickets are generally hard to come by.

  • NCAA Tournament - Greensboro, NC

    This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting NCAA tournaments, especially at the Greensboro Site. Currently, Wake Forest, Duke, and UNC are all ranked in the top 5 and fighting to be the top seed at this site. The Greensboro Area is one that has been the traditional host of ACC tournaments in the past and is a great venue for watching a basketball game. For more information on what to do in the greensboro area, check Greensboro, NC hotspots.

  • *****************East Boulevard Area*****************
  • Cantina 1511

    This Mexican restaurant is considered a trendy hang out area. There are always good looking people at the bar. The food is a little over priced but it is pretty good. Tuesdays they have margarita specials. There is also a small bar area that occasionally has live music. This is a good place for a co-ed group, little weird if just a bunch of dudes go here together.

  • Ed’s Tavern

    Ed's is a good bar and food place. It has recently become a hot spot among locals not looking to go downtown. The food is pretty good, especially the wings. There are pool tables and a deck out back for nice days.

  • East Boulevard Bar and Grill

    For my money, the best bar food in Charlotte. The fries are fantastic and the chicken fingers or philly cheese steak are guaranteed not to disappoint.

  • Big Daddy's Burger Bar

    Great hamburger place. My personal favorite is the hamburger topped with a fried egg…awesome. Not a very wide menu; the name basically tells you what they do best.

  • *****************South Park Area*****************
  • M5

    M5 is a new trendy restaurant at South Park. A good place to go get a glass of wine and some fancier food. It is pricey.

  • Manzetti's

    Good Italian food, but it is not cheap.  Manzetti's does have a pretty good salad but the cheapest you can get out of there is the $9 burger. Any Italian food will run you $15+. 

  • Village Tavern

    This is a restaurant that has several locations around North Carolina. The Village Tavern is very good. It is located at the Rotunda building, a nice office complex in South Park, and has a great back patio. It is a good spot to either go get dinner or drinks. If you go there, get the homemade potato chips appetizer. They are thinly sliced, served with ranch, and worth every penny.

  • *****************Park Road Area*****************
  • Portofino's Italian Restaurant

    An Italian restaurant located on Park Road that has the best cheese steak in Charlotte. Trust me.

  • Charlotte Café

    This little café is located in the Park Road Shopping Center. The menu is home cooking and is a good place to go get meat and vegetables. Do not be alarmed by the large numbers of old people who frequent the establishment as it has been around forever. A great place to go eat something that is cheap and will not make you feel terrible.  

  • *****************South End Area*****************
  • Vinnie’s Raw Bar

    A great place, fun atmosphere, waitresses dressed in skimpy clothing, great seafood, and often has good beer specials. Are you convinced yet?  This is great for a few dudes to go drink and get some good food before heading uptown. Checkout: Vinnie's

  • *****************UPTOWN*****************
  • Ri-Ra’s

    This bar is styled after an Irish pub, though you would never know it. Ri-Ra's is packed almost every night and has become a local favorite of the former and current frat-monsters. The bar is popular because of its two-story layout and large 2nd floor patio area that is open during the temperate months. The downstairs is ok, but the real action happens upstairs. There is a band here almost every weekend night and the whole upstairs turns into one large dance floor.

  • Connolly’s on Fifth

    While we are on the subject of Irish pubs, Connolly’s is a little more relaxed take on the Emerald Isle. There is typically an older crowd, but it is a great place to go drink a Guinness or seven.

  • Cans

    Short skirts and muscle bound dudes in a huge warehouse with cheap beer (in cans, hence the name) is the best way to describe this place. Cans opened several years ago and quickly became a go-to place. It can be a really fun time if you have pre-gamed adequately, want to check out some beautiful ladies, and don’t get nauseated by massive amounts of cologne.

  • Madison’s

    A great spot that is a little classier than the average bar. Don’t expect drink specials, but it is a fun spot. Madison's is typically a young professional crowd and is arranged in more of a lounge setting.

  • The Attic

    This bar is connected to Madison's. The Attic is on the second floor and has a balcony that overlooks Tryon Street. It is also more geared towards young professionals. 

  • The Breakfast Club

    You want to go dancing? Do you love the 80’s? If you just answered yes to both of those questions then this is the place for you. The Breakfast Club is a three-story 80’s dance club. It has wall-to-wall black lights, neon from floor to ceiling, and a Billy Idol impersonator (I don’t know if this is his job or just a creepy hobby). It is only open Thursday through Saturday. A couple of notes: There is a larger than usual cover on most nights but they usually have cheap drinks to make up for it.

  • *****************MYERS PARK/SOUTH PARK*****************

    Uptown Charlotte not your cup of tea?  Well there are a lot of other fun areas that are more frequented by Charlotte locals.

  • Angry Ales

    You know your local college bar where you go spend too much money, have memorized all the writing on the bathroom wall, and are surprised to see a bartender that you don’t recognize?  Well that is Angry Ales. It is located on Montford Drive (near Park Road Shopping Center) and is a place to get a beer in the afternoon sitting out on the large deck, or go at night and hang out with friends. Why is this place great? Well they specialize in serving Big A$$ cans.

  • Selwyn Pub

    Young, uppity, expensive. Selwyn is one of those places that is “cool” because of its large patio area and plethora of cougars in the making. However, the beers are expense, the bartenders generally think they are above you, the inside is cramped, and the bathroom line is usually long. Despite that, it can be fun on a good night. Don’t go on a night when you have to be inside due to the weather.

  • Nolen's Kitchen

    Not really for the college-aged crowd but good for a hot date or wearing a pink shirt and sockless loafers.  Also, not great for letting loose with the boys. However, there is a cool little patio where there are usually young women out drinking wine.  A little older crowd.  Checkout:  Nolen's


  • *****************TAVERNS*****************
  • Thomas Street Tavern

    Located in the more trendy area of town, it is a pretty cool place to drink a flying dog and wear trendy glasses. There is a cool deck out back. One highlight is that there are ping pong tables available for drunk people to embarrass themselves.  An even bigger highlight is that this tavern is located beside the Penguin Restaurant, which is fantastic.

  • Morehead Street Tavern

    This tavern is located just on the outskirts of uptown. It is a huge two-story bar. The upstairs has several pool tables and the downstairs is a big dance club. Why is this bar cool? There are multiple bars so you rarely have to wait for a drink. In addition, the patio out back may be the coolest in the city. Why is this bar not cool? Well there are certain nights in which you REALLY don’t want to be here. Take my word for it.

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