Drinking on a budget? Here are 20+ bars in Charlotte with cheap beer + cocktails
There are some places in Charlotte where you just know going in: Yeah, this is going to cost me.
Look, craft beer and cocktails are part of that, and they’re usually great. But some nights, I just want something simple. A cold Bud Light. A vodka drink that isn’t doing the most. And I don’t really feel like paying extra for it.
The good news is that, even now, a few spots around the Queen City still keep things within reach.
We asked Charlotte residents in a video where they go for cheap drinks. Here are some of the spots they shouted out.
This list isn’t complete, and it probably never will be. If there’s a place I missed, you can email me at emoore@charlotteobserver.com or send a message on social (@evaninclt, everywhere). I’ll add it to the running tab.
6 Grogs
Location: 131 Matthews Station St. Suite 1C, Matthews, NC 28105
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 1-10 p.m.
PBR is $2.50 every day. Other specials include a Tito’s punch bucket and $5 Fireball Fridays.
Angry Ales
Location: 1518 Montford Dr., Charlotte, NC 28209
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
They have $5 Fireball shots every day, and the tacos are fantastic.
Bargarita
Location: 3221 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Friday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
PBR, Yuengling, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Budweiser, Coors Light and Coors Banquet are $3.50 every day.
Brazwell’s
Location: 1627 Montford Dr., Charlotte, NC 28209
Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Most of the domestics (Budweiser, Coors, Michelob Ultra, etc.) are between $3-$4. Pair them with the wings.
Carmella’s Pizza Grill
Location: 1513 Montford Dr., Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 3150 US-21, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
You can find a different domestic for $2 a piece every day, or grab a bucket of beer with a 14-inch pizza for $25.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
Location: 620 University Center Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Pretty much all of the cocktails at Cheddar’s, including a top-shelf margarita and classic mule, are priced under $10.
Courtyard Hooligans
Location: 140 Brevard Court, Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
PBR and Miller High Life cans are $4 every day, with Budweiser, Coors Light and Miller Lite bottles just 50 cents more.
Crown Station Coffee House & Pub
Location: 3629 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Daily specials include $3 PBR and Miller High Life.
Dom’s Dive Bar
Location: 3609 South Blvd Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28209
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Friday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Kick the work week off right with $2 Busch Light cans on Mondays, or start even earlier and grab a $3 Twisted Tea after church.
Ed’s Tavern
Location: 2200 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28203
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
All but one of their cocktails are priced at or under $10, including Ed’s Punch (Vodka, Ginger Ale, & Grape Juice) and Carolina Paw Punch (Vodka, Ginger Ale, Blue Raspberry) for $6 each.
Graham St. Pub & Patio
Location: 400 S. Graham St. #4, Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Get $10 specialty cocktails on Tuesdays or $2.50 domestic cans on Thursdays. It’s a perfect pregame (or postgame) spot for Panthers and Charlotte FC games.
JackBeagle’s
Location: 3213 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 1404 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-12 a.m.
Most of JackBeagle’s cocktails are priced at or under $10, with locations in NoDa and West End.
Johnny Dollars
Location: 3920 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28217
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.-2 a.m.
First, go to Johnny Dollars for cheap drinks. Then, follow them on social media. Trust me.
PostScript
Location: 2121 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 5 p.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
I enjoyed a couple of $3 Miller High Life bottles while I was at PostScript a couple of weeks ago. If you’re hungry, get the chicken scarpariello.
Que Onda
Location: 1518 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 333 W. Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Location: 9601 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28262
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Que Onda has drink specials every day, including $4 Mexican drafts on Tuesdays and $7 frozen margaritas on Saturdays.
Sip City Market & Bottle Shop
Location: 917 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Sip City Market & Bottle Shop has a “whole cooler” of $3 beers, and $4 Modelo and $5 Guinness on draft daily, plus $7 wines and $12 craft cocktails, according to a comment they left on our video.
Super Abari Game Bar
Location: 1015 Seigle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Friday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Super Abari Game Bar has $3 PBRs every day, tons of arcade games and a chill patio. It’s where I discovered I’m not a good pinball player.
Snug Harbor
Location: 1228 Gordon St., Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday 2 p.m.-2 a.m.
Snug Harbor is one of the more lowkey music venues in the city with great drink deals. The patio is a great spot to chill.
Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Location: 510 Briar Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Sunday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.
Smokey Joe’s Cafe is “rustic watering hole” (according to Google) with frequent live music shows.
Thirsty Beaver Saloon
Location: 1225 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204
Hours: Monday-Sunday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.
Thirsty Beaver Saloon is a local dive bar made even more famous by a Mick Jagger appearance in 2021. It’s a solid spot with cheap beer.
Thomas Street Tavern
Location: 1218 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Thomas Street has a great outdoor patio and even better drink prices. And it’s right in the heart of Plaza Midwood.
Two Buck Saloon
Location: 1113 Hawthorne Ln., Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 4624 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 10102 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte, NC 28227
Location: 329 Main St, Pineville, NC 28134
Hours: Monday-Sunday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
One of the most popular dive bars in the city, Two Buck Saloon has expanded in recent years. What’s better than pool, good music and cheap beer?
VBGB Beer Hall and Garden/Restaurant
Location: 920 Hamilton St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
VBGB has drink specials daily and commented with this Elmo GIF on our video, so we couldn’t leave them off.
The Woodshed Bar
Location: 3935 Queen City Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208
Hours: Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.-2 a.m.
You’ll never pay more than $4 for a beer at The Woodshed Bar. If you’re a bigger guy, you might not pay at all.
