10 best new Charlotte bars of 2016

8.2.0

Upscale karaoke and arcade bar

Neighborhood: Music Factory

What to Drink: Prosecco on draft, boba cocktail or one of their four craft cocktails on draft.

Hidden Room: Library/study that you enter through the bookcase door.

Agenda Story: FIRST LOOK – 8.2.0 is bringing a massive and remarkable indoor experience to the Music Factory

City Lights

Hottest new rooftop bar with sweeping 360-degree views of the city.

Neighborhood: Uptown

What to Drink: $14 Sparkle & Pop (bubbles + popsicle)

Holiday Promotion: Elf on the Shelf is coming to life at City Lights – and he’s bringing hot toddies, hard cocoa and s’mores with him

Agenda Story: FIRST LOOK – Poolside cabanas and popsicle cocktails at Craft City Social Club and City Lights Rooftop

Agenda Analysis: Partiers love City Lights for now, but Fahrenheit remains the #1 rooftop bar in Charlotte

Corkscrew

Wine bar located on 5th Street in the ground floor of the Vue apartment tower

Neighborhood: Uptown

By the Numbers: With 45 wines by the glass, they have a little bit of something for everyone (prices range from $8-$18 a glass). In addition, they have over 300 wines by the bottle and if wine is not your thing they have 12 beers on tap and 25 beers by the bottle. No corkage fee. Jazz music in the background.

Agenda Story: Corkscrew Wine Bar in the Vue is now open

Cotton Room

Intimate cocktail lounge up a flight of stairs in Brevard Court

Neighborhood: Uptown

What to Drink: Manhattan – Bulleit rye, Carpano sweet vermouth, angostura bitters, luzardo cherry ($15)

Use Case: Go here when you want a quiet spot to grab a drink with somebody that you want to have a deep, meaningful conversation with.

Agenda Story: The Cotton Room adds a cocktail lounge to Brevard Court

Flight

Beer garden and music hall with weekly live music

Neighborhood: Uptown

By the Numbers: 10,000 square feet of space and 94 taps (about 90% of which are N.C. beers).

Things We Love: Outdoor bar (10 taps), live music and picnic table seating

Agenda Story: Flight brings a beer garden mecca to Uptown

Imperial

Cocktail lounge with live jazz and a rooftop bar

Neighborhood: Uptown

Vibe: Imagine a “Mad Men” or “Sinatra Era” cocktail lounge with an extreme focus on drink flavors, service and the “feel” of the space.

Agenda Story: A cocktail lounge named The Imperial is coming to North Side Station

Ink ‘N Ivy

Arguably the hottest bar in Charlotte right now with crazy decor and a massive patio

Neighborhood: Uptown

Thing We Love: The sprawling patio overlooking Romare Bearden Park with views of Knights Stadium and the city skyline – and an outdoor bar.

What to Drink: Poison Ivy — Ketel One Citroen, pink lemonade, lemon wedges, basil and house-made ginger simple syrup

Brunch: Yes.

Agenda Story: Hits and misses at Ink N Ivy

Lucky’s

90’s arcade bar 

Neighborhood: Uptown

Games: Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Xbox, pinball, skee ball, air hockey, foosball and more

Agenda Story: BAR Charlotte is gone. An arcade bar is going in its place

Murphy’s Kitchen & Tap

Pub and restaurant celebrating the stories and success of Irish Immigrants in America

Neighborhood: Uptown

What to Drink: Guinness or one of their 19th century craft cocktails.

Thing We Love: True pub vibe and laid back feel.

Agenda Story: Murphy’s Kitchen & Tap is now open in Third Ward

Stoke

Beautifully designed, upscale craft beer and cocktail bar inside the Marriott 

Neighborhood: Uptown

What to Drink: Stoke Fashioned – Stoke private Knob Creek, orange bitters, torched angostura ($12)

By the Numbers: 24 craft beers on tap (along with red, white and bubbly)

Agenda Story: Marriott City Center has set a new standard for Uptown. Check out their new coffee, restaurant and bar spaces