New year, new bites: 25 restaurants to visit in the Charlotte area in 2025
There’s a delicious year in the works for Charlotte in 2025, with a variety of new restaurants and fresh openings planned to keep us tasting new bites all year long.
We keep a watch on what’s to come. And we’ve plucked out some food and drink spots coming our way that we’re most excited about. Some — such as Copperhead Social Club, Finale and Qahwah House — are already open. But many others — including Leluia Hall, Mariah’s Taco Spot and Spaghett — are floating somewhere between blueprints and the finishing stages of construction, so opening dates aren’t set.
You’ll want to make sure to subscribe to CharlotteFive’s free newsletter for updates as the year progresses. But there’s no need to wait to get started on trying them all. Here are 25 of the best new restaurants we recommend you make plans to visit in 2025:
Albertine
Location: Duke Energy Plaza, 525 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Yes, you’ve heard a lot about Albertine already. But all that buzz isn’t for nothing. The contemporary Mediterranean and Southern-inspired restaurant in uptown Charlotte’s Duke Energy Plaza shows off Katy Kindred’s eye for decor, paired with James Beard nominated chef Joe Kindred’s talent for pairing flavors. Dine there with adventure in mind.
Antagonist
Location: The Campbell, 2025 Cleveland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
We’re intrigued by the plans for Antagonist, a coffee-by-day and craft-cocktails-by-night spot from the team behind Protagonist. And there’s a twist: a nighttime no-cell phone policy. Look for the beverage-focused cafe to open on Memorial Day weekend, Axios Charlotte reports.
Bayt Almocha
Location: Centro NoDa, 715 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Bayt Almocha is set to join Charlotte’s growing Yemeni coffee shop scene when it opens at the Centro NoDa development in 2025. The Michigan-based cafe offers drinks such as pistachio lattes and frappes, Turkish coffee and milk cakes.
Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor
Location: 3024 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Mixologist Bob Peters is opening Chief’s Modern Cocktail Parlor on Saturday, Jan. 4, next door to The Goodyear House with his Built On Hospitality teammates as an ode to his hospitality-driven parents. The early 1900s mill house has been converted into a 50-seat, 1,800-square-foot cocktail bar with a small outdoor garden and snacks for noshing.
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Copperhead Social Club
Location: 2810 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
The team behind Pepperbox Doughnuts has officially unveiled its newest spot in NoDa: Copperhead Social Club. The neighborhood bar, with a patio out back and sports games on TV, has a menu of burgers, bar snacks, beer and wine.
Dogwood: A Southern Table
Location: The Westin Charlotte, 601 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Rare Roots Hospitality put Dogwood: A Southern Table on the shelf in 2023 and closed the SouthPark concept — but it’s coming back to life once again in early 2025. The Southern restaurant known for fresh produce and creative cocktails will be reopening in January at The Westin Charlotte.
ESO Artisanal Pasta
Location: Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
This spring, an Italian food truck featured on “The Great Food Truck Race” is coming to Optimist Hall. Culinary masterminds and couple AJ Sankofa and Kristina Gambarian are opening ESO Artisinal Pasta with Arancini, Polpette, Sicilian Fried Chicken and other pasta dishes.
Finale Pizza
Location: 15025 Lancaster Hwy D3, Charlotte, NC 28277
The pizza mavens behind Inizio Pizza Napoletana have opened a new restaurant in the Ballantyne area: Finale Pizza. And if you’re an Inizio fan, we probably don’t need to say another word as you’re already in the car mapping out the address. “I just love great pizza and fresh pasta. I love it in all forms, and we want Charlotte to have an amazing pizza scene,” owner Grant Arons said. We love Arons’ love pizza, too, along with the rest of Charlotte.
Gallery House
Location: 231 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28212
Joining the lineup of uptown’s restaurants and art museums is a new concept that’s part bar and part art gallery. Gallery House, which opened in September, is an “event-focused cocktail lounge” decked out with pieces from local and nationally known artists.
Gravity Pizza
Location: Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206
Gravity Sourdough Pizza Co. opened at Camp North End in December, serving wood-fired pies made with sourdough crafted from a starter dating back to the late 19th century. Owners Alex Osterhoudt and Amanda Wagner had their first date over pizza — and are now engaged, so it’s fair to say pizza is a big part of their story. The restaurant also serves sourdough sandwiches, salads, cocktails and more.
Harlem Nights
Location: 9539 Pinnacle Dr #200, Charlotte, NC 28262
If you’re a sucker for soul food, a new restaurant serving “Southern dishes with a touch of sophistication and flair” is now open in Charlotte. Harlem Nights, adorned with Harlem Renaissance-themed decor, has a long list of soul food favorites, along with vegan options.
