The best restaurants in uptown Charlotte near Spectrum Center
Basketball season is back in Buzz City as the Charlotte Hornets tip off their 2023-24 regular season.
Luckily, there are several places for fans to grab a bite to eat before or after a home game at Spectrum Center in uptown Charlotte.
Whether you want dinner, drinks or even a late-night breakfast, here’s a list of some of the most popular restaurants near the arena:
Aria Tuscan Grill
Location: 100 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.2 miles
Cuisine: Italian
Aria Tuscan Grill focuses on a menu with flavors of Tuscany with old world comfort food in a modern Italian setting. Enjoy housemade pasta, pizza, salads, desserts and more.
Basil
Location: 210 N Church St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.3 miles
Cuisine: Thai
If you’re craving a taste of Thai food, Basil is a Charleston-based spot focused on “refined Thai cuisine.” You can stop by for lunch and dinner to enjoy small bites, curries, noodle and rice dishes, plus more.
Church and Union
Location: 127 N Tryon St #8, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.3 miles
Cuisine: American
Church and Union is a popular spot in the heart of uptown serving brunch, dinner and late night bites. The upscale restaurant’s menu features a wide selection of foods, including steak, seafood, pasta, fried chicken and more.
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse
Location: 330 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.3 miles
Cuisine: American
Enjoy dinner and a drink at Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse. The local restaurant in uptown has burgers, sandwiches, salads and more, along with several unique cocktails and 150 beers on tap.
Fahrenheit
Location: 222 S. Caldwell St., 21st Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.2 miles
Cuisine: American
Grab a bite and a drink while overlooking the city skyline at Fahrenheit. The uptown rooftop bar offers small plates, salads, seafood and more along with wine, cocktails and beer.
Forchetta
Location: 230 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.2 miles
Cuisine: Italian
Forchetta offers a taste of Italy with a modern twist inside The Holiday Inn Center City. The authentic Italian menu includes soups, salads, appetizers and more, all of which can be paired with wine, creative cocktails or gourmet coffee drinks.
Midnight Diner
Location: 420 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 499 feet
Cuisine: American, breakfast
Want to indulge in breakfast bites no matter what time it is? Head over to Midnight Diner. The family-friendly restaurant, open 24 hours a day, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner foods all day long.
[RELATED: New upscale steakhouse chain opens first NC restaurant in uptown Charlotte.]
Mert’s Heart & Soul
Location: 214 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.1 miles
Cuisine: Gullah, soul food
Mert’s Heart & Soul has long been a staple for comfort food in Charlotte. The local hot spot, which opened in 1998, serves low country and Gullah-inspired dishes including shrimp and grits, Charleston red rice and more.
Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen
Location: 150 N. College St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.1 miles
Cuisine: American
Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen has a seasonally-inspired menu made with ingredients from local craftsmen, artisans and small farmers. The local restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner, serves salads, pizzas, seafood, steaks and more.
Sea Level
Location: 129 East 5th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.2 miles
Cuisine: Seafood
Sea Level, a restaurant and oyster bar, offers fresh seafood sourced straight from the Carolina Coasts. From fried oysters, steamed mussels and shrimp cocktails to a seafood tower to have it all, there’s a lot to choose from at this local seafood spot.
The Redeye Diner
Location: 210 East Trade Street, Charlotte NC 28202
Distance from arena: 0.2 miles
Cuisine: American, breakfast
Just like its sister restaurant Midnight Diner, Redeye Diner in uptown Charlotte serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner all day everyday. With choices including burgers and wings, buttermilk pancakes and french toast, the local diner is a hot spot no matter what you want to eat.
Did we miss your favorite spot? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
.jpg)