Hidden gem in Charlotte named one of the 15 best bars in America

Cheers, Charlotte! The city now has the bragging rights of being home to one of the best bars in the country.

Esquire dropped its annual list of the top 15 spots to grab a drink, including Lorem Ipsum.

The magazine’s roundup this year isn’t just focused on the crafty cocktails from top mixologists but also the overall vibe — specifically spots “whose very existence says something about the community you happen to inhabit.”

So its team asked one question to several writers and staffers to compile the best of the best bars: Where do you go for a drink when the world’s giving you the blues?

Of all the fan-favorite spots, that included the local listening bar in Charlotte — one of only two bars in North Carolina to make the list.

The love for Lorem Ipsum

“When I first met the bartender Justin Hazelton years ago, he was already shaking things up in Charlotte’s hospitality scene. Now, with Lorem Ipsum, he’s created something truly special: a love letter to Black culture, music, and storytelling through cocktails. Tucked inside Hotel Refuge, Lorem Ipsum is a cozy listening bar where you can vibe out to curated DJ sets—everything from R&B, soul, and jazz to Afro-Caribbean and Latin beats. You can even bring your own vinyl to spin.

“It’s intimate and intentional, the kind of place where you can actually hear your people talk but still catch a groove. What I love most, as a chef deeply rooted in Black southern foodways, is the bar’s reverence for our culinary culture. Spiritless drinks like the Jerk nod to red-drink traditions with hibiscus, lime, and ginger, while Lemon Pepper (with its blend of tequila and fresh black pepper and lemongrass) pays homage to the wings made iconic by Black Atlanta.

“But Lorem Ipsum represents much more than the drinks. It’s a third space. There are no dress codes, no overpriced beverages, no sections to sit in. It’s a place where you feel seen and celebrated. Where the music hits, the menu references make you smile, and everyone—from the bar staff to the guests—feels like family. — Amethyst Ganaway, a writer and chef in Charleston, South Carolina, said in Esquire’s report.

Lorem Ipsum, which was “birthed from the desire to have a space that provides a full sensory experience,” joined Charlotte’s food and drink scene back in 2023.

Offering curated music and cocktails, there is music programming mastered by local and international DJs and artists, along with a menu of cocktail, wine, beer and spiritless sips.

You can find the full list of Esquire’s picks of the best bars in America online at esquire.com.

Lorem Ipsum

Location: 1101 Central Ave Unit B, Charlotte, NC 28204

Instagram: @loremipsum.bar

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription