Charlotte’s complete guide to the best rooftop bars and restaurants
Rooftop season has arrived in Charlotte. Whether it’s a special occasion or a spontaneous night out, the Queen City has no shortage of sky-high spots for elevated dining and drinking. Here’s your guide to 26 rooftop bars and restaurants around town — including two of the newest additions to the scene.
🗞️ Check out the full original rooftop guide from CharlotteFive for even more details.
Aura Rooftop
📍 JW Marriott Charlotte, 124 E Brooklyn Village Ave, Charlotte, NC 28202
Inspired by the “regal aura of Queen Charlotte herself,” this rooftop lounge is decked out in greenery and florals and features a pool, botanical-inspired cocktails, beer, wine and small bites.
Búho Bar
📍 Grand Bohemian Charlotte, 201 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
A 16-story high rooftop for night owls who “crave a contemporary take on a night out,” with a Johnson & Wales University grad as the culinary mastermind. Expect handcrafted cocktails and South American-inspired tapas.
Burial Beer Co.
📍 1214 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
This Asheville-based taproom’s Plaza Midwood location brings “modern offerings among vintage vibes” with a rooftop bar, two bars with 36 Burial draft lines, cocktails, wine and a full-service kitchen.
The Chamber by Wooden Robot
📍 416 E 36th St STE 100, Charlotte, NC 28205
The Charlotte taproom’s second location in NoDa features a rooftop biergarten and 3,000-square-foot patio. The dog-friendly spot offers a rotating selection of craft beer with a focus on farmhouse ales and sours.
Charlotte Beer Garden
📍 1300 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
One of the biggest beer-forward spots in Charlotte with the world’s largest selection of draft beers. The three-story South End bar has more than 400 beers on tap, cocktails, wine, burgers, pizza and classic American bar bites.
City Lights Rooftop
📍 Le Méridien Charlotte, 555 S McDowell St Tower, Charlotte, NC 28204
Signature cocktails and small bites at this uptown rooftop at Le Méridien Charlotte. Open 5 p.m.-midnight daily for hotel guests and the public.
Coin Bar
📍 Omni Charlotte Hotel, 132 E. Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Sip while taking a dip at the Omni Charlotte Hotel’s rooftop pool bar. Complimentary admission for hotel guests with limited day passes during summer.
Cordial
📍 AC Hotel Charlotte SouthPark, 1824 Roxborough Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
Charlotte skyline views from this 8th floor SouthPark bar and lounge with a Spanish-inspired menu of tapas-style small plates, signature cocktails, local drafts and wine.
Fahrenheit
📍 222 S. Caldwell St., 21st Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202
Charlotte’s first open-air rooftop restaurant and bar. The 8,600-square-foot space on the 21st floor offers wrap-around Queen City views, small plates, salads, steaks and seafood towers.
The Gin Mill
📍 1423 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203
A rooftop designed to “cater to all tastes” with games, live music and pub favorites including wings, flatbreads, burgers and sandwiches.
Graham Street Pub & Patio
📍 400 S. Graham St., Charlotte, NC 28202
A popular neighborhood bar near Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field with a rooftop and outdoor patio serving food truck-inspired bites like skewers, sliders, tacos, nachos and loaded fries.
Hestia Rooftop
📍 Ballantyne Village, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way, Charlotte, NC 28277
Described as “part sophisticated rooftop bar, part cutting-edge Japanese fusion restaurant,” this Ballantyne spot opened in 2023 with specialty sushi, seafood and steak — including some cooked right in front of you.
Lincoln Street Kitchen and Cocktails
📍 1320 S Church St Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28203
A cozy South End restaurant with a small roof deck, open since 2019, offering a 100% seed oil-free, scratch-made selection of local flavors and seasonal ingredients for brunch, dinner or drinks.
Merchant & Trade
📍 Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, 303 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Atop the 19th floor of Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel with four areas providing panoramic uptown views. Serves North Carolina-produced spirits, house-made mixers and elevated bar bites.
Mizu
📍 Hyatt Centric Charlotte Southpark, 3100 Apex Drive, Charlotte, NC 28211
A fine dining restaurant with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Southpark neighborhood. Opened in 2021 with a seafood-focused menu including sushi and shareables.
Novelty House Rooftop
📍 123 E. 5th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
An upscale cocktail bar in the heart of the city center. The rooftop’s decor and drinks change with the season for an ever-evolving experience.
Nuvole Rooftop Twentytwo
📍 220 E. Trade St., Suite 2200, Charlotte, NC 28202
The highest rooftop in Charlotte at 22 stories. The uptown bar’s menu includes truffle parmesan fries, salmon sliders, fried cheesecake churros, beer, wine and seasonal and signature cocktails.
Overflow
📍 137 Mecklynn Road, Mooresville, NC 28117
The only self-pour beer, wine and coffee spot in Lake Norman with 46 taps on its main level and 24 taps on its rooftop. The open-air space also has fire pits, umbrellas, blankets and giant TV screens.
Pins Mechanical Company
📍 307 W Tremont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Eat, drink and play at this South End barcade with duckpin bowling, pinball, foosball and more, plus a patio and second-story outdoor bar.
Platform Sports Bar
📍 3216 South Blvd #301, Charlotte, NC 28209
This LoSo venue from the team behind PARA and former Panthers players Charles Johnson and Kawaan Short spans over 11,000 square feet. The rooftop patio, called PS at the Platform, features a state-of-the-art retractable roof, large-screen TVs and four massive media walls showcasing up to 20 games at once, plus ice-cold beers, classic cocktails and elevated game-day fare.
🗞️ Check out the full guide to Platform Sports Bar.
Rí Rá
📍 208 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Experience the vibe of an old Irish pub in uptown with a rooftop patio, original shop bar, 19th century Victorian bar, whiskey room and dining/music room.
The Royal Tot
📍 933 Louise Ave., Suite 350, Charlotte, NC 28204
A rooftop tiki bar packed with palm trees, seashells and beachy drinkware. The two-story spot offers cocktails, mocktails and small bites.
State of Confusion
📍 3500 Dewitt Ln, Charlotte, NC 28217
A LoSo restaurant and bar with Peruvian, New Orleans and Lowcountry influences. The restaurant has rolled out weekly rooftop live music performances and new menu items for the spring season.
Uchibā
📍 Commonwealth Plaza Midwood, 1720 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
The upstairs companion to Uchi offers a casual izakaya-style environment with small bites to pair with drinks and a patio with views of the uptown skyline and people watching below. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
🗞️ Check out the full guide to Uchi and Uchibā.
The Waterman Fish Bar
📍 2729 South Blvd Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28209
A South End neighborhood seafood joint with a 2,000-square-foot rooftop bar serving classic seafood dishes with a Southern inspiration, weather permitting.
Whiskey Warehouse
📍 1221 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Sit under string lights on the rooftop at this Plaza Midwood neighborhood bar with craft beer, cocktails and classic American bites. Daily drink specials all week long.
Did we miss a rooftop bar or restaurant in Charlotte? Let us know at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.
