Charlotte’s 17 best new restaurants and bars of 2017

These are some of our favorites.

Dot Dot Dot

Sophisticated members-only cocktail lounge in an old storage unit behind Park Road Shopping Center created by master mixologist Stefan Huebner and Foxcroft Wine owner Conrad Hunter.

Can’t find it? You’re looking for the signature triple dot ellipsis (…) over three brown doors.

Address: 4237 Park Road, Unit B, Charlotte NC 28209

Dilworth Tasting Room

Inviting wine bar and bottle shop in the former home of 35-year neighborhood favorite Dilworth Billiards.

Don’t miss the enchanting “secret garden” patio and koi pond out back.

Address: 300 E. Tremont Street, Charlotte NC 28203

Merchant & Trade

Stunning 19th-floor rooftop bar and open air sky lawn at the new Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel. The floor-to-ceiling windows and observation decks offer sweeping views of the skyline and Romare Bearden Park.

Look for the yellow Merchant & Trade sign on 3rd Street for the line to the elevator. (Yes, expect a line.)

Address: 303 S. Church Street, Charlotte NC 28202

The Suffolk Punch at Hyde Brewing

Coffee bar, taphouse and culinary cafe located on site at at a craft brewery on the Rail Trail. A brewery where you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner? Yes, please.

Address: 2911 Griffith Street, Charlotte NC 28203

Hello Sailor

Owners are Joe and Katy Kindred, the family behind the hit restaurant Kindred in Davidson.

Hello Sailor seats about 90 inside with another 3,500 square feet of waterfront deck space out back that will include year-round seating in a heated patio as well as seasonal outdoor seating.

That deck along with its forthcoming tiki bar and the restaurant’s 20 dedicated boat slips will no doubt be slammed once the weather is right.

The horseshoe-shaped bar is a main focal point in the dining room featuring beach-worthy cocktails like Cherry Lemon Sundrop Negroni Slushies and no-frills 40-ounce Miller High Life bottles.

Address: 20210 Henderson Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031

Hoppin’

Hoppin’, the new self-serve wine and craft beer bar in South End, served more than 130,000 ounces to 4,000 customers in its first eight days of operation.

That includes a record-smashing 35,000 ounces poured over their first 24 hours. The previous record for places using the iPourIt dispense technology was 25,000 ounces in 24 hours.

Address: 1402 Winnifred St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Queen Park Social

Bar, restaurant and social house featuring bowling lanes, shuffleboard, giant Jenga and more.

Queen Park is a nice change of pace and complement to Charlotte’s brewery/distillery row already home to Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Sugar Creek Brewing, Doc Porter’s, Great Wagon Road and GoodRoad CiderWorks.

Address: 4125 Yancey Road, Charlotte NC 28217

Topgolf

Massive 65,000-square-foot facility with 102 swanky, climate-controlled bays, a full-service restaurant and bars on each level.

In terms of size, hype and wait times to get in, this was hands down the biggest opening of the year.

Address: 8024 Savoy Corporate Drive, Charlotte NC 28273

The People’s Market

Brand new urban market (just opened yesterday) with a coffee shop, food counter, bar and bottle shop all rolled into one. Located on the highly trafficked corner of East Boulevard and Scott Avenue in the former 131 Main space.

Address: 1315 East Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28203

Catawba Brewing

The 10,000-square-foot brewery and taproom is located in the old Kellogg’s factory in the Belmont neighborhood. The Morganton-based brand is the first non-Charlotte craft brewer to enter the scene here, which is significant.

Address: 933 Louise Avenue, Charlotte NC 28204

Oak Steakhouse

Award-winning upscale steakhouse from the same Charleston-based restaurant group that brought O-Ku Sushi to South End.

Address: 4777 Sharon Road, Suite 125, Charlotte NC 28210

Angeline’s

Italian-inspired modern American restaurant adjacent to the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel.

The entrees will distract you from the pizza offerings so get a pizza as an appetizer to cover all your bases.

Address: 303 S. Church Street, Charlotte NC 28202

Resident Culture

New Plaza Midwood brewery featuring hop-forward IPAs along with funky, barrel-aged wild beers made with locally-sourced yeast.

Address: 2101 Central Avenue, Charlotte NC 28205

Sophia’s Lounge

Swanky cocktail lounge at the newly renovated historic Ivey’s Hotel from the team behind Uptown nightlife powerhouse 5Church.

Address: 127 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte NC 28202

The Packhouse

The newest concept from the creator of The Mayobird and The Summit Room is an ode to North Carolina with a tobacco leaf bar and wood paneling from an old tobacco barn.

Address: 500 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte NC 28202

Trade & Lore / Salud Cerveceria

The upstairs expansion of NoDa’s Salud Beer Shop brought with it a gorgeous dual-use space that functions as a coffee shop and craft brewery.

Address: 3306 N. Davidson Street, Charlotte NC 28205

Southbound

The SoCal-inspired taco join opened to rocky food reviews this fall but while they work out the kinks, the bar and breezy, indoor/outdoor atmosphere are picking up the slack.

Address: 2433 South Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28203

Opening very soon

Exciting concepts still to come by the end of the year:

Zeppelin – Small plates and cocktails coming to South End’s Gold District

Hello Sailor – Highly anticipated lakeside restaurant from Joe and Katy Kindred opening December 3

Lincoln’s Haberdashery – South End urban market from Futo Buta chef Michael Shortino

Reigning Doughnuts – Tiny doughnut window behind Growlers Pourhouse in NoDa

Hoppin’ – 100% self-serve beer bar in South End

Queen City Grounds – Coffee shop coming to Skyhouse in Fourth Ward

2017 expansions for existing Charlotte brands we love

Established Charlotte favorites that opened additional locations this year:

Common Market Oakwold – 4420 Monroe Road

Inizio Pizza Dilworth – 2230 Park Road

Not Just Coffee Dilworth – 2230 Park Road

Amelie’s Park Road – 4321 Park Road

Midwood Smokehouse Park Road – 540-C Brandywine Road

Leroy Fox South End – 1616 Camden Road

Cantina 1511 Uptown – 206 N. College Street

Sabor SouthPark – 3920 Sharon Road

Local Loaf NoDa – 800 E. 35th Street

Living Kitchen SouthPark – 4521 Sharon Road

Coaltrane’s Plaza Midwood – 1518 Central Avenue

Roasting Company Plaza Midwood – 1332-B Central Avenue

JJ’s Red Hots Uptown – 400 S. Tryon

Rhino Market Uptown – 400 S. Tryon

Honorable mentions

Bold Missy Brewery – Woman-owned brewery that names beers in honor of impactful women of history, like Annie Oakley and Amelia Earhart

Pop the Top – Casual neighborhood bottle shop and bar that really loves dogs

Roots Cafe – The popular food truck’s new brick and mortar location

South End Grind – Hip espresso bar at Urban MVMNT, a huge multi-purpose fitness facility

Recess – Adult playground with interactive games and cocktail buckets

Loft & Cellar – 3-level concept with private dining in the cellar, a restaurant on the main floor and a lounge on the top floor

Wu’s Cajun Seafood – Funky new restaurant featuring Cajun-Asian fusion cuisine

Bulgogi Box – Cozy Korean restaurant in South End

The Rogue – Irish pub in Dilworth

Joe & Nosh – Coffee shop honoring the Coffee Cup, a historic Charlotte soda shop

Palmer St. Game Bar – Bar and arcade for grown ups