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Where to Drink Beer with Your Dog in Charlotte These watering holes invite owners to lap up local suds with their pups in tow. by Lauren Levine Corriher Sep 20, 2023 Lucky Dog Bark & Brew – Photography by Kyo H Nam There’s nothing worse than watching your furry best friend longingly press their snout against the window as you depart for a day spent enjoying Charlotte’s booming beer scene. While North Carolina law prevents you from bringing your dog inside some of your favorite spots, four-legged friends are still welcome to join in on these patio spaces and dog-friendly places around town. Birdsong Brewing – Photo courtesy of Jessica Gaddy (@finickylady) Birdsong Brewing Co. Neighborhood: Optimist Park Birdsong Brewing Co. has a spacious outdoor area that offers a shaded patio complete with fans, which comes in handy during Charlotte’s ultra-hot summer months. Your pup is more than welcome to join you as you enjoy some shade and a cold pour. Brewers at 4001 Yancey Neighborhood: Lower South End This taproom features more than 120 tap handles, as well as wine and cocktails. This massive space has just as much seating inside as it does outside, which means you and your four-legged friend will have plenty of room to enjoy an al-fresco brew. Camp North End Neighborhood: Camp North End You and your dog will love exploring Camp North End’s 76-acre campus filled with shops, bars, eateries and plenty of outdoor seating. Grab a brew from Free Range Bar or NoDa Company Canteen to enjoy as you listen to live music on the Boileryard stage. Charlotte Beer Garden Neighborhood: South End Charlotte Beer Garden offers the “largest draft beer selection in the world,” featuring 436 taps and three floors of space to spread out and enjoy. This includes a large, dog-friendly patio on the ground level. Spend a day sampling domestic and international beers with your best, four-legged friend. The Dog Bar Neighborhood: NoDa The Dog Bar is a completely dog-friendly space where pooches can roam leash free, both inside and outside. During the warm-weather months, pets can make a splash in the bone-shaped pool. When temperatures cool down, bring fido inside to sit on the couches while you sip a seasonal ale. Hoppin’ Neighborhood: South End Charlotte’s first self-pour taproom, Hoppin’ boasts more than 60 rotating beer taps, plus wine and prosecco options and the Tacos Rick-O food truck. Pour yourself a pint then take a seat with your pet on the large outdoor patio filled with seating and lawn games. Legion Brewing Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, West Charlotte Sip one of Charlotte’s most popular IPAs, Juicy Jay, with your pup at all three of Legion Brewing’s taprooms, as well as the Trolley Barn in South End. Each location features an outdoor patio where you can enjoy a bite, a pint and some quality time with your four-legged friend. Lucky Dog Bark & Brew – Photography by Kyo H Nam Lucky Dog Bark & Brew Neighborhood: Wesley Heights, Steele Creek, Cornelius With indoor and outdoor play areas, grooming services, TVs and food trucks, Lucky Dog truly is a paradise for pets and owners. Specifically designed for pups, all three locations offer dog care services with a full bar for humans. Kick back, grab a drink and enjoy the puppy party. NoDa Brewing Company Neighborhood: NoDa Grab a Jam Session and belly up to a picnic table at NoDa Brewing Company’s large outdoor space, complete with tasty eats from a rotating array of food trucks. The dog-friendly patio is open on weekends at the OG location and Tuesday through Sunday at the North End taproom. NoDa Company Store Neighborhood: NoDa NoDa Company Store is home to arguably one of the most enjoyable patio setups in the Queen City. Call dibs on a porch swing and enjoy local beers, wine or the delicious frozen drinks. Bring your pup for a relaxing day in a NoDa oasis that radiates tropical vibes. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Neighborhood: Lower South End The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is a pooch’s utopia, with a sprawling beer garden that’s surrounded by 100-year-old oak, mature pecan and hickory trees. Pet parents will enjoy the German-style beers, as well as a menu peppered with German-inspired favorites like bratwurst and a Reuben sandwich. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_QC1MElEVm/embed/?cr=1&v=8&wp=520&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlottesgotalot.com&rp=%2Fblog%2Feat-drink%2Fwhere-to-drink-beer-with-your-dog-in-charlotte#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3164.0999999996275%7D Optimist Hall Neighborhood: Optimist Park At this 22,000-square-foot food hall, you’ll find more than two dozen food stalls, craft beer at Fonta Flora Brewery and The Spindle Bar, and a spacious, dog-friendly courtyard to enjoy your smorgasbord of cuisine. Don’t forget to reward your good boy or girl with a treat from Pet Wants, a pet supply store. https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4FKrlpdDX/embed/?cr=1&v=8&wp=520&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlottesgotalot.com&rp=%2Fblog%2Feat-drink%2Fwhere-to-drink-beer-with-your-dog-in-charlotte#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A3168.5%7D Pinhouse Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood At Pinhouse, you’ll find 72 self-serve taps of wine, beer and cider. If you aren’t there for duckpin bowling, find a space on the outdoor patio for you and your pet to unwind. If your dog needs to burn off some energy after, take them to nearby Freedom Park. Seoul Food Meat Company Neighborhood: South End, Optimist Park This place truly has it all: great food, karaoke booths and a full bar. Both Seoul Food Meat Co. locations have a fenced-in dog park to let your four-legged friend roam around. Grab your gang and let your dog get some exercise while you enjoy beer and Korean-style chicken wings. https://www.instagram.com/p/CESTCsDpEu9/embed/?cr=1&v=8&wp=520&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charlottesgotalot.com&rp=%2Fblog%2Feat-drink%2Fwhere-to-drink-beer-with-your-dog-in-charlotte#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3172.0999999996275%7D Skiptown Neighborhood: South End This massive, 24,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor dog park was made for pooches and their parents. Skiptown offers 15,000 square feet of outdoor space for off-leash play, a splash pad, and a bar with beer and cocktails. Your pup can even lap up a bone broth dog beer. Southern Strain Brewing Company Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, Concord This brewery has two locations, each pet friendly. While the Concord taproom only allows dogs on the outdoor patio, the Plaza Midwood location lets pets come inside which is perfect for a rainy day. Bring your pet for one of the weekly events like music bingo or trivia. Sycamore Brewing Neighborhood: South End While Sycamore Brewing recently renovated its taproom, this expanded four-and-one concept is still a popular place to sip beer with your pooch. Try a signature beer, like

Unlocking the Secrets of Charlotte’s Speakeasies Relive the revelry of the roaring 20s at one of these hidden watering holes. by Erin Breeden Apr 24, 2017 The Cellar at Duckworth’s What began as secret drinking establishments during the Prohibition years, speakeasies have now morphed into bars that feature just the right amount of nostalgia, inventive handcrafted cocktails and no fear of a police raid. In the past few years, the speakeasy concept has slowly gained steam in Charlotte, with no sign of slowing down. Here are five local favorites to try—that is, if you can find the entrances. Dot Dot Dot With one of Charlotte’s original mixologists at the helm, Dot Dot Dot is one of the most exciting additions to the Charlotte cocktail scene in recent years. Stefan Huebner, formerly of Heist Brewery, curates an innovative cocktail program while still paying homage to a bygone era. Bourbon drinks are the stars of the show—try a Truffle New York Sour, a concoction of bourbon, orange liqueur, truffle egg white, house sweet and sour, and port. Photo by Kyo H Nam Photography The Cellar at Duckworth’s Enter Duckworth’s in Uptown and descend the stairs into a different era, and a different bar. Leave the sports bar vibe behind for a more sophisticated, old-fashioned vibe. The Cellar at Duckworth’s features gastropub fare, an extensive list of beers, and a revolving list of seasonal signature cocktails. The space where the Cellar is located was originally built in 1912 and from the decor, the drinks, to the dress of the staff, it embraces the pre-prohibition era. The Cotton Room Named in honor of the open-air cotton marketplace that once existed in its home of Brevard Court, The Cotton Room combines a modern cocktail menu with the vibe of a bygone era. This southern-inspired joint features beers from the Carolinas, as well as local ingredients and liquors in their craft cocktails. Try the Bartender’s Alchemy, which combines Covington Vodka, St. Germain, lemon juice, honey syrup, apricot bitters and an edible flower. Backstage Lounge The newest kid on the speakeasy scene, Backstage Lounge has already garnered quite a buzz since opening in January. Tucked in the back of taco and tequila joint, SouthBound, access to Backstage is granted by picking up a phone that’s hidden behind a red curtain. The cocktail menu includes classic, signature and house barrel-aged. Try The Fizzy One, which features Method, strawberry vodka, passionfruit puree, egg white, house-made orgeat and yellow chartreuse. Room XIII From the outside, unassuming best describes Room XIII. Located below Emerson Joseph, the men’s grooming lounge on Tryon Street, you may walk right past Room XIII unless you know where to look. But indoors, poker, cocktails and cigars await. But take note: This isn’t a drop in establishment—advance reservations are required.

