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The Best Bars for Foodies in Charlotte

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by The OpenTable Team
Updated 26 February 2020

The growing city of Charlotte represents one of America's coolest destinations for history, business, culture, cuisine and good times. Mixing the Coastal Carolina vibe with Southern charm, the best bars in Charlotte provide an engaging mixture of excellent food, fine drinks, and a lively atmosphere. But where are the smartest, savviest diners in Charlotte headed out to when looking for the best bars in town? Welcome to our Tastemaker List. Here, we've put together a list of the best bars in Charlotte, developed with the input of those who know the town the best. From Southern honky-tonks and acclaimed restaurants to fabled downtown bars and pubs, the best bars in Charlotte offer fun for all. Grab a table and a few drinks in Charlotte tonight!

A photo of Ri Ra Irish Pub - Charlotte restaurant
Ri Ra Irish Pub - Charlotte
4.6
4.6 (793)
$30 and under
Irish
Uptown
About the restaurant
The local outpost of this nationally-recognized Irish chain is one of the best bars in Charlotte. A welcoming and always-lively slice of the Emerald Isles in the heart of the city, Ri Ra is a great place to watch a ballgame (or some European soccer) and enjoy some excellent beers. A classic Guinness or Harp is always on tap at Ri Ra. Along with those favorites, try the local "Golden Boy Blonde" from Charlotte's Triple C Brewing Company, or the "Black Blaze" milk stout from Blue Blaze Brewing. For a taste of Ireland, grab the All-Day Irish Breakfast with baked beans, bangers and rashers, and black and white pudding.
Top review
Julia
Dined 5 days ago
Absolutely delicious food and drinks! Service was slow.
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A photo of Fish & Chips of a restaurant
Popular dish
Fish & Chips
A photo of Fahrenheit - Charlotte restaurant
Fahrenheit - Charlotte
4.3
4.3 (7851)
$31 to $50
American
Uptown
About the restaurant
The heat is on at this modern, upscale restaurant in the heart of Charlotte from chef Rocco Whalen. Above the trendy Skye Condos, Fahrenheit is one of the best bars in Charlotte. Head in with the young, hip crowd to enjoy a creative menu of Asian-American small plates and some of the best cocktails in the city. Try the "In the Garden of EFFEN," with EFFEN cucumber vodka, lime juice, and fresh strawberry. The "Alexis Aviation" boasts gin, Luxardo, house-made Creme de Violette, and lemon juice. There's also a full menu of local Charlotte beers, with favorites from Birdsong, NoDa, and Bold Rock.
Top review
Melissa
Dined 3 days ago
Great restaurant with amazing views of the city. Emily was our server and she was amazing! Also the hostess and I believe manager were super friendly and helpful! Will definitely be back the next time I’m in Charlotte.
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A photo of Ahi Poke Nachos of a restaurant
Popular dish
Ahi Poke Nachos
A photo of Hot Seafood Tower of a restaurant
Popular dish
Hot Seafood Tower
A photo of Seafood Tower 1 of a restaurant
Popular dish
Seafood Tower 1
A photo of Church and Union - Charlotte restaurant
Church and Union - Charlotte
4.6
4.6 (5022)
$31 to $50
American
Uptown
About the restaurant
This buzzworthy spot on North Tyron spot is in the middle of some of Charlotte's best destinations. A quick walk from the Discovery Place Science building and the Levine Museum of the New South, 5Church is one of the best bars in Charlotte. Try one of the rotating local beers on draft from Triple C Brewery, Legion Brewery, or Olde Mecklenberg. Specialty cocktails include favorites like rosemary gin fizz or the spicy "viper," made with tequila and cayenne pepper. The burger menu at 5 Church is another highlight. Go for the 5Church lamb burger, made with red onion marmalade, gorgonzola fondue, and a secret sauce.
Top review
Sally
Dined 5 days ago
Manager was awesome. We were in a time crunch. He made sure we had our drinks etc. Server expedited things too. The best salad I’ve had ever, so fresh and light. Swordfish slightly overcooked and extremely salty. My husbands meatballs were great, not too salty. The complimentary hummus was delicious. Great overall. Service fantastic.
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A photo of French Toast of a restaurant
Popular dish
French Toast
A photo of Fried Chicken of a restaurant
Popular dish
Fried Chicken
A photo of Shrimp and Grits of a restaurant
Popular dish
Shrimp and Grits
A photo of The Cellar at Duckworth's restaurant
The Cellar at Duckworth's
4.8
4.8 (2628)
$31 to $50
Gastro Pub
Uptown
About the restaurant
In the heart of Charlotte's Fourth Ward, The Cellar at Duckworth's is a place for elegant craft cocktails with Southern flair. Try one of the New York gin sours, blackberry mezcals, or traditional Moscow mules. For beer lovers, the menu is deep and varied. Favorites include the Fat Orange Cat "All Cats are Gray in the Dark" American stout or the Grimm "Spooky Action" Flanders brown ale. Don't miss the Cellar burger with house-ground beef, gruyere cheese, and onion jam.
Top review
Georgevip
Dined 6 days ago
While primarily a good steakhouse, their menu is unusually broad and interesting. I've had both the duck confit and the grouper, both of which were superb. My son had the bison tenderloin, which was exceptionally tender and flavorful I've never seen puttanesca sauce on fish but bet it's great. I look forward to more visits to try every item they offer.
A photo of Eddie V's - Charlotte restaurant
Eddie V's - Charlotte
4.8
4.8 (3087)
$50 and over
Seafood
Uptown
About the restaurant
The combination of fine jazz, excellent seafood, and potent drinks makes Eddie V's one of the best bars in Charlotte. Right in the heart of the city's bustling Center City neighborhood, Eddie V's is a colorful restaurant with an exciting atmosphere. A daily happy hour is a place to enjoy drink and food specials. Go for one of the classic mojitos with Bacardi and muddled mint, or a Bulleit sour made with honey, fresh lemon, and lime sour. Pair those with food from the "teasers" menu, like blackened fish tacos, steak tartare, or lamb lollipops.
Top review
Jamese
Dined 5 days ago
We had a great experience! Food was amazing. Trip was our server and he was amazing! It was my boyfriend’s birthday, and they had a card for him on the table along with decorations and a cute dessert at the end for him
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A photo of 10 oz Center Cut Filet Mignon of a restaurant
Popular dish
10 oz Center Cut Filet Mignon
A photo of West Coast Oysters of a restaurant
Popular dish
West Coast Oysters
A photo of Two Crab-Stuffed Jumbo Gulf Shrimp of a restaurant
Popular dish
Two Crab-Stuffed Jumbo Gulf Shrimp
A photo of Fin & Fino - Uptown Charlotte restaurant
Fin & Fino - Uptown Charlotte
4.8
4.8 (2810)
$30 and under
Seafood
Uptown
About the restaurant
The Uptown "social seafood house" Fin and Fino is an airy and upscale spot for excellent drinks and some of the best seafood in Charlotte. Oysters are the prime choice at Fin and Fino. The extensive, changing-by-the-day oyster menu includes selections from Copps Island, Rappahannock River, and Katama Bay. There's a wide variety of tastes, finishes, and flavors. Pair the oyster selections with a choice from the top Fin and Fino beer list. There are favorites from the acclaimed Maine Beer Company on the menu, along with the Charlotte-area "#OnlyinNoDa" fruited sour from Divine Barrel Brewing.
Top review
Pam
Dined 3 days ago
The food was great and the service was outstanding. The pacing of the meal was perfect. Not rushed but not dragged out either.
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A photo of Seafood Boil of a restaurant
Popular dish
Seafood Boil
A photo of Flank Steak of a restaurant
Popular dish
Flank Steak
A photo of Scallops of a restaurant
Popular dish
Scallops
A photo of Bulla Gastrobar - Charlotte restaurant
Bulla Gastrobar - Charlotte
4.5
4.5 (2514)
$30 and under
Spanish
Charlotte
About the restaurant
Bulla is an excellent spot for Spanish tapas and good times in the SouthPark neighborhood of Charlotte. The small specialty plates at this upscale place feature favorites like cured Iberian pork ham, acorn-fed pure Iberian sausage, and braised brisket caldoso with red sofrito. To go along with the tapas, diners can enjoy a local "Juicy Jay" India Pale Ale or one of Spain's own Estrella beers. For a twist on a favorite, try the "Bougie Palmer" with Tito's vodka and oolong tea.
Top review
Erinvip
Dined 3 days ago
We love Bulla and have been here many times before! The food is excellent and we always enjoy our meals here. The service is great as well. Our server Rafaela was friendly, knowledgeable, and had a wonderful attention to detail.
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A photo of Paella of a restaurant
Popular dish
Paella
A photo of Patatas Bravas of a restaurant
Popular dish
Patatas Bravas
A photo of Ceviche de Jalapeño of a restaurant
Popular dish
Ceviche de Jalapeño
A photo of The Foundry at Trilogy® Lake Norman restaurant
The Foundry at Trilogy® Lake Norman
4.8
4.8 (1159)
$30 and under
American
Denver
About the restaurant
Lake Norman's Foundry restaurant is the place to go to for some of the tastes and flavors of Charlotte. Start with some of the creative cocktails, like the "Back Porch Rocker" with citrus vodka and back porch tea, or a grapefruit mimosa with prosecco. Southern appetizers include skillet cornbread with honey butter or barbecue brisket nachos with house-fried tortilla chips. Go for an entree from the "Chef's Table" menu, with shrimp and grits, Foundry pot roast, and citrus-chipotle chicken among the highlights. This is also a place to stick around for dessert. Try the house-specialty butter cake or Oreo-crusted Nutella mousse with strawberry coulis.
Top review
Jim
Dined 4 days ago
As always, the food was fantastic. Price was reasonable, and the service was top-notch.
A photo of The Porter's House restaurant
The Porter's House
4.8
4.8 (1788)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Waverly
About the restaurant
A hit restaurant in the Charlotte Waverly district, The Porter's House offers diners "a modern chophouse for the new South." This elegant space delivers all the traditional steakhouse features with a Southern twist. There's a private bourbon room for spirit lovers as well as a patio for outdoor dining and drinking. A long beer menu is heavy on local beers and Southern favorites. Try the OMB "Captain Jack" pilsner or the Southern Range "Energizer Blondie" American IPA. For a truly unique taste, go for the Revelry "Gullah Cream Ale." This unique brew is an American cream ale brewed with Southern grits.
Top review
Chris
Dined on 20 Nov 2024
Everything was great and I highly recommend it for a party of 2 or a party of 10

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