Scoop: Steph and Ayesha Curry team up on 3 restaurants opening in uptown Charlotte
Hometown power couple Stephen and Ayesha Curry and Michelin-starred restaurateur Michael Mina are teaming up to bring three new luxury dining options to uptown Charlotte late this year.
Multi-phase renovations are under way at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. By winter, the premium hotel will debut three experience-led concepts, according to a news release and interviews given exclusively to CharlotteFive ahead of Thursday’s announcement:
- Bourbon Steak, an award-winning steakhouse from Mina, who leads The MINA Group and served as a guest judge during Restaurant Wars on the Charlotte-filmed season of “Top Chef.” That restaurant was previously announced and is slated to open in late winter 2026.
- The Eighth Rule, an intimate, bourbon-forward cocktail lounge and social dining destination from four-time NBA champion and Olympian Stephen Curry. It’s also targeting a late winter opening.
- Sweet July Cafe, a lifestyle-forward café from founder Ayesha Curry, a two-time New York Times bestselling cookbook author regularly seen on Food Network. Sweet July is moving toward a July opening.
The collaboration marks a homecoming for the Currys — who met while growing up in Charlotte and visit regularly — and solidifies their ties with the The MINA Group, which operates the original location of The Eighth Rule in San Francisco and pairs with Sweet July at the Regent Santa Monica Beach.
“The partnerships that we’re entering into with Michael Mina and Ayesha and Steph Curry are not just exciting for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte — I think they are super exciting for Charlotte as a whole,” general manager Karen Ayad told CharlotteFive.
“They are going to bring some incredible culinary and beverage creativity, energy and experiences that will lend themselves to that growing scene in Charlotte,” she added.
That evolution is exactly what helped solidify this partnership in Charlotte, Mina told CharlotteFive, noting that Bourbon Steak is selective about opening new locations.
”You can see when cities are really starting to happen with food — Charlotte’s a really good city. It was even more concrete when they did ‘Top Chef’ here,” he said. “In a city like this — it’s starting to explode with food and beverage. This particular project … felt like it could add to the landscape with the combination of The Ritz-Carlton.”
What to expect at The Ritz-Carlton restaurants
Change has been in the works for some time at the LEED Gold-certified luxury hotel, which first opened in 2009. Renovations began in 2023, first targeting the spa and guest rooms. Longtime cocktail lounge The Punch Room closed in 2025, and The Fifth Fork — which replaced BLT Steak — has temporarily moved into that space on the 15th floor to serve hotel guests.
Now, the renovations of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte’s lobby and public spaces will top off a “complete transformation” that Ayad said will “put the guest experience at the forefront of everything.”
“Michael is a culinary strength and probably one of the most creative individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity to partner with, “Ayad said. “Add to that the hometown hero of Steph Curry and his wonderful wife, Ayesha, and the concepts that they are going to be bringing, as well, and it’s hugely exciting for uptown. It’s hugely exciting for Charlotte.”
Mina emphasized the collaboration aspect of the projects, noting he’s visited Charlotte a handful of times during his work with the Currys. “People are really sweet here. They’re really nice, and it’s very refreshing,” he said.
He’s also committed to winning the trust of Charlotte’s diners: “I’m a big believer that you don’t walk into a city you haven’t lived in all your life and act like you know everything, because you don’t.
Sweet July Cafe
When Sweet July Cafe opens in July, look for high-quality coffee, unique baked goods, seasonal smoothies and other menu items that will make their debut in Charlotte.
In Santa Monica, offerings include a strawberry shortcake croissant, a flourless blueberry muffin, sweet potato cornbread and a bananas foster cinnamon roll. Avocado toast, salads centered on hearty veggies like broccoli, beets and asparagus, and pitas are also on the menu.
“Sweet July has always been rooted in community and creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed,” Ayesha Curry said in the release.
“Charlotte means so much to my family and me, making it the perfect home for our newest café. Working alongside Chef Michael Mina throughout my career has deeply influenced the way I think about hospitality and food, and I’m thrilled to see our partnership continue to grow through the Sweet July cafés.
“I’m especially excited to introduce new menu items that reflect both the spirit of my Jamaican heritage, as well as the evolution of our café experience,” she said.
Bourbon Steak
Bourbon Steak is among Mina’s signature concepts, featuring a modern take on steakhouses by incorporating global flavors, slow-poaching steaks in butter and topping off diners’ restaurant experiences with a little whimsy over the past 20 years.
Sashimi with a trio of sauces — coconut-lime, yuzu-tamari and pomegranate-orange — joins oysters and shrimp cocktail as seafood selections. Its Caviar Parfait is built with smoked salmon, egg crème fraîche and a shallot potato cake, and the Crab Cake Pop-Tart is dressed with Thai coconut curry.
High-end steaks include a center cut filet mignon and A5 Japanese rib cap, and seafood options such as a Maine Lobster Pot Pie and red snapper baked in grape leaves tempt the palate.
Bourbon Steak’s vast lineup of beverage options go past signature cocktails and a world-class list of wine and premium spirits to include zero-proof drinks, beer and spritzes.
Seasonal produce from the Charlotte area and around the world will also be incorporated.
“It’s always about just getting the best product at the best time of the year,” Mina said.
The Eighth Rule
Guests at The Eighth Rule can look for an intimate, bourbon-forward lounge experience. The name originates with the seven official rules of bourbon production, and “encourages guests to define their own ‘eighth rule’ through an evolving menu of craft cocktails, rare pours and innovative bites,” the release says.
“The Eighth Rule has always been about creating an experience that brings people together for community and conversation, while enjoying elevated food and drink offerings,” Stephen Curry said in the release.
“Expanding to Charlotte is especially exciting because it’s a city that not only holds a special place in mine and my family’s heart, but it’s filled with incredible energy and culture.
“With The Eighth Rule Charlotte, we’re building on the foundation of the bourbon tradition while encouraging guests to create their own ‘eighth rule,’ their own way to celebrate and enjoy the moment. We can’t wait to welcome people into the space and become part of the Charlotte community.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte
Location: 201 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Instagram: @ritzcarltoncharlotte