6 Charlotte Cocktails You Can Make From Home No bar, no problem. Whip up premium libations from your favorite spots all without leaving your kitchen. by Beth Castle “Putting Down Roots” from Bardo Bardo – “Putting Down Roots” Cocktail Drawing from a range of influences, everything from Spanish to Japanese, the eclectic restaurant aims to keep dishes and drinks on trend. Enter exhibit A: Putting Down Roots, a beet-ginger-mezcal concoction. Ingredients *Root Blend Preparation Idlewild – “Rougue One” Cocktail Idlewild, a no-menu craft cocktail bar, opened in the NoDa neighborhood in 2019 by Vince Chirico. Known for operating without a set drink menu, Idlewild is a stand-out when it comes to both classic and custom craft cocktails. Ingredients Preparation “Grassy Knoll” Cocktail from Haymaker Haymaker – “Grassy Knoll” Cocktail General manager Brad Grubb, who’s in charge of the restaurant’s beverage program, ensures drinks reflect chef William Dissen’s signature style: a down-to-earth, ingredient-driven menu. Take this Grassy Knoll cocktail, for instance. Here the classic gin-citrus-basil combination springs eternal, all thanks to flavorful ingredients straight from the garden. Ingredients Simple Syrup Preparation Rosemont – “Soccer Mom Special” Cocktail Like its sister establishments All American Pub and Whiskey Warehouse, Rosemont’s wheelhouse is, essentially, bar food. Yet what makes the South End restaurant stand out among its peers is its utterly over-the-top selection. Then there’s the drink menu, which is more tiki than taproom. Slushies, Long Island iced teas and these Capri Sun-style pouch drinks (called the Soccer Mom Special) offer a refreshing spin on late-night and pub fare. Ingredients for the Peach Ring Preparation Combine the whiskey, orange juice, sour mix and grenadine in a cocktail mixer. Pour the concoction over ice, and serve. Ingredients for the Transfusion Preparation “Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni” Slushie from Hello, Sailor Hello, Sailor – “Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni” Slushie Joe and Katy Kindred, owners of Kindred Restaurant in Davidson, have long beguiled Charlotteans with their culinary capabilities, which is why their sophomore effort, Hello, Sailor, opened in December 2017 amid such anticipation. Food & Wine magazine listed it as one of “The Most Exciting Restaurant Openings of 2017,” and on opening day, a line of hungry patrons trailed from the door to the parking lot. The bar stays true to the establishment’s vacation vibe with frozen and fruity cocktails like this one, the Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni Slushie. Blended in a slushie machine, the drink epitomizes Hello, Sailor—sweet, refreshing and here just in time for patio season. Ingredients Preparation Not Just Coffee – “The Vatican” Cocktail Who could believe in 2011, when Miracle and James Yoder opened Not Just Coffee, that the caffeine connoisseurs would within a few years helm one of Charlotte’s most recognized coffee brands? With a variety of locations in Charlotte, the Dilworth shop has been, by far, the largest leap for the brew masters; in addition to coffee, the shop dishes out breakfast, lunch and bar snacks, plus alcoholic beverages. Although java still brings in the morning rush, it’s craft cocktail recipes like this one that make us anticipate the days when there’s a Not Just Coffee—Dilworth edition—on every block. Ingredients