Charlotte’s ultimate rooftop guide: 20+ restaurants and bars for elevated eats & drinks
Rooftop season has arrived in Charlotte.
Warmer weather calls for soaking up the sun and what better way to do that from one of the city’s many outdoor rooftop bars and restaurants.
Whether it’s a special occasion or a spontaneous night out, there’s a long list of rooftops where you can get an elevated dining — and viewing — experience of the Queen City. Here’s a guide to more than 20 of our favorite sky-high food and drink spots around town:
Aura Rooftop
Location: JW Marriott Charlotte, 124 E Brooklyn Village Ave, Charlotte, NC 28202
If you want a tropical vibe in the heart of the city, you’ll get it at Aura Rooftop. Inspired by the “regal aura of Queen Charlotte herself,” the rooftop lounge — decked out in greenery and florals and featuring a pool — offers botanical-inspired cocktails, beer, wine and small bites.
Búho Bar
Location: Grand Bohemian Charlotte, 201 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Búho Bar is for the night owls who “crave a contemporary take on a night out.” The 16-story high rooftop, with a Johnson & Wales University grad as the culinary mastermind, offers handcrafted cocktails and South American-inspired tapas.
Burial Beer Co.
Location: 1214 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Once home to a vintage clothing shop, Burial Beer Co.’s Charlotte location is designed to bring “modern offerings among vintage vibes.” Along with a rooftop bar, the Asheville-based taproom’s spot in Plaza Midwood has two bars with 36 Burial draft lines, cocktails, wine and a full-service kitchen.
The Chamber By Wooden Robot
Location: 416 E 36th St STE 100, Charlotte, NC 28205
The Chamber by Wooden Robot is the Charlotte taproom’s second location with a rooftop biergarten, plus a 3,000-square-foot patio. The dog-friendly spot nestled in NoDa offers a rotating selection of craft beer, with a focus on farmhouse ales and sours.
Charlotte Beer Garden
Location: 1300 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Charlotte Beer Garden is one of the biggest beer-forward spots in Charlotte, with the world’s largest selection of draft beers. Take in the city views from the rooftop of the three-story South End bar that has more than 400 beers on tap, cocktails, wine, along with burgers, pizza and other classic American bar bites.
City Lights Rooftop
Location: Le Méridien Charlotte, 555 S McDowell St Tower, Charlotte, NC 28204
City Lights Rooftop is one of the many dining options at Le Méridien Charlotte, with signature cocktails and small bites. The uptown rooftop, open 5 p.m.-midnight daily, can be visited by hotel guests and the public.
Coin Bar
Location: Omni Charlotte Hotel, 132 E. Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
At Coin Bar, you can take a sip while taking a dip at the Omni Charlotte Hotel’s rooftop pool bar. The uptown spot has complimentary admission for hotel guests and limited day passes during summer.
Cordial
Location: AC Hotel Charlotte SouthPark, 1824 Roxborough Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
You can enjoy the sights of the Charlotte skyline from SouthPark’s rooftop cocktail bar, Cordial. Located atop the AC Hotel, the 8th floor bar and lounge has a Spanish-inspired menu with tapas-style small plates, plus signature cocktails, local drafts and wine.
Fahrenheit
Location: 222 S. Caldwell St., 21st Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202
Fahrenheit, which has a wrap-around view of the Queen City, is Charlotte’s first open-air rooftop restaurant and bar. The 8,600-square-foot, perched on the 21st floor of an uptown high-rise, has a variety of menu options, including small plates, salads, steaks and seafood towers.
The Gin Mill South End
Location: 1423 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Whether you want to catch a game or live music, The Gin Mill is a rooftop designed to “cater to all tastes.” Enjoy pub favorites including wings, flatbreads, burgers and sandwiches.
Graham Street Pub & Patio
Location: 400 S. Graham St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Graham Street Pub & Patio is a popular neighborhood bar near Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field. Along with its rooftop, the local restaurant also has an outdoor patio for guests to fill up on food truck-inspired bites like skewers, sliders, tacos, nachos, and loaded fries.
Hestia Rooftop
Location: Ballantyne Village, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way, Charlotte, NC 28277
Serving traditional Asian fare with a twist, Hestia Rooftop is described as “part sophisticated rooftop bar, part cutting-edge Japanese fusion restaurant.” The Ballantyne restaurant and bar, which opened in 2023, has specialty sushi, seafood, and steak — including some that can be cooked right in front of you.
Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails
Location: 1320 S Church St Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28203
Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails is a cozy, chic restaurant with a small roof deck where you can admire the views of the city over brunch, dinner or drinks. The South End spot, which opened in 2019, offers a 100% seed oil-free, scratch-made selection of local flavors and seasonal ingredients.
Merchant & Trade
Location: Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, 303 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Atop the 19th floor of Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, Merchant & Trade is made up of four areas providing panoramic views of uptown. The upscale rooftop, designed with an indoor bar, outdoor terrace, private terrace and lawn, serves North Carolina-produced spirits, house-made mixers and elevated bar bites.
Mizu
Location: Hyatt Centric Charlotte Southpark, 3100 Apex Drive, Charlotte, NC 28211
Enjoy a meal overlooking the Southpark neighborhood at Mizu’s rooftop terrace. The fine dining restaurant, which opened in 2021, offers a seafood-focused menu, including sushi and shareables.
Novelty House Rooftop
Location: 123 E. 5th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Novelty House Rooftop is an upscale cocktail bar nestled in the heart of the city center. An ever-evolving experience, the rooftop’s decor and drinks also change with the season.
Nuvole Rooftop Twentytwo
Location: 220 E. Trade St., Suite 2200, Charlotte, NC 28202
As the name implies, Nuvole Rooftop Twentytwo is a 22-story high rooftop lounge — the highest in Charlotte. The uptown bar’s menu of small plates and drinks includes truffle parmesan fries, salmon sliders, fried cheesecake churros, beer, wine, seasonal and signature cocktails.
Overflow
Location: 137 Mecklynn Road, Mooresville, NC 28117
Overflow is the only self-pour beer, wine and coffee spot in Lake Norman — with 46 taps on its main level and 24 taps on its rooftop. Up top, its open-air space also has fire pits, umbrellas, blankets and giant TV screens for sports fans to tune into a game.
Pins Mechanical Company
Location: 307 W Tremont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Eat, drink and play at Pins Mechanical Company in South End. The barcade social spot, which has duckpin bowling, pinball, foosball and more, has a patio and a second-story outdoor bar.
Rí Rá Irish Pub
Location: 208 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Experience the vibe of an old Irish pub at Rí Rá in uptown. The Irish pub, which has other locations across the country, has a rooftop patio along with an original shop bar, 19th century Victorian bar, whiskey room and dining/music room.
The Royal Tot
Location: 933 Louise Ave., Suite 350 Charlotte, NC 28204
The Royal Tot is a rooftop tiki bar with just as much tropical decor as it has tropical drinks. The two-story spot, packed with palm trees, seashells and beachy drinkware, offers cocktails, mocktails and small bites.
State of Confusion
Location: 3500 Dewitt Ln, Charlotte, NC 28217
State of Confusion, located in LoSo, is a restaurant and bar with Peruvian, New Orleans and Lowcountry influences. Just in time for the spring season, the restaurant announced it is rolling out weekly rooftop live music performances and new menu items.
Topside At The Waterman
Location: 2729 South Blvd Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28209
Docked in South End is The Waterman Fish Bar, a neighborhood seafood joint with a rooftop bar. Weather permitting, you can enjoy a taste of classic seafood dishes with a Southern inspiration inside or on the 2,000-square-foot rooftop.
Whiskey Warehouse
Location: 1221 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Sit under string lights on the rooftop at Whiskey Warehouse with a craft beer, cocktail or both over classic American bites. Bonus: The neighborhood bar in Plaza Midwood also has daily drink specials all week long.
Did we miss a rooftop bar or restaurant in Charlotte? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Charlotte’s ultimate rooftop guide: 20+ restaurants and bars for elevated eats & drinks."
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