La Lima
Location: 131 E. Park Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203
A fast-casual Peruvian cafe called La Lima will offer slow-roasted meats and sandwiches in a former Carrabba’s restaurant, Charlotte Business Journal reported. The team behind Yunta Nikkei and Viva Chicken is opening the restaurant in 2025.
Leluia Hall
Location: 1829 Cleveland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
The Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, which has become nationally known for redeveloping Charlotte’s historic churches into restaurants, is “heading to the finish line” on its much-awaited Leluia Hall project. When the restaurant opens in the former church that was once Bonterra, diners can expect family-style servings in an upscale space with steak and seafood.
Maneki
Location: 320 South Tryon St., Charlotte
Japanese grilled skewers paired with dipping sauces is on its way to uptown Charlotte in the The Alley at Latta Arcade. James Beard Award finalist chef Sam Hart’s Japanese robatayaki food stall called Maneki will be open for late night bites that pair local produce and proteins with traditional Japanese cooking methods.
Mariah’s Taco Spot
Location: 4090 Raleigh St., Charlotte NC 28206
Mariah’s Taco Spot grew from apartment kitchen to ghost kitchen and beyond, with a brick-and-mortar location on the way. When the restaurant opens, Mariah’s will pair her popular tacos and consomme with wings and seasoned rice.
Marlin Bar
Location: SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Clothing brand Tommy Bahama’s Marlin Bar is set to open alongside the retailer at SouthPark Mall in early 2025. At the space with indoor and outdoor seating where McCormick & Schmick’s once operated, you’ll savor dishes such as its World Famous Coconut Shrimp, Lump Blue Crab & Avocado Salad and its Spaghetti Squash Bowl.
Oshen
Location: 7741 Colony Road, Suite A1, Charlotte, NC 28226
The duo behind Yunta opened a new “sushi haven” in south Charlotte. Oshen, located in Colony Place shopping center, offers fresh sushi rolls, build-your-own bowls, hibachi, dumplings, bao buns and other Japanese dishes.
Qahwah House
Location: 1318 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Qahwah House is among the several new Yemeni coffee shops joining Charlotte’s food and drink scene. The cafe has Yemeni coffee roasted on site, along with traditional Turkish coffee, lattes and sweet and savory treats.
Spaghett
Location: 224 W 10th St. Charlotte, NC
Spaghett, a craft pasta and cocktail restaurant from acclaimed chef Sam Hart, (see above, re: Maneki) will open in the former Poplar space in uptown Charlotte’s 4th Ward in early 2025. For now, those looking for an early taste might be able to catch a bite at a pop-up tasting.
Tipsy Pickle
Location: Camp North End, 201 Camp Road, Suite 107, Charlotte, NC 28206
Six pickleball courts, three bars and a Tex-Mex menu, is heading to Camp North End. when Tipsy Pickle opens in early 2025. The 35,000-square-foot athleisure and entertainment destination will also offer golf simulators, ping pong, pool tables, shuffleboard, cornhole and darts.
True Food Kitchen
Location: Linea, 2161 Hawkins St., Charlotte, NC 28203
True Food Kitchen is opening in early 2025 at Linea South End on Hawkins Street. The full-service restaurant and bar will have outdoor and indoor seating options and a on nutrient-dense staples and superfoods such as salads, bows and sourdough pizza.
Uchi
Location: Pecan Avenue and Central Avenue in Charlotte
Uchi, a sushi restaurant founded by James Beard award-winning chef and sushi master Tyson Cole, is opening in Charlotte in late 2025. It will be the first North Carolina location of the Texas-based Japanese restaurant, which offers omakase, plus cool and hot tastings, and daily specials.
Whataburger
Location: 5301 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: 12809 Albemarle Road, Charlotte, NC 28227
Location: 5018 Sunset Road, Charlotte NC 28269
While Charlotte has been playing the waiting game with Whataburger for awhile now, a Charlotte location — or three — of the wildly popular Texas-based chain is on the way. Most likely to come first is a planned location at Clear Creek Crossing, where a building permit has been filed for construction to begin. Plans filed with the city over time have also mentioned a “Whataburger Conversion of Former Bank” for a South Boulevard address and mentioned utilizing the drive-thru where a previous Sun Trust Bank location stood, as well as a potential location on Sunset Road.
The Writer’s Room
Location: 3123 N Davidson St STE 104, Charlotte, NC 28205
A new bar in the former Protagonist space in NoDa is coming from Corey Duran, the owner of The People’s Market, Charlotte Business Journal reported. Look for classic cocktails, craft beer and wine when The Writer’s Room opens in 2025.
Yassou Greek
Location: 1039 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
Greek food made from family recipes handed down “generation after generation,” will be on the menu at Yassou Greek, co-owner Landa Daglas told CharlotteFive. The restaurant will open in the space recently vacated by Italian restaurant Volo sometime in 2025.
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This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.