The 30+ best patios in Charlotte

The 30+ best patios in Charlotte

It’s finally warming up in Charlotte, and we're ready to be outside.

Here's our roundup of the 38 best patios in the Charlotte region, listed in alphabetical order.

Context: We define patios as outdoor, open-air spaces. 

• Some businesses have multiple locations — we count those as separate patios.
• Many of the 40+ breweries in the Charlotte area have outdoor patios but aren’t included in this list. Find them in our brewery guide here.

Need outdoor views from the top floor? Here’s a list of the best rooftop bars in Charlotte.

Canopy Cocktails and Garden

The South End cocktail lounge features a massive outdoor seating area with its own fully stocked bar, plus another bar right inside. Canopy is also situated next to the Rail Trail, making it an easy stop for a post-walk drink.

Details: Canopy is located at 118 E Kingston Ave. 

• It’s open Wednesday-Sunday 4pm-2am. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Chapter 6

A western Mediterranean restaurant from The Rare Roots Hospitality team with an extensive patio overlooking the Rail Trail. If you go, get a happy hour drink at Sycamore right next door.

Details: Chapter 6 is one of the latest additions to The Line, a 16-story tower that houses Sycamore Brewing at 2151 Hawkins St..

• It's open Sunday-Thursday 5-9pm and Friday-Saturday 5-10pm.

Charlotte Beer Garden

This sprawling three-story bar has a whopping 436 beer taps. It's the first sister site to the original Raleigh Beer Garden.

Details: Charlotte Beer Garden is located at 1300 S Tryon St.

• It’s open Monday-Friday 11am-2am, Saturday-Sunday 10am-2am. 

 Go deeper: Everything you need to know about Charlotte Beer Garden

Club House Kitchen & Cocktails

A restaurant and bar from the team behind PARA in Plaza Midwood. There's partial covered outdoor seating in the front and another patio around the side. Club House also makes all of the food for Pinhouse next door.

Details: Club House is located at 2308 Central Ave, next to Pinhouse.

• It's open Tuesday 5-11pm, Wednesday-Friday 5pm-midnight, Saturday 5-10pm and Sunday 5pm-midnight.

Drift

The two-story waterfront restaurant features views of Lake Wylie with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Details: Drift is located at 315-M Lanyard Lane, Belmont

• It's open Tuesday-Thursday 4-9:30pm, Friday 4-10pm, Saturday 10:30am-10pm and Sunday 10:30am-9pm. 

Go deeper: 2-story waterfront restaurant now open in Lake Wylie

Dilworth Tasting Room

This popular wine bar has an enchanting back patio that feels like an escape from the city — except it's less than two miles from Uptown.

Details: Dilworth Tasting Room is located at 300 E. Tremont Ave. and its SouthPark location, with a smaller patio, is located at 4905 Ashley Park Lane. 

Go deeper: Coolest wine bars in Charlotte

El Thrifty

Find this Mexican-inspired restaurant, bar and gaming venue from the team behind Queen Park Social on the ground level of Optimist Hall.

• The drink menu includes agave-based spirits, mezcal, tequila, local craft beer and wine.

Details: El Thrifty is located at 1115 N Brevard St.

• It's open Monday-Thursday from 11am-11pm, Friday-Saturday from 11am-midnight and Sundays from 11am-10pm. 

Flower Child

Located next to the light rail in South End, this fast-casual chain offers healthy options like salads, bowls and wraps, plus prime people watching.

Details: Flower Child is located at 1537 Camden Road.

• It’s open daily from 11am-9pm. 

Hello, Sailor

Located about 25 minutes from Charlotte, Hello, Sailor is a fitting venue for a lakeside date — try their tiki cocktails, share popcorn shrimp and enjoy the sunset over Lake Norman.

Details: Hello, Sailor is located at 20210 Henderson Road in Cornelius.

• It’s open Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-9pm.

Related guide: 16 things to eat, drink and do in Cornelius, including pontoon rentals and brewery hopping

HEX Coffee, Kitchen and Natural Wines

HEX serves wine, mocktails, breakfast and lunch in addition to coffee. The coffee bar and open cafe area fit about 40 people indoors. It also has additional outdoor seating.

Details: HEX is located at 201 Camp Road.

• Its hours of operation are Tuesday-Sunday from 8am-3pm.

Go deeper: El Toro Bruto owner launches dinner service at HEX in Camp North End

Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails

This sister restaurant to Craft Tasting Room & Growler Shop has both a ground-floor patio fronting Lincoln Street and a rooftop patio with Uptown views.

Details: Lincoln Street is located at 1320 S. Church St.

• It's open Tuesday-Thursday 5-10pm, Friday 5pm-midnight, Saturday 10:30am-midnight and Sunday 10:30am-4pm. Closed on Mondays. 

Monday Night Brewing Garden Co.

In line with its nickname, the outside of Garden Co. has a beer garden feel, complete with numerous picnic tables and fire pits. It's both dog and kid-friendly, too.

Details: Monday Night Garden Co. is located at 2217 South Tryon, across the street from Inner Peaks.

• It's open Monday-Thursday noon-11pm, Friday-Saturday noon-2am and Sunday noon-9pm.

Noble Smoke

This flagship barbecue spot by Jim Noble, the owner of Rooster's and Bossy Beaulah’s, serves up pork, brisket, ribs and a spacious 200-person patio and biergarten.

Details: Noble Smoke is located at 2216 Freedom Dr.

• It’s open Sunday-Thursday from 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am-10pm.

Go deeper: 30 best restaurants in Charlotte, right now

NoDa Company Store

The neighborhood beer and wine shop offers a vibrant patio with tiki umbrellas and porch swings. Sip on their house-made sangria during your next visit.

Details: NoDa Company Store is located at 3221 Yadkin Ave.

• It's open Tuesday-Thursday 4-9, Friday 3-10pm, Saturday noon-10pm and Sunday noon-7pm.

NoDa Company Canteen

NoDa Company Store's "little sister,' NoDa Company Canteen in Camp North End, has a similar tropical feel with a sprawling patio overlooking the Boileryard.

Details: NoDa Company Canteen is located at 1824 Statesville Ave. 

• It’s open Wednesday-Thursday from noon-9pm, Friday-Saturday from noon-10pm and Sunday from noon-8pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.

 Go deeper: NoDa Company Canteen expands to a new tropical brick and mortar location in Camp North End

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Expect a sprawling beer garden with German brews, food and dozens of picnic tables.

Details: OMB is located at 4150 Yancey Road.

• It's open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 10am-10pm.

Go deeper: Complete list and map of Charlotte’s local breweries, plus the most popular beer at each

Pins Mechanical

The sprawling 23,000-square-foot game bar has a ground-level and rooftop patio — each with skyline views. Expect a lineup of old-school entertainment like foosball, pinball, ping pong, duckpin bowling and retro arcade games.

Details: Pins is located at 307 W. Tremont Ave.

• It's open Monday-Wednesday 4pm-12:30am, Thursday 4pm-1:30am, Friday-Saturday noon-2:30am and Sunday noon-12:30am. 

Pinhouse

From the owners of Hoppin', this two-story Plaza Midwood bar offers two outdoor patios overlooking Veterans Park. Inside, you'll find duckpin bowling and a self-serve bar with 72 taps.

Details: Pinhouse is located at 2306 Central Ave.

• It's open Tuesday 4-10pm, Wednesday-Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 3pm-midnight, Saturday noon-midnight and Sunday noon-10pm.

RuRu's Tacos + Tequila

RuRu's is situated inside the historic Reynolds-Gourmajenko House, a Mediterranean-style Myers Park mansion built in 1926. You'll find the patio and outdoor bar in the old courtyard.

Details: RuRu's is located at 715 Providence Road.

• It's open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday 12-10pm. 

Related guide: Best Mexican restaurants in Charlotte

Selwyn Avenue Pub

This family-owned bar in a repurposed house has been holding it down in Myers Park since 1990. The front patio features a bar, flat-screen TVs, fire pits and a retractable awning. 

Pro tip: Don't leave without grabbing a Transfusion, Selwyn's original mixed drink with vodka, ginger ale and a splash of grape juice.

Details: Selwyn Pub is located at 2801 Selwyn Ave.

• It’s open Tuesday 4-11pm, Wednesday-Thursday 3:30-11pm, Friday 3:30pm-midnight, Saturday 12:30pm-1am and Sunday 12:30pm-11pm.

Seoul Food Meat Co.

The Korean Fusion BBQ restaurant has two locations — the original South End spot and another in Optimist Park, which opened in October 2022. You’ll find spacious patios with features like fenced-in dog parks and lawn games at both.

Details: Seoul Food South End is located at 1400 S. Church St. It’s open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-midnight and Friday-Saturday 11:30am-2am. 

• Seoul Food Optimist Park is located at 421 E. 26th St. It’s open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11:30am-12:30am.

Go deeper: Seoul Food opens huge new restaurant, playground and karaoke bar in Optimist Park

Sixty Vines

Choose from 60 wines on tap plus cider, beer, cocktails and mocktails. Then, find a spot on the open-air patio (which gets extra points for the comfortable couches).

Details: Sixty Vines is located at 1415 Vantage Park Dr., in the Vantage South End building, near Waterbean Coffee and Uptown Yolk.

• Sixty Vines is open Monday 11am-9pm, Tuesday-Thursday 10am-11pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-9pm.

SouthBound / The Music Yard / Mac's Speed Shop

You’ll find spacious patios at each of these spots along South Boulevard, including SouthBound (a SoCal Taco restaurant), The Music Yard (a live music venue) and Mac's Speed Shop (a southern smokehouse).

Details: SouthBound and The Music Yard are both located at 2433 South Blvd. 

• SouthBound is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight. Visit The Music Yard’s Instagram for hours and events.

Mac's is located at 2511 South Blvd. 

• It’s open Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight.

State of Confusion

From the owners of Stir in South End, State of Confusion has as patio that's a must-visit in LoSo. There's a grill, fire pits, large games and picnic tables. If you want to elevate your view, check out the rooftop patio.

Details: Find State of Confusion at 3500 Dewitt Lane, across from Phat Burrito and Supperclub South End.

• It's open Monday-Thursday 11am-midnight, Friday 11am-1am, Saturday 10am-1am and Sunday 10am-midnight.

Streetcar Bar + Bites

This sports bar on Thrift Road in Wesley Heights has a pop art theme and a partially covered patio with bunny rabbit chairs (yes, you read that right).

Details: Streetcar is located at 2315 Thrift Road, beside Pizza Baby.

• It's open Monday 5-10pm, Tuesday-Thursday 5-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-midnight and Sunday 11am-10pm.

Suffolk Punch

Suffolk Punch Brewing has top-tier patios. The flagship is in South End, located on the light rail’s New Bern Station. Last May, the brewery opened a second location at SouthPark mall.

Details: Suffolk Punch South End is located at 2911 Griffith St. 

• It’s open Monday-Wednesday 7:30am-10pm, Thursday-Friday 7:30am-midnight, Saturday 10am-midnight and Sunday 10am-9pm. 

Suffolk Punch SouthPark is located at 4400 Sharon Road, near Dick's Sporting Goods.

• It's open Monday-Thursday 8am-10pm, Friday 8am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-9pm.

Sycamore Brewing

One thing about Sycamore's patio: It's massive, so you're almost always guaranteed a seat. Grab a Mountain Candy (or their popular frozen espresso martini) before claiming a spot.

Details: Sycamore is located in the mixed-use development The Line at 2151 Hawkins St.

• It's open Monday-Wednesday 7am-11pm, Thursday-Friday 7am-noon, Saturday 8am-noon and Sunday 8am-11pm.

The Cowfish

The patio at this sushi-meets-burger restaurant in SouthPark is a popular spot for warm-weather dining.  

Details: The Cowfish is located at 4310 Sharon Road.

• It’s open Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

The Crunkleton

The Crunkleton’s covered patio has sun shades, fans, planters and heaters.

Details: The Crunkleton is located at 1957 E 7th St. 

• It’s open Monday-Thursday 5-11pm, Friday 5pm-midnight, Saturday 11am-midnight; Sunday 11am-11pm.

The Goodyear House

Located in an early 1900s mill home, The Goodyear House specializes in elevated comfort food. Out back, you’ll find their outdoor patio and bar shaded by a 150-year-old Holly tree.

Details: The Goodyear House is located at 3032 N Davidson St.

• It’s open Monday-Wednesday 4-10pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 10am-9pm. 

The Penguin

Expect a 75-person, dog-friendly covered patio that’s a go-to for a date, drinks with friends or a weekend brunch.

Context: A Charlotte staple, The Penguin’s original Plaza Midwood location closed in 2014 after more than a 50-year run. The restaurant reopened in Dilworth in September 2022 under new ownership.

Details: The Penguin is located at 1531 East Blvd. 

• It’s open Monday-Wednesday 11am-9pm, Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-8pm. 

Go deeper: The Penguin is back with a new owner, new menu and in a new location

The Royal Tot

The two-story tropical-themed Belmont bar has four distinct areas to sip a piña colada, but its rooftop deck with skyline views is not to be missed.

Details: The Royal Tot is located at 933 Louise Ave.

• It’s open Monday-Wednesday 4pm-midnight, Thursday 4pm-1am, Friday 4pm-2am, Saturday noon-2am ad Sunday noon-midnight.

Go deeper: Tropical themed bar now open in Belmont neighborhood

The Teal Turnip

The small plates restaurant in Oakhurst has a 1,000-square-foot patio that can seat 40 people.

Details: The Teal Turnip is located at 1640 Oakhurst Commons Dr. Suite 105, in the same shopping center as Swirl, NoDa Yoga and Night Swim Coffee.

• It's open Tuesday 5-8pm and Wednesday-Saturday 11am-9pm.

VBGB 

This German-inspired pub carries more than 30 beers on tap and offers a partly-covered patio filled with large games like giant Connect Four and Jenga. It’s also home to The Sandbox, a five-court, lighted sand volleyball facility.

Details: VBGB is located at 920 Hamilton St. — near The Fillmore. 

• VBGB is open Tuesday-Wednesday 4-10pm, Thursday-Friday 4pm-midnight, Saturday noon-midnight and Sunday 3-10pm. Closed on Monday.

Looking for more Charlotte food and drink guides? Here’s a complete list of Axios' Food + Drink guides, including best burgers, best bars, best new restaurants, best weekly specials, best sushi, best pizza, best cocktail bars and best brunch